Endurance Aventure Night Race

Isabelle Creusot / 15.07.2011

A beautiful summer evening in Saint-Etienne de Bolton in the Eastern Townships with racers who are somewhat crazier than average... Upon nightfall, the adventure begins for 150 trail enthusiasts armed with a forehead light and a touch of madness! For 70 participants, a 5-kilometre single-track course will lead them through the forest. They will run or, like the event organizers mothers who are present for this unique event, they will walk. For wilder participants, this 5-kilometre course will be followed by 14 kilometres of mountain biking and a 3-kilometre run.

The starting signal is heard... a continuous stream of light flies under the starting arch before disappearing into the woods! 10 minutes later, the first participants complete the first 3-kilometre stretch...things are going so quickly! The first racer, Jereme Vincendeau, completes the course in 22 minutes 28 seconds closely followed by Francois Guilbault and Mathieu Ladouceur, 16 years old, with respective times of 22 minutes 31 seconds and 23 minutes 18 seconds!

The first woman to finish is not far behind. Catherine Hogan arrives after 26 minutes 40 seconds followed by Manon Saint-Pierre in 27 minutes 30 seconds and Melanie Charbonneau, 29 minutes 21 seconds. At this time, the first duathletes arrived in the transition zone to hop on their bikes before heading off once more... The finish line is full of racers, walkers, and cyclists who are crossing paths, encouraging one another... The beer is cold and the Mexican evening has already begun!

It's the walkers turn to cross the finish line, delighted, while cyclists are already back to begin their run! Nicolas Taillefer is the first to cross the finish line after 1 hour 07 minutes 46 seconds of effort! The second and third places belong to Merlin Dallaire and Kenny Beaudette who respectively finished in 1 hour 10 minutes 15 seconds and 1 hour 10 minutes 55 seconds. Brigitte Benoit will be the first woman to arrive in 1 hour 23 minutes 01 second followed by Genevieve Blais in 1 hour 29 minutes 43 seconds and Julie Bergeron in 1 hour 33 minutes 48 seconds!

The final participants cross the finish line, glowing. They are applauded by the other wild participants who completed the race before them! Another wonderful adventure... Next adventure is Nunavik Adventure Challenge 14-21 oj August and Endurance Aventure Raid to Saint Donat (QC) the 1rst october - www.enduranceaventure.com