XTERRA Sleeping Giant - 2026 | Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

About the Event

XTERRA Sleeping Giant - 2026 takes place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 8:00 AM EDT in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, on the rugged shores of Lake Superior. Events include Full Off‑Road Triathlon (world championship qualifying), Sprint Off‑Road Triathlon, Super Sprint Triathlon, Full Duathlon, Sprint Duathlon, Half Marathon Trail Run, 10 km Trail Run, 5 km Trail Run, and triathlon relays (Full and Sprint). 28 XTERRA World Championship spots. Open/non‑binary division. Postpartum/pregnancy deferral policy. Gender affirming surgery deferral policy. Purpose‑built mountain bike trails on unique mesa rock formations in Boreal forest.

Full Off‑Road Triathlon
Sunday, August 16, 8:00 AM start • XTERRA World Championship qualifier • 28 spots available

Sprint Off‑Road Triathlon
Sunday, August 16 • Shorter distance • Open to all

Super Sprint Triathlon
Ages 13+ • Perfect for beginners and young athletes

Full Duathlon (Run‑Mountain Bike‑Run)
No swim • Same course as Full Triathlon

Sprint Duathlon
Shorter distance • No swim

Half Marathon Trail Run (4 laps)
Challenging run course • Same terrain as triathlon run leg

10 km Trail Run
Single lap • Challenging terrain

5 km Trail Run
Short, accessible distance

Location — Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (Lake Superior):

Thunder Bay is a city in northwestern Ontario, on the shores of Lake Superior — the largest of the Great Lakes
Known as one of Canada's greatest "outdoor cities" — abundant trails, boreal forest, and unique geological features (mesas carved by ancient glaciers)
The course uses purpose‑built mountain bike and recreation trails over unique mesa rock formations (flat‑topped hills formed by erosion)
Terrain: rugged, technical, rocky, rooty — true off‑road XTERRA racing
Boreal forest habitat — birds, wildlife, and quiet wilderness

XTERRA World Championship Qualifier — 28 Spots Available:

Full Off‑Road Triathlon offers qualification spots to the XTERRA World Championships
Age group winners in male/female categories qualify (open/non‑binary division not eligible for world championship slots)
For questions about gender and qualification policy, contact Emily McIlvaine at emily.mcilvaine@xterraplanet.com

Relay Options — Full and Sprint Off‑Road Triathlon:

2‑person or 3‑person teams (split the swim, bike, and run)
Team Captain registers and pays the fee; Team Members join for free (waiver only)

Duathlon — No Swim, Same Course:

Full Duathlon: ~3 km run, then mountain bike, then run (exact distances not specified)
Sprint Duathlon: shorter distances
Perfect for runners who aren't confident swimmers or want a different challenge

Trail Runs — Half Marathon, 10 km, 5 km:

Half Marathon: 4 laps of the challenging run course
10 km and 5 km: single lap
Same rugged, technical terrain as the triathlon run leg
Great for trail runners who want to experience the XTERRA atmosphere without the multisport

Open / Non‑Binary Division — Available for All Individual Events:

Proudly offering an open/non‑binary division for all racers
Note: Open division athletes are not eligible for world championship qualification spots

Deferral Policies — Pregnancy, Postpartum, Adoption, Gender Affirming Surgery:

Pregnancy/Postpartum/Adoption/Surrogacy: Defer your entry to the following year's event. Applies to pregnant individuals, their partners (due date within 3 months of race), and parents adopting or using surrogacy.
Gender Affirming Surgery: Defer entry if you are undergoing surgery within one month after the event, or have recently undergone surgery within nine months prior.
All requests are confidential — email xterrasleepinggiantrd@gmail.com

What's Included:

Chip timing (split times for each discipline)
Finisher medal (custom XTERNA design)
Event t‑shirt (included for early bird and normal pricing; not included for late pricing)
Aid stations on bike and run courses (water, electrolyte, energy gels, fruit)
Medical support on course
Transition area with bike racks and changing space
Bag drop at start/finish
Post‑race food and refreshments
Age group awards (top 3 per category)
Overall awards (top 3 male and female per distance)
Open/non‑binary division awards

Event Schedule — Sunday, August 16, 2026:

Start times not fully listed — check event website for specific wave times
Full Triathlon expected early start (8:00 AM)
Other events staggered throughout the morning

Logistics — Thunder Bay, Remote but Accessible:

Thunder Bay has its own airport (YQT) with flights from Toronto, Winnipeg, and other hubs
Drive from the US: from Minnesota (Grand Portage) about 1 hour, from Michigan's Upper Peninsula about 6 hours
Parking available at the race venue (arrive early — limited spaces)
No refunds — but deferral options available for pregnancy, postpartum, adoption, and gender affirming surgery
No dogs allowed on the course (wildlife and safety)
Mountain bike required — no road bikes or gravel bikes (suspension recommended)
Wetsuit legal swim (Lake Superior water temperature in August typically 60‑68°F / 15‑20°C — wetsuit strongly recommended)

Thunder Bay — Canada's Great Outdoor City:

Thunder Bay is considered the sunniest city in eastern Canada
Attractions: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park (the "Giant" is a iconic rock formation), Fort William Historical Park, Mount McKay, and the Terry Fox Monument
Boreal forest, hiking, fishing, and Lake Superior's rugged coastline
Culturally diverse city with exciting shopping, sightseeing, and entertainment

Contact: Brent Maranzan — website available. For deferral requests: xterrasleepinggiantrd@gmail.com.

Races Offered

DUATHLON • Full Distance

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Run 5K Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$147.91

DUATHLON • Sprint Distance

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Run 5K Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$131.72

RUNNING • 10k Trail Run

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$72.37

RUNNING • 5km Trail Run

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$66.97

RUNNING • Half Marathon Trail Run

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$88.56

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Full Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$191.06

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Sprint Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$169.48

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Full Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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Free

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Sprint Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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Free

TRIATHLON • Full Distance Pro/Elite Acces

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$142.52

TRIATHLON • Full Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

straighten

Distance — Swim 1500m Bike 26K Run 10K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

timer

08:00

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$147.91

TRIATHLON • Sprint Off-Road

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 750m Bike 15K Run 5K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$131.72

TRIATHLON • Super Sprint Off-Road Spots r

Aug 16, 2026

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Distance — Swim 300m Bike 8K Run 3K

terrain

Type — Multisports, Running

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08:00

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$93.95

XTERRA Sleeping Giant - 2026

About the Event

Races Offered

DUATHLON • Full Distance

DUATHLON • Sprint Distance

RUNNING • 10k Trail Run

RUNNING • 5km Trail Run

RUNNING • Half Marathon Trail Run

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Full Distance Pro/Elite Acces

TRIATHLON • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Super Sprint Off-Road Spots r

Weather History

About Thunder Bay

Hotels & Places to Stay

Runner Reviews

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XTERRA Sleeping Giant - 2026

About the Event

Races Offered

DUATHLON • Full Distance

DUATHLON • Sprint Distance

RUNNING • 10k Trail Run

RUNNING • 5km Trail Run

RUNNING • Half Marathon Trail Run

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Captain) • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON RELAY (Team Member) • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Full Distance Pro/Elite Acces

TRIATHLON • Full Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Sprint Off-Road

TRIATHLON • Super Sprint Off-Road Spots r

Weather History

About Thunder Bay

Hotels & Places to Stay

Runner Reviews

No reviews yet

Recommended for You

Manitowish Waters Solstice 2026

Bigfoot 5K 2026

29th Annual Rudyard Lions Triathlon and 5K

Brussels-Union-Gardner EMR Belgian Days Run/Walk 2026

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