In the small, Rocky Mountain town of Grande Cache, Alberta, the 125km trail race boasts an insane 17000 feet of elevation gain, passes over 3 mountain summits and sends runners through a major river crossing at “Hell’s Gate”.
Some have said that the Death Race is one of the world’s toughest adventure trail races but it didn’t scare off the 326 solo endurance athletes and 162 teams who participated in 2015.
Battling heat, cold, altitude and themselves, finishing is far from certain. 121 finished before cut off.
This year I’ll be taking on the iconic event – the 125 km route – with aspirations to finish in the top 3.
Last year, Alissa St Laurent from Canada won the Death Race in 13 hours 51 minutes, followed by another Canadian, Graham Glennie, an hour and a half later (15 hours 17 minutes). That’s right: Ladies first! The last person to make it through the finish line before the cut off of 24 hours was holding 121st place. That’s 121 out of 326 people who finished the mammoth challenge!
Registration is still open (just head to CanadianDeathRace.com). Finishing is the prize.
Follow Brenna on her ‘Death Race’ journey and be inspired for your own, ultra adventures of 2016/ 2017.
