On April 1, 2024, I spread a map of the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail across my kitchen island. Tara and Tammy leaned in.
"I have an idea," I said, tracing my finger along the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail from St. Eugene to Hammond.
I sketched out a simple, no-frills concept: a 74 km relay race with teams of 3–6 runners, short and long legs to suit all abilities; everyone was on their own to get to the start and aid stations stocked with minimal water and snacks—no fancy prizes—just camaraderie, stories, and fun.
Here is the story of the Prescott-Russell Relay.
The Inspiration
The idea for the relay wasn’t random—it had been brewing in my mind for years. The inspiration for the relay was born during a time of uncertainty when the future of running events was in question. On March 13, 2020, as the world stopped, I watched race after race get cancelled. My 100-mile race in Knoxville, Tennessee—my comeback after years of injury and burnout—was no exception.
With nothing to train for, my coach suggested running Fastest Known Times (FKTs). These solo, self-supported challenges quickly became my pandemic pursuit.
The 98 km Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail and Ottawa Link was my first conquest in July 2020. Despite its unassuming flatness, I was hooked. The trail revealed its charm with a kaleidoscope of landscapes: forests, rock cuts, fields, and swamps, interspersed with small towns that whispered stories of their railway past.
Over time, I added FKTs on the Cataraqui Trail (104 km from Smith Falls to Strathcona) and the K&P Trail (172 km from Renfrew to Kingston), each route solidifying my love for railroad trails. In June 2024, I added another railroad FKT to the collection: the Ottawa Valley / Algonquin Trail, 166 km running from Petawawa to Arnprior to Smith Falls. A few more may be in the works for 2025.
In 2023, my obsession took me to Kansas for the Prairie Spirit Ultra, a 100-mile race along another historic trail. This was a 161 km out-out-and-backng the Prairie Spirit Trail. I lost count of how many 100-mile races I have done, but a few are memorable, mainly due to the people holding the race.
My husband and I loved this one - we’d roll into each aid station, usually a small town along the route. Sean as a crew, me as a runner. While he waited for me, he got to hang out with all the volunteers. They’d ask him where we are from, and my running history (which he loves to brag about), and they’d tell them about themselves. And if you are Canadian - they want to learn more about you. He loved it.
When I arrived at the aid stations, the volunteers checked in on me, helped me get what I needed, encouraged me, and told me what was coming up on the next leg.
I leveraged the flat course and made my 100-mile return in 18:35 - 2nd overall and first female. Of course, the time and standing were not important—it was the experience: the route, the runners, the crew, and the volunteers. After a shower and a short sleep, Sean and I returned to the start/finish to watch the others roll in. It was past the 24-hour mark—you see more faces of joy about completing something that one would think was impossible.
Check out this article on a local blog that shows the emotions behind an ultra:
We told the volunteers how much we loved the event. Then I rambled about the running club I was building and how we had similar trails back where we lived - the other Ottawa. I told them how much it inspired me to bring a similar event to our community. I wasn’t blowing smoke up their butts. I enjoyed the events and was determined to have an event here. Of course, the competitive side wanted to do it before anyone else got to it first. Railroad trails were my jam.
The Email
I’ve been following the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail’s Facebook Page for a while. In August 2023, I saw a video in my feed—an interview on Roger TV’s Daytime Ottawa with Eric Collard, Executive Director of the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. He went on about his role and the plans to develop the trail, fundraising, partnerships, grants, etc. He wanted to inspire everyone to get out on this scenic and safe trail. The goal is to be the active network highway to Montreal.
As I watched it, I thought he seemed pretty cool. He might be in on this idea.
A few months later, in February 2024, I sent him an email. I went on about the club, myself as an ultra runner, my FKTs and my experience at the Prairie Spirit Ultra. I concluded with the following:
"All this being said, I would like to bring similar event to the area in the future. This can be as simple as a 5 km run, a relay race along the trail or even a 100M event. If this interests you, I am more than happy to discuss this with you."
Phew, I finally got that one out of the way. I am getting more committed to this idea. I held my breath and waited for a response.
We scheduled a chat days later to discuss the trail, its current and future growth, our club, and possible events. The plan was to develop a concept and touch base later.
