Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, runners were still able to safely vie in the 2020 Mis-Adventure Trail Race, a 21-kilometre race beginning and ending at the Mount Lore Fire Hall on Sunday. Five and 10 kilometre distances were also hosted.

The Mis-Adventure run was founded by Bill Dunn and Sue Mackinnon and has been held for 16 years. Originally, the race was not held by the Mount Lorne Volunteer Fire Department but they did play their part since the beginning.

Now, the race has become a fundraiser for the department and the money raised helps pay for insurance as well as other needs around the fire hall.

Thirty-six runners and several dogs, competing in the 21 and 10 kilometre race, gathered at the start line, while adhering to physical distancing protocol.

At the sound of the start pistol the runners headed toward the Annie Lake Golf Course, they then passed through the Mount Lorne Recreation Centre.

At Bear Creek, the athletes crossed the highway to begin working their way back to the fire hall.

Around the one hour, 10-minute mark the buzz began to pick up about the first runner arriving.

They didn’t have to wait long, bobbing through the trees, Olivier Roy-Jauvin came into sight. He kept a quick pace as he made his way toward the finish and kept it up as he broke through the tape at the finish line.

Roy-Jauvin’s winning time was one hour, 29 minutes and 38 seconds.

“I feel good, that was really fun,” said Roy-Jauvin. “It’s a beautiful day, snow on the mountains. I like running when it is cool.”

The most challenging part of the race for Roy-Jauvin came on the back half of the run.

“There’s a bit of a hill going up Mount Lorne that got my heart beating pretty fast, but there is a nice downhill afterward,” said Roy-Jauvin.

Roy-Jauvin led the race from the onset and said he was happy with his final time. He did cause some confusion for himself and his fellow runners, making the Mis-Adventure Race briefly live up to its name.

“I took a wrong turn at the beginning and led quite a few people the wrong way,” said Roy-Jauvin. “Whoops, sorry about that.”

Roy-Jauvin has been running solo during the pandemic and said it was nice to be out for an event competing against other people.

“Running by yourself gets old so it is nice to have these events,” he said.

Derek Cronmiller crossed through the finish line in one hour, 34 minutes and 18 seconds to secure the runner-up position. Robert Perren, in one hour, 46 minutes and 54 seconds was the third-place male.

Lauren Whyte, one hour, 41 minutes and 14 seconds, won the female 21-kilometre race by edging out Carmen Perren by 15 seconds.

“I wasn’t really going for a particular time I was just out here to have fun,” said Whyte.

Whyte and Perren were neck-and-neck throughout the race, and Whyte said it gave her an extra push.

“I was running with Carmen and she was awesome,” said Whyte.

“We were keeping pace the whole way and it was nice to run with someone else. It was fun.”

Like Roy-Jauvin, Whyte said the toughest segment was the hill climb.

“The hardest bit is always the big hill part-way through,” said Whyte.

“Always hard but then it is a lot of downhill after that so it is comforting.”

Nabbing the third-place position was Sarah Bailey, who crossed the finish line in one hour, 47 minutes and 53 seconds.

In the female 10-kilometre category, Andrea Bacchetta and Elise Brown-Dussault tied, posting 50 minutes, 25 second times. By two seconds, Anna Kirkwood beat Kate McArthur for third.

Yanik Freeman, 47 minutes, 15 seconds, was the fastest 10 kilometre male finisher. Drew Spicer had the next quickest time.

Ben Yu Schott, 23 minutes, 59 seconds, won the male five-kilometre race. Greg Freeman placed second and Michael Lydon third.

Lisa Freeman, 27 minutes, 33 seconds, topped the female race. Elena Joss and Valerie Girard rounded out the top three.

The Mis-Adventure Race is also known for its chili lunch and this year was no different, as the racers got a well-deserved meal after completing their distance.