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1. Run to Remember This Sunday
2. SudburyRocks!!! Marathon 2027... Join us May 30
3. Maxime Belzile repeats for the Pantheres at NOSSA
4. Is changing your running form worth the effort?
5. Sudbury Rocks Running Club - Group Runs
6. Photos This Week,
7. Upcoming Events: November 8 Run to Remember, December 6 Santa Shuffle

https://www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com/

The four individual gold medals claimed by SDSSAA athletes at the 2026 NOSSA Cross-Country Championships in North Bay last week were split right down the middle, with a pair doled out to the para sports tandem of Sophia Carlson (Marymount) and Dante Ricketts (Lasalle), while Maxime Belzile (Macdonald-Cartier) and Yuvraj Singh (Lo-Ellen) claimed the senior and junior boys crowns respectively.

After finishing in third place at the city championships, almost a full minute back of novice champion Loic Collison at Kivi Park, Singh outkicked the Horizon freshman at NOSSA, showing the way in an age grouping that featured a top five, all representing SDSSAA schools: Singh (LEP – 1st); Collison (Horizon – 2nd); Ryan Pineau (LEP – 3rd); Samuel Higgins (LCS – 4th) ; Nick Long (LEP – 5th).

And where Belzile essentially out-leaned local rival Julian Luoma of Lo-Ellen to take the senior boys race in Sudbury, the standout at the home of the Panthères managed to post a victory by almost thirty seconds this time around.

The Sudbury top three in the junior girls division – Mackenzie Roy (SCC), Sofia Kalviainen (LEP), Alice Westby (LAS) – were all up near the front of the pack again at NOSSA, sliding between second and fourth place, as it was Halle Scanlan of St Joseph Scollard Hall who rewarded her hometown crowd with a dominant performance, crossing the line with more than a two minute cushion to spare.

In the junior boys race, Dax Hester of Lo-Ellen chased down all of his opponents except for Reece Ringler, also of SJSH as the local lad settled for silver with Emilia Breckon (LEP) doing the same in the novice girls event.

While Carlson and Ricketts topped their respective tier of para athletes, Lo-Ellen senior Lia Paille was just six seconds off the podium, earning a 4th place ribbon as she and the others prepare to race in front of the hometown crowd when the 2026 OFSAA Cross-Country Championships come to Sudbury on Monday, November 9th.

Following are the top three finishers in all races as well as any of the Sudbury runners who managed to crack the top ten at NOSSA:

Senior Boys (6 kms)
1st - Maxime Belzile (ESMC) - 20:20.2
2nd - Julian Luoma (LEP) - 20:49.3
3rd - Guillaume Daoust (Villa Française) - 20:50.0
4th - Gord Farrell (Lockerby) - 21:06.0
5th - Matteo Ceccon (Lockerby) - 21:22.1
6th - Cameron Young (Lockerby) - 21:44.4
7th - Lucas Graham (LEP) - 21:44.9

Senior Girls (6 kms)
1st - Tenley Cameron (Elliot Lake) - 24:49.0
2nd - Isabella Fremlin (Central Algoma) - 25:34.9
3rd - Chloe Innes (St Joseph - Scollard Hall) - 25:40.5
4th - Lia Paille (LEP) - 25:46.4
7th - Megan Pineau (LEP) - 26:23.1
8th - Alessandra Melo (LEP) - 26:39.0
9th - Ewa Breckon (LEP) - 26:52.1

Junior Boys (5 kms)
1st - Reece Ringler (SJSH) - 18:56.9
2nd - Dax Hester (LEP) - 19:30.8
3rd - Cooper Gaines (Superior Heights) - 19:44.1
6th - Cyrus Hodak (Collège Notre-Dame) - 20:24.1
10th - Louie Grillanda (Lockerby) - 20:54.0

