2009 Canadian Death Race
The 2009 Canadian Death race took runners 125 kilometers through the mountains of Northern Alberta. It was won by American Sean Messiener followed closely by Dean Karnazes.
This year’s The North Face Canadian Death Race was an enormous success. More than 1,000 participants (the largest field ever) made the trek to Grande Cache in northern Alberta to partake in the 125K sufferfest. Race organizer and founder Dale Tuck, who dressed as the Grim Reaper for the occasion, announced in the pre-race meeting that the 25 C heat for this year’s edition was extraordinary – in past years snow was not uncommon. The race started at 8 a.m. on Saturday and ran through until 8 a.m. on Sunday. Of the 215 solo racers who started, only 78 completed the gruelling 5,200 metres of climbing. Fortunately, none were eaten by the grizzlies, which are common to the area and spotted on leg four.
Sean Meissner of Sister, Oregon, won the event in 15 hours and four minutes, followed by The North Face athlete Dean Karnazes more than an hour later. Top Canadian finisher Aaron Bryant of Whitecourt, Alberta, was only six minutes behind Karnazes, clinching third in the process. Last year’s winner and course record holder Jack Cook pulled out after the third leg.
The women’s field was dominated by Sophie Limoges of Brossard, Quebec, who finished in a staggering 16 hours and 37 minutes. Her next nearest competitor Captain Dennene Huntley of Petawawa, Ontario, came in an hour and 50 minutes later, with world renowned ultra runner Diane Van Deren hot on her heels just two minutes later.
The relay event was won by team Wild Mountain of Jasper, Alberta, in 11 hours 52 minutes and 48 seconds. They beat out Team Quickcard by less than two minutes. Fast Trax of Edmonton rounded out the podium a further 24 minutes in arrears.
For a complete list of results see here http://www.canadiandeathrace.com/times.html
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