The Walking Meeting
Tammy and I met Eric later on an April Friday Morning in Russell. It was a walking meeting along our railroad trail—the New York Central Fitness Trial. No, I didn't establish that one as an FKT route.
I was exhausted that morning, week or maybe even month. I had a 100-mile FKT, Vol State and the Rideau Trail coming up. A new job. Running clinics. The Russell Run, The Beer Mile. I told Tammy I would see if I could postpone it until next year. I tried - sort of - but Eric was so excited about the trail and this event. He went on about partners, sponsors, and the future. All his connections in the community. Oh, those connections: Stoked Oats, Columbia, Hammond Hill, Beaus Brewery, the municipalities, the running community, etc.
Then, he asked me about our registration platform.
“Yes, we have one we use. We directed all our social media to our website and then to Trackie.”
I went on about our extensive mailing list and social media followers. Man, I am in it fully. There was no turning back...unless we had no interest.
I told myself, "Just keep it simple. Go out, have fun, and do something epic." I'll grind through this one like everything else on my plate. Doing something different and new is intimidating. I’ve gone through this many times.
I knew if I backed out, I’d regret it.
The Facebook Group Post
Now that I was finally committed, I posted on the Russell Run Facebook Group on May 2nd:
Here is what has been brewing in my mind for a long time…
I love railroad trails and ultras. I've run Fastest Know Times on several in the area and raced on a railroad trail in Kansas. I'd love to bring an event like this to our region one day. We have a 72-km trail right in our backyard.
So here is the idea. This year, we do a test run with a relay run. We start at St. Eugene and make our way back to Hammond on the PR Trail. Teams of 3 to 6, with a max of 10 teams, exchange at the pavilions or other parking areas so that legs are in the 5 to 15 km range. Teams are responsible for getting to the start, and their vehicles meet them at the exchanges. We provide the bare minimum for aid (water and snacks) to keep costs down.
…
Who's interested?
That was the plan. Again, I held my breath. I didn't know what to get for a response. This stuff is my thing. I love flat, fast and running for hours on end. This group are ½ marathoners, a few marathoners, who enjoy the city's energy and crowds along the route.
After the post went out….crickets…then the comments started to roll in:
"For sure! Sounds like fun."
"Count me in"
"Depending on the day, I'll be there!"
"I'm in with my family to make a team."
"I could be persuaded. I need some goals."
"I'm super interested"
Then I went quiet online about the relay for three months. We still talked about it at parkrun, group runs, and the track, but I have other things on my plate. I wanted to be an athlete this summer instead of a coach or race director.
The Date
The original date was October 5, 2024, my favourite time of the year. The weather would still be warm, and the fall colours would be at their peak. However, trying to hold onto that day was turning into a suicide mission for me—the Russell Run was two weeks after, we resumed our Run Jump Throw and Youth Running Program, and I was deep in training for another FKT.
So, I delayed the run by a month - November 2. I shot an email to Eric with the new day, and he replied:
" Do you think it will be as well attended that late in the season?
You're the lead and we will promote the relay whenever it happens!"
Oh, man. He is thinking what I was. At that time of year, the weather can be sunny and warm, average and rainy, or snowy and cold. It was a gamble. Would those initially interested still be interested? That beautiful, colourful course I promised would be baren.
The Registration
Registration opened on August 28th. The socials and Facebook shares to various groups went out. The positive responses to the posts and updates on social media were encouraging. Chatter from Instagram and Facebook has been overwhelmingly supportive, with many expressing that this is a great idea or initiative.
But alas, this was social media, so you can only take a little stock of what is said in the comments. The direct messages and emails are for the serious contenders.
Ultimately, the Club pulled through to ensure we had enough people for the event. Twenty people was my target—we had 33 in the end.
The Event
My focus for late summer and early fall was the Russell Run, so initially, planning this relay was minimal. Regular phone calls or meetings with Eric kept me accountable, and updates on social media kept the idea alive and fresh in everyone’s minds. But once the Russell Run was behind me, I lived and breathed the relay.
I kept it low-key—mostly. I may have splurged slightly on bibs, swag, and aid station food. Coffee mugs made the cut for swag: functional and memorable, the perfect combo.
