Canada's 'death race' draws hundreds to grueling mountain challenge

Despite its ominous name, the Canadian Death Race attracted hundreds of runners in 2025, challenging them to conquer 118 km of treacherous mountain terrain in the Canadian Rockies.

Since the early 2000s, athletes from around the globe have flocked to the town of Grande Cache, Alberta, with a single goal: to test their limits in one of the planet's most demanding ultra-trail races.

The 118-km course begins and ends on a 1,387-meter plateau, traversing three major mountain peaks, accumulating 4,543 meters of elevation gain. It also includes crossing the raging river in Hell’s Gate canyon, the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur rivers.

Champion Ethan Peters competing in the 2025 Canadian Death Race. Photo: *Matt Westlake*

This year marked the race's 25th anniversary and saw record participation, with around 1,300 entrants. The Canadian Death Race offers two distances: the full 118-km course and the shorter Near Death Marathon (NDM), approximately 41–42 km with an elevation gain of 1,700–1,775 meters.

Ethan Peters dominated the 2025 Canadian Death Race, completing the 118-km course in 11 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds. This shattered Rickey Gates' 2011 record by nearly 40 minutes. Peters finished over an hour and a half ahead of second-place James Dalke, earning an additional 5,000 USD for his record-breaking performance.

Ethan Peters wins and breaks the record at the 2025 Canadian Death Race.

Beyond the grueling ultramarathons, the event concluded with a 6-km children's race. Around 200 children participated, adding a lively atmosphere to the day's events.

The Canadian Death Race was first held in 2000 by Paul Bailey and Dale Tuck to revitalize the mining town of Grande Cache after its coal mine closed. The inaugural race drew 193 participants, and by 2010, the number had surpassed 1,000 athletes from around the world.

Young athletes compete in the 2025 Canadian Death Race.

The name "Death Race" sounds daunting, yet this very difficulty attracts hundreds of international athletes annually. Participants face challenging terrain, rapidly changing weather, and tests of both physical and mental endurance.

The course consists of approximately 95% dirt trails, 4% gravel roads, and 1% paved roads, featuring technical sections such as mud, streams, and steep descents. This year, race-day temperatures ranged from 6 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Hong Duy (*Mundo Deportivo*)

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/cuoc-dua-tu-than-118-km-qua-day-nui-nguy-hiem-nhat-canada-4924686.html