A Spring Road Race with Tradition and History

Still time to register for the Canadian May long weekend event.

By Chelsea Cameron-Fikis Chelsea Cameron-Fikis is a nature and outdoors enthusiast who is working towards her first novel.

October 28, 2024

If you are an avid runner, plan a trip to Thunder Bay, Ontario for Monday May 20th, to take part in one of Canada's oldest road races, the Fire Fighters 10-Mile Road Race. It is one to mark on your calendar to get into the running season! The 10-Miler presented by Fresh Air is held on the Canadian May long weekend (Victoria Day) and is an exciting and historic race that dates back to 1910.

The 2019 event as in years past expects to attract visiting runners from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, southern Ontario and from towns across Northwest Ontario.

This historic road race attracts close to a 1000 runners each year. In 2014, the event attracted over 1,100 runners, a record field for this historic race, showing why it remains one of Thunder Bay's most popular local sports events.

A community celebration for runners of all speed levels, the Fire Fighters 10-Miler remains one of Thunder Bay's premier sports events.

A Premiere Spring Road Race

Register to be a part of this exhilarating race, where runners look to complete the challenge of the 10-mile distance. The race starts at 9 am on Victoria Day Monday May 20.

The 10-mile course is a beautiful out and back course that loops through beautiful Marina Park on the city's northside. You will get to see the famed Sleeping Giant overlooking theThunder Bay harbour on the scenic shores of Lake Superior. The start-finish is on May St. in the downtown south core near City Hall and the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, which is all part of the race tradition.

Thursday April 28 was the deadline for the early bird registration, while the final registration deadline is Monday, May 13. Registration is easy and can be done online. Runners have the option to run the race as an individual challenge or to sign up as part of a five-person relay team with each team member running a two-mile segment. The relay event is very popular in attracting numbers and has returned with three categories for those who want to take on the 10-mile challenge as a team.

The race fees range up to $85 based on when you register, along with options to pay for a Race Technical T Shirt (early registration) and a pasta dinner from the Columbus Centre on Sunday May 19..

Fresh Air is the Presenting Sponsor and will be offering cash prizes for the top male and top female finishers. The Thunder Bay Professional Fire Fighters Association continues to be a proud supporter of this event, as many of their members will be running the full race and participating in the popular relay event.

The race would be nothing without the cheering spectators that line the city-long route especially along the final mile on May St and also in Bay-Algoma Neighbourhood known asThunder Bay's connection to Finnish heritage. The race draws strong community support from the almost 200 volunteers involved with the race who along with local spectators play an enormous role in generating excitement and spurring on every runner to perform to their potential. Anybody who has participated in this event will attest to the powerful impact of a cheering crowd as they compete.

With the support of Fresh Air and other local sponsors this event is made possible. The Victoria Inn is the host hotel again for this year's event. Visitors looking for hotel accommodations can find more information at VisitThunderBay.com.. It is not too late to sign up for this celebrated Victoria Day road race in Thunder Bay. Hope to see you crossing the finish line!