53 running, walking, fun run, and other events in Hamilton, Ontario

Stac Hamilton is a charitible organization the supports the youth in Hamilton that face barriers to access. With your donation, we are able to provide safe space for youth to play sports,provide mentorship and create pathways to education

Your one and only chance to smash that seasonal or personal best time on Canada's FASTEST 5km course!!~

Please see attached Strava course elevation map, courtesy of Dan McKinnon, a former race winner, who also certified this course.

Runners on average are 45-60 seconds faster than any other 5km course!!

LOADS of draw prizes

Slightly downhill, tree covered and traffic free the entire 5km. Runners will be bussed to the start line beginning at 8:45am.

Bus to start line- 9:00&930... please take a bottle of water with you.

Custom finisher medals to all finishers.

Awards to top 3 overall male and female runners and top 3 in 10 year age groups, from 19 & under to 70+.

Hot food and drinks after,followed by the awards ceremony.

Lots of draw prizes.

Chip timing .

This is race #3 in the Hausers Pharmacy Hamilton Running Series with points going 3-2-1 in the age groups and over-all divisions and added at the last race of the year..

Series Schedule

March 28- Spring Fling 5km

May 9- Mothers Day 5km

July 19- Downhill Dash 5km

Sept.13- Crazy 8's Downhill 8km

Nov.15-Doughnut Dash 5km- over 300 participants in 2025!!!!

Please note- you can always etransfer your funds and save the online fee's!(thats a savings of approx. $8)

[email protected]

Register for 2 or more races at a great discount..email us for details.

RACE DAY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE UNTIL 9:00.... NO LATER.. CASH ONLY

We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario. --- We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with La Sportiva for our events this year. Not only will La Sportiva be at our races with their demo fleet of shoes to try but they will also be giving away 2 pairs of shoes! --- We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below: --- PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS FOR THE 2026 EVENT! THIS YEAR THE COURSE WILL BE RUN IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. We switch directions every year. That means that we will be running "downhill" on the rail trail this year. Personally, I find this direction more difficult but I seem to be in the minority as most people say that this direction is

easier. Come and join us at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area for Tally in the Valley, a race unlike any other in the area. --- Race Information: Participants will run a 7km loop through the unique Carolinian forest in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. The loop is primarily made up of groomed double track trails with rolling hills and approximately 130m of elevation gain per loop. Although there aren't any major climbs on this course, the constant rolling hills will wear you down in the later stages of the race. Check out the following video for a look at the course: Choose between running a single loop (7k), 3 loops (21k), 23 loops (100 miles), or run for 6/12/24 hours and see how many loops you can complete in the time provided. Runners who complete 23 loops (100 miles/161km) will earn themselves a custom belt buckle while all other participants will also be recognized for their hard work with a custom finishers medal. Looking for something a little different? Try "The Gong Show"!

This is an elimination style event, inspired by the Big's Backyard Ultra, that we are super stoked about. Participants will be given 1 hr to complete the 7km loop. Runners who successfully complete the loop within 1 hr (which may seem easy at first but will eventually become very challenging), will wait at the start line until the gong is hit, marking the time cut-off for the loop AND the start of the next loop. Please note: regardless of how fast participants complete their loop, they can't start their next loop until the gong is struck, which will be every hour on the hour. Participants remain in the event until they can no longer finish a loop within 1 hour OR until the race reaches 24 hours. If there is more than 1 runner to start the final loop after 23 hours, the first runner to complete the final loop will be the winner. However, ALL runners that make it to the 23 hour mark will receive a custom belt buckle since they will have run 100 miles. This race is awesome to watch as there is

quite a bit of strategy involved. Ideally, runners will want to run a comfortable pace and conserve energy but will also want to leave themselves some time to fuel-up at the aid station and have a short break before heading out for another loop. If you are planning on running the Gong Show Event, you might want to watch the following video for some tips: In the 6/12/24 hour races there are no DNF's (Did Not Finish). Each runner that starts the race will be recognized for the distance that they complete, regardless of when they stop. In the last 30 minutes before the completion of each timed event, we will have race volunteers stationed at different points on the course to mark how many kms into the loop the participants are when the time is up. --- Course Description: To view a course map, click here, but I wouldn't trust the elevation gain listed. Our watches consistently show 130-140m of gain per loop, not 59m as indicated on the map. Either way, it's runnable! Counter-Clockwise Loop

