Challenge the Shield Adventure Run

Challenge the Shield Adventure Run : Parry Sound, ON, May 1-2, 2027

Challenge the Shield is a team-based points adventure run held at the Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre near Parry Sound, Ontario. Teams of two navigate a course on the Canadian Shield and may run or trek to as many checkpoint challenges as they choose from a set of 36 checkpoints. Each checkpoint has a difficulty rating and points value; teams plan their own route and scoring strategy.

Distances and scoring options include:

• 6 hour Adventure Run: up to 36 checkpoints, about 35 km, maximum 2,500 points.
• 3 hour Adventure Run: up to 20 checkpoints, about 17.5 km, maximum 1,250 points.

Race categories cover age and team composition, including coed, male, female, masters (average age over 50), open, juniors (13–19), and family teams (1 adult plus 1–3 children under 13). Age is determined as of December 31, 2027. The 3 hour race offers an option to use a GPS map app for navigation.

An optional training day on May 1 offers two courses: a one-hour training (about 5 km) and a Team Canada Orienteering Challenge (about 5 km point-to-point, advanced navigation using sport-ident timing). Training fee is $25 per person.

Entry is by team of two with a 100 team cap; family teams may contain two to four members. Entry fees vary by deadline: Early $169, Regular $199, Late $229; junior teams are half price. Entry includes maps, host site fees, customized race swag, participation stickers, a post-race pizza per team, and a 2027 Parry Sound membership for race insurance.

Awards include category prizes, a rotating mascot trophy for overall coed winners, points-based stickers for 1,000/1,500/2,000 points, and recognition for teams that reach the perfect 2,500 points. An all-time points leaderboard tracks cumulative points from this event and the CTS Adventure Race, with milestone clubs and past prize distributions noted. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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