Tag: Adventure Races

  • 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.

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    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.

  • 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]