Junior Girls (5 kms)
1st - Halle Scanlan (SJSH) - 20:31.8
2nd - Mackenzie Roy (SCC) - 22:44.3
3rd - Sofia Kalviainen (LEP) - 22:53.3
4th - Alice Westby (Lasalle) - 23:01.9
6th - Mila Drozdowsky (Bishop Carter) - 23:14.5
8th - Julia D'Angelo (St Benedict) - 23:49.0
10th - Annabelle Denomme (Horizon) - 23:57.4

Novice Boys (4 kms)
1st - Yuvraj Singh (LEP) - 15:20.3
2nd - Loic Collison (Horizon) - 15:21.5
3rd - Ryan Pineau (LEP) - 15:27.4
4th - Samuel Higgins (Lockerby) - 15:39.0
5th - Nick Long (LEP) - 15:49.8
7th - Callum Duncan (Lockerby) - 16:05.1
9th - Luca Gauthier (Collège Notre-Dame) - 16:18.0

Novice Girls (4 kms)
1st - Etta McDonough (Chippewa) - 17:54.2
2nd - Emilia Breckon (LEP) - 18:22.9
3rd - Adele Lamarche (LEP) - 18:39.8
4th - Aubree Slobodian (Marymount) - 18:44.5
6th - Audrey Simard (LEP) - 18:52.8

Para - Boys (5 kms)
1st - Dante Ricketts (Lasalle) - 20:36.1
2nd - Ephraim Toko (Collège Notre-Dame) - 22:01.6
3rd - Sawyer Boulanger (Algonquin) - 24:05.7

Para - Girls (5 kms)
1st - Sophia Carlson (Marymount) - 22:04.0
2nd - Summer Boyer (Lasalle) - 34:16.5

In terms of team banners, the Lo-Ellen Park Knights swept both novice divisions as well as adding the senior girls to the mix in securing the overall aggregate championship while the Lockerby Vikings finished first in senior boys and second in novice boys.

Other team medals came courtesy of Lo-Ellen (JG - silver; JB - bronze) and the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes (JB - silver).

Runners have something in common with snowflakes: no two strides are exactly alike. But is that variance something we should embrace, or something we should try to drill out? According to “Two Hard Ways and One Easy Way to Run More Efficiently,” researchers tested three approaches over a year: retraining running form, switching to minimalist footwear, or simply continuing to run normally. The retraining group improved running economy by 10%, followed by 9% for the minimalist group and 5% for the control group. However, differences weren't big enough to be statistically significant, meaning that just sticking to a consistent running schedule for a year could be all it takes to boost efficiency. That raises questions about some long-standing running advice. “Heel Striking and the 180 Rule: How Running Form Dogma Took Hold” examines how two popular recommendations – avoiding heel strikes and maintaining a cadence of 180 steps per minute – became widely accepted despite limited supporting evidence. Researchers point out that optimal cadence varies with speed, body size, and individual biomechanics, so not everybody should force the same rate. Similarly, changing your foot strike may simply redistribute stress to different tissues rather than reduce it overall. Our partners at CURREX offer a practical alternative in “Should You Change Your Running Foot Strike?” Instead of forcing an unfamiliar stride, they recommend finding footwear that supports your natural movement. Their RUNPRO insoles are designed with targeted heel and forefoot cushioning, plus adaptive arch support, to improve comfort and stability. If your current stride feels good and isn't causing problems, you may be better off sticking with what comes naturally.

    Wednesdays - meet at Apex Warrior parking lot departing at 1800h. Typically runs are 1 hour or 10km.
                    Saturdays - meet at Bell Park's Elizabeth St parking lot departing at 0800h. Typically runs are longer at 1.5 hours or 15km minimum.

Generally the pace floats between 5 and 7 minutes per km. Anticipate a mixture of roads and trail running on the routes.
Inclement weather is usually just a challenge. Group has only been cancelled for local races or xmas. Cancellations or changes in meeting locations will be posted.

Locations are show in the attached photos/maps.

Wednesday pm location

Saturday am location

 December 6, 2025