(THIS YEAR): There is a big change that will be happening this year (and likely from this point on). Every year, the race headquarters has been placed in the overflow parking field off of sawmill trail. However, the Conservation Area would like to regenerate this area and let the field grow naturally, which we think is great! This year, the race will start at the Trail Centre (right by the tap that our participants love). There are some real benefits to this change including the fact that we will have more space to set up and the area is flat, which will give our participants and their crews a level area for set-up. The biggest downside is that this area has always worked as an unofficial aid station where runners can fill up their bottles and cool off. BUT DON'T WORRY, we will set up an additional water station along the course. The loop will remain exactly the same, we will just be starting at a different point on the loop. Overall, we believe that it will make for a better experience for

everyone and we are excited about the change. The first 2km of the loop will be on the rail trail and will be slighlty downhill the entire way. This is a great spot to recover from the hills of the previous loop. If it is a sunny day, this section will be hot since there isn't a lot of shade. After exiting the rail trail, runners will run down a short but steep hill and will be at the lowest point of the course. The next 2.5km is mostly small rolling hills. Although it is entirely runnable, there is definitely more uphill than downhill in this section. The next 2-2.5km are the most challenging on the loop. This section is made up of rolling hills - no big hills but you will feel them! This will bring participants back to the Trail Centre, which is the where our Race HQ will be. --- Aid Stations: There will be one aid station on the course, which will be located at the start/finish area. Stock up in between loops. There will be water, an electrolyte drink, and all of your typical ultra

running fare including sweet and salty snacks, PB and J sandwiches, pickles, and chips. The menu will change as the day goes on. Last year there was grilled cheese, quesadillas and perogies. There will also be portable toilets located at the aid station. For those of you interested in running in the "Gong Show" elimination event, you can hang out at the aid station (start/finish area) after finishing the loop until the gong is hit, at which point you need to get moving if you want to make the next cut-off! The faster you finish your loop, the more time you have to rest and fuel-up. This year, we will be setting up a self-serve water station at approximately the halfway point of the loop. Please note that all Happy Trails Racing events are cup-less so you will need to have a collapsible cup or bottle to fill at the aid stations. --- Pacers: Gong Show: No pacers in the Gong Show elimination event. 6 Hour: No pacers in the 6 hour. 12 Hour: Pacers are strongly discouraged in the 12 hour day

race, but allowed in the 12hr night race. Since the course is 7km, there will be a lot of participants out on the course. However, we don't ever want our participants to be in any danger so if you feel like you need one for safety reasons, by all means, go for it but only in the last 4 hours of the 12hr day event. If you feel like you will need a pacer for safety reasons before this, please message the race director before registering. Participants over the age 65 are welcome to have a pacer at any time. Pacers will have to pay the park admission fee at the gatehouse when they arrive on site. 24 Hour and 100 Miles: Pacers will be permitted, if necessary, at 9pm. Pacers can only join their runner at the start/finish area. Pacers cannot mule (carry anything for their runner). --- Race Swag: All participants will receive a really cool and buttery-soft t-shirt that you can wear around town to show everybody that you're a bad-ass. (Please note: t-shirt design is subject to change depending on

supplier availability). Runners will have the option to choose either a Unisex Shirt or a Women's Cut Shirt during the registration process. The title "Women's Cut" is the actual name of the cut. Any person is welcome to choose whichever option they wish. Please note, the women's cut shirts do tend to fit a bit small so you may want to size up. The following shirt was last year's design: The race shirt cut-off date is July 1. If you register after July 1, you probably will NOT receive a t-shirt. Participants in the 7k, 21k, 6hr, 12hr, and 24hr events will all receive a rad race medal (the 2023 medal, bib, and sticker are posted below), unless you run 100 miles, in which case, you will earn yourself a SWEET belt buckle! Participant in the Gong Show get NUTHIN' unless they run 100 miles or win the event. That's part of the fun! --- Post Race Food: We understand that people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race

meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees. We do this to give you the biggest bang for your buck and to try to enhance your experience the best that we can. --- Refund Policy: Happy Trails Racing has a great policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out. Also, please note that we don't have waitlists. If spots open up they will be available on Race Roster so check back occasionally. --- Race Reports: Check

out the following Race Recaps:

Join us on July 26 at Willow Cove Pavilion, Confederation Beach Park in Hamilton for Jonny’s Gold Ribbon Run - a 5km run/walk in support of Sarcoma Research. Bring a team, challenge your friends, or come on your own - everyone has a place at the start line.

Run for those who fought.

Run for those fighting.

Run for those yet to be diagnosed.

Run for the answers.

Proceeds from the event will directly support Sarcoma Research at McMaster University - helping move critical discoveries forward and improve care for patients and families.

Event Times:

8:30 AM - Participant check-in and bib number pick-up

9:45 AM - Welcome remarks, Sponsor recognition, Ambassador recognition

9:55 AM - Warm-up led by Dr. Michelle Ghert

10:00 AM - Run/Walk begins

10:30 - 11:00 AM - Participants return, snacks and refreshments available

11:00 AM - Awards, prize giveaways and closing remarks

Grab Your Event T-Shirt:

Online price: $20 (plus processing fee)

On-site price: $25

Supporting sarcoma research with every purchase

KIDS 12 AND UNDER - FREE (with adult registration)

We're Back Hamilton!

The Runner's Den is excited to announce that we have once again partnered with Mizuno to bring you back the Summer Sunset Series!

A fun way to stay fit this summer with a fast and flat course along Hamiltons Waterfront trail! This will be a timed event to allow runners to get a chip time for their 5K run.

In an effort to keep the cost of this event low, there will be no shirt or medal provided for the 5K runners.

