REGISTRATION
Registration Cost: $260 CDN (+GST & UltraSignup fee)
Payment Processing Date: February 28, 2025
Eligibility: Participants must be 18 years or older on race day
Important Details:
*Payment will be requested February 28, 2025. You will have 48 hours to confirm and process payment. Once processed successfully, your spot in the Bow Valley Ultra is confirmed.
*If payment is not received within 48 hours, the waitlist registration will be removed and the race spot will be offered to the next runner, and the original participant will need to re-register or join the waitlist based on availability.
*Payment Methods: We accept most major credit cards; however, AMEX (American Express) and Discovery cards are not accepted.
Refund & Transfer Policy:
*Registration fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-deferrable to another Lewiston Ultra Event or future event.
*In the unlikely event that final permits are not approved, refunds will be issued, minus committed admin, Stripe, and UltraSignup fees.
Permitting Note:
We are collaborating with Alberta Parks, Friends of Kananaskis Country, Bragg Creek Trails, and the Town of Canmore to finalize permits for this exciting inaugural event. While we are strongly confident in our planning, sustainability measures, and strong partnerships, final approval is still pending at this point.
ABOUT THE RACE
The inaugural Bow Valley Ultra (BVU) is hosted in Kananaskis, beginning and ending in the beautiful town of Canmore, Alberta.
The BVU is purposefully scheduled during the shoulder season to boost local tourism, highlight the stunning fall colors, and provide an incredible opportunity to experience the beauty of the Bow Valley trails. As a single-distance event, it celebrates the iconic 100-mile challenge while complementing the existing local trail racing community.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (to register for the BVU, racers must meet the following criteria):
COMPLETE A QUALIFYING RACE:
Finish a minimum 50-mile trail race between January 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025 (there are no vertical gain or technical criteria for the qualifying race). A trail race in this context is defined as a race that occurs on at least 75% natural non-paved surfaces.
*Provide results: During registration, racers must submit a link to their qualifying run with publicly available results. Results must meet these conditions:
*The run must be completed within the official cutoff times of the event.
*Completing 50 miles or more as part of a last person standing event is acceptable if the distance is clearly listed in the results.
*Completing a fixed time event is acceptable provided at least 50 miles is completed within 12 hours.
*Virtual events, FKTs, classic lines, stage races, and Fat Ass runs are not accepted. Qualifying races must be fully permitted from all relevant land management agencies. Races that illegally utilize public lands, avoid permitting requirements by keeping a small start list or “require suggested donations” will not be accepted.
TRAIL WORK REQUIREMENT:
In the spirit of giving back to the trail community, all BVU racers are required to complete at least 8 hours of trail work in the same calendar year as the event, prior to August 31, 2025. Trail work in this context is defined as either work on a trail used by a trail running race, or construction work on a new/existing natural-surface trail under the supervision of a formal trail maintenance organization under permit by the appropriate land management/stewardship agency (no pirate trails!).
*Local racers are encouraged to volunteer with Bragg Creek Trails or Friends of Kananaskis Country.
*A BVU Trail Work Form will be provided soon, along with submission details.
*Submitted forms will be reviewed, and racer status will be updated on a public roster within 48 hours. Racers who do not complete and submit their trail work form by the deadline will be removed from the event.
*We realize that not all prospective racers live in a situation that permits them to volunteer with a local land management/stewardship agency. Please reach out to the RD via the Ask a Question button above if this is the case.
*Should you be unable to race in the year of your registration, volunteer hours do not carry forward.
Race Package Pick-Up will be at RunUphill in Canmore, Alberta on Friday, September 26. Race morning package pick up will not be available. Race packages not collected will not be mailed or made available at a later date.
For full details, racer guides, and event updates, please visit www.lewistonultraevents.com
THE COURSE
The BVU race route is an out-and-back course starting and finishing in the stunning town of Canmore, Alberta. The exact route is still to be confirmed and will take place on maintained and existing trails. Elevation gain is estimated to fall between 4,000 and 6,000 meters. We understand this is a broad range and will provide updated figures as soon as permitting allows.
Racers are permitted to have one pacer join them at the halfway point (50 miles) or at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27—whichever comes first. Pacers are expected to be familiar with BVU rules, wear the provided official pacing bib and enter and exit aid stations alongside their racer but never ahead of them.
If a pacer falls out of visual distance from their racer, the runner may continue solo, and the pacer is expected to exit the course at the next aid station. Only one pacer is allowed to accompany a racer at any given time.
Racers will have 30 hours to complete the BVU, from 7:00am on Saturday, September 27, to 1:00pm on Sunday, September 28. Generous mid-race cutoff times will be implemented throughout the event to ensure a safe race experience.
Please note: All course details, including elevation and route, are subject to change based on permitting requirements.
Event's current local time: 5:57 AM MT