“Who do we have for volunteers?” I was asked by Tara or Tammy
”Just the three of us.” I replied.
We were short on volunteers this weekend for this event and parkrun because everyone was participating in the run. It was a good problem to have.
We had six teams with varying paces. I put them in a spreadsheet to estimate who would arrive, where and when. With time, the gap between the first and last group was looking to be 2 hours, with four of the groups arriving almost simultaneously. The logistics was looking to be a challenge.
Tammy, Tara and I would be moving along the trail to greet each runner as they arrived at the exchange stations. The plan was to leapfrog, but the spread was so great that we may miss the runners in time. So I followed the lead group, Tammy in the middle and Tara the last.
We lucked out on the weather. It was cold but not frigid. A sweatshirt and puffy jacket were enough, although I did see a few cocooned in blankets. At least there was no rain. The sun eventually came out to warm up the runners.
The Start
I pulled into the St. Eugene pavilion at 6:30 AM in the pitch dark, with no lights to guide me. By 7:00 AM, teams began to roll in, and we waited together for the first signs of daylight to break. It was a long day ahead—74 kilometres, 6 to 8 hours of running. It was a long distance and day, and much could go wrong during that period.
Bushtukah set up their swag and shoe display. We broke the ice with shoe talk and got to know the group and store better. They opened a new store in Orleans and were trying to get more exposure in our area.
“Bushtukah had a store in Orleans?!”
Case in point.
By 7:30 AM, we huddled under the pavilion for the pre-race briefing. Everything had been covered in the pre-race email, but a little reinforcement never hurt. I walked them through the key points:
“When you hit the Hammond Pavillion, you head north on Guindon Road and run through the town toward the golf course,” I reminded the group, even though they had the map.
At 7:45 AM, we shuttled the first runners to the starting line—a small bridge over a ditch just past a goat farm. Epic, right? We lingered around the start, waiting for 8:00 AM to roll around. A few curious cars drove by, wondering what we were up to. Finally, the horn blew, and off they went—a 74 km journey.
I returned to the St. Eugene pavilion and waited for the runners. As they rolled in, I grabbed videos for the ‘gram. “Did you get the time?” Tammy asked. Oops—that was the start of the timing headaches.
The Frantic Drive Across Prescott-Russell
The day before, I loaded my bike onto my car, packed a book to read, and brought my laptop to upload the splits. With 40 to 70 minutes to run a leg and 10 minutes to get to the following exchange station, that's lots of time for me, right?
I would watch the lead runner roll in and the next runner leave. I estimated the time it would take for them to run the leg, my time to drive, and then figure out when to leave. It took a little time. As I showed up and chatted with the lead group, four to five cars rolled in for the next team. The once quiet pavilion became alive with the energy of the race.
I felt the tug-of-war between needing to be there for the lead group and wanting to hang out with these groups of runners - listening to the stories of the legs, playful banter between teams, and just enjoying being part of something new.
Those ten-—to fifteen-minute drives made me appreciate the area's beauty—even though it was a chilly, cloudy November Saturday and the trees were bare. The backroads, the open fields, the farms, the villages along the way. I wished I was on that course with the runners. My schedule has me running before sunrise, so I missed the long runs on the backroads within the open fields.
Don’t tell me a railroad trail is flat and dull.
The Environment
I was stressed about how the event would unfold. The excitement was evident in the Facebook Group and the messages and emails I received.
“We can’t wait!”
With the delayed date, I envisioned long waits, staring down the trails for miles in the cold with the teams, and runners bored by the flat, straight, barren landscape.
It was far from the opposite—everyone was outside of their vehicles, hanging around the pavilions or leaning along the gates, waiting for the runners. But they were also sharing stories, getting excited for the run and event, and trying to catch up to runners ahead of them.
Each runner has a story to share about what happened along the route. I hope you hear them either on the socials or in person at group runs. I saw what the Russell Run Club values—fun, support, inclusivity, and encouragement.
The Teams
We had six teams, each bringing their own flavour:
The Dream Team
This consisted of Piston Paul and Lightning Line, their daughter Amelie (missing a nickname), and Mau the Machine. This group lived up to their nicknames - racing every weekend during the spring and summer.
