Grande Cache "Death Race"

The 11th Annual Grande Cache Death Race took place this weekend, within one of the most beautiful, invigorating, natural and pristine areas of Alberta. I had the opportunity to be a spectator and volunteer helper. The experience was one that will never leave me. My brother-in-law ran this race solo this year, which gave me a first hand look into what was involved as a supporter and station helper. I can't comment on the run itself but it was apparently excruciatingly challenging and beautiful at the same time. The environment was invigorating and contagious to say the least.

The length of the race was a total of 125 km, it was divided up into 5 legs, with check in points at the end of each leg. The race can be run solo or as a team comprised of as many as 5 runners. Each leg has its own cut off time, if you don't make the set cut off time...then you don't continue. The total length of time given to run this race is 24 hours. The race starts at 08:00 hours Saturday morning and continues through until Sunday at 08:00 hours or earlier, that depends on the runner.

There is also a 5 km race for the 15 years and under group, "Kids Death race", which is held on Sunday. The entire weekend is filled with fun stuff for the kids and young at heart.

Supporters, spectators and death racers came from far and wide; there were local racers and some which came from as far as Europe. The participants varied in age form 16 - 70, it was as uplifting and invigorating as anything I've every experienced.

There was a certain amount of irony which played out for me, in relation to hanging out with people who have similar interests, goals, respect and appreciation for their surroundings and personal well being, partially because I met people who knew people who were once a part of my life; also because I was in a congested, overly populated and confined area with people in my face every step of the way, the irony is that it didn't bother me, these people were polite, considerate, cared about who they were and where they were (they were like the people who I surround myself with at SRKF). Typically, I'm not the type who could enjoy the confined quarters with people on my heals and on my toes at the same time, but it was all good, the environment was awesome, right from 07:00 hours Saturday morning until the time that I closed my eyes at 07:00 hours Sunday morning. As I helped on the last leg of the race, waiting for Vince to approach me from the dark of night, death racers were passing me with smiles on their faces and still showing their appreciation and saying thanks to the volunteers who stuck by them through the night, it was amazing.....!

My brother-in-law, Vince Krebs, was truly inspiring, his persistence and mental engagement through this race was......how do I put this into words!....Let me put it this way, he is the younger brother I wish I always had, so the heart felt proudness that I felt was overwhelming! To jog beside him through his final 400m of the 125 km race and cross the finish line with him was awesome.

The insight from this experience, as I watched the runners at the check in points, viewed what they ate, and how they utilized their few minutes of sit down time, leaves me to believe that like most things that seem unattainable, is a huge mental game. These people fought and fooled their bodies and reprogrammed their brains every step of the way. As, I said, before nothing but inspiring......

This weekend and experience has enlightened me to my next yearly challenge, it will be to train and compete in the "Death Race". I will never know..............if I don't try!

Darcy Regier, Silent River Kung Fu, UBBT, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.