Category: Race Profiles

  • Canadian Death Race [Race Profile]

    Canadian Death Race [Race Profile]

    O Canada!
    Our home and native land!
    True patriot love in all thy sons command.
    With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
    The True North strong and free!

    Canada, land of gravy fries, gun control and ice hockey. It’s also got this wee little all-terrain adventure challenge called the Canadian Death Race, and it’s one of the more intense obstacle races I’ve read about.

    [youtube id=”VYNtFx391Gk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

    An annual course held in and around Grande Cache, Alberta in August, the Canadian Death Race, which was first started in 2000, boasts 125 km of hiking and running within a 24-hour time period. As a racer, you’ll cross a major river and wind through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, covering over 17,000 feet of elevation change.

    The Canadian Death Race is influenced by Greek Mythology, specifically the myth of Charon, the ferryman of the dead. Each racing team–you can race individually or in a team of up to five people–is given a coin which must pass from person to person and summit to summit. Only when the coin is presented to the ferryman at the end of the course is the race completed.

    Longer obstacle races and adventure races typically have cut off times, specific times of day that you have to have completed a portion of the race by. This is to ensure the health and safety of racers and event coordinators. At the Canadian Death Race, the segments and times are:

    First leg, 19 km: The Downtown Jaunt [CUT OFF 12PM]
    -this is the shortest leg of the course
    -features several creek crossings and one significant downhill

    Second leg, 27 km: Flood & Grande Mountain Slugfest [CUT OFF 6PM]
    -the most technical section of the course
    -steep rocky drop-offs and unstable footing
    -long sustained climbing, lots of elevation gain

    Third leg, 21 km: Old Mine Road (or “City Slicker Valley”) [CUT OFF 7PM]
    -the easiest section of the course
    -big descent, expect knee-deep water crossings
    -stunning views of the Smoky River valley

    Fourth leg, 36 km: Hamel Assault [CUT OFF 4:15AM]
    -the longest section of the course
    -mostly dirt trail ad packed gravel
    -many racers admit defeat on this very remote and strenuous section

    Fifth and final leg, 24km, The River Crossing [CUT OFF 9AM]
    -for most runners, this leg will be completed in the dark, with much of the trail under a heavy canopy of trees, so eye protection is required

    As you can see, the Canadian Death Race is pretty brutal. Kudos to anyone out there who has completed it.

  • Iditasport Impossible [Race Profile]

    Iditasport Impossible [Race Profile]

    The Iditasport Impossible is the ultimate test of endurance. Forget your Ironmans, Ultra Marathons and the lot. Let us know when you’re tired of playing at the kiddie table. The Iditasport Impossible is the Ironman’s badass uncle who did a tour in Vietnam and then went back for vacation.

    Yes, you have to be nuts to do it.

    The Idistasport is Alaska’s Human Powered Ultra Endurance Race. There are four divisions: bike, ski, foot, and snowshoe.

    There are 3 Different Distances

    For the babies and small children, there’s the Iditasport 130, which as you might guess, runs 130 miles from Knik, Alaska to Finger Lake. 130 miles is the upper limit of most ultramarathons. For the Iditasport; however, things are just gettting started.

    Next up is the Iditasport Extreme, which runs 350 miles over the Alaska Range from Anchorage to McGrath. There aren’t any roads. You only get out by snowmobile or airplane. This is for the prepubescent boys who want to prove their manhood. 350 miles.

    Then there’s the Iditasport Impossible, which skips a whole other category of difficulty and is only for those interested in inflicting so much pain on themselves that they could be locked up in a room with padded walls, and they’d still find a way to inflict hurt themselves. This ridiculous race is 1,000 (that’s one thousand) miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. If you’re wondering where those are, keep wondering, because it’s entirely too far. To give you an idea of how far it is, completing the Iditarod Impossible would be like trying to go from New York to St. Louis. In snow…during subzero temperatures, with no backup plan. Absolutely insane.

    Guaranteed that none of the racers Are enjoying the scenery

    I wish there were more details to relay about this insane race in the tundra, but apparently most people that attempt it either die or spend the rest of their life trying to repress the memories of this tortuous event that there aren’t many details that actually escape. All the things we know, we have to gather from a few janky looking website (who cares what your website looks like when you’re a tundra-proven badass?)

    If you’re crazy enough to enter and have the cash to pony up for the registration costs (a pretty penny at $1150, not including drop bags, lodging, food and other contacts beyond the McGrath checkpoint which could run you as much as $5,000), here’s what you can look forward to.

    • Transportation from Golden Lion Best Western 1000 East 36th to race start at Knik Lake
    • Lodging and food at Winter Lake Lodge (mile 130) on Finger Lake CP 3
    • Lodging and food at Puntilla Lake/Rainy Pass Lodge (mile 165) CP 4
    • A tent camp and food in Rohn (mile 200) CP 5
    • Lodging and food in Nikola ( mile 300) CP 6
    • Lodging and food in McGrath (mile 350) at the finish line
    • A food/supply drop of 10 pounds each at the checkpoints Finger Lake and Rohn
    • Please keep your drops small, we bring those to their location via small ski plane.
      ( All survival gear, sleeping bags, clothing ect. must be carried from the start)
    • T-Shirt

    I haven’t confirmed this yet, but I’m fairly certain the t-shirt just says “I’m a badass.”

