The Canadian Death Race! ... It's a killer!The Yeti completed the 5th Death Race Solo!
125 kilometers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with 17,000 feet (5,500 meters) of elevation gain and loss, 3 mountain summits and a wild river crossing … 24 hours to complete, with multiple cut-off points in between. It’s the Canadian Death Race! |
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I am happy when I can run in the mountains … and for long hours, day and night, even better.
It is one of those few, rare opportunities, to go deeper into myself, to think calmly and reflect about life and to rejuvenate my soul.
It is one of those days where I can experience a deep feeling of freedom ... a long day running … It was hot during the day and very cold overnight, with lots of mud and water in the back side of Mount Hamel and the Ambler Loop.
It is one of those few, rare opportunities, to go deeper into myself, to think calmly and reflect about life and to rejuvenate my soul.
It is one of those days where I can experience a deep feeling of freedom ... a long day running … It was hot during the day and very cold overnight, with lots of mud and water in the back side of Mount Hamel and the Ambler Loop.
It was also a day to take inspiration and to wash-out much of the crap that sometimes life throws at you. A bit of an inside look at what it takes to succeed in the Death Race …
Gear preparations … you don’t want to mess up this thing!
Gear preparations … you don’t want to mess up this thing!
The Spring training season was smoky, and before that I did winter training enduring several weekends of ice and snow in the Rockies, running on icy slopes, knee deep snow, sleet, mud, rain and finally … scorching heat, rain, lighting and thunderstorms during the training camps.
Many days I came home frozen to the bone and other days soaked in rain or covered in sweat and salt …
It sure takes discipline, perseverance, good planning and logistics (see the gear puzzle above?) and serious determination to be ready for this race.
When you are on-course, the race is full of funny posts … like this one, at 90 Km …
Many days I came home frozen to the bone and other days soaked in rain or covered in sweat and salt …
It sure takes discipline, perseverance, good planning and logistics (see the gear puzzle above?) and serious determination to be ready for this race.
When you are on-course, the race is full of funny posts … like this one, at 90 Km …
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As you run through the day and the night, runners go through highs and lows, and sometimes I had to put myself inside a mental pyramid to manage energy, keep a low heart rate and neutralize pain. At some point, I even had to pull a mental grenade (yes, inside the pyramid!) in order to keep moving at a good pace on steep slopes … it gets intense!
People ask me what do I eat during the Death Race?
For the first 8 to 10 hours, I mostly go by with GU Gels, some natural chips for salt and bananas for potassium. I add some electrolyte pills if the day is extra hot … I also take powder barley diluted in water with electrolytes and time-release-mid-chain-branched amino acids …. Uhhh that sounds like a chemical lab, no? But after 12 hours of running, I need some real food so I go with the famous A&W Teen Burger … around 80 Kms into the race … yes, a good stomach is needed here!
For the first 8 to 10 hours, I mostly go by with GU Gels, some natural chips for salt and bananas for potassium. I add some electrolyte pills if the day is extra hot … I also take powder barley diluted in water with electrolytes and time-release-mid-chain-branched amino acids …. Uhhh that sounds like a chemical lab, no? But after 12 hours of running, I need some real food so I go with the famous A&W Teen Burger … around 80 Kms into the race … yes, a good stomach is needed here!
Many people ask me what do I do after finishing the Death Race?
You may be wondering if I like to suffer without reason, the answer is NO!
Otherwise I would be listening the latest album of Taylor Swift ...
You may be wondering if I like to suffer without reason, the answer is NO!
Otherwise I would be listening the latest album of Taylor Swift ...
I go into an ice-bath … this is a de-inflammation technique I learnt from Usain Bolt. It is amazing how fast you recover … but you need to survive the initial shock. Again, some good mental techniques are useful here to avoid the polar cold!
I really encourage everyone to stay active and regain your fitness, and if you can, come to Grande Cache next year to participate in the Death Race. You can do it Solo or as a Team (up to 5 runners) and it is a day full of positive energy, good vibes, lots of fun and friendship.
And if you are Team Runner with fresh legs approaching the end of Leg 5, take a moment to observe and recognize with a word of encouragement the Solo runners. You could see on their faces the effort, the heat of the day and a long night running, the sweat and perhaps a few tears. But they keep going, limping along, still strong, fueled by sheer determination … as if they have been chased by the Devil ...
And if you are Team Runner with fresh legs approaching the end of Leg 5, take a moment to observe and recognize with a word of encouragement the Solo runners. You could see on their faces the effort, the heat of the day and a long night running, the sweat and perhaps a few tears. But they keep going, limping along, still strong, fueled by sheer determination … as if they have been chased by the Devil ...
It’s the Canadian Death Race … and it’s one hell of a ride!
I am very grateful to life for having the opportunity to run in those mountains and to enjoy the experience. I finished the race in 22 hours and 49 minutes, with a smile on my face, but most importantly, with a smile on my soul.
Keep climbing and keep running my friends …
Keep climbing and keep running my friends …
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