Who knew that less than half a kilometre of running could bring so much pain?
The Red Bull 400, which makes its way to Canada at the beginning of August, is a 400m race that climbs at an average grade of more than 37 per cent. The leg and lung-aching series is the world’s steepest 400m race and makes stops across the globe each year. On Aug. 5, Canadians will feel the lactic acid burn on home soil when they take on the challenge at Whistler Olympic Park, a 90-minute drive from Vancouver. Unlike most footraces, the Red Bull 400 is a test of full body strength.
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The Red Bull 400 Whistler course brings runners up the entire length of the 2010 Olympic ski jump competition site. Where competitions on this jump usually see athletes fly, this contest of strength does the opposite. This time around, athletes don’t have gravity on their side.
How does it work exactly? Every participant gets to race at least once. The top qualifiers in the first race heats qualify for the finals where the winner is decided. There’s also a 4x100m relay if you want to keep the distance short and sweet.
Get to know the race by scrolling over each dot to learn more
Still don’t think the race is tough? The defending champions, IAAF World Cross-Country team member Kieran Lumb, and triathlete Rachel McBride completed the race in 2016 finishing in 3:48 and 4:56. Those times equate, pace-wise, to 9:30 per kilometre and 12:20 per kilometre.
Plus, not only will your lungs ache from running the terrain itself, but the Whistler Olympic Park is also located more than 850m above sea level. There’s an added obstacle. The only consolation, if you’re a flat-land advocate, is that the first 100m or so of the race is runnable. The downside? Look up. You have a direct line of sight straight to the finish– which hovers a daunting 140m above.
Because of the unique distance and amount of elevation gained, the Red Bull 400 is unlike most other races in Canada. If you’re a good stair climber, or an experienced hiker of the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver, you may come into the race ahead of the competition. Whereas there’s a delayed onset of lactic acid in a 5K or 10K, you’ll feel the pain hit immediately when doing the ascent of Whistler’s ski jump.
Some participants know that they’ll be using their hands to get up the ski jump. So what do they do? Wear gloves, of course. In at least one instance (see below), the choice was gardening gloves.
Think you have what it takes? See you Aug. 5. Canadian Running will be there!
Created in partnership with Red Bull