    If you’re one of the few that finish, you get forever bragging rights to say you’ve done a race too painful to accurately remember. And, if you’re lucky enough to not only survive, but actually win the whole thing, you get a free entry for the following year, to relive all the pain and agony you just got done with. Absolutely free. Congratulations.

    Just to give you an idea how impossible the Iditarod Impossible actually is, in 2001, 130 competitors started. 4 Finished. Good luck.

    [Photo]

  • Mudathlon [Race Profile]

    Mudathlon [Race Profile]

    With a tagline: Mud, Obstacles, Beer; the Mudathlon grabs your attention from the start.

    This obstacle race is “over 3 miles of 40+ challenging obstacles and 100 yard mud pits followed by an outstanding post-party that promises beer, live music and great food.”

    Based in the Midwest, Mudathlon started in Indianapolis and is quickly expanding to Northwest Indiana, Cincinnati, Northeast Ohio and Southern Wisconsin.

    As a 3-mile course, the Mudathlon is on the easier spectrum of obstacle races we’ve seen and open to all ages, so if you’re looking to break into adventure racing, this might be your thing. While entrants get a chip timed result, like many obstacle races, the race is billed as an event more than a race and while challenging, is doable for most people, even if you’re not much of an athlete.

    The obstacles on this mucker vary from course to course, but there are some staples you’ll find at each race. On “The Slide,” you’ll be flat on your back sliding through mud. “The Cricketed Creek Crossing” will have you crossing, jumping or sometimes running up, over or through a river along the course. But the landmark obstacle for the Mudathlon is the “Mucking Mud Pit,” a 100-yard pit of purely minted mud that racers have to cross face first. Eat Dirt!…err…Mud!

    Mudathlon

    While individual rewards are given out for the top 3 finishers for each group, teams are encouraged and awards are given out for teams of at least 5 people.

    All Mudathletes get the following with their registration fees:

    • Finishers Medal
    • Mudathlete Shirt
    • Mudathlete Bandana
    • Beer Mug
    • 1 Free Beer (for entrants over 21)
    • Post Race Feast
    • Chip Timed Result

    After the race, if you survive, sit back, grab your well-deserved beer, and reflect on how much of a mucking great time you just had (as well as how many other phrases you can use the word “mucking” in).

    Are you ready to be a mudathlete?

    [Photo via AtGeist]

  • Tough Mudder [Race Profile]

    Tough Mudder [Race Profile]

    At the beginning of a Tough Mudder event, all participants recite the following:

    As a Tough Mudder I pledge that…

    • I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
    • I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
    • I do not whine – kids whine.
    • I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
    • I overcome all fears.

    tough mudder

    Each Tough Mudder course consists of a seven to twelve mile mud/trail run over hilly, uneven and wet ground followed by seventeen to twenty sets of military-style obstacles designed by the British Special Forces. Each event is slightly different and caters to the varying features of local terrain. It’s one of the coolest, most well-known obstacle races out there right now.

    It is estimated that 20% of participants do not finish the course, which is marketed as more of an event than a race—contestants are not timed.

    Englishmen Will Dean first came up with the idea for Tough Mudder while studying at Harvard Business School. Prior to his American MBA, Dean chased terrorists in the Middle East and South Asia for the British Government. While living in Boston, Dean competed in both a marathon and triathlon, finding the races “pointless, boring, and antisocial.” His pitch for Tough Mudder was a finalist in the Harvard’s annual Business Plan Contest.

    Dean brought on Guy Livingstone to act as Chief Operating Officer. Livingstone, a seasoned world traveler, trained as an attorney with Allen & Overy LLP and is now responsible for the company operations like event supervision and new venue expansion.

    tough mudder death waiver

    The first Tough Mudder event was held on 2 May 2010 at Bear Creek Ski Resort near Allentwon, PA. 4500 participants registered before the event sold out in thirty-five days. Subsequent events have been held throughout the United States in Northern California, New Jersey, New England, Texas and Vermont, to name a few.

    At the end of 2011, the top 5% of all Tough Mudder participants will be invited to compete in the World’s Toughest Mudder—a fifty-mile event held on 17 & 18 December at Raceway Park, NJ.

    In 2012, Tough Mudder events will take place not just in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Scotland and Japan. Compared to 2011, 2012 will see triple the amount of Tough Mudder events. How’s that for a rapid expansion?

    tough mudder boa constrictor

    Obstacles differ from event to event and are designed to test both physique and mental fortitude. The Texas Smokehouse has participants run through a wooden structure filled with smoke and mud. The Sweaty Yeti is a scramble through snow. The Killa Gorilla has participants run up and down a steep hill ten times. My favorite? Electroshock Therapy, where participants run through live, dangling electrical wires. One of the crazier obstacle races when it comes to actual obstacles.

    Awards for Best Mullet, Best Costume and Most Respect are given out at the post-race party.

    Proceeds from Tough Mudder go to The Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded servicemen and women. Many participants will pledge to raise money prior to the race.

    Oh, and the prize for finishing a Tough Mudder course? A sweatband and a beer.

    Better start training.

    [images from chaf.haddad]