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Local runner wins Niagara Ultra 50 long-distance race

July 3, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

For long-distance runner Parker Mills, running isn’t just a way of keeping fit, it’s a passion for pushing the limits of what he can achieve.

Parker has only been running competitively since January 2024, but since that time, he has made incredible strides in the sport of long-distance running.

The 21-year-old Alliston resident competed in the Niagara Ultra 50 on Saturday, June 21, and finished first with a time of 3:17.30. He completed the race 20 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.

The Niagara Ultra 50 is an annual 50-kilometre race that starts in Niagara-on-the-Lake and follows a route down the scenic Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls and back again.

During the race, a sudden cloud burst resulted in pouring rain which made the run a challenge, but it didn’t last long and the skies cleared up providing a sunny finish to the event.

“We were running along the river,” Parker explained. “There was this dark could and it poured rain, almost like hail. Then it stopped and it got really sunny and really hot.”

Parker started running as part of his fitness training for hockey.

“I started running on January 1, 2024, when I went out for a half-marathon – that was 21 kilometers,” Parker explained of his start in competitive running. “Before that, I had run 5k and 10k as part of training because I played hockey. I started running that half marathon every day.”

He started running 21 kilometres every morning as part of his training. He takes different routes through town including some hilly areas for an extra challenge.

His time for the route is now down to an hour and a half.

On May 3, Parker competed in the Orange County Marathon in California. He finished 15th with a time of 2:39:57, well ahead of his goal.

“My goal for that race was to finish in 2 hours and 50 minutes, and it was a hilly marathon,” Parker said.

The Orange County event was a qualifier for the prestigious Boston Marathon.

On May 24, Parker competed in the Sulpher Springs Trail Race near Hamilton. The race is a 100-kilometre relay where each runner completes 20 kilometres. Since Parker’s team had only three runners, he ran two 20-kilometre stretches in the race.

“I’m hoping to get a sponsor with some sort of brand,” Parker explained. “I want to get more into the ultra-races like the 50K and 80K. There’s a big race in California that’s 100 miles – I want to try.”

Parker will have close to a year to get ready for the Boston Marathon which happens in April.

The Boston Marathon features world-class runners and is one of the biggest marathon events in the world. 

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