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1. 2026 Backyard Ultra World Team Championship
2. Athletics Canada's 2027 rule changes will clarify which race results count toward official rankings, records and qualifying standards
3. Sudbury Rocks Running Club - Group Runs
4. Photos This Week,
5. Upcoming Events: November 8 Run to Remember, December 6 Santa Shuffle

Recent U.S. marathon mishaps at the Baystate Marathon in Lowell, Mass., have raised questions about when a race result officially counts, and why course measurement certification alone might not be sufficient for your result to count. Athletics Canada’s updated framework, which takes full effect Jan. 1, 2027, will require races to be sanctioned by a provincial governing body for performances to count toward official rankings, records and qualifying standards.

On Sunday, Spencer Friske of Boston, Mass., won the race in 2:15:04, supposedly meeting the qualifying standard for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. The women’s winner, Caitlin McGinley of Coatesville Pa., also believed she had qualified, after running 2:36:08 (Qualifying standard for women)

Both later learned their performances are ineligible because the event is not sanctioned by USA Track & Field (USATF), despite the course being certified (meaning the distance has been accurately measured). The dilemna illustrates a distinction that runners may not know: a certified course and a sanctioned race are not the same thing.

Course certification confirms that a route has been accurately measured to the required standards. Sanctioning is a separate process that confirms an event meets the governing body’s rules and requirements pertaining to safety. Thankfully for runners in Canada, Ahtletics Canada and provincial governing bodies are moving toward a more connected system of its own to make things easier.

What Canada’s new rules mean for runners
In March, Athletics Canada announced an updated national framework for road and trail race sanctioning and course measurement certification. The changes are being phased in during 2026, with full implementation scheduled for Jan. 1, 2027.

Under the new framework, road races seeking official performance recognition must be provincially sanctioned and held on a nationally certified course for results to count toward provincial, national and international rankings, records and qualifying standards. A course cannot be certified until it has the required provincial sanctioning.

For runners, that means checking a race’s distance alone may not be enough when a result needs to meet a specific eligibility requirement.

New guidance from Athletics Ontario
Athletics Ontario (AO) is also providing new guidance to help clarify things for racers in the province of Ontario. The organization has become increasingly involved in providing more clarity about sanctioning standards–which help ensure a race is safe and compliant for participants.

All AO-sanctioned races are listed online, and those races must renew their sanctioning annually. Currently, there are races in Ontario that risk losing Boston qualification eligibility for 2027 if they do not meet the requirements to be an AO sanctioned race. Effective for all 2027, Canadian races must now hold a valid Athletics Canada certification and annual provincial sanction to maintain a variety of qualification statuses. Make sure you verify with Athletics Canada and with each provincial sport organization, as opposed to an official race website which may contain outdated information or potentially false claims.

What Canadian runners should check
Athletics Canada’s new framework is intended to bring greater consistency to the relationship between sanctioning and course certification across the country. If you’re targeting a specific standard, the safest approach is to check the requirements of the organization accepting the result, rather than assuming every race will qualify. Confirm that the event is sanctioned, that the course has a valid certification for the current year and that the competition’s rules accept performances from that event.

This matters even more for athletes chasing marathon qualifying times, national team standards or record performances, where the eligibility criteria may differ from those for an ordinary personal best. Obviously we’re not all seeking official recognition. But for someone who has spent months training toward a qualifying time, discovering the distinction after crossing the finish line can be devastating.

https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/u-s-marathon-controversies-highlight-why-canadas-new-race-rules-matter/

    Wednesdays - meet at Apex Warrior parking lot departing at 1800h. Typically runs are 1 hour or 10km.
                    Saturdays - meet at Bell Park's Elizabeth St parking lot departing at 0800h. Typically runs are longer at 1.5 hours or 15km minimum.

Generally the pace floats between 5 and 7 minutes per km. Anticipate a mixture of roads and trail running on the routes.
Inclement weather is usually just a challenge. Group has only been cancelled for local races or xmas. Cancellations or changes in meeting locations will be posted.

Locations are show in the attached photos/maps.

Wednesday pm location

Saturday am location

  November 8, 2026

Run to Remember

Run to Remember

November 8, 2026

Participants can choose to run/walk 1 km, 5 km or 10 in the nature trails of the Collège Boréal Sudbury campus. All participants will receive a t-shirt and a medal.

Link to register : https://collegeboreal.akaraisin.com/ui/RuntoRemember2026

We hope to see new and returning participants!

1km Course Map Here                      5km and 10km Course Map Here

 December 6, 2025