As a 2:18 marathoner and BMO Vancouver Marathon champion, I wouldn’t really consider myself a trail runner at all. So when I signed up for my first ultra, the 50K at 2025 Québec Mega Trail (QMT), I knew I was venturing into completely unfamiliar territory.
QMT is known as one of Canada’s most technical trail races, and this year, it also doubled as the Canadian Trail Championships in the 50K and 80K distances. The funny part? My trail running journey started when I came third at Ontario’s Chilly Half Marathon (a road race) in March and won a trail running vest as a prize. I figured if I had the gear, I might as well find a race to use it.
Living in Mississauga, a Toronto suburb filled with flat roads and mild rolling hills, my prep was training on local trails, like the Kelso Conservation Area in Milton and doing a single long run on the Bruce Trail. Don’t do anything I just told you. It was my biggest regret. I was completely humbled by the elevation gain and loss at QMT and realized too late how much more hill and mountain-specific training I needed.
Despite that, I somehow survived, finishing 18th overall. Here’s what I learned.
It’s not all running
One of the most surprising things? I was only running about 20 per cent of the time—the rest was hiking, scrambling and trying not to fall. Trail running demands constant attention to course markers, technical footing and sudden changes in terrain. It’s less about rhythm or pace and more about how well you can adapt to different terrains.
Early in the race, I was running near the front with two other runners who ended up taking a wrong turn. That’s when the real challenge began. Around 7 km in, we hit the infamous Mestachibo section, where the trails turned into vertical climbs and descents, sometimes using ropes. It felt more like mountaineering than running. At one point, I got rope burn on my wrist while climbing down a steep rock face. Later, I had to cross two shaky suspension bridges and took a hard fall on my hands and knees after tripping on a root.
The mountain broke me
Around 18K, we reached Mont-Sainte-Anne. This was where I began to see other runners around me drop. It was more than just a climb—you’re hiking through rocks, mud and steep ascents that felt endless. The real punishment came on the way down: steep, rocky descents that forced my legs to brake hard, making the downhill pounding even worse than the climbs.
By 35K, my legs were trashed, and I rolled my ankle after stepping awkwardly on another root.
Hitting the wall
The last 15 km felt like a lifetime. My legs cramped on every small incline, and I had to stop multiple times to stretch or shake out my legs. When I reached the final aid station with 8 km to go, I was still in the top 10, but the river crossings (yes, actual wading through water) and constant uphill battles left me fading fast. My training in Mississauga’s Erindale Park really didn’t cut it—if you’re planning to take on QMT, find a mountain and train on it. There’s no substitute.
Yet, despite the pain and undertraining, crossing the finish line and officially becoming an ultramarathoner is something I’ll never forget. I have never been as sore after a race as I was after QMT. But the finish line atmosphere, packed with cheering spectators, live music and runners from the 80K and 135K races coming in, made it one of the most memorable race weekends of my life.
I’m not sure when I’ll run my next ultra. But if you’re a road runner looking to try something different, QMT is the one to do. Just be smarter than me and train for it properly.
Quebec Mega Trail 50K records fall
Sergio Raez Villanueva is a Canadian-Peruvian long-distance runner, having represented Team Canada internationally. He has been running marathons since 2022 and is the 2024 BMO Vancouver International Marathon champion. He works as an oncology research manager at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and volunteers as an endurance coach at the Mississauga Track & Field Club.
