Brave the lake in winter

The Express is the ideal introduction to the CRYO Races. In this event, athletes face the challenge of running in winter, in the dark, on the magnificent Lac St-Jean. Under a starlit sky, hearing only the sound of their footsteps in the snow, participants will enjoy a truly exotic experience.

The Express will start at the Village sur glace in Roberval and finish at Chalets et Spa Lac Saint-Jean in Chambord under the cover of darkness. Athletes will use the same groomed and marked track as Traversées athletes.

Participants have a maximum of 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the Express. No selection criteria are required. However, running on a frozen lake in the middle of winter and at dusk represents a major challenge that really shouldn’t be overlooked, and is nothing like a trail or road race in terms of the effort required and the mental strength required. Weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly in the early evening, providing an extra challenge for athletes.

Each participant is commited to raising $500 in donations for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation, which changes the lives of young cancer patients by offering them the chance to take part in a therapeutic adventure expedition. Please note that fundraising is mandatory. Only participants who have completed 100% of their fundraising will be able to set off on February 22.

Are you ready to brave the night, the cold, the lake?

LOGISTICS

SUMMARY SCHEDULE

4:30 p.m. Shuttle bus departure (please note that shuttle buses are mandatory)..

5:15 p.m. Departure of the Express.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

IMPORTANT: THE MANDATORY EQUIPMENT LIST IS THE SAME FOR ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN THE STARLIT, THE MISHKUMI, OR THE EXPRESS. WEATHER CONDITIONS ON LAC ST-JEAN CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY, SO THIS EQUIPMENT COULD BE USEFUL AT ANY TIME!

We strongly recommend layering your clothing to help you adapt to varying weather conditions. To increase your visibility on the lake and make it easier for the CRYO race team to spot you, we encourage you to wear brightly colored clothing.

In addition to the clothing you’ll be wearing at the start, here is the list of mandatory equipment you must carry with you throughout the race:

• Cold-weather running shoes (trail or winter shoes) – No road or casual shoes are allowed;
• Long running pants;
• Running pack containing all mandatory equipment (see list below).

IN YOUR RUNNING PACK, WHICH YOU MUST KEEP WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE RACE, YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL CLOTHING:

JACKETS:

• GORE-TEX jacket (providing windproof and waterproof protection; a simple windbreaker is insufficient);
• Insulated jacket that you will not wear at the start (down jackets are acceptable since you should not wear this while physically active), examples:✅ Thorium Hoody
  ✅ Cerium Hoody
  ⛔ Atom Hoody (this model does not provide sufficient protection)

SPARE CLOTHING:

• Extra gloves or mittens;
• Spare neck gaiter or tubular scarf;
• Spare hat;
• Spare socks.

EQUIPEMENT:

• Eye protection, alpine ski goggles recommended (the only option that doesn’t fog up);
• Fully charged cell phone (keep it as warm as possible with hand warmers);
• Survival blanket;
• Hand and foot warmers;
• Whistle;
• Reflective strips on your clothing;
• Reusable cup (to reduce waste, no cups are available at aid stations; you must bring your own bottles, cups, or container of choice);
• Headlamp with at least 100 lumens, fully charged (bring spare batteries or a second lamp);
• 2 lights (such as bike lights) in flashing mode (one on your pack and one on the front);
• Necessary medications (asthma inhaler, EpiPen, etc.);
• Health insurance card.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT

• Gaiters;
• Insulated liquid container;
• Running snowshoes (depending on trail conditions) – Athletes in the Traversée may leave a pair in their drop bag;
• Crampons (depending on trail conditions);
• Energy supplements;
• Full-face hood.