The LOST Race

& LOST Mile

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Starting Locations:

LOST Race = 1 Maple Grove
LOST Mile = 1 Navy St

Oakville, ON, Canada

The LOST Race is one of Canada’s oldest and prestigious open water events, recognized around the world, and attended by swimmers from around the world as well!  It is hosted by the Lake Ontario Swim Team (L.O.S.T. Swimming), a non-profit, volunteer run organization founded in 2006.

The LOST Race is a fun, inclusive and competitive 3.8 km (Ironman distance) race in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Oakville has become the top spot for open water racing in Lake Ontario, and the LOST Race, which began in 2008 with just 8 swimmers, has grown to over 200 swimmers each year!

The route is a point to point route and is safe and fun. It is also exceptionally scenic as it passes by one of the most beautiful neighborhoods, with some of the most spectacular and expensive homes in Canada!

The majority of participants are just regular swimmers that are up for a good challenge, but over the years there have also been some pretty amazing swimmers compete too. There’s been tons of triathletes (Ironman especially), NCAA and Canadian Varsity swimmers, Olympians, people who have swum the English Channel, around Manhattan, around Key West, the length of Tampa Bay and numerous other marathon swims around the world… and of course there are even a select few who have swum across Lake Ontario!

Starting in 2016 we also started “The LOST Mile”! A bit shorter for those that haven’t worked up to the 3.8 km distance or a bit faster for those that want to do a 1 mile sprint! Either way there is something for everyone and both are a lot of fun!

So join us for an epic morning race, splashing around in one of the best open water locations in the world!

The LOST Race

  • 3.8km Distance
  • Point-to-Point Swim
  • Swim along some of Canada's most beautiful homes
  • Ironman distance swim

LOST Race: start location

The LOST Mile

  • 1.6km Looped Course
  • Great course for beginners & a fast one for more experienced swimmers looking for a sprint
  • Spectators can walk and see the whole route!
  • Starts & finishes at the LOST Race finish line

LOST Mile: start location

Schedule of Events

  • 6:30AM - Registration opens at both LOST Race & LOST Mile starting locations
  • 7:45AM - LOST Race pre-race briefing
  • 8:00AM - LOST Race starts
  • 8:15AM - LOST Mile pre-race briefing
  • 8:30AM - LOST Mile starts
  • 10:00AM - LOST Race cut-off (race director's discretion based on conditions)
  • 10:00AM - Awards presentation begins
  • 10:20AM - LOST Pier Picture

What you need to know!

  • The event takes place in Oakville, ON the 3rd Saturday in August!
  • The LOST Race is a point-to-point swim
  • LOST Race start is at 1 Maple Grove Dr
  • LOST Race finish is at Navy St Pier (1 Navy St)
  • The LOST Mile is a looped course
  • The LOST Mile starts and finishes at the Navy St Pier (1 Navy St), the finish of the LOST Race
  • Water temperature can vary year to year, best to plan ahead and consider wearing a wetsuit if it's cold
  • Water temperature is usually between 60F-70F or 16C-21C

The Routes

Race Morning Logistics

For the LOST Race:

  • Arrive at Maple Grove Drive. Exact address of race start is "2 Maple Grove Drive, Oakville, ON"
  • There is limited parking available at the start. Swimmers can either park across the street at Ardleigh Park or drive their cars to the finish at Navy St and then car pool back to the start. We do not have any shuttles running between the start and finish prior to the race.
  • Check-in! Pick-up your cap and timing chips and get your body markings.
  • Race day registration is also available for those that have not already done so.
  • We will have info on temperature posted and will be making announcements based on conditions prior to the race. Race briefing begins at 7:45.
  • There is free bag check available. Swimmer bags will be transported to await them at the finish. One bag per swimmer limit.
  • Careful entering the water. The entry point consists of stepped rocks that are generally easily navigable but are uneven and can be slippery.
  • The start is an in-water start.
  • Once the gun goes off the swim begins! See you at the finish!
  • Have a great race! Once you finish there's a medal as well as some awesome finisher prizes waiting for you!

