80km
2146m D+

Athlete's Guide

In order for you to know everything about your race and to better prepare yourself, we have gathered all the important information in one simple guide.

You will find information about:

• services available at the aid stations
• information for your support crew
• dropbags
• on-site activities 
• and more!

Course overview

Learn more about the course by reading the “Course overview“.

Weather

Charlevoix’s climate is cold and humid in September.

Furthermore, temperatures and precipitations can be extremely cold in the fall. It is therefore important to be vigilant to the risks of hypothermia.

• Seasonal averages: Minimum moyen 3°C
• Maximum moyen 15°C
• Sunrise: 5 h 15
• Sunset: 18 h 08

Required Equipment

To take part in these events, some basic materials and equipment are mandatory. However, it is important to note that the mandatory equipment is considered the absolute minimum required and that each athlete should adapt the contents of their bags to their own needs and capacities.

Mandatory Equipment

• COVID : Bottle of antiseptic product
• COVID : 2 masks or face coverings
• Minimum of 1 litre water supply
• Food supply (energy bars, gels, other)
• Whistle
• Survival blanket, with minimum dimensions of 1,40m x 2m
• Jacket with hood to withstand inclement weather that includes a waterproof and breathable membrane (minimum suggested: 10,000 Schmerber). The jacket must have an attached hood (windbreakers will not be accepted)
• Working headlamp (recommendation: 200 lumens or more for the main light)
• Warm hat (tuque)
• Cell phone
• Reusable cup or container for food and liquid (e.g. soup) min 15 cl
• EpiPen (For those who have severe allergic reactions)

Suggested Equipment

• Course map or Ondago
• Extra set of batteries, extra working headlamp or power bank (charger)
• Bear bell
• Gloves 
• Baseball cap, bandana or Buff® (for sun protection)
• Waterproof or windproof pants
• Long-sleeved mid-layer (arm warmers do not count as this midlayer)
• Allowed : Trecking poles and hearphones
• Prohibited : Animals

Phone

Although there is no reliable service along most courses, the athlete can carry his phone with him. Text messages can be transmitted, depending on location.

Using the ONDAGO app, you can use your smartphone to navigate the different interactive maps of the UTHC. Even without cellular reception, you can see where you are along the race course of your choice as the application uses only your phone’s GPS. However, you must download the course maps BEFORE heading out to areas with poor cellular reception.

Download Ondago

Free Training programs

United for Sports offer you free training programs of the 10K, 28K, 65K, 80K and 125K.

Realized by high-level athletes with experience in coaching, the programs are tailored to the course, distance and level of experience of the participants. The training programs of each event are therefore unique: they reflect the experience of each of the athletes and exceptional teamwork.

Download your free training program

Terms and Rules

• The Ultra-Trail Harricana (UTHC) has a zero tolerance policy for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The UTHC reserves the right to require drug tests after the competition for all performanceenhancing drugs on the World Anti-doping Agency’s list;
• Ensure your bib is worn on the front of the body and is visible at all times;
• Always remain on the marked trail;
• Always pick up your trash and dispose of it at the appropriate areas of the aid stations;
• Poles are allowed for distances of 42km and over;
• Cutoff times must be respected to avoid elimination;
• Mandatory equipment must be worn or carried at all times.

Read the Terms and Conditions

Read also the Health Guide For Athletes 2020 (COVID)

Frequently Asked Questions

Read our FAQ webpage to find many answers to your questions

Go to the FAQ page

Pacer

Pacers are not permitted in 2020 because of the COVID-19.

Support crew

Due to the remoteness of the aid stations, support crews are not permitted for the 65km and 80km events.

Drop bags

A “The North Face” bag will be given to you when you pick up your bib. You must clearly identify your TNF drop bag.

The morning of the race, when you exit the shuttle bus, you will be able to leave the bag, identified with your name and bib number. This drop bag will be your finish bag so you should pack a towel and change of clothes.

Onsite Services

After the race, athletes will be offered a free gourmet meal featuring organic foods from the Charlevoix region. A vegetarian meal will also be available.

Aid Station Menus

All details concerning the menu offered at the different aid stations are HERE.

Event color Number

Timing chips will be stuck to the bib. Your bib must be worn on the front of the body, always visible and on top of the outermost layer of clothing. If you choose to accompany your child on the short distances (when permitted), you must remove your bib to do so.

EVENT COLOR NUMBER

• 125km Sienna brown 1-299
• 80km Orchid purple 8001-8500
• 65km Yellow 6001-6500
• 28km Turquoise 2001-2999
• 10km Coral 1001-1500
• 5km Desjardins green 5001-5500
• 2km Light green 200-499
• 1km Cyan blue 500-999
• Bénévoles The North Face red

Trail Markings

There will be pink flags every 250m and mileposts every kilometer, counting down the number of kilometers left.

Prohibited sections or passages will be marked with orange paint on the ground.

Timing and Online Results

Timing for all events is done by Sportstats. The results will be available HERE. You can go to their website to see the results. Athletes and spectators can also follow the racers on this website. You can program live updates of your Twitter feed or Facebook wall through the Sportstats website.

After the race, you can also download your participation certificate through the Sportstats website. Your family and friends can follow your progress in realtime with the Ondago+ application. 

Dropping out and Getting Back

Should you choose to drop out of the race, or be required to end the race for medical reasons, it is important to signal your abandonment to the nearest aid station captain or to a first aider.

It is prohibited to quit the race and leave the course without signaling your abandonment to a member of the UTHC organisation. Every person abandoning the race must ensure that the race director has taken note of his bib number.

The bib numbers of the racers having abandoned will then be sent to the timing and results team. Once an athlete has signaled his desire to abandon the race, he will be taken in charge by the UTHC team to ensure he will be returned to the Mont Grand-Fonds event area.

Since many of the aid stations are difficult to reach, we ask that you be patient while transportation is arranged. This process can take some time and you may have to wait several minutes before being transported back to the Mont Grand-Fonds.

Need some inspiration?

The Ultra-Trail Harricana invites you to enter the world of several inspirational figures in the Quebecois, Canadian and international trail-running community. Listen to their race stories, their trail highlights, their juicy anecdotes, their vision and life philosophy, how they got started in this budding discipline and more!

You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about the life of these dedicated runners, and you’ll be inspired!

Listen to the “Free Your Wild Podcast”

** Follow the podcast with Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Deezer or Sonos ! *