Overview
The Canal Corridor 100 Mile Endurance Run will be held on October 7-8, 2023. Registration can now be found at: https://runningforwardandgivingback.com/canal-corridor-100 The start and finish is in downtown Akron, Ohio at Canal Place, home to Missing Falls Brewery and R.Shea Brewing. Runners will run on the Towpath Trail in Stark, and Summit and Cuyahoga County. The race will run out and back in both the north and south direction, following a similar course to our first year of the event. The course is FAST, FLAT, and SCENIC - suitable for anyone looking to complete their first 100 miler or a seasoned veteran who is going after the 100 miles PR. Aid stations are staffed by experienced ultra runners in Northeast Ohio who will make sure runners receive proper aid and care. Above all, we strive to be inclusive and welcoming and work to make our region a better place to live for all. Profits from this event will be donated to the Friends of Stark Parks, Summit Metroparks Foundation Trails Fund, the Conservancy for the Cuyahoga National Park and the Ohio and Erie Canal Coalition, non-profit organizations that oversee and help maintain the trail systems in Northeast Ohio.
We strive to make this event inclusive. If you're looking to run 100, but the race is inaccessible to you financially, please contact the race director. Every year several runners ask that we donate their registration to someone in need. We can fit you in. In addition, we are a Trail Sisters approved race. You can expect equal space for women and men at the start, equal podium spots, and menstrual products will be clearly available at aid stations for anyone in need.
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Objective
The objective of this project is to provide a successful, enjoyable, inclusive, safe and profitable race to help raise funding and awareness for trail preservation, access to green space and to promote the Ohio and Erie Canal Corridor. It is the goal of this project to continue support for canal corridor trails and also help provide funding to develop and enhance the canal corridor experience for visitors so that all people can have the experience of just going for a run or experiencing the trails.
Course Description
The start/finish line is at Missing Falls Brewery in downtown Akron, OH. The course runs along The Towpath Trail following the Ohio & Erie Canalway. The Towpath is a crushed limestone trail that yields to asphalt or concrete walkway and wooden bridges. Our course is 45% crushed limestone, 45% asphalt, 5% concrete and 5% wooden bridges. The start is in downtown Akron, Ohio and travels south on the Towpath to the High Mill Trailhead in Stark Parks, approximately 24 miles, then returns north. You can obtain aid from the start/finish line on your way to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park all the way to the Canal Exploration Center in Valley View, Ohio before turning around at approximately 75 miles to return to Akron, OH. There are aid stations approximately every 5-7 miles apart throughout the course. The aid stations will be staffed by seasoned ultrarunners and will offer water, electrolyte drink and various food items including hot foods at night. Elevation gain over the entirety of the course is 807 feet. A course map is available here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1HYyQNmAm321OhCm03SgZgPrPbFBDUoNF&usp=sharing
A National Heritage Area
The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area — designated by Congress in 1996 — to help preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, landscapes, towns and sites that grew up along the first 110 miles of the canal that helped Ohio and our nation grow.
Annually, more than 2.5 million Americans find their way to the iconic 81+ mile Towpath Trail running through the heart of the Canalway. The historic Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the nationally designated America’s Byway offer alternate Canalway travel options through the National Heritage Area.
Whether birding, hiking, bicycling or traveling by horseback, trail, rail or Byway — the cultural, historic, recreational and natural resources of the Ohio & Erie Canalway add quite a bit to the quality of life in the counties of Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas in Northeastern Ohio.
Within our borders — stretching 110 miles from Cleveland to New Philadelphia — you’ll find the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, the County Park Districts of Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties all working together with communities and organizations to restore, build and replenish the cultural, historical, natural and recreational resources of the region that collectively tell our story.
It’s been a source of economic strength for Ohio as well. Since receiving its National Heritage Area designation in 1996, the Ohio & Erie Canalway has leveraged upwards of $350 million in Federal, State, Local and Private investments throughout the region. Of that total, $85 million in leveraged investments have taken place along the Towpath Trail itself. In many respects, it’s an historic return on the $12 million in National Park Service funding that the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association has been awarded and is distributing through a combination of grants and technical assistance to regional partners.
The collaborative community spirit at the heart of every National Heritage Area remains the hallmark of Ohio & Erie Canalway programs and projects that continue to help Ohio and our nation grow.
Schedule of Events
Packet pickup and check in at Missing Falls Brewery on Friday October 6, 2023.
Race Starts at 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 7, 2023 in Akron, Ohio.
There is a 30 hour time limit.
The finish line is back in Akron, Ohio. The race ends at 1:00pm on Sunday October 8, 2023.
Friday, October 6
1:00pm – 6:00pm : Check-in and packet pickup
1:00pm – 6:00pm : Drop Bags
Saturday, October 7
5:30am – 6:30am: Runner Packet pickup & late drop bags for Late Arrivals
7:00am SHARP: Race Starts
FINISH LINE – Missing Falls Brewery
Sunday, October 8
6:00am: Missing Falls Opens for Brunch!
1:00pm: Race Closes
Volunteer!
We want your help in making this a fun and rewarding event for the runners as they achieve their goals. This is much more than just handing out peanut butter and jelly. You are an integral part in helping every runner cross the finish line. Our team recognizes that and will provide support in helping you to make that happen.
A pre-race volunteer meeting and post-race potluck will help you to make this experience interactive and rewarding. We want you to build friendships, camaraderie and most importantly have fun!
Volunteering at our race will be a unique experience, as its about highlighting and supporting the amazing local running community. We offer our volunteers some pretty fantastic swag, and you will have stories from the trenches to tell for days!
This race benefits the parks that we are lucky to have in this area. Profits from this event will be donated the Conservancy for the CVNP, Canalway Partners and the Ohio and Erie Canal Coalition, non-profit organizations that oversee and help maintain the trail systems in Northeast Ohio.
If you are interested please signup on Ultrasignup as a volunteer and we will be in contact with you.
