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Wolfe Island Classic
(Kingston, Ontario)
Author: dgrant
Date: 2005-07-30
I ran this race for the first time this year. I agree that it is a charming rural race, although it's only a Km away from downtown Kingston. The ferry ride and overall small town feel add to the character.
The course is somewhat hilly, with none of the individual inclines being daunting. The surface is a standard country road. It is a small race through a sparsely populated area, so your fans are the other runners.
The post-race recovery area is well-stocked with water and watermelon. You can also take a jump right in the lake, which is 10 metres from the finish line. Author: Jo-Jo
Date: 2005-07-30
The Wolfe Island Classic is generally held the Sunday of the July long weekend.
This 5k and 10k race just celebrated it's 25th anniversary in 2005.
Held on Wolfe Island just a short ferry ride from Kingston, Ontario I classify this race as one of the most charming ones around. Picture this: take the early morning ferry to the island (it is highly recommended that you travel as a foot passenger...and park your car) and have a pre-race breakfast at the Island Grill. Lots of time to visit with friends and take trips to the porta-potties! The race starts in the village...heads out along the shore...and then leads you back to the finish line at the home of a dog breeder(golden retrievers) where you can lounge about on the large front lawn and say hi to the puppies....or wander across the road for a quick dip in the lake to cool off. Remember to save time for a visit to The Wolfe Island Bakery...catch the noon hour ferry back to Kingston where many of your cyberspace maniacs/forumnites gather at the Lone Star for a post-race lunch. Oh yes...and before you head home walk over to Confederation Basin five (a two minute walk at best) to check out Fan Fayre...the annual artisan/craft show held that weekend.
Oh yeah...the race!!
The Route: This is an out and back route. It is somewhat hilly...three on the way out...two on the way back. On the way out if the running gods are with you (as they were in 2005) there is a gentle breeze off the lake that seems to magically disappear on the turnaround. If it's a really hot day like it was in 2004 be prepared to feel as if you just walked/ran into a Pizza oven.
Chip Timing: There are chips...but no start mat...just one at the finish...so if you are wanting to PB keep that in mind and position yourself at the beginning of the crowd. In 2004 there were about 460 runners at the event but numbers were slightly down this year as so many people vowed never to do this race again after experiencing the 2004 inferno. I expect 2006 numbers will be up as John Stanton has said he will be attending.
New this Year: Kid's Race...a delight to see kids from as young as three powering their way along the course...I think about 250 metres. This race takes place before the 5k/10k ...so as you do your pre-race warmup make sure to check this race out!!
I love this race...this was my first 10k race in 2003...I struggled in 2004 and came back to vindicate myself in 2005! This is the first race I ran where I thought to myself.."gee...maybe I could become a runner"
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