Run Calgary assembles stacked team for “on foot, no rules” desert ultra

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The Speed Project is one of the toughest ultramarathons in North America that you’ve probably never even heard of.

Next year’s event will mark the fourth running of the non-sanctioned event as team members alternate between following in an RV and completing legs of the relay. The 2018 event begins March 30 and Run Calgary, the organizers of the Calgary Marathon, is backing a six-person team comprising some of the country’s top ultramarathoners.

The Speed Project is a gruelling trek from Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The distance is approximately 547K. The record is just over 36 hours. “On foot. No rules,” the Speed Project says.

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The Calgary team is named #TSPYYC [The Speed Project Calgary]. Here are the members, with two hand-picked athletes (earning an all-expenses paid trip) as chosen by judges based on submitted applications.

Alissa St Laurent

Alissa St Laurent (@SalomonRunning) is sixth at #UTMB 2017 in 28:13:43. pic.twitter.com/lmhD07mCNU

— iRunFar (@iRunFar) September 2, 2017

St Laurent, the winner of the 2015 Canadian Death Race, is one of the country’s top ultramarathoners. She finished sixth at the 2017 Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France, considered one of the most prestigious trail ultras in the world.

Dave Proctor

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In September, Proctor commuted 170K to the Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge, Alta., which he then won in course-record time. He formerly held the world record for the greatest distance run on a treadmill in 24 hours and is planning to run across Canada beginning June 22, 2018.

Ailsa Macdonald

Macdonald, in her first-ever 100-miler, crushed the entire field at Sinister 7 in July 2017. She finished more than 90 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher clocking 18:54:57 for 160K. Talk about impressive!

Justin Kurek

Yee-haw. Kurek is the record holder for the fastest marathon while wearing a cowboy costume, a feat he accomplished at the 2017 Calgary Marathon when he clocked 2:42:17.

Ari Sarantis

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A seven-time Ironman finisher, Sarantis is the one who came up with the Speed Project Calgary idea.

Jon Bird

Jon Bird is Run Calgary’s race director with past performances including first place and podium finishes at Escape from Alcatraz, Muskoka 5150, and Wasa Lake.

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