B.C. runner completes 86-km ultramarathon around 200m track

Could you run a marathon on a 200m indoor track? Kamloops, B.C.’s Caleb English doubled the challenge on Sunday at a local Kamloops facility, running 86 km–more than two marathons–in 12 hours; he completed the 200m loop 430 times. The ultrarunner took on the run as a fundraising event while training for an even longer ultramarathon, the Marathon des Sables (MDS).

“I’ll be running to simulate the longest stage of the legendary Marathon des Sables, a gruelling 250km ultramarathon through the Sahara Desert,” the 35-year-old wrote on Instagram while promoting the event. (The MDS is divided into six stages; the longest stage of the event covers 80 km.) The seven-day race, set to begin April 4, requires runners to carry their own pack with gear and food for the week.

Throughout his 12-hour run, which took place at Kamloops’ Tournament Capital Centre, English gave his audience updates on social media. “Just passed 60km,” he said in an Instagram story. “Seven hours, 52 minutes. It’s going pretty well–everything hurts though.

“Just need to average six minutes per kilometre for the last four hours to hit 85 km,” he added. “Hopefully can get a little bit more than that, but just trying to stay hydrated, stay fuelled and just keep moving–[I’m] not going to stop.”

 

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English, a passionate runner who began taking on ultras during the COVID-19 pandemic, runs to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. So far, he’s raised nearly CA$7,000. He incentivized the 12-hour fundraising event by offering those who attended a chance to win prizes, and asked members of the community to pledge $0.50 for each kilometre he completed.

“After 86 km yesterday, I feel like the tin man,” he wrote in an Instagram update. “Thanks to everyone that came out!”