Always Run in Pears
Sarah from our club ditched her double stroller and kids and recruited her sister Rachel from Cornwall and brother Mathieu from Toronto. The sisters were runners with an ultra or more under their belts, but Mathieu, on the other hand, was not. But just like his sisters, he was game for anything.
We knew they would be the slower group, but only by a little. A couple of challenges got in the way—injury and a wrong turn—which led to a slower time than planned.
Trail Mix
The run lead, Crystal, recruited fellow members Patricia, Norman, Melisande, Melanie, Jamie, Yves (a last-minute sub), and Julie. Each member had a nickname—cashew, walnut, peanut, etc
Always Running Late Crew
Mike rolled in with his camper van—a place to keep warm and some chilli brewing. As I watched his team roll at the exchange stations, he introduced himself to some of them. It was a last-minute decision, so he assembled a group that had yet to find a team. It included Rox, David, Clair, Patrick, and Amy. I think he only knew Amy, but the group clicked pretty quickly.
Really Handsome Runners,”
When Billy rolled in with his team - Erik and Alex- I asked him how he had learned about the relay. “I was at the Beer Mile.” Oh man, I missed that one. I am pretty good with names and faces. Later, I realized he won the beer mile with his skilled chugging techniques.
Having him return with his crew meant a lot to us. We made a significant impact by inviting him to join us on this long, crazy adventure.
Bushtukah Orleans
The Russell Run Club was at the Army Run in September. I am big on getting the club logo out there. Few of us had branded clothing, and I was carrying a sign. The volunteers approached one of our members with questions about the relay. He mentioned that Bushtukah was interested in putting in a team. The same as I stood by and watched our runners finish - another person mentioned the relay to me. The word is getting out.
After a little nudge from Eric, they registered. But just days before the event, after the bibs were printed, it looks like the “Running Late Crew” needs to change its name. The corporate world, with their approvals, delayed the registration. We are glad they showed up toting some buffs, coupons, and sample shoes.
The team consisted of Brian, Sedra, Kerianne, Sophie, Cadence, Crwys, Leanna and Stephane.
I noticed that the team is a mixture of ages, with a few in their early twenties. As I talked to Brian at the end of the event, he mentioned that the company covered their entry fees. I never thought a modest fee was a significant barrier for these college and university students. It looks like this corporation has a heart.
The Finish
We finished in the driveway of the owner of Hammond Golf Club. We just put our finish line at the end of the driveway, stood at the road, and waited for them to roll in. Some came in solo, as a pair, and others as a team. One just wound up taking a different route. It was not a quiet finish, but as everyone rolled in, we’d gather near the finish flag or stand by the road and watch. Norm (our photographer) caught some unforgettable moments, even if his telephoto lens confused passing drivers, thinking it was a speed trap.
Below is the link to the results. We did our best to get the information in accurately. One of the lessons learned is that Google Sheets and cell phones don’t work that well to record data. Add the cold fingers and the event's excitement - it was a challenge. The finish time for each team is correct.
Really Handsome Guys 6 hours 28 minute
Bushtukah Orleans 6 hours 42 minutes
Running Late Crew 6 hours 50 minutes
The Dream Team 7 hours 04 minutes
Trail Mix 7 hours 05 minutes
Always Run in Pears 8 hours 48 minutes
With the long day on the road and the spread between the teams, I was worried that the runners would grab their meals and drinks and just leave. But the group hung out and chatted about the day. And they stuck around for the speeches and prizes. Yeah, I said barebones, but I snagged a few awards from sponsors and found some from the Club's stash.
The Lessons Learned
Great ideas on paper or in a spreadsheet don’t always translate well in action. This event was no exception!
Timing with Google Sheets
We had a Webscorer subscription that worked well for the beer mile, but setting it up for the run wasn’t a top priority. Instead, I designed a spreadsheet with separate tabs for each team to record splits. While it seemed like a good solution on my computer, I didn’t test it on my phone under real conditions—like freezing fingers.
In the end, we resorted to writing bib numbers on paper and snapping photos with time stamps. Not ideal, but it got the job done.
Parking Challenges
While the pavilions had enough parking for 6–8 vehicles, some exchanges were along the road or at small lots to shorten the legs to a manageable distance. I assumed the spacing would prevent congestion, but that didn’t work out as planned.
