Two local runners tested their physical limits at the Canadian Death Race in Grand Cache, Alta.
According to the official website, “since the start of the millennium, elite racers have come to the Canadian Rockies to cheat death in one of the world's toughest adventure races. The 125 km course begins and ends on a 4200 foot plateau, passes over three mountain summits and includes 17,000 feet of elevation change and a major river crossing at the spectacular Hell's Gate canyon at the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur Rivers.
"During the August long weekend each year, extreme athletes, individually and in relays, push themselves to the limits of their endurance against the breathtaking background of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Each year, well-trained and totally committed, they battle heat, cold, altitude and themselves. There are no big prizes for winning: finishing is hard enough. And the bragging rights are priceless…”
A total of 1,500 people run the race, either as part of a five person team, or as a solo runner. This year only 131 of the 360 solo starters even managed to complete the course. Comox Valley athletes Sarah Seads (Equilibrium Lifestyle Management) and Mary Bridges (Let's Go) finished an incredible 34th and 44th overall.
Both put in countless hours of preparation to prepare for this extreme challenge. They were rewarded with amazing results. Seads finished seventh woman overall and third in the F30-39 age group in a time of 19:54:25. Bridge finished ninth woman overall and fourth in the F40-49 age group in a time of 20:51:33. They are each looking forward to a well deserved rest.