For the LOST Mile:

  • The LOST Mile is a looped course that starts and finishes at Lakeside Park in Oakville. Exact address is "1 Navy Street, Oakville, ON".
  • Parking is available at the foot of Navy St beside the Oakville museum. There is also street parking available on the surrounding side streets.
  • Check-in & race day registration are available. If you are already registered you must still check-in and pickup you cap, timing chip and get your body markings
  • Bag check is available for swimmers. Limit of 1 bag per swimmer.
  • Race briefing will start 15 minutes prior to the race. The course is an easy to follow one-loop course
  • Race starts in water at the shore.
  • Have a great race! Once you finish there's a medal as well as some awesome finisher prizes waiting for you!

Temperature

While the conditions have remained relatively stable over the history of the race, the biggest variable is by far the temperature.

Lake Ontario is a large and very deep body of water and in the summer months is subject to "rollovers" where the cold water from the bottom of the lake is brought up to the top of the surface of the lake, dramatically reducing the temperature. It is usually cause by several days of north winds. This can literally happen overnight. Typically in mid-August when we hold the race the temperature is more stable as more of the lake has warmed top to bottom. In 2018 we moved the race to the 3rd Saturday in August to hopefully benefit from statistically higher water temperatures. However, as of 2023, in the 16 years of the race we have had 3 instances where the temperature has dipped below 55F/13C. In those years we offered a shortened version of the race. Typically the lake temperature in August is between 63F-72F (17C-22C).

Conditions

The conditions on Lake Ontario can vary year to year and over the history of the LOST Race we've seen a bit of everything. While there have been a couple years with some waves typically the race has been flat and smooth. The water is almost always clear with high visibility. Some years there has been a slight positive current aiding swimmers.

Race Cancellation

In the unlikely event that we have to cancel the race for safety reasons (storms, water temperature, rough water conditions, etc) we will unfortunately not be able to provide refunds as all of our costs are paid upfront (insurance, timing system, swag, medals, permits, etc). Naturally this would be our last choice, but we take the safety of our swimmers very seriously and is our top priority. (so far we have never had to cancel a race, but have shortened it).

For similar reasons, like most races, we are unfortunately unable to issue individual refunds for any reason.

Safety

This is our top priority. And the biggest change we have made, starting in 2023, was to make "tow buoys" mandatory for all swimmers. Period. No exceptions. Having said that, it is best if you bring your own, just you bring any other equipment for any other type of race, however, we usually have some there for sale at a reasonable price too.

With regards to the actual race, realistically what this means is that if there is significant danger of any type we will cancel the race… or if we feel that for any reason you may not be able to safely complete the race, we will ask/tell you that you must abort the race. Naturally we want you to be able to complete the race and we will try our best to accommodate you, however there is a 2 hour cut off... but… it is a rough cut off (and is at the discretion of the officials). Meaning that it depends on the conditions. If it is a tough year and everyone is much slower, then we will take that into account, but by the same token if it is a rough year we may make the cut off shorter too. Open water swimming is not an exact science, we balance: wanting to see you finish… with safety to make the call.

We have yet to need to cancel the race, however we have asked some swimmers to abort the race (rarely) and have had to shorten the race because of the water temperature/safety reasons.

Prizes

We award our much coveted, traditional and handpainted "LOST Rocks" for the top 3 swimmers in 4 categories in both the LOST Race and LOST Mile.

The categories are: Male Wetsuit, Female Wetsuit, Male Non-Wetsuit, Female Non-Wetsuit.

The first place winners in both the LOST Race and LOST Mile (for all 4 categories) will also have their names engraved on the prestigious LOST Race and LOST Mile trophies!

AND... the winners of the LOST Race get their names engraved on the LOST Plaque!

