Krista DuChene to tackle her first ultra-trail 100K race
DuChene is training for the Sulphur Springs 100K Trail Race in Ancaster, Ont., in May 2024
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Canada Running Series
Canadian Olympian and 50K national record holder Krista DuChene may have retired from competitive marathoning, but she’s far from finished tackling new distances. DuChene recently announced that she’ll be taking on the Sulphur Springs 100K Trail Race on May 25, 2024. “I’ve heard great things about this race for years,” DuChene said on iRun.ca. The runner was encouraged by friends whom she credits with helping her find her way into ultrarunning and, in the past, guided her toward the Olympics.
The 2024 edition of Sulphur Springs Trail Race in Ancaster, Ont., needs 100 finishers in the 100K (under 18 hrs) and/or 100 finishers in the 100 miler (under 30 hours) to be granted Western States Endurance Run Qualifier Status, which will allow runners who qualify to earn a lottery ticket for that race. “After hearing the excitement about the race’s potential to become a qualifier, I knew it was the year,” DuChene said.
DuChene, 46, has a long and legendary career in distance running. While still competing as an elite masters marathoner, DuChene made the jump into an unofficial 54-kilometre ultra in Hamilton in November 2020 (organizers called it a “supported long run”). DuChene covered the two-lap route (which included 1,200m of climbing) in five hours and four minutes. While she said she felt good throughout the run, DuChene added, “I don’t remember when I last felt this sore.”
In May 2021, DuChene broke the Canadian 50K record at the Coolsaet GO 50K in Hamilton, lowering the mark of 3:28:20 (set by Catrin Jones in 2015) by a remarkable six minutes, to finish in 3:22:23.
As she prepares for the 100K distance, DuChene will be training under the guidance of her coach, Reid Coolsaet, who is also a former Canadian distance elite who has moved into ultra-trail. “I look forward to learning more about training for and competing in this distance as a coach and athlete,” DuChene says. “I’m most excited to run alongside my closest running friends with whom I’ve shared thousands of kilometres for over 20 years.”
Krista DuChene breaks Canadian masters record at Tokyo Marathon
DuChene will be commentating during the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 15, and fans can watch free of charge via livestream. The free broadcast on AthleticsCanada.tv is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am ET. The marathon will begin at 8:45 a.m. ET.
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