The Quebec Mega Path 100-miler is now a part of the World Path Majors, a nine-race international working collection launching in 2024 that member race administrators say goals to steer path working “in the best route” by celebrating and preserving the id of grass-roots races.
Quebec Mega Path, launched in 2012, is the only Canadian cease in subsequent yr’s collection, which kicks off in Hong Kong in January and continues with races in Arizona, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland and England earlier than wrapping up in South Africa in November.
What makes this collection stand out from different worldwide path working circuits, in response to this week’s announcement from the World Path Majors, is the member race administrators’ dedication to preserving the character of native, well-established races. Greater than a race collection, the announcement describes the World Path Majors as an affiliation of impartial race administrators devoted to a few shared values: id (preserving the “distinct and particular person character” of every race), respect (preserving the pure setting and customs of every host race), and range (interesting to a wide range of runners by that includes races with a mixture of distances, places and terrain).
Of those, the problem of preserving native race id particularly has come to the fore in latest weeks with UTMB World Sequence’ announcement that it is going to be bringing its path working collection to Whistler, B.C., subsequent September. That’s the similar place and time native organizers Coast Mountain Path Operating had established its fashionable Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) occasion in earlier years.
Jean Fortier, founder and race director of Quebec Mega Path, advised Canadian Operating a technique World Path Majors goals to have fun and domesticate the distinctive id of its races is to interrupt away from the UTMB mannequin of “aiming for one race.” (UTMB World Sequence contributors have an opportunity to win a spot at UTMB’s premier occasion in Chamonix, France, both by qualifying outright or by qualifying for a lottery by means of finishing an occasion within the collection.)
“We wish every race to have its personal id”
“One of many issues is, [UTMB] is all the time aiming for one race, and that’s not what we wish,” mentioned Fortier. “We wish every race to have its personal id.”
Fortier mentioned whereas World Path Majors is dedicated to safeguarding what is exclusive about every race, the affiliation additionally provides race administrators alternatives to be taught from each other and to construct on their strengths.
“We’ve been working with races from all around the world for a very long time, and we all the time preferred the truth that we may be taught from one another. So being in a collection like this is a chance to go additional in studying,” he mentioned.
He famous being a part of the World Path Majors can be an opportunity for Quebec Mega Path to assist in giving Canadian athletes the worldwide recognition they deserve.
“We don’t see loads of Canadian runners on the world scene,” mentioned Fortier. “Perhaps this is a chance for them to take their place on the worldwide stage.”
Fortier added it’s additionally an opportunity to showcase Quebec Mega Path to a extra worldwide discipline.
“This collection is essential, as a result of we put loads of effort within the 100-mile, and we expect it’s one thing that’s going to attraction to runners from in every single place on the planet,” he mentioned.
World Path Majors 2024 schedule
Jan. 18-21: Hong Kong 100 Ultramarathon—Hong Kong, 102 km, +5314m
Feb. 10-11: Black Canyon Extremely—Phoenix, Ariz., 100 km, +1,250m
Feb. 21-25: The North Face Transgrancanaria—Canary Islands, Spain, 126 km, +6,804m
April 26-27: Mt. Fuji 100—Fujiyoshida, Japan, 165 km, +7,574m
April 27-28: MIUT—Madeira Island Extremely-Path—Madeira, Portugal, 115 km, +7,100m
June 7-9: Swiss Canyon Path—Val de Travers, Switzerland 111 km, +5,350m
June 8-9: South Downs Means—Winchester, England, 161 km, +3,800m
July 5-7: Quebec Mega Path—between Charlevoix and Côte de Beaupré, Que., 160 km, +6,500m
Nov. 22-24: RMB Extremely-Path Cape City—Capetown, South Africa, 166 km, +7,516m
World Path Majors says it’s finalizing entry and rating system particulars for the collection, which shall be up to date on its web site.