Weather Records

  • 2023, Aug 19 – 5C, coldest ever! Rolled over the night before, and rolled back the day after!  air 30C
  • 2022, Aug 20 – 72F/22C, perfect conditions, flat clear and clean water, air 30C.
  • 2021, Cancelled due to Covid.
  • 2020, Aug 22 – 70F/21C, beautiful conditions, flat and warm, air 30C
  • 2019, Aug 17 – 65F/18C, 1 hour rain delay, then beautiful sunny and clear, air 28C
  • 2018, Aug 18 – 71F/21C, fairly big chop, neutral current. Sunny and clear, air 25C
  • 2017, Aug 12 – 47F/8C, cray cold, but the “Fog Year” too! Delay and shorten race! air 30C
  • 2016, Aug 13 – 72F/22C, perfect conditions, flat water, air 35C. Stormed 2 hours later
  • 2015, Aug 8 – 55F/12C, the “Cold Year”. Shortened it to 1k & 500m. Pretty rough too
  • 2014, Aug 9 – 67F/20C, flat as a pool and a nice sunny day, not much current, air 26C
  • 2013, Aug 10 – 63F/17C, flat as a pool and a nice sunny day, not much current, air 28C
  • 2012, Aug 11 – 73F/23C, very rough, rain, strong negative current, overcast, air 25C
  • 2011, Aug 13 – 71F/21C, flat water, slight positive current, overcast, air temp 24C
  • 2010, Aug 14 – 71F/21C, very choppy, sunny, air temp 28C
  • 2009, Aug 15 – 70F/21C, flat water, fairly strong positive current, sunny, air 28C
  • 2008, Aug 9 – 60F/16C, small waves, overcast, air temp 22C

"LOST Race" All Time Records

Male Wetsuit

44:55
Owen Von Richter - 2013

Female Wetsuit

50:08
Carly Cermak - 2018

Male Non-Wetsuit

46:58
John Steadman - 2009

Female Non-Wetsuit

50:53
Elissa Gelleny - 2013

"LOST Mile" All Time Records

Male Wetsuit

20:35
David Spencer - 2022

Female Wetsuit

26:19
Erika Friesen - 2018

Male Non-Wetsuit

24:37
Luis Escobar - 2016

Female Non-Wetsuit

22:11
Kate Hulford - 2022
40%
Non-Wetsuit Swimmers (2022)

Past Participation

  • 2023 - 126 swimmers - 119W/7N
  • 2022 - 160 swimmers - 96W/64N
  • 2021 - cancelled due to Covid
  • 2020 - 43 swimmers - informal "Covid Race"
  • 2019 - 202 swimmers - 141W/61N
  • 2018 - 174 swimmers - 116W/58N
  • 2017 - 164 swimmers - 164W /----
  • 2016 - 191 swimmers - 131W/60N
  • 2015 - 130 swimmers - 101W/29N
  • 2014 - 86 swimmers - 67W/19N
  • 2013 - 94 swimmers - 77W/17N
  • 2012 - 109 swimmers - 65W/44N
  • 2011 - 85 swimmers - 56W/29N
  • 2010 - 64 swimmers - 48W/16N
  • 2009 - 39 swimmers - 33W/6N
  • 2008 - 8 swimmers - 6W/2N

  • W=wetsuit, N="naked"/non-wetsuit
60%
Wetsuit Swimmers (2022)

LOST Race Previous Results

2023

The LOST Race (500m)
1st Male Wetsuit: David Spencer - 7:57
1st Female Wetsuit: Payaal Burman - 9:59
*wetsuit mandatory

The LOST Mile (250m)
1st Male Wetsuit: Peter Mckinnon - 4:42
1st Female Wetsuit: Anika Bennett - 5:01
*wetsuit mandatory

Races shortened to 500m & 250m, due to temperature (5C).

2024

2025

2020

Like all mass participation races and events around the world during the Covid 19 pandemic the LOST Race was officially cancelled. However, just by word-of-mouth, 43 swimmers showed up on what would have been the race day... and swam the LOST Race!

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit:
Rob Kent - 55:502
1st Female Wetsuit: Erika Friesen - 59:4
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Luis Escobar - 56:15
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Cindy Bertelink - 54:55

2021

Unfortunately, the races were cancelled for the first time in LOST history, due to Covid 19.

Health restrictions were too tight to allow even a small gathering. Fortunately, halfway through the summer LOST Race was allowed to run for a while, before new restrictions were again imposed.

