Canadian trail runner Jen Segger wins international causeway crossing 100K

“Embrace bold. Make plans not excuses.” – Lost Worlds race director Tim Holmstrom.

Running is all about the experience in the end, whether it is the feeling of pure accomplishment of jut finishing, the thrill of a personal best or feeling proud with a heaving chest after giving it your all.

Imagine 100-kilometres of rugged Ireland, running through quiet forest paths, expanses of misty Irish bog that rolls and tugs at muddy trail shoes, then along the coast, atop the cliff tops with bright blue crashing water hundreds of meters below and running past crumbling castle ruins. This is what runners experienced at the International Lost Worlds: Causeway Crossing 100-kilometre trail ultra marathon in Northern Ireland.

Canadians at Causeway Crossing
The ultramarathon was an international event but as we all gathered at a cozy Irish pub the day before the race I realized there was a large Canadian contingent. It made kind of laugh to come across the Atlantic for a crazy run and find my fellow Canadians. There were a good number of Canucks and others from the US, Germany, Switzerland, England, Sweden and of course the locals. As much as it was a trip to get away it was also comforting in a way to have some fellow Canadians around.

Jen Segger
One of the Canadians was Canadian flag bandana-wearing Jen Segger, a Canadian endurance athlete who came across the line as the race’s top female. Jen described the race perfectly:

“The race route took us overland for the first 50km, giving us the rolling hills, enchanted forests and Irish bog experience. The last 50km was pure coastal trail, an out and back, of green grass Highlands as we made our way through the Giants Causeway to an old ancient castle.

“The race route was incredible, not very often you get to run through a World Heritage Site. We had perfect running weather. Runners had come to experience Ireland, the people, the culture and the beers. It did not disappoint”

Jen is an elite adventure athlete who hails from Squamish, BC, competes for Salomon International and uses her racing and personal endurance challenges to travel the world, explore diverse areas and push personal limits. She also represents i2P (Impossible to Possible) an organization started by Canadian ultra-legend Ray Zahab, acting as an ambassador of change that aims to inspire youth to push beyond their own perceived limitations.

Jen’s Impressive Career highlights
Jen’s career highlights include being the youngest female to have ever run the Badwater 135-mile ultra in the heat of Death Valley, CA, is the only person to have ever run/biked the entire length of Vancouver Island (750km) and this year won one of the hardest triathlons out there; the Ultraman Canada (10km swim, 270km bike and 84km run.) When not racing, Jen can be found coaching and working with athletes from around North America through her business Challenge by Choice.

A quick summary of the race
This blog is more about others and less about me, but I was there. The race was brutal but amazing. Rising and gathering together at 4 a.m. to stuff food into our faces in the hostel in quiet nervousness and joking. A line of silhouetted runners peeing into a beautiful early morning sunrise on the Irish coast. Quiet rural road quickly turned to trail and trail turned to endless kilometers of bog that producing a string of profanity from many of us and almost ate the shoes of a couple runners with its black muddy grip. The second half of the run had breathtaking views and allowed me to herd a group of sheep on a narrow cliff top trail and finish by running along a quiet beach under the stars and moon. Quite a memory. Fellow Canadian and fellow runner Todd Schaber described it as,

“…even more challenging that I expected” and “…it was such a positive and rewarding experience where I met so many interesting like-minded people!”

The race director and crew
Tim (Holmstrom) and Duggie (Martin Duggan) were more like friends than organizers and were amazing throughout the weekend. When I asked Tim why he started his series of ultras around the world he responded by saying,
“I wanted to offer a truly unique set of destination races and give runners a compelling reason to travel to and race in places that have been singled out as some of the most beautiful in the world.”

“These are definitely bucket list destinations. The Lost Worlds Trail Series allows people an additional excuse to visit them in the context of a challenging race competition but to also take time to take in these areas before or after the race at a more leisurely pace. It’s also very much about exploration, adventure, camaraderie and friendship, since you’re likely spending at least 2-3 days with fellow international travelers and staff attending each race.”

Friends
Fellow Canadians- there is plenty to see and run in our own great and vast country but never pass up a chance to run an adventure – life is too short.

A shout out goes out to some of the great friends I met, Jen “I only saw your back” Segger, Brian my Florida friend, Todd from Calgary, Edward (we need to hookup for Comrades someday), Fabio from Italy, Guido from Switzerland, Jonathan the sandal-wearing youngster, my German friend Ralph and of course social director and the spice to the event – Adrianna …and all the others, Pat, Helena, Diane and everyone else- thanks for the memories.

Do you have a good story or know a runner I should profile?
legsnlungs@hotmail.com

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

If you are intrigued about the Lost Worlds races check out the website or find them on FaceBook, Belize in November and Tuscany in April 2013.

Click here for photos of the Causeway Crossing 100k.

Click here for a video of the Causeway Crossing 100k.