The Quebec Mega Path 100-miler is now a part of the Global Path Majors, a nine-race international operating sequence launching in 2024 that member race administrators say objectives to persuade path operating “in the proper route” via celebrating and holding the id of grass-roots races.
Quebec Mega Path, introduced in 2012, is the only Canadian prevent in subsequent yr’s sequence, which kicks off in Hong Kong in January and continues with races in Arizona, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland and England ahead of wrapping up in South Africa in November.
What makes this sequence stand proud of different world path operating circuits, in keeping with this week’s announcement from the Global Path Majors, is the member race administrators’ dedication to holding the nature of native, well-established races. Greater than a race sequence, the announcement describes the Global Path Majors as an affiliation of impartial race administrators devoted to a few shared values: id (holding the “distinct and person persona” of every race), admire (holding the herbal setting and customs of every host race), and variety (interesting to numerous runners via that includes races with a mixture of distances, places and terrain).
Of those, the problem of holding native race id specifically has come to the fore in contemporary weeks with UTMB Global Sequence’ announcement that it is going to be bringing its path operating sequence to Whistler, B.C., subsequent September. That’s the identical position and time native organizers Coast Mountain Path Working had established its fashionable Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) tournament in earlier years.
Jean Fortier, founder and race director of Quebec Mega Path, instructed Canadian Working a technique Global Path Majors objectives to rejoice and domesticate the original id of its races is to become independent from from the UTMB style of “aiming for one race.” (UTMB Global Sequence individuals have an opportunity to win a place at UTMB’s premier tournament in Chamonix, France, both via qualifying outright or via qualifying for a lottery thru finishing an tournament within the sequence.)
“We would like every race to have its personal id”
“Some of the issues is, [UTMB] is all the time aiming for one race, and that’s now not what we would like,” mentioned Fortier. “We would like every race to have its personal id.”
Fortier mentioned whilst Global Path Majors is dedicated to safeguarding what is exclusive about every race, the affiliation additionally offers race administrators alternatives to be told from one some other and to construct on their strengths.
“We’ve been running with races from in every single place the sector for a very long time, and we all the time appreciated the truth that shall we be told from every different. So being in a sequence like this is a chance to head additional in studying,” he mentioned.
He famous being a part of the Global Path Majors may be an opportunity for Quebec Mega Path to assist in giving Canadian athletes the worldwide popularity they deserve.
“We don’t see a large number of Canadian runners at the global scene,” mentioned Fortier. “Possibly this is a chance for them to take their position at the international degree.”
Fortier added it’s additionally an opportunity to exhibit Quebec Mega Path to a extra world box.
“This sequence is essential, as a result of we put a large number of effort within the 100-mile, and we predict it’s one thing that’s going to attraction to runners from all over the place on the planet,” he mentioned.
Global Path Majors 2024 time table
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 Approach—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 The city—Capetown, South Africa, 166 km, +7,516m
Global Path Majors says it’s finalizing access and score gadget main points for the sequence, which can be up to date on its web site.