6 Canadian women ready to crush Canyons Endurance Runs 100K

Canadian trail runners are already having a standout 2025, and the momentum continues this weekend in the rugged foothills of northern California. The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB kicks off in Auburn—the birthplace of mountain ultras—and serves as both a Western States 100 (WSER) Golden Ticket race and a UTMB World Series Major. That means serious competition, high stakes and a golden opportunity for six elite Canadian women lining up in the 100K. Alongside world-class international talent, these Canadian athletes are poised to shake up the field–which is 31 per cent women this year. Here’s what you need to know before the start line buzz hits Auburn–and who to follow once the race is underway.

The race

Canyons takes place on various portions of the Western States Trail, familiar to many runners as the location of the Western States Endurance Run–the oldest and most iconic 100-miler in the U.S. The 100K race, which kicks off at 5 a.m. local time at the China Wall trailhead and following the American River to Auburn, involves more than 3,750 metres of elevation gain (and even more elevation loss) as runners descend into and out of the canyons along the course (hence the race’s name).

Canyons is a Western States qualifying race and gets racers three UTMB Running Stones, and with those things on the line, we’re certain to see some outstanding performances among these impressive Canadians.

Canadians to watch

Marianne Hogan of Montreal is best known for her dramatic UTMB finishes; she was second in 2022 after taking third at Western States two months previously, and third in 2024 (after a hard fall that left her with a dislocated finger). While Hogan hasn’t raced much yet this year due to injury, she is eager to demonstrate her signature speed on the trails. “I’m really excited to be toeing the line of a Golden Ticket race, and am really fired up to give it my best shot!,” Hogan told Canadian Running. “I’ve taken a more progressive approach to training and switched up some things with regard to my nutrition, ever since I got injured again in February [hamstring tear], and think I’m finally back at a good spot again.”

Arden Young of Canmore, Alta., has already tasted success this year, finishing second to U.S. superstar Courtney Dauwalter at Crown King Scramble 50K in Arizona last month, and had a standout season in 2024, beginning with a second-place overall finish at the San Tan Scramble 50K (Arizona) and an 11th-place finish in a deep field at Black Canyon Ultras 100K. Young was 10th at Canyons Endurance Runs 100K in 2024, and followed that with a 12th-place finish at UTMB CCC 100K and first at Puerto Vallarta Mexico by UTMB in November. “The field at this race seems to get faster and more stacked every year–its intimidating, but also exciting, and one of the reasons so many elite runners choose to run Canyons,” Young said. “The cold weather kit was just implemented, so the temps might just favour Canadians this weekend! Here’s hoping.”

8 Canadian women trail runners you need to know

A year after her dramatic victory at this race three years ago, Jazmine Lowther of Nelson, B.C., spent some time on the sidelines with a bone stress injury and REDs (relative energy deficiency in sport). But with support from two new sponsors (Arc’teryx and the Canadian nutrition company Näak) and wins at both the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100K and Speedgoat 50K in 2024, Lowther has proven she is back (and hungry for more). She hopes to line up at either the UTMB final, Western States or the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain in September.

Priscilla Forgie of Edmonton won this race in 2023, then went on to finish eighth at Western States the same year, and in 2024 she won the Squamish 50K and snagged another top-10 finish at Western States. Known for her consistency, Forgie could very well return to the podium at Canyons this year.

Though she’s only 25, Alberta’s Heidi Frehlich has shown remarkable maturity and consistency in her brief but very promising ultra-trail career, winning the Lost Soul Ultra 100-miler in Lethbridge last fall (and beating all but one of the men) after hitting the podium at both the Elk Valley Ultra 50K and the Calgary Marathon 50K the previous year.

Ailsa MacDonald is the veteran of the group, and still putting up impressive performances in her early 40s; she’s only gotten stronger since her second-place finish at Western States in 2022, climbing no fewer than four podiums in 2023, as well as seventh at UTMB that year. She won Mesquite Canyon 50K in Arizona and Austin Rattler Run 50K in Texas in 2024 as well as taking second at Gorge Waterfalls 50K in Oregon, and won her first race of 2025, the Mesquite Canyon 50K in Arizona. MacDonald expressed some trepidation pre-race due to dealing with some injuries that she says have left her feeling unprepared. Nevertheless, she is enthused about the challenge. “I will be relying on bike fitness, muscle memory and mental strength for this one! I am nowhere near where I wanted to be run fitness-wise, but I still feel like I can pull off a decent race and enjoy the journey,” she added. “Excited to see such a strong Canadian contingent toeing the line.”

More Canadians to watch

Canadian 50K record holder Chris Balestrini will contest the 50K race, while Reid Burrows is taking on the 100-mile distance, and three-time stroller-running world record setter Cal Neff is racing the 100K. Valérie Arsenault, who took third at the legendary JFK 50-miler in both 2023 and 2024, will represent Canada in the 50K.

Don’t miss the action! You can livestream all the races here, or track your favourite runners here.