64 km. It's not a Marathon
It's a Fat Ass event--No fee, no aid, no swag, no whining.
Inclusive. Non-binary, Female, Male. Run, walk, hike, fastpack.
Since 1980 people have been completing the Mantario Marathon on the last full weekend in September. It's a 2-day, Self-Supported Mantario Trail run where you camp halfway at Moosehead Lake.
Saturday the race begins with a mass start at the Caddy Lake South Mantario Trailhead, finishing 32 km later at Moosehead, the halfway overnight campsite. All the race participants need to be self-reliant & carry everything needed for 2 days, including the halfway camp. Day 2, features a reversed start based on individual times from Saturday, with the first start at 7 AM and everyone else follows based on their time lead or placement from the day before. The race finishes 32 km later at the Big Whiteshell North Mantario Trailhead.
The event is challenging. It is not officially rated but consider it a Black Diamond trail. It's a difficult trail to traverse as well as to follow. Most people lose contact with the trail and have to find the trail again, often several times each day. There is no aid along the trail. Camping is wilderness camping with no services. Expect a lot of ups and downs with more than 1500 metres of loss and gain. The trail is through boreal forest and Canadian Shield. There are numerous water crossing. The trail is often wet and slippery.
Rules
1. All competitors must be self-sufficient. Carry all that you need to be independent—adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, maps, compass, first aid and other equipment necessary to allow you to safely complete the event including spending a night under the stars.
2. During the event, stop to assist any participant you come across who needs or may need assistance.
3. Pack out what you pack in. This applies to what becomes garbage—food packaging, those socks that gave you the big blisters on the first day and any appendages that should happen to fall from your body during the run.
4. The burning of garbage, food, clothing, etc. is prohibited. Pack it in, pack it out.
Do I have to run? May I hike?
You are welcome to run, walk, hike, fastpack, etc. as long as you can make it to Moosehead Lake to camp for the night and finish the trail the next day. You must be able to travel on foot approximately 30 km each day while carrying all our overnight gear over rugged terrain.
Why is there no cost?
It's a Fat Ass event, a non organized event that is steeped in the spirit of trail running—challenging, fun and free. Your responsibility is your own. No liability accepted, no insurance, no race director, no event staff, no organization, no company, no aid, etc.
You are responsible for yourself
You need to be self-supported--pack and carry all that you need for the 2-day event. Food, water, shelter, sleeping, clothes, navigation and route finding, a means to filter or purify water, emergency and safety equipment, repair and first aid, etc.
For injuries or if you need help, Call 911/active EMS, same as any run or hike. Carry and know how to use a satellite messenger/communicator.
Is the route marked?
There are no Mantario Marathon markings. You must be able to follow the Mantario Trail. Bring and use the Mantario Trail map, a compass as well as download the Mantario gpx file to your device.
Mantario Trail map is available here https://www.canadamapsales.com/en/catalogue/books/hiking/p17252692.html or
here https://www.wildernesssupply.ca/maps-guidebooks/canada-map-sales/mantario-hiking-trail-map.
Mantario gpx is available here, https://www.facebook.com/groups/2367101488/files/files
Experience, Training and Expectations
You should be an experienced trail user, for instance an ultra or trail runner or hiker. Prior experience on the Mantario Trail or a similar trail such as Hunt Lake is most beneficial. Other assets include route finding skills especially in the Canadian Shield and boreal forest environments. While long distance training is important do not under estimate the requirement of training with your backpack. Yes, it is important to be able to run 64 km but it's more important to be able to that run 64 km while carrying your overnight kit.
For more information see the event website
https://mantario-marathon.webnode.page
Event's current local time: 6:48 AM CT