Event includes:

• Ankle chip for timing

• Demo shoes on site to try for your event

• Draw prizes for all participants courtesy of Mizuno

• Post race refreshments for all participants

Event Schedule:

5:30-7pm: Onsite registration/check-in

6:30pm: 1K Kids START

7:00pm: 5K START

7:45pm: Post Race Draw prizes

Back again this year - 1K Kids Run!

Let's get our kids out to run this summer! This kids run will not be timed but medals will be provided to the kids who finish the race.

Caffeine Run Toronto

Walk/5K/10K/Half

Be Caffeinated and Run Rhino are partnering up again to bring together all of our two favorite things, Running and Coffee!

You have the option to run a 5k, 10K, or Half Marathon. Would you rather WALK for coffee? That works for us too! Grab your fill up before you head out if you choose and walk our shorter, 1.5 mile loop!

Participants will all receive a short sleeve t-shirt; a branded, ceramic finishers mug and a full cup of coffee and some baked goodies upon completion of the race!

The start/finish area will have hot chocolate set up for spectators and participants, and we'll have the jams going all morning!

The race will be mass start and will be chip timed!

2026 Summer Shores

1K/5K/8K

Celebrate the unofficial last day of summer with us on Labour Day! Run or walk 1KM or 5KM, or run 8KM starting and ending at Hutches on the Beach near Barrangas. Run along the beautiful Hamilton waterfront trail and take in the views of Lake Ontario.

Seniors and youth save on registration fees!

Event Address: Hutches on the Beach near Barrangas

September 7, 2026

2026 Pink and Blue Summer Shores Medal

Canada's FASTEST

8km

course!

Slightly downhill,tree lined and traffic free, starting near Mohawk Sports park track center and finishing inside Corktown park.

Followed by a post race celebration with , hot food, draw prizes and awards ceremony.

-Bus to start line

-custom finishers medals

-custom knap sacks

-chip timing

-draw prizes

Register for

BOTH

the

DOWNHILL DASH 5km- july 19

and the

CRAZY 8km- SEPT. 13

and

save

$15!!!!!!!!!

email us on details how to do this.

Help us commemorate 30 years with this Celebration Relay Event!

Did you know...The Runner's Den is celebrating a HUGE milestone this year:

30 years of serving and running alongside the Hamilton Community!

We are so excited to share this milestone with all of our valued customers that have supported us over the years. Whether you're a long time supporter or just discovering the sport, we want to thank you for your business.

Please join us for this very special 30km relay taking place at the Hamilton Waterfront. This will be a 6x 5km relay event designed to bring our community together in the spirit that has defined the Runner's Den for the past three decades.

Rotary Tour de Dundas

Gran Fondo / Taste of Dundas

Sunday, September 27, 2026

"Our community cycling event with local flavour."

Ride from the Dundas Valley - where Canadian Olympians train.

Enjoy late-summer cycling at its finest. Starting in scenic Dundas, our longer routes climb the Niagara escarpment, wind along paved rural roads through rolling countryside and pastoral landscapes before returning to the valley.

Your lunch will be waiting for you at the Taste of Dundas outdoor food festival in the picturesque Dundas Driving Park. Choose your meal from a selection of flavourful local fare, then pair it perfectly with cold craft beer.

A meal voucher is included with registration in any of the four sports-cycling rides (36 km - 100 miles). Beer will be available to purchase separately.

E-bikes are welcome.

Register now to secure your spot in the Tour de Dundas Gran Fondo!

• Please note: Refunds are not issued by Rotary Tour de Dundas.

Riders are welcome to purchase RaceRoster's Enhanced Protection Program when registering.

Thank you for supporting our charities

Your participation in this event will support the charitable works of the Rotary Club of Dundas, including:

• Margaret's Place Hospice - providing compassionate care to families

• Routes Youth Centre - providing "drop-in" programming to local youth

• Local Community Projects

In Support of:

We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario. --- We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with La Sportiva for all of our events this year. Not only will La Sportiva be at our races with their demo fleet of shoes to try but they will also be giving away 2 pairs of shoes! --- We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below: --- PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR THE 2026 EVENT. This race is in support of "Oceana Canada". --- COURSE DESCRIPTION: All race distances will run a beautiful 5.3k looped course around the lake at Christie Lake Conservation Area. To view a map of the course, click here. The route is rolling, fast, and runnable. The trail surface

consists primarily of dirt and is non-technical. - 5k racers will complete the loop x1 (this course is actually 5.3km) - 10k racers will complete the loop x2 (this course is actually 10.6km) - 25k racers will complete the loop x5 (this course is actually 26.5km) - 50k SOLO racers will complete the loop x10 (this course is actually 53km) - 50k RELAY racers will complete the loop x10 (you may have up to 5 racers on your team) Note the cutoff for the 50k race is 8 hours. If you think you will need more time we will be offering an early start option at 8am. You do not need to register for the early start; just show up ready to run! For the 50k RELAY - the 5k loop exchange zones will be clearly marked and situated at the start/finish area. There will be 2 aid stations each loop - One at the start/finish and the other at the 2.5k mark. The aid stations will have water, electrolyte drinks, pop, fruit, and sweet & salty snacks. Please note all Happy Trails Racing events are cup-less so you will