2022

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Chris van de Water - 46:59
1st Female Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 57:55
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 50:10
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Cindy Bertelink - 51:05

The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: David Spencer - 20:35
1st Female Wetsuit: Zoe Gamache - 29:57
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Steve Hulford - 24:49
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Kate Hulford - 22:11

2019

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Mackenzie Holden - 50:54
1st Female Wetsuit: Carly Cermak - 53:44
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Owen Beresh - 58:36
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Kate Hulford - 52:28

The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: Bob Lesser - 26:12
1st Female Wetsuit: Erika Friesen - 30:12
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Steve Hulford - 29:42
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Bhillie Luciani - 31:18

MSC Champions - The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Mackenzie Holden - 50:54
1st Female Wetsuit: Carly Cermak - 53:44
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 54:56
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Susana Escobar - 55:26

MSC Champions -The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: Bob Landriault - 29:17
1st Female Wetsuit: Erika Friesen - 30:12
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Steve Hulford - 29:42
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Alexandra Zhadan - 43:37

2018

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Chris Van De Water - 47:02
1st Female Wetsuit: Carly Cermak - 50:08
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 50:09
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Elise Bolger - 51:32

The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: Daniel Phillips - 26:02
1st Female Wetsuit: Erika Friesen - 26:19
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Craig Ross - 25:43
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lesley Dusevic - 26:07

MSC Champions - The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Chris Van De Water - 47:02
1st Female Wetsuit: Carly Cermak - 50:08
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 50:09
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Olga Bordatcheva - 54:32

MSC Champions - The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: no entrants
1st Female Wetsuit: Erika Friesen - 26:19
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dan Thompson - 27:47
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lesley Dusevic - 26:07

2017

Distances shortened due to cold.
Delayed by thick fog.

1km
1st Male Wetsuit: Mackenzie Holden - 10:25
1st Female Wetsuit: Bayley Dalbec - 11:54
*Wetsuit mandatory

500m
1st Male Wetsuit: Luis Escobar - 8:43
1st Female Wetsuit: Karli McKinnon - 9:32
*wetsuit mandatory

2016

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Geminio Grossi - 54:27
1st Female Wetsuit: Megan Dodge - 57:57
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 52:29
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 58:51

The LOST Mile
1st Male Wetsuit: Craig Ross - 24:08
1st Female Wetsuit: Heather Winmill - 31:27
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Luis Escobar - 24:37
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Sarah Gallagher - 32:23

2015

Distances shortened due to cold water temp.
1km
1st Male Wetsuit: Loren King - 16:45
1st Female Wetsuit: Sara Nicholson - 18:20
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Greg Streppel - 11:40
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 16:24
500m
1st Male Wetsuit: Charles Bolduc - 10:11
1st Female Wetsuit: Kristen Sanhueza - 9:27
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 8:14
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lisa Pickering - 11:13

2014

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Ross Shepherd - 49:16
1st Female Wetsuit: Elizabeth Primrose - 56:58
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: William Leonard - 49:17
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Annaleise Carr - 1:00:04

2013

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Owen Von Richter - 44:55
1st Female Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 51:48
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Miguel Nascimento - 53:14
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Elissa Gelleny - 50:53

2012

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 50:51
1st Female Wetsuit: Ayesha Rollinson - 57:05
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Reed Neuendorf - 51:57
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Cathy Crawley - 1:03:18

2011

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Bud Seawright - 47:03
1st Female Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 52:09
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Andrew Taylor - 52:05
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Carolina Lleras - 59:25

Getting ready for the start of the 3rd Annual LOST Race!

2010

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Andrew Taylor - 54:56
1st Female Wetsuit: Lynn Rodgers - 59:37
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 51:45
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Lisa Neidrauer - 58:00

2009

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 46:05
1st Female Wetsuit: Joanne Kent - 59:30
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: John Steadman - 46:58
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: Maisey Kent - 1:02:40

The Lost Race, 2008

2008

The LOST Race
1st Male Wetsuit: Dylan Kent - 49:00
1st Female Wetsuit: Jenn Kerr - 55:00
1st Male Non-Wetsuit: Rob Kent - 1:15:02
1st Female Non-Wetsuit: No Entrants