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Q: |
Is this an official
event? |
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A: |
No... it's a
standing challenge. Our
team of
experienced ultramarathon runners
attempted to be the first to run the
Sunshine Coast Trail nonstop in 2003 and
2004. The record currently stands
at 43 hours and 50 minutes. |
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Q: |
Why would you want to run
the trail non-stop from start to finish? |
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A: |
Because nobody else has.
Because in 2003, we challenged the trail
and the trail won. Because
we're buddies and we enjoy hanging out
together. Because we can! |
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Q: |
Has anyone
else ever tried to run the Sunshine
Coast Trail non-stop? |
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A: |
No.
Our team tried to run it in 2 days in
2003 and failed. Some friends of
ours (Sally Marcellus and Rob Lang)
successfully ran the trail in sections
over 4 days in the spring of 2004.
Prior to that, a group of hikers
completed it over 7 days (Scott Glaspey,
Eagle Walz, Don Krompocker, Bonnie &
Johnnie Mercer, Andy Davis)
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Q: |
The trail
includes 4750 meters of elevation gain
and 3470 meters of elevation loss (8,220
meters of change.) That's like
climbing Mount Everest (8848 meters)
from sea level. Would you do it again? |
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A: |
Probably not the whole thing, but definately sections. |
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Q: |
What did you eat? |
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A: |
Each team member carried
enough food and water to be
self-sufficient for at least 6 hours. This
food consisted primarily of
electrolyte drink, high
carbohydrate/glucose gels and sports
bars. We meet our crew at
various points along the trail.
They provided us with 'real'
food such as sandwiches, potato chips,
cola, beer and whatever else made each
individual runner go. For an
interesting read, check out
our
food checklist |
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Q: |
What did you wear? |
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A: |
We carried the
minimum amount of gear possible given the
weather. Basic clothing
consisted of short sleeve technical shirt,
shorts, sox, trail running shoes and a
backpack. Each runner carried
their own water in either handheld water
bottles or in their backpacks.
Check out our
gear
checklist |
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Q: |
Do you have any sponsors
or financial support? |
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A: |
Please see
our
thanks
page |
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Q: |
Did anyone
help you during the run? |
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A: |
Yes. We
were blessed
with awesome support from the Powell
River community, family and friends. It would be tough
to think of doing something like this
without them. Check out our
crew
tasks and our
thanks page |
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Q: |
Sarah Point Marine Park,
the start, is not accessible by road. How did you get to
the start and what time
will you leave? |
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A: |
In 2003, we took a water taxi
from Lund to Sarah Point at
5:00 am. In 2004, we took the same
water taxi to Sarah Point in the
afternoon and opted for an alpine start
(leaving at 2:00 am) to maximize
daylight. |
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Q: |
Did you
get lost along the trail? |
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A: |
Yes, we got
lost from time to time. In 2003,
we got lost a lot. In 2004,
Jackson climbed one mountain he
shouldn't have, but managed to find his
way back to the trail before Search and
Rescue was called in. |
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Q: |
Did
anyone take photos? |
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A: |
Yes.
Paul Kennedy, an experienced adventure
photographer, accompanied us. We
also were accompanied by a team of film
makers who plan to make a documentary of
this adventure one day. Please see
our
Results page. |
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Q: |
Are there many people out
there like you? I mean, 180-kilometers
is a long way to drive!
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A: |
Believe it or not, trail
running and ultradistance running is
becoming increasingly popular.
There are approximately 30 running races
of 100-mile distance in the United
States. Some attract as many as
500 participants. Elsewhere in the
world, the 100 kilometer distance is the
standard ultradistance run. The 87k Comrades
ultramarathon in South Africa attracts
almost 20,000 participants. |
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