When the 120 runners stood at the starting line to take on the annual Iron Horse Ultra 100, it was raining.
Friends and support staff jockeyed for cover as the runners stretched their legs and readied for the race, and soon Town of St. Paul Mayor Glenn Anderson was taking the microphone in order to offer some words of encouragement. On his command, the race began, and the runners took off into the dark, wet morning.
As the day progressed, however, the sun came out to help guide the runners through the scenic, treacherous course.
Runners on the day were broken up into a few different categories. There were 100-mile teams, 100-mile soloists, 100-kilometre teams and 100-kilometre soloists.
Throughout the day, race director Monique Poulin kept track of all the runners and volunteers from the race headquarters at the Reunion Station grounds in St. Paul.
“It’s been a good day. We’ve got some fast runners,” she said as the first finishers neared the race’s end. “It was a bit cold and rainy this morning, but since then it’s been great.”
Victor Stepa of Elk Point was the first to cross the finish line. He was the member of a team that was traversing the 100-kilometre course.
“It was good,” he said of the race as he worked to catch his breath. “It couldn’t have been better.”
“The organizers have really outdone themselves this year,” said Sandra Ockerman, one of his teammates. “They are really dedicated and it’s always improving. It’s beautiful country.”
The team also consisted of Karen Ockerman and Doug Zarowny.
John Hubbard of Calgary was the first solo runner to break through the tape. One of the reasons that Hubbard made the trip was to complete the Alberta Triple, which is achieved when one runs three races totaling 385 kilometres.
“It’s a huge feat,” he said of the Triple. “The races are all kind of unique, and they are all kind of treacherous in their own way, and St. Paul’s is no different.”
He logged a lot of training in order to accomplish this goal, but he asserts that the mental aspects of these ultra runs far outweigh the physical.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or someone who’s run a lot. It’s one of those things where 100 kilometres is a huge challenge,” he said. “You’ll see a lot of people not finish because, mentally, they are just not prepared.”
He was impressed with the course and its scenery, though the conditions did play a factor in his race.
“The wind was actually a big factor. It made me pretty uncomfortable,” he said. “It rained this morning, but I didn’t mind that because it stopped and it warmed up, but later on the wind really kicked up, and it was in your face for most of the day, so that was certainly challenging.”
Travelling the circuit, he says that the camaraderie felt during these races is one of the things that keep him coming back.
“I think that that’s probably the secret to why people run ultras. It’s a community,” he said. “If you run in Alberta enough, those people that are kind of at all the big races are just great to hang out with. It doesn’t matter if they win or they come in last place, they are all great people, and it’s a nice community feel.”
He says that