Ultra-Trail Harricana of Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ultra-Trail Harricana of Canada |
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UTHC Logo
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| Location |  Canada |
| Event type | Ultramarathon trail run |
| Distance | 125km - 80km - 65km - 42km - 28km - 10km - 5km - 1km |
| Established | 2012 |
| Official site | http://harricana.info/en/ |
| Participants | 1500 |
The Ultra-Trail Harricana of Canada, also known as UTHC, is a super challenging trail-running event held every year. It began in 2011 near the town of La Malbaie in Quebec, Canada. The races happen at the Mont Grand-Fonds ski centre and use trails in the Traversée de Charlevoix hiking area. They also go through the amazing Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park.
This event is one of the toughest ultra-trail races in Eastern Canada. It's so well-known that it helps runners qualify for huge international races. These include the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and the Western States 100. In 2015, the Ultra-Trail Harricana was even called a "race of the future" by the Ultra-Trail World Tour. It officially joined this big tour in 2017.
The area where the race takes place, Charlevoix, is very special. It's a unique natural place, recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. This means it has a rich and important ecosystem. When you're there, you can smell the Saint Lawrence River and the boreal forest. The trails are narrow and wind through wild, untouched nature.
The name "UTHC" comes from the Harricana snowmobile adventure race. This was a very famous race in the 1990s. One of its races was a 2,000-kilometer relay from Montreal to James Bay.
Contents
What Are the Race Distances?
The Ultra-Trail Harricana offers many different race lengths. This means there's a challenge for almost everyone! The distances are 125 km, 80 km, 65 km, 42 km, 28 km, 10 km, 5 km, and even 1 km. The event usually takes place in early September.
Some of the longer races switch years. For example, the 80-km race happens in even years (like 2018, 2020). The 42-km race takes place in odd years (like 2017, 2019).
Long Distance Challenges
- 125 km race: This is the longest and toughest race. Runners climb about 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). Finishing this race can help you qualify for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and the Western States 100.
- 80 km race: This race happens every other year, in even-numbered years.
- 65 km race: Runners in this race climb about 1,800 meters (5,905 feet). It's also a qualifying race for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.
The UTHC has won awards too! It was named the Best Trail/Ultra Running Event in Eastern Canada in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Shorter Trail Races
- 42 km race: This race happens every other year, in odd-numbered years. Runners climb about 1,400 meters (4,593 feet).
- 28 km race: This race involves climbing about 950 meters (3,116 feet).
- 10 km race: A shorter distance with about 200 meters (656 feet) of climbing.
- 5 km race: A great option for those new to trail running.
Fun Races for Kids
There's even a special "Children's pirate race" which is 1 km long. This fun name is a nod to famous trail runner Kilian Jornet, who is sometimes called the "Pirate of Mont Blanc."
Race Results: Who Won?
Many amazing athletes have run and won the Ultra-Trail Harricana races over the years. Here's a look at some of the top finishers for the 125km race on the new course:
UTHC 125km New Course Results
| Edition | Date | Men's Winner | Women's Winner | ||||
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| Rank | Athlete | Time | Rank | Athlete | Time | ||
| 1 | September 8, 2018 | 1st | Jean-François Cauchon |
13:47:08 | 8th | Sarah Verguet Moniz |
16:14:00 |
| 2 | September 7, 2019 | 1st | Guillaume Barry |
13:55:41 | 15th |  Emily Hawgood |
17:43:41 |
| 3 | September 12, 2020 | 1st | David Savard-Gagnon |
13:58:57 | 29th | Catherine Lemire |
20:10:13 |
There are many more results for all the different race distances and years, showing the incredible efforts of the runners.
How the Race is Organized
The Ultra-Trail Harricana event needs a lot of help to happen! Over 230 volunteers give their time to make sure everything runs smoothly. Also, more than 40 businesses from across Quebec support the race as sponsors.
The people who started the Ultra-Trail Harricana are:
- Sébastien Côté
- Geneviève Boivin
- Sébastien Boivin
See also
In Spanish: Ultra-Trail Harricana de Canadá para niños
