I have a lot of memories associated with the Canadian Death Race and Grande Cache.
When I lived in Grande Prairie, it was the race that anyone ever talked about. Friends were either part of a team or were attempting to run the 125 kilometre-distance solo. It was easy to get caught up in the Death Race momentum.
I was part of a few groups that would head to Grande Cache on the weekends to train and summit new mountains. We shared great laughs and formed new friendships over our mutual love of the mountains. Amber and I had done leg 2 (Flood and Grande mountains) so many times that we started naming imaginary creatures that lived in the bog.
So when Amanda asked me to crew her for the Death Race, I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t wait to go back to Grande Cache.
I have never crewed anyone before on a race so I didn’t really know what was in store. The drive to Grande Cache from Calgary is a long haul. I left Friday after work and I arrived around 7:30 p.m. Amanda’s boyfriend Josh, who I had only met once, was in the race too. So by extension, I was crewing them both. They were both pretty relaxed with I joined them.
Josh gave me a handwritten list of the items he wanted at each aid station in addition to his marked bags. They had purchased a wagon so I could move their stuff easily from each aid station. Amanda had a container packed with everything from beef jerky, socks and contact lens solution.
The next morning we walked over to the starting line. We were joined by two of Josh’s friends who were also running solo. The smoke was so thick that you couldn’t see the mountains in the distance. I wonder what it would be like on the trails.
The runners took off at 8 a.m. sharp. I walked back to the hotel to grab the Qashqai and begin my long day of crewing duties. I was one of the first to arrive at the first transition area so I secured a spot close to the transition area. There I met Kirsten from Sherwood Park area who was crewing for her friend Chad from Ontario who was using the race as training for a big race next year in the Yukon. We quickly decided to head to the aid stations together. That day we would get to know other crews as we patiently waited for our runners to come in.
The first leg is the shortest leg. We didn’t have much time to do anything but wait for the runners. I chatted with a few volunteers and walked around. Amanda and Josh arrived all smiles looking relaxed and fresh. Kirsten’s runner came in around the same time so the timing worked out perfectly.
We headed over to the end of Leg 2/start of Leg 3 transition area. We dragged our chairs over to the crewing area and claimed our spot. We had a few hours to kill as Leg 2 can take anywhere from four to 6 hours for most people. I left Kirsten to her book while I ran for two hours around the town.
I set up my station next to Kirsten when I finished my run. Sweat was dripping off me. It was so hot. I couldn’t imagine how the runners were feeling in that heat and humidity. There was still a lot of waiting to be had so we chatted with the other crews next to us. Loved hearing the crewing stories.
Amanda and Josh arrived as two completely different runners from the previous station – muddy, tired and thirsty. Leg 2 can do that to anyone. However they were still in relatively good spirits and optimistic when they left on Leg 3. We had heard this leg was pretty overgrown and was more challenging than the description led it to be.
Just before they arrived, I spotted Jackie from back in the day. She has turned into an incredible runner since the days when we used to hike with a group in Grande Cache. Blast from the past!
Once again Chad, Amanda and Josh finished Leg 3 around the same time. All three looked completely battered. Amanda was really quiet so I could tell she was struggling. I didn’t want to annoy her so I didn’t ask too many questions. Josh mentioned they had seen a bear on the trail but it didn’t pay them much attention.
They spent a few minutes longer at this aid station fuelling up for Leg 4. This is the leg that usually breaks runners – the climb up, over and down Hammel. They estimated it would take eight hours to finish. Kirsten and I decided to go back to our hotels to rest up a bit before we met at the Leg 4/5 transition area.
I drove straight to A&W for a Beyond Meat burger. Other than snacking on Amanda’s race food, I hadn’t eaten much that day. At the hotel, I shut my eyes for about an hour. I was worried that I would sleep through my alarm. Kirsten and I planned to meet at 12:30 a.m. to head to the next station.
Calling it quits on Leg 4
Not a star was visible in the sky so we could barely see anything as we made our way from the parking area to the crewing space at the Leg 4/Leg 5 transition area. The parking area was in this rough, rutted field. We strapped on our headlamps so we could see where we were going.
Fewer people were hanging out. It was a little quieter than the previous stations but that was to be expected as it was so early in the morning. Kirsten and I both received a text from our runners on the summit of Hammel within a few minutes of each other so we knew our runners would come in around the same time.
Josh eventually texted to say they were calling it. Shortly after I was given the official news from the race announcer. Around the same time, Kirsten’s runner came in so I helped her bring her stuff to the car while I waited for someone to drive Josh and Amanda to the aid station. (Kirsten’s runner – Chad – went on to finish the race!)
I could tell they have given it all on that leg. They looked completely and utterly spent. I was really proud of Amanda’s effort (despite her shitty training plan and questionable diet). They ran 88-freaking kilometres over mountains and valleys. I know so many people that have DNF-ed this race so they are in good company!
Crewing was tiring – not because of the work load but because of all the waiting around. I am usually in bed by 10 p.m. the latest. That day we went to bed around 4:30 a.m. But I thought, I could afford to lose a little sleep for one weekend as I supported a friend chase her goals.
Have you ever crewed? Would you do it again? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Thank you for the wonderful links and resources