CHALLENGE THE SHIELD

ADVENTURE RUN
 
Parry Sound, ON

MAY 4, 2025

Registration Now Open!

OVERVIEW
The 3rd annual Challenge the Shield Adventure Run is an awe-inspiring  wilderness endurance challenge on the rugged Canadian Shield. Teams of two run or trek to as many of the 36 checkpoint challenges as they choose amongst the iconic windswept pines, pristine lakes and granite rock barrens as they choose. Each checkpoint is assigned a difficulty rating and points value and teams decide how many checkpoints they want to tackle. The "choose-your-own-adventure" points-based course design is both beginner-friendly and an epic challenge of strategy and adventure for even the most experienced teams. You decide the adventure!  Challenge your friends.  Challenge the Shield!

HOST SITE
Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre (Parry Sound, Ontario).
Link to Georgian Nordic weather station.

ADVENTURE RUN RACE DISTANCES
Teams can choose between two race distances:
6-hour Adventure Run
Up to 36 checkpoints. Up to ~35 km in distance. Maximum points: 2,500.
3-hour Adventure Run 
Up to 20 checkpoints. Up to ~17.5 km in distance. Maximum points: 1,250.
3-hour race participants will  have the option to use a GPS Map App to assist with navigation. See event guide for details.

CATEGORIES
6-hour: Coed, Male, Female, Masters (average age >50)
3-hour: Open, Juniors (ages 13-19)
*age as of December 31, 2025.

CHALLENGE STICKERS & AWARDS
Challenge yourself at Challenge the Shield!
The overall (coed) winning team will take home our Challenge the Shield mascot Squirrelly George for the year (George as in Georgian Nordic and squirrelly because you gotta be a little bit squirrelly to do a race like this right!). There will also be prizes for the first-place team in all categories (Coed, Male, Female, Masters, Open, Junior).
 
The Challenge the Shield is also about challenging yourself. Whatever your age or experience we would like to reward your achievements in this race.  How many checkpoints can you find?  How many points can your team get? Challenge the Shield Points Challenge Gold, Silver, and Bronze CTS stickers will be given to teams that get 2000, 1500, and 1000 points, respectively! All teams will get a Challenge the Shield participation sticker! Any teams that navigate to the perfect 2500 points total will have completed Ontario's Toughest Navigation Race and will be Crowned as Ontario's Toughest Navigation Racers.

REGISTRATION & ENTRY FEE
Entry fee is for a team of two. Registration is limited to a total of 80 teams.
Entry fee includes professional customized race maps for each team member, host site day-use fees, customized CTS race swag (i.e., t-shirt, towel, socks) for all early or regular deadline team entries, CTS participation sticker, a post-race pizza for each team, and a 2025 Georgian Nordic Adventure Running membership to cover race insurance. Entry fee does not include HST or Zone-4 online transaction fee. Refund Policy
Entry deadlines: Early until Feb. 14, 2025; Regular until Mar. 21, 2025; Late until Apr. 25, 2025.
Race fees: Early $140; Regular  $160; Late $180 (Junior teams half price)
Discounts: GNOAC members can email us for a  50% off  discount code.
Registration Link       Confirmed Teams

EVENT GUIDE, RULES & REQUIRED GEAR
2025 Event Guide available March 1, 2025. Download our 2024 Event Guide for details on the race, required gear, race day schedule, and more. Challenge the Shield  Adventure Run race waiver and photo consent form.

RACE DAY SCHEDULE
0730-0830    Race packet pick-up at Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre
0840               Pre-race briefing
0900               Mass start (6-hour and 3-hour races)
1200                Finish (3-hour race)
1215-1300        3-hour race post-race pizza and awards
1500                Finish (6-hour race)
1515-1600        6-hour race post-race pizza and awards

RACE RESULTS
2024 Results: 6-hour  2-hour  Team List
2023 Results: Link

CONTACT
[email protected]

ADVENTURE RACING ONTARIO
​The Challenge the Shield 6-hour Adventure Run has applied to be an official race in the 2025 Adventure Racing Ontario Series. For more information on the Adventure Racing Ontario Series click the logo below.