need to have a collapsible cup or bottle to fill at the aid stations. Check out the following video: --- RACE REGISTRATION & KIT PICK-UP: Race kit pick-up will be held at the Beach Pavilion on-site at Christie Lake Conservation Area: October 10th from 7:30am - race start. Participants in the 5k, 10k, 25k and 50k RELAY will receive a Stick n' Stones Trail Race toque. SOLO participants in the 50k will receive a Sticks n' Stones Trail Race Hoodie. Hoodies are available for purchase for the 5k, 10k, 25k and 50k RELAY participants at the time of registration for $35. Please ensure you indicate your size if you are acquiring a hoodie. Please note: the hoodie and toque shown are from 2019. Our 2026 hoodie will be different. --- PARKING: Your registration fee includes the parking costs. Spectators will be required to pay to get into the park. --- RACE START TIMES: 25k, 50k, and 50k relay participants will start at 9:00am. 5k & 10k participants will start at 10:00am. --- Aid Stations: There will be

2 aid stations on the course; one at the 2km point in the loop and the other is 3km later at the start/finish of each loop. The aid station are cup-less, so please bring a cup or bottle to use during the race. Runners can expect the usual ultra staples- water, electrolyte drink, PB & J, sweet and salty snacks and some other yummy suprises. --- Pacers: Sorry, pacers are not permitted in any of the events. If you feel that you will need a pacer, for safety reasons, please contact the Race Director before registering. Participants over the age of 65 can have a pacer if they wish. --- AWARDS: Finishers of each race will receive a race medal upon completion. Top three awards will be given to solo finishers. First place awards will be given to the top Relay teams (All Male, All Female and Mixed). Professional timing will be there to time your race - all results will be posted after the race. We will have photographers taking great photos of the racers. --- Post Race Food: We understand that

people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees. We do this to give you the biggest bang for your buck and to try to enhance your experience the best that we can. --- Refund Policy: Happy Trails Racing has a great policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out. Also, please note that we

don't have waitlists. If spots open up they will be available on Race Roster so check back occasionally. --- Fundraising: This event is being held in memory of the Race Director's cousin, Michael Bennardo, who died at the age of 38 on September 20, 2018. Michael was just about to complete medical school and had a promising future ahead where he would work towards his goal of helping as many people as possible. Michael absolutely loved the ocean and was certainly drawn to it throughout his life. We are very happy to be supporting Oceana Canada in Michael's memory and would truly appreciate any funds that you could donate towards this great cause. ---

THIS IS FOR THE 2026 RACE!

We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario.

We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with La Sportiva for all of our events this year. Not only will La Sportiva be at our races with their demo fleet of shoes to try but they will also be giving away 2 pairs of shoes at every event!

We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below:

Lost Valley Trail Race: A point-to-point trail race that takes runners on an adventure from Burlington to Dundas along the Iroquoia Section of the iconic Bruce Trail.

There are two options to choose from: 10k and 25k. Both courses will be point-to-point events meaning that there are no loops and the starting point and ending points are in two different locations. Participants will board a bus that will take them from the finish line, where participants will park, to the starting line, or they can arrange to be dropped off at the race start.

Please park at Dundas Valley Conservation Area, which is where both races will finish.

Both events will be run along the Main Trail of the Bruce Trail, which is permanently marked with white blazes. Participants must be able to follow trail blazes.

The only sections that will have additional markings are the first 250m, the last 250m, and the 2.5km section that runs along the streets of Dundas.

PLEASE NOTE: In 2026 we will be limiting the registration to 180 participants. Our intention is keep this race as a community event with a grassroots vibe.

The 25km Race:

Participants will park at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area (parking fees are included in the race registration fee) and board a bus that will take them to Cityview Park in Burlington (or arrange your own transportation).

Click on the following link to view the GPX file of the 25km course:

25km Course GPX File

The race will start at Cityview Park in Burlington. Participants will follow the rolling single track along the Niagara Escarpment and through the very popular Smokey Hollow area. Participants will run along Grindstone Creek and will encounter some steep climbs as they make there way over to the Black Woods area.

Runners will pass through a very rocky section before running through a tunnel under Hwy 6, followed by a short but steep climb up the escarpment. Runners will continue along the edge of the escarpment for a while and will be rewarded with some magnificent views. After passing Borer's Falls, runners will eventually start to make their way down the escarpment on a steep descent next to Sydenham Hill in Dundas.

At the base of Sydenham Hill, runners will have approximately 2.5km of road. Although this section is still part of the main trail of the Bruce Trail, we will have additional marking flags here.

Runners will jump back onto some absolutely glorious single-track next to the Dundas Golf Course and will emerge on the McCormack Trail. After a couple climbs and descents, they will then cross Governors Road, where they will have a couple of short but steep climbs as they approach the end. Runners will complete one lap around the Stacey Meadow Pond before ending their journey at the Stacey Meadow Pavilion.