There was a lot of yelling to remind runners to stay on the shoulder when cars approached. Even though these were back roads, safety remained a priority and will be revisited for future events.
Communication
Throughout the event, Tammy, Tara, and I relied on text messaging to stay in touch. It worked, but long-range walkie-talkies might be a game-changer next year.
Signage
As I drove out of Vankleek Hill, I noticed a segment where the route briefly veers onto the road. If runners hadn’t paid close attention to the pre-run email or announcements, they could have easily gotten confused. Turns out, arrows are a simple but essential addition—lesson learned!
Backups (and Backups for Your Backups)
Yes, a runner got lost. It happens.
Never assume everyone reads the map, pre-run email, or listens to the announcements. Next time, we’ll ensure signs are more prominently placed. In one case, Tara accompanied a group of runners to Bourget but skipped the Hammond pavilion and went straight to the finish. Without a volunteer to direct them north and insufficient arrows, things got complicated.
This led to Rachel running straight to the end of the trail, confused and wondering what was happening. She eventually found her way and reached the golf course along the road we were trying to avoid.
It’s Not About Winning
Norm (the photographer) put this beautifully in the email he sent me with the link to the photos.”
“I'm certain that many of the participants are still talking about the race. Many will be talking about the cold, some will be talking about the trail condition, a few others will be talking about the distance they covered. What they should be talking about is how much fun they had! When I am behind the lens, I try not only to document a moment but to try to capture the spirit of the subject. I can tell you without a shred of doubt that I saw more smiles on Saturday than anything else. Some were smiles on runners' faces for the camera but most were smiles of pure joy to see their teammates or friends on other teams, or even as the realization of their accomplishment set in….”
The Thank-You’s
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up and made this event possible. Despite the cold and long hours on the road, your energy and enthusiasm made it all worthwhile.
To the Russell Run Club members: thank you for embracing the challenge and trusting us as organizers. Once again, you represented the club beautifully, bringing your fun and supportive spirit to the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail and to every participant you encountered.
A big thank you to those who supported the runners as crew members. Your efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and I’m sure your friends and family on the course deeply appreciated it. I hope this experience inspires you to join us again—whether as crew, volunteers, or participants.
Special thanks to Tara Quesnel-Paul and Tammy Williams for believing in this idea when it was just a plan on a map. Instead of listing reasons why it might not work, you both jumped in wholeheartedly. Your dedication ensured every runner transitioned safely through the aid stations.
Norm Fortin, your unexpected arrival with photography gear was a wonderful surprise. Most of the images in this blog are thanks to you, and they perfectly captured the spirit of the event.
Thank you to Brokenstick Brewery and Stoked Oats for the amazing prizes, and to Lindsay from Hammond Hill/Hammond Golf Course for letting us set up the finish line.
Finally, thank you to Eric Collard from the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. Your support—helping with promotion, swag, and even ensuring the port-a-potties were in place—was invaluable. We can’t wait to collaborate with you again next year to make this event even better.
Next Year
This event started as a wild idea at my kitchen island, and now it’s part of our club’s story. It wasn’t perfect, but perfection wasn’t the goal. We aimed to try something new, have fun, and bring our community together—and we accomplished that.
There will be a “next year,” but it may look slightly different. We’ll likely tweak the format, timing, or distances. This year was a test run, a proof of concept, with our runners serving as our adventurous guinea pigs.
For now, distances will range from 25 to 80 km, with plans to eventually expand to a 100-miler. If that happens, it would be an out-and-back course, ideally starting and finishing at Hammond Hill. The tiny homes there would be perfect for out-of-town participants, and the campground vibe would create the kind of close-knit, ultra-running environment my husband and I love so much. We’d use static aid stations and involve local organizations to cheer on the runners.
Exciting developments are also being worked on for the trail. There are plans to renovate the Bourget Station and secure funding to recruit more volunteers for trail-related events. With the exposure from this event and our club, we hope to draw in more community involvement and attract sponsors to help us grow.
While the event will evolve over time, one thing will remain constant: it will be a space where runners can take on wild challenges, share laughs, and have fun with friends.
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