175-km Trail of 鈥�98 Ultra to debut at this year鈥檚 road relay
Running fanatics and marathon enthusiasts have a new 175-km race to conquer.
Running fanatics and marathon enthusiasts have a new 175-km race to conquer.
In an evolutionary year for the event, Sport Yukon鈥檚 Klondike Road Relay is opening its doors to an audience that searches the globe for elevated, challenging and beautiful terrain with the debut of its Trail of 鈥�98 Ultra category.
Participants who take on this endeavour will begin their adventure in the afternoon of Sept. 5 in Skagway and finish on Sept. 6 along the Yukon River in Rotary Peace Park, Whitehorse.
鈥淭his is a groundbreaking opportunity for running enthusiasts across the North, and a definite interest for marathon and ultra runners around the world,鈥� said Kevin Patterson, marketing, communications and events co-ordinator for Sport Yukon.
Ontario-born Will Kidnew and Juneau鈥檚 Klas Stolpe are planning on taking on the new event.
Stolpe will be running in honour of past road relay participant Glenn Frick, who died in June.
Frick competed in the event every year since its inception in 1983.
Kidnew, an executive chef now living in Chicago, runs each morning before putting his culinary expertise to work at night. He is looking foward to taking in nature鈥檚 beauty along the relay route.
Local long-distance runner Keith Thaxter has also shown an interest in running the entire race for years, and will put a major emphasis on his training leading up to race day.
鈥淩unning 175 km will be a very big challenge to me, as 100 km is the longest event I have ever run,鈥濃�圱haxter said in a press release.
The new category is only one of many new facets for the 32nd annual event.
The additions of a beer garden, an eight-person walking category, a T-shirt design contest, a newly-designed website, new commemorative pins, and a new dance location at the High Country Inn will make this year鈥檚 race a definite crowd-pleaser for participants and volunteers.
An early-bird registration rate of $150 (plus GST) will apply for the Trail of 鈥�98 Ultra category until July 18, or $175 (plus GST) until the close of registration Aug. 22.
Rates for all official and special categories can be found by visiting klondikeroadrelay.com.
The Klondike Road Relay is Sport Yukon鈥檚 annual fundraiser, and takes place on the Friday and Saturday following Labour Day each year.
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