Cross Calgary Relay and Ultramarathon

Cross Calgary Relay and Ultramarathon

Route

ROUTE FOR 2007: This is the current route for 2007. The route could change depending on progress on pathway repair south of Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

LEG ONE: The race begins at Baker Park. Driving directions and maps will be included in your race bags. The route joins the bike path at Baker Park with a right hand turn and follows the path to it's end overlooking Valley Ridge Golf Course. There is a turn around at that point and runners will retrace their steps back to Baker Park. From there the course continues on the bike path and the first transition station is in Bowmont Park at the base of "blood and guts". This leg is 7.6 km long and includes a significant hill on the way up to the golf course.

LEG TWO: is located very near the start. When you leave Bowness Park turn left on 48th Ave and then left on 85th Street. You will go over two bridges then the road curves to the left - do not turn left onto Bears Paw Dam Road, instead go straight for a few metres and then turn right onto a gravel road.There will be a red Cross Calgary sign at the entrance to the gravel road. Follow the road to the end where you will find a parking lot and station 2.

Leg two is 13.4 km long and starts by going up a hill that is steep but relatively short. You run through Bowmont Park and encounter an aid station just as you leave Bowmont Park about 4.5 km into the leg. Keep your head up for directions and marshalls as the path becomes roadway for a short bit before going under the Bowness Bridge into Shouldice. You are on roadway again for a short while along the Shouldice ball park. Watch for arrows to pick up the pathway again. Stay on the bike path to station 3. There is a second aid station on this leg; 5 km after the first one.

LEG THREE: is located right beside the old firehall on 10th Street and Memorial Drive. There is a public parking lot there which you can pull into. If there’s not parking there, you will have to go into Kensington (there’s an underground parking lot across the street). You can pull into the firehall parking lot to drop off your leg 3 runner before you park.

This leg continues along the path on the north side of the river from 10th Street, past the zoo to the west side of Deerfoot Trail. The race is now headed along the east side of the river south of Memorial Drive and crosses back over to the west side of the river at 17th Avenue. The third transition station is on a stretch of road just south of the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. This leg is 9.2 km.

LEG FOUR: is located on the bike path before the entrance to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It is accessed via 9th Ave SE. As you approach the bird sanctuary, you will see the station on the right hand side. You can park in the Bird Sanctuary parking lot. There is a part of the pathway under construction along this leg but there is a detour in place. There is also a part of the pathway that is still damaged from the 2005 flooding. The detour around that is on grass - please follow the Cross Calgary arrows.

Leg four is 13.7 km long. There are two aid stations along this leg with the first being about 4km in at the top of a short steep hill. After that aid station you will run along a ridge and go back down a hill to the river. At this point, you cross under Glenmore Trail and into Carburn Park. You will encounter your second aid station as you exit Carburn Park. You will stay on the east side of the river - do not cross the river on this leg. Shortly after you leave Carburn Park the paved pathway ends and becomes a dirt trail for about one kilometre when it becomes paved pathway again. This leg is a bit challenging to mark in some spots as vehicle access is unavailable. Please follow the red arrows.

LEG FIVE: is located on the pathway in the community of Douglasdale. From Deerfoot Trail, take the Douglasdale Blvd exit. Then turn right on Douglas Park Blvd. You will pass Douglas Park Manor and then turn right onto an unmarked access road across from house number 148 and beside house number 149. This road will take you to a parking lot adjacent to the path. You will see a tent where you will check in.

Leg five is 13.1 km long and has an out and back section along the McKenzie Golf course. You will come down a switch back hill in the community of McKenzie Lake and will find your first aid station at the bottom of the hill before the bridge. Staying on the east side of the river you will do an out and back stretch along the McKenzie Golf Course. The out and back section has been shortened due to pathway damage. Turn around when you encounter the fence that has been put up by the provincial park. There is also a red arrow on the pavement that says turn around. When you come back to the bridge (and aid station) you will cross the bridge and carry on to your left . You will come across another aid station after the pathway crosses Bow Bottom Trail. Watch for markings on the path to guide you up to the community of Midnapore. Continue straight on that path until you reach volunteers that will monitor traffic as you make another road crossing. There are a couple of very small road crossings before you reach the finish. Please watch for traffic before you cross. You then follow the path around the lake to the finish line!

The relay transition points have been purposely chosen for their proximity to adequate parking. Your race bags will contain detailed instructions on how to reach each transition point by car as well as maps with the locations of each transition, aid stations and toilet locations.

The route is truly "Cross Calgary" as the course touches the most northwest point of the bike path in the early stage of the race and then touches the most southeast point of the path in the final stage of the race.