Although there will be lots of climbing on the route, the race is definitely on a net downhill course. There is approximately 600m of elevation gain and 720m of elevation loss.

The 10km Race:

Participants will park at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area (parking fees are included in the race registration fee) and board a bus that will take them to the Rock Chapel Conservation Area in Dundas (or arrange your own transportation)

Click on the following link to view the GPX file of the 10km course:

10km Course GPX File

The first 2km of the race are quite beautiful with some great views. This section is relatively flat and is one of the easiest section of the course (other than the road section, of course). It is a great opportunity to find your groove and chat with fellow participants before starting the descent down the escarpment.

At the base of Sydenham Hill, runners will have approximately 2.5km of road. Although this section is still part of the main trail of the Bruce Trail, we will have additional marking flags here.

Runners will jump back onto some absolutely glorious single-track next to the Dundas Golf Course and will emerge on the McCormack Trail. After a couple climbs and descents, they will then cross Governors Road, where they will have a couple of short but steep climbs as they approach the end. Runners will complete one lap around the Stacey Meadow Pond before ending their journey at the Stacey Meadow Pavilion.

This race is 75% trail and 25% road. Although there are some climbs along the way, this course is a net downhill course with approximately 185m of elevation gain and 265m of elevation loss. However, you should keep in mind that the biggest descent of the course also takes place on one of the most technical sections and it will NOT be a place to try to make up time. It will be a slow descent!

Race Swag:

Here are all of the things that are included in your race fee:

-Bus ride from the finish line at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area to the start line of each race distance.

-A pair of Happy Trails Racing Socks (perfect for after the race!)

-Neck Gator

-Sticker

-Parking at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area

-Teeny Tiny Custom Race Bib

-Aid Stations along the course

-A really cool finisher's medal

-$10 from each registration will go directly to the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club

Location:

The Dundas Valley Conservation Area is the perfect ending point for an event like this. They offer some great services and spectators will have plenty to do while they wait for friends/family to finish. Have a look around inside the Trail Centre or enjoy the trails by going on a hike. This will be a real community event and will be fun for the entire family!

The Race Registration Fee includes entrance into the Conservation Area for the participants. All crew and spectators will be asked to pay a reasonable entrance fee at the park entrance gate.

Aid Stations:

There will be 3 aid stations along the 25km course and 1 aid station on the 10km course. The aid stations will be at 7.5km, 15km, and 20km along the 25km course and around the 5km point on the 10km course. The aid stations will offer your typical ultra-running aid station goods. Sweet and salty snacks, water, electrolyte drink, PB and J, and more. If you have run a Happy Trails Racing event in the past, expect the same.

Please note all Happy Trails Racing events are cup-less so you will need to have a collapsible cup or bottle to fill at the aid stations.

Poles:

You are welcome to use poles for this race.

Post Race Food:

We understand that people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees.

There are a lot of really great places to eat in Dundas after the race.

Refund Policy:

Happy Trails Racing has a great policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out.

HALLOWEEN RACES

Sunday, October 25th, 2026

The Haunted Carnival Comes to Hamilton!

Step right up… if you dare.

This Halloween, the Haunted Carnival takes over the Hamilton waterfront with costumes, music, and a spooky race-day atmosphere.

Run or walk the 1K, 5K, or 10K at the HMCS Haida National Historic Site / HMCS Star and celebrate Halloween on the course.

Expect creepy carnival vibes, bold costumes, and plenty of photo-worthy moments.

Costumes encouraged.

This is a family friendly event that is open to all ages and abilities.

View Our CHCH TV Coverage: HERE

At the HMCS Haida National Historic Site

PENNYWISE INSPIRED FINISHER MEDAL

A Medal That Laughs Back

Rest of the Race Kit Coming Soon!

It’s a Chilly party at the race, with HOT CHILLI on the menu!

&

PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUME!!

AMAZING TROPHIES AND MORE PRIZES!

REGISTRATION FOR 2026 NOW OPEN!

Join us October 31st & November 1st 2025

The Hamilton Marathon would like to welcome you back once again to our event taking place the first weekend of November.

To all returning participants, thank you for trusting in us once again to bring you a glorious race experience! To those new to us, we are so excited to meet you! We hope to bring you a weekend of fun and help you meet your goals.

The Hamilton Marathon Road2Hope offers a 2 loop course along Hamilton's Beautiful Waterfront with a full race weekend including a kids 1km fun run, a 5km and 10km Family Walk/Run, as well as a fully certified Half and Full Marathon.

Back by popular demand will also be our Hammer Challenge - 3 Races one weekend! Why not take on the ultimate Challenge this year?

Join us for a weekend of fun for the whole family!

CASABLANCA CLASSIC 8K & 3K

Finish the season-end points race strong at the season-finale Casablanca Classic 8K. Ran in Stoney Creek at picturesque Fifty Point Conservation Area. The course that stretches along beautiful Lake Ontario always guarantees the season finale to be a nail-bitter for those final division points!

Register by midnight on October 29th to claim your free race shirt with your registration.

To register for four (4) series races and receive a discount, visit the following page: Click Here

The

6th annual

DOUGHNUT DASH

5km

and

KIDS 1KM

( over 310 runners in 2025!!!! )

Kids 800m-start@9:55

5km-Start@10am

RACE DAY REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE_ CASH ONLY

Different course than we've ever used!!!!

NEW this year.....MORE doughnuts for you to taste...you asked, and we are going to listen to what the runners want.

GRANDADS DOUGHNUTS

is our official sponsor this year!!

Freshly baked doughnuts only 1 minute drive from the race site!!

Try them, you'll LOVE them!!!!

-COURSE- will be a loop of Bayfront Park,then out and back 1 mile(approx) on the waterfront trail,turning around at the first island.

-accurately measured and FLAT!!

(it's a certified course but the certification has expired)

-family and friends, friendly as they can see you start, at 1300m and the finish line!

Swag:

-Doughnuts for all provided by GRANDADS...baked daily!!!

(they will also have the small "middles" of the doughnuts for you to sample different flavours)..NOT nut free.

-Hornby organic energy bars

-Awesome looking finishers medals to all in both races

Shirts to all who register before October 31st, shirts will only be available on race day IF a runner does not show up...we will NOT be holding or mailing any shirts out,if you can not make it, sorry)

5 year age groups and the top 3 in each age groups!!!! 19+ under thru 70+ over.

(as well as top 3 over-all male and females)

(we do NOT mail out any awards not picked up on race day)

WE WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY AWARDS OUT UNTIL THE AWARD CEREMONY, PLEASE DO NOT ASK.....We will mail it if you cant stick around.

Kit Pick Up- Race day at Macassa Yacht Club

815am-930am-SHARP...if you are late ,thats your fault, you'll be running without a race Bib and get no official time. Get there as early as possible please.

Washrooms- there will be some in the yacht club and 2 porta potties in the parking lot at Bayfront Park ,which will be 100m from the start/finish lines.

AWARDS- we will do our best to start by 11:15- 1130 at the latest to get everyone on their ways back home and so we can start to clean up the yacht club!

We will have over 20 draw prizes ALL valued at over $50/each!!

Chip timing-

GROUP DISCOUNTS-email us for details and pricing.

Race day registration is available-CASH only please.

NO REFUNDS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!

Please always check our facebook page(hamilton road races) and our website(runhamilton.ca) for any updates.

One last race before Christmas to help our youth!!!

We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below:

We are really excited to be offering this brand new event! It will be fun to participate in and equally fun to watch. This is a "last person standing" style event with a twist. This is our last event of the year- one last chance to get together and celebrate another year of putting one foot in front of the other.

This is a perfect race for our road running friends to get a glimpse of the trail running world. Although this isn't much of a "trail", I think we can agree that a big part of what makes our trail community so special is the people.

This event will only be offered in alternating years (opposite years to our "Leftovers Run" event). Like the Leftovers Run, this event is designed to be a grassroots, small, community-focused event. We are doing our very best to keep our operational costs low so that we can offer this event at a very budget-friendly price of only $39.00. Participants will receive a Happy Trails toque, a bib, and (as long as you complete at least 1 loop) a really cool finisher's medal.

RACE FORMAT:

As mentioned, this is a "last person standing" style event, which means that we will have 1 winner in each of the man/woman/non-binary categories. The race will take place on a 1 mile (1.61km) paved loop at Bayfront Park in Hamilton, ON. All participants will start the first loop at 9:00am and will be given 15 minutes to complete the first loop. Take your time and conserve your energy on these early loops because it is going to get a lot more challenging! Regardless of how quickly you finish the lap, YOU CAN'T START THE NEXT LAP UNTIL THE OFFICIAL STARTING TIME OF THE NEXT LAP (see schedule below).

At 9:15am, all participants who successfully completed the first loop will start their second loop. However, this time you will be given 14 minutes to complete the loop. Each subsequent loop will need to be completed a little bit faster than the last. We will start by reducing the lap time by 1 minute each lap. After 6 laps, we will start reducing the lap time by 30 seconds. After 12 laps, we will start reducing the lap time by 15 seconds until there is only 1 runner remaining. If no runners are able to complete the last lap in the allotted time, the first runner to complete the lap will be declared the winner!

COURSE MAP:

The 1.61km (1 mile) loop will take place only steps from the parking lot at Bayfront Park in Hamilton. The loop is wide, paved, and mostly flat.

AID STATION:

We will have a bare-bones aid station with water and Skratch Labs Electrolyte Drink.

For all of the road runners out there, you should be aware that like most trail races, all Happy Trails Racing events (including this one) are cup-less. You need to bring your own cup or bottle. This doesn't have to be fancy- you can literally write your name on a piece of tape, put it on plastic cup, and leave it on the aid station table. No glass cups please!

You will have access to a drop bag every mile so bring whatever you need. Don't forget to bring some warm clothes to change into so that you can watch the rest of the race in comfort! Your new Happy Trails Toque will come in handy. Feel free to bring a chair.

Run the Original Santa Race in HESS VILLAGE!

Saturday, Nov 21, 2026

Grab your family and friends, put on a Santa suit and run in the Original All-Santa race! Santa Suit and chipped timed results included!

(This is a all Santa race so everybody is required to wear a Santa suit)

When registering, you can choose the option with a Santa suit included or without a Santa suit if you already have your own.

Whether you wear our Santa suit or bring your own festive look, come ready to be part of a sea of Santas taking over the course.

Everybody Who Orders A Santa Suit Will Receives This Velour Suit And Luscious Beard. These Santa Suit May Be Worn Many Times!

2026 Santa Shuffle Hamilton

Fun Run & Elf Walk

The Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle is a national fundraising event supporting the local work of The Salvation Army in communities across Canada.

By registering for the Hamilton Santa Shuffle, you are joining a community of participants and fundraisers helping provide food, shelter, and hope to individuals and families facing hardship.

As a Santa Shuffler, your registration includes:

• A personalized race bib.

• A one-of-a-kind finisher's medal and Christmas Tree Ornament to celebrate your achievement!

• Tons of fun with friends, family, and the entire community!

• An opportunity to fundraise for your local Salvation Army, with every dollar raised helping to ensure practical assistance and compassionate support are available in your community.

New for 2026: Be a Holiday Hope Champion!

When you take part in The Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle and become a fundraiser, you become a Holiday Hope Champion as you help raise funds to support the vital work of The Salvation Army in your community.

To thank participants for their fundraising efforts and early support, a number of limited-edition items are available:

• Be among the first 2,000 participants across Canada to make a $50 donation during registration

Receive a limited edition 2026 Santa Shuffle Buff/Neck Gaiter

• Raise $150 or more (youth: $100 or more)

Receive a limited edition 2026 Santa Shuffle Toque

• Be among the first 500 participants across Canada to raise $500 or more

Receive a limited edition 2026 Santa Shuffle Hoodie

These items recognize the meaningful difference you are making. Every dollar raised helps provide food, shelter, and practical support to individuals and families facing hardship.

Please note: Donors will receive a donation confirmation when supporting the charity online, and The Salvation Army will be issuing official tax receipts for donations over $20.

Simplified Registration for 2026

We’ve made registering for The Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle easier than ever this year.

For 2026, there is one simple registration option for everyone:

"Individual – 5K Fun Run / 1K Elf Walk"

Whether you plan to run or walk, all participants register through a single, streamlined process — making it quicker and easier to sign up and get started.

To ensure the event remains accessible to everyone, discounts are automatically applied at checkout:

• Youth (18 and under) and Seniors (65+) receive $10 off registration

• Group registrations receive:

• 10% off per registration for groups of 4–9 participants

• 15% off per registration for groups of 10 or more participants

No codes are required, and all eligible discounts are applied automatically when you register.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR OTHER EVENTS AT :

www.happytrailsracing.com

We are proud to announce that this event is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario.

We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with La Sportiva for our events this year. Not only will La Sportiva be at our races with their demo fleet of shoes to try but they will also be giving away 2 pairs of shoes at every event!

We are also now working with a new, LOCAL, nutrition company called THN Labs. They are generously providing each runner with gels in their race kit as well as gels available at our aid stations. The gels contain only 4 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, sea salt, and rowanberry extract. For more information on the product, click on their logo below:

As you probably know, we have a Summer Solstice Race in which runners run the entire time that the sun is up on the longest day of the year. The summer race is always our fastest selling out race with great vibes. When we originally thought of the race, many years ago, it was our intention to also offer a Winter Solstice Race in which runners run the entire time that the sun is up on the SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

Finally, in 2026, we will be offering The Frostbite Solstice Trail Race

Instead of battling the sun, runners will have to layer up and try to stay warm!

The Winter Solstice represents the shortest day of the year with only 8hrs, 58 minutes, 29 seconds of sun (from 7:48am to 4:47pm).

Race Details:

The race will be run on an approximately 3.7 km trail loop. There are a couple of short rolling hills (that will feel as though they are growing with each loop). The course will be a mixture of tree covered trails and open field and the wind is typically blowing at this location. The exact course length won't be available until the race because we are going to design the course to be the best we possibly can, which means we are going to use the trails that are in the best condition and offer the most scenic options for race day. Our intentions are to mostly use the same section of trail that we do for our summer race but that will depend on the weather leading up to the race, since sections of the route are prone to becoming soggy if there is a lot of rain.

Don't feel like racing for the entire solstice? No problem, you can do a Half Solstice (4 hours and 29 minutes), a Quarter Solstice (2 hours and 15 minutes), or you can do it as a relay, which is SO MUCH FUN!

Full Solstice: 8 hours and 58 minutes (Starts at 7:48am - Ends at 4:47pm)

Full Solstice Relay: 8 hours and 58 minutes (Starts at 7:48am - Ends at 4:47pm)- For the Relay Race, teams can have up to 5 runners total per team. They can switch runners as frequently as they wish but each runner must run the full loop and all transitions must occur in the designated "relay transition area". If someone on your team needs to leave early you can NOT replace them with someone new. Each member of the team will receive a shirt and a finishing medal. Only the top team in each category (All Men, All Women, and Mixed Relay) will receive an award. It is entirely possible for a speedy team to collectively reach 100 kms or more in the time provided. Only the team captain needs to register, we will contact you closer to race day to get all of your deets! Teams will have the opportunity to set up tents if the weather is agreeable but we will also have an indoor space for teams and our volunteers.

Quarter Solstice: 2 hours, 15 minutes of blissful running. The race will start at 7:48am and end precisely at 10:03am.

Half Solstice: 4 hours, 29 minutes of joyous running. The race will start at 10:30am and will end at exactly 2:59pm.

Yeah, we know, this is a weird race time but it is based on the sun. Besides, why not do something a little different? Regardless of how far you get, it is likely to be a personal best for you since you probably haven't raced for this exact length of time before!

The vibe at the finish of the race will be magical with an outpouring of support from all of the runners just as the sun is setting.

All runners will receive a finisher's medal as well as some great gear! We will be serving up plenty of options at our aid station including hot drinks and soup.

All participants will also receive a crewneck sweatshirt. The following picture is the current concept plan for the crewneck sweatshirt but colour will strictly depend on availability and is subject to change.

Race Site:

The Sunburn Solstice Trail Run will take place at the AMAZING Marydale Park in Mount Hope, ON. The facility itself is beautiful and offers very close parking, scenic grounds, excellent washroom facilities, and an enormous pavilion to shelter spectators from the sun. We are very fortunate and excited to have the opportunity to host a race here.

Aid Stations:

There will be one aid station with lots of goodies to keep you energized and you will pass it every few kilometres. This is a very spectator friendly event as the runners can be viewed each loop. The location is absolutely ideal for an event like this as it offers amazing facilities, which both runners and spectators will appreciate.

Stock up in between loops. There will be water, an electrolyte drink, and all of your typical ultra running fare including sweet and salty snacks, PB and J sandwiches, pickles and more.

Please note that all Happy Trails Racing events are cup-less so you will need to have a collapsible cup or bottle to fill at the aid stations.

Charity:

The charity that will benefit from this race is "Hamilton Out Of The Cold"

Post Race Food:

We understand that people have different dietary restrictions, needs, and preferences. Because of this, rather than include the cost of a post-race meal that you may or may not enjoy/ be able to eat, we do not include meals in our race registration fees.

Refund Policy:

Happy Trails Racing has a great policy regarding race refunds/transfers: register with confidence knowing that you can take advantage of our early bird pricing and, if you need to back out, you can do so up to 30 days before the race with a 100% race credit that can go towards any future Happy Trails event. It doesn't expire. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate cancellations within 30 days of the race. However, participants are welcome to transfer their bib to someone else without any penalty. Please keep in mind that everything we need to order to have you at our race is done so at least 30 days out.

Also, please note that we don't have waitlists. If spots open up they will be available on Race Roster so check back occasionally.

Donations

Donations to the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton (SPCCH) help support the vital work we do in suicide prevention awareness and life promotion.

Your donation demonstrates your compassion for those who have suffered the profound loss of someone they love and caring for those of us who experience or live with suicidal thoughts or behavior – THANK YOU!

Without the caring support of people like you, we would be unable to advocate for prevention and life awareness.

The SPCCH is a charitable non-profit volunteer organization, funded by private donations from individuals and organizations since 1980.

We bring together community agencies, individuals, and service providers to support the community by building capacity through education and advocacy for prevention, intervention, postvention and life promotion.

Your gifts make an important difference in the lives of people in our community!

Registered Charity #83552155ORRR0001

2027 Her Majesty's Royal Races

1K, 5K & 10K

In Person and Virtual Races

Sunday, April 18th, 2027

At the HMCS Haida National Historic Site

Join us for the Fifth Annual Her Majesty's Royal Races in celebration of the Late Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday! This is sure to be a royally unique event.

For 5K & 10K: Fascinators/ top hats for men/ Corgi Dog

For 1K, 5K & 10K: The medal comes in multiple colour options- Burgundy, Navy Blue, Rich maroon and classic black!

Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in 5K & 10K.

This event will be raising funds for the Army Cadet League in support of the RHLI Cadets - 62 RHLI RCACC.

Participate in this run/walk and help us raise funds for youth in Hamilton.

Hamilton, ON

In support of women's mental health programs at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

Access Your 2026 Fundraising Here

Access Your 2026 Race Results Here

Race Date: June 6, 2027

Race Location: Confederation Park - WILLOW COVE PAVILION (680 Van Wagners Beach Road, Hamilton, ON L8E 3L8)

Start Times:

8:30 a.m. – 1K Little Steps

8:50 a.m. – Welcome and Warm-up

9:15 a.m. – 10K Start

9:30 a.m. – 5K Start

Suggested Arrival Time: 8:00 a.m.

Share your experience with our community!

Tag us on social:

Instagram: @runforwomen

Facebook: @Run_for_Women_Series

Hashtag: #runforwomen