Trail-Fuelled Fitness: Real Stories from Across Canada

Running for physical and mental wellbeing 

For many runners, the Trail is more than just a route — it’s motivation. Whether training for a marathon, chasing a personal best, or simply clearing your head, the Trail offers scenic pathways and traffic-free space to put in the miles. 

From peaceful riverside loops to long-distance rail trails, the Trail offers the perfect setting for interval sessions, steady runs or exploring new terrain on foot. 

For people like Brenden Blotnicky, the Trail has been part of staying active for as long as he can remember. 

“From an early age, going weekly to the Shubie Trail with my family, the Trans Canada Trail became a way of improving my health and gaining fitness. To this day, I regularly go running on the Trail with my springer spaniel Beasley,” says Brenden, who lives in Nova Scotia and now shares his love of the Trail with his young daughter. 

Running on the Trail isn’t just about fitness — it’s about mental health, connection to nature and making everyday routines more enjoyable. 

Cycling towards worthy goals 

From urban bike paths to scenic rural trails, the Trail offers a safe, accessible space for riders to enjoy the outdoors, improve their fitness and push their limits — whether you’re cycling for fun, for health or for a cause. 

Just ask Cyndy McLean, an avid handcyclist from Guelph, Ontario, who turned the Trail into the backdrop for an ambitious fundraising challenge. 

“Trails are a particularly good choice as a handcyclist because I sit very low to the ground and don’t move nearly as fast as vehicular traffic,” explains Cyndy. “I average about 15-20 kilometres per hour. Also, these trails are relatively flat, paved or well packed, and very well maintained.”  

After her own cancer journey, Cyndy set out to complete 10 rides of 21 kilometres each, including sections of the Trans Canada Trail, to raise funds for chemo chairs at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. Her rides took her along the Kissing Bridge Trailway, Iron Horse Trail and Laurel Trail, showcasing both her determination and the beauty of the Trail network. 

Paddling to connect in different ways 

For paddlers, the Trail isn’t just about the distance. It’s about the rhythm of the water, the serenity of remote landscapes and the satisfaction of — quite literally — getting off the beaten track.  

The Trans Canada Trail connects to some of the country’s most iconic waterways, offering historic paddling routes for all levels — from peaceful, family-friendly outings to multi-day expeditions that test your endurance. 

David Jackson, an experienced canoeist and photographer, tackled the Path of the Paddle, a 1,000-kilometre water route through Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba that forms part of the Trans Canada Trail. 

“It’s sometimes hard to believe that a trail exists for such a vast distance, across a region best navigated by canoe, let alone that it’s maintained by a volunteer base of dedicated trail stewards who enable us to dream wild dreams,” says David, who spent 30 days paddling, portaging and exploring this breathtaking water route. 

The vast array of waterways on the Trans Canada Trail offer plenty of adventure. However, by linking communities, wild spaces and Canada’s most beautiful landscapes, they connect us in unique and unforgettable ways.