Trail Running Triple Play

Around the 16 km mark of a 22-km trail running race, the “cemetery hill” on the outskirts of the Northern Ontario town of Wawa feels like a perverse obstacle, meant to crush a runner’s resolve. After navigating tricky boulder fields and slippery downhills interspersed with flowing, hard-packed trails, this steep climb hits like a gut-punch near the end of a technical course. It’s riven with washouts that break your stride and cursed with sand that drags on tired legs. In short, it’s the type of hill that begs you to give up and walk. 

Last October, I was among the dozens of competitors that came to run the Wawa Trifecta for challenges just like this—along with the added variable of mercurial autumn weather that’s liable to deliver pretty much any type of conditions. On a relatively benign, overcast morning, I was both gassed and ecstatic when I survived the climb and crested the hill. From here, I knew I could look forward to flying over smooth forest paths and a great sense of accomplishment upon arriving at the finish line of one of Ontario’s best trail running events.

From Local Secret to Annual Must-Run

Local runner Brian Lachine launched the Wawa Trifecta in 2021. A long-time endurance athlete, he planned a “mini stage race” spanning a weekend in mid-October, taking inspiration from one of his favourite events in Michigan. The two-day itinerary included a five-km trail run, a 1.5-km hill climb and a 22-km half-marathon. “I really enjoyed it because of the diverse training you have to do to prepare,” Lachine recalls. “I thought this would be a blast in Wawa. We have a lot of ‘only locals know’ trails, a great cross-country ski trail system, and we are next to Lake Superior Provincial Park. There are so many great wilderness trails so close to my front door.”

A modest six runners signed up for the inaugural event, Lachine says, “doing the social distance thing” amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the Wawa Trifecta has become an annual tradition that’s grown in popularity, with over 60 participants in 2024—many of whom are attracted by multiple running disciplines, including Sault Ste. Marie-based runner Iris Lenauer. “I love the variety, from the short and punchy hill climb to the endurance-testing half-marathon course,” she says. “Seeing all the people who challenge themselves to try something new that weekend inspires me and makes me feel grateful that the trail running community is so supportive. Also, who could resist running three races in two days?”

A Trail Running Triple Play

The 2026 Wawa Trifecta is scheduled for October 17 – 18, 2026. As with previous installments, the weekend event opens with a classic five-km cross-country run, held on Wawa’s nordic ski trails. It’s a fast course that’s perfect for first-time trail racers, featuring minimal elevation gain and a hard, mostly packed-dirt surface, weaving through the birches, spruces and sphagnum moss of Northern Ontario’s boreal forest. The hill climb, held on the same day, ascends a double-track to a high point overlooking Lake Superior. 

Some participants, including many athletes from local high schools, sign up exclusively for the popular cross-country event. But many others, including Lenauer and fellow Sault Ste. Marie runner Matthew Hayman embraces the challenge of tackling all three races. “It’s scheduled at the perfect time of year to enjoy the varied landscapes provided in Wawa,” notes Hayman, who adds that he is always entranced by running through the “kaleidoscope of colours” of the boreal forest in fall. 

Chills, Thrills, and Mental Grit

As I prepared for the half-marathon, I was taken by the relaxing pre-race atmosphere at the start line, adjacent to the famous Wawa Goose and the municipal airport. A small contingent of about 20 runners laughed and joked amongst themselves and with Lachine and his wife, Cathy, who is also integral to organizing the event. Things became more serious when we lined up, shivering in shorts and t-shirts. The starting gun sounded, and I quickly warmed up, falling into a comfortable, trance-like pace of breath and stride, running alone and finding magic on wilderness trails.

Hayman lavishes praise on Lachine’s design of the 22-km course. “For the half, it’s hard enough to keep running past the waterfalls of the Magpie River, let alone the gorgeous and rugged section of the Voyageur Trail along the river,” he says. “It’s truly glorious.

“You get through the first part of the half-marathon, a little tired but making your way,” Hayman continues. “Then boom, a 4-km climb that never ends, compounding the heaviness in your legs, placing all the onus on moving forward from the physical act of running to mental self-talk. It’s devilish! That climb is where racers will contemplate what they’re doing with their lives. But again, it’s glorious, too.”  

Doughnuts, Drizzle, and Camaraderie

With such a small, close-knit group of runners and the friendly vibes of the Lachines and local volunteers, there’s a distinct feeling of camaraderie at the finish line. We linger, despite the dreary drizzle and cool breeze, sipping coffee, eating doughnuts and sharing our memories of the race. Inevitably, the conversation settles on the cemetery hill. Lachine jumps in, flashing a grin that’s equal parts knowing and sinister. “I planned it that way,” he jokes. 

None of us begrudge the challenge; in fact, it’s all the more likely to lure us back. The feeling of satisfaction—both for the accomplishment and for new friendships made—is all-consuming. We laugh and enjoy the moment, looking forward to reliving the experience at next year’s Wawa Trifecta.