The Bad Thing Race

Huron County is a county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province. The county seat is Goderich, also the county's largest settlement. It is to the host to the annual The Bad Thing trail race.The Bad Thing trail race is the ONLY point to point trail race in Ontario. It takes place in Huron County, Ontario along the stunning Maitland Trail. The 50K option starts in Goderich and ends in Auburn. Runners will start at The Lions Harbour Park in Goderich, head down the Lions Park stairs, behind the grain elevators and onto the G.A.R.T (rail trail). Runners will then travel along the entirety of the Maitland Trail, finishing at the Auburn Community Hall in Auburn. The race consists mainly of single track, highly technical trail with a very small amount of road and groomed trail along the way.

Huron County is a county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province. The county seat is Goderich, also the county's largest settlement. It is to the host to the annual The Bad Thing trail race.The Bad Thing trail race is the ONLY point to point trail race in Ontario. It takes place in Huron County, Ontario along the stunning Maitland Trail. The 50K option starts in Goderich and ends in Auburn. Runners will start at The Lions Harbour Park in Goderich, head down the Lions Park stairs, behind the grain elevators and onto the G.A.R.T (rail trail). Runners will then travel along the entirety of the Maitland Trail, finishing at the Auburn Community Hall in Auburn. The race consists mainly of single track, highly technical trail with a very small amount of road and groomed trail along the way.

START (Lions Park Goderich) to Aid Station #1 (Jenkins Corner) 8.1k•     Head down steps from Lions Park•     Right at bottom of stairs onto Maitland Trail(MT) (White blazes/Blueflags)•     Straight across N. Harbor road•     Follow MT across Menesetung Bridge•     Left immediately after crossing the Menesetung Bridge follow (Blue blazes and Blue flags) for 2km•     Right onto pavement and back onto White blazed trail•     Right onto pavement for approx 100m.•     Right onto wide path marked with blue flags follow wide path under bridge and across river flats.     Trail makes its way through Samuels hotel parking lot.•     Right onto Salford rd white blazes/blue flags•     Left onto cut grass field (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Left at top of steps following (White blazes/Blue flags) through Saltford Heights subdivision.•     Right onto Westmount (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Left onto Saltford road for 400m (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto trail (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto Saltford Road (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Continue straight on Saltford Rd until you reach AS#1 (Jenkins Corner) YOU MUST HAVE YOUR BIB MARKED AT THIS AID STATION. TO ENSURE YOU HAVE MADE THE CUTOFF TIME.AID STATION #1 (Jenkins Corner) to Aid Station #2 (Falls Reserve) 8.7k•     Follow Maitland Trail out of AS#1 (White blazes/Blue flags)•     At Km 14.6 you will reach “The Bad Thing” this is an offshoot from the main trail, you will be directed by a Race Marshal to climb to the top of “The Bad Thing” where you must have your bib marked by the Race Marshal at the top before descending and continuing on the regularly marked trail•     Follow trail to AS#2 (Falls Reserve) YOU MUST HAVE YOUR BIB MARKED AT THIS AID STATION TO ENSURE YOU HAVE MADE THE CUTOFF TIME.AID STATION #2 (Falls Reserve) to Aid Station #3 (Sharps Creek Line) 13.6k•     Follow Maitland Trail out of AS#2 (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto gravel road (Grist Mill Line) (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Left onto Benmiller Line (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto Londesboro Rd (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto Cherrydale (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto Maitland Trail (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto Sharps Creek Line (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Continue on Sharps Creek Line to AS#3 (Sharps Creek Line)YOU MUST HAVE YOUR BIB MARKED AT THIS AID STATION TO ENSURE YOU HAVE MADE THE CUTOFF TIME.AID STATION #3 (Sharps Creek Line) to Aid Station #4 (Boundary Bridge) 8.9k•     Follow Maitland Trail out of AS#3 (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Continue on Maitland Trail to AS#4 (Boundary Bridge) YOU MUST HAVE YOUR BIB MARKED AT THIS AID STATION TO ENSURE YOU HAVE MADE THE CUTOFF TIME.AID STATION #4 (Boundary Bridge) to FINISH (Auburn Community Hall) 11.6k•     Follow Maitland Trail out of AS#4 (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Left onto Little Lakes Rd (White Blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto River Line (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Continue straight onto trail at the top of River Line climb this is double track for 1.3k before turning into gravel road (Heron Line) (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Right onto School Rd, follow to field gate and onto trail (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Continue on trail until you reach the Auburn river flats (White blazes/Blue flags)•     Head towards bridge where volunteers will direct you across the river.•     Right onto Maitland Terrace•     Left onto Goderich St•     Right onto King St•     Left onto John St and head straight to the FINISH Auburn Community Hall     YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE FINISH BY THE 5:00PM CUTOFF TIME TO AVOID A  POSSIBLE DNF.

Lake HuronMaitland TrailMenesetung Bridge

Parking available at the Auburn Memorial Hall.

There are 4 Aid Stations and 1 self serve Water Station along the course.

We will be serving a meal to all the racers and volunteers. We will have a big chili feed (meat and veg option) after the race at the Auburn Memorial Hall. The meal will also include buns from the RedCat Farm & Bakery, coffee from Coastal Coffee and donuts from Culbert’s bakery. Yum! You can wash all of these goodies down with a pint of beer from local brewery Cowbell Brewing Co.

Medals to all finishers. Awards will be given to the top 3 male and female 50k finishers.

10 hrs

Because this a point-to-point race, runners will be transported from the meeting point in Auburn (the Auburn Memorial Hall), via bus to the starting point in Goderich. Please meet at the Auburn Memorial Hall no later than 6:00am before the start of the race to check-in. The bus will leave Auburn at 6:15am sharp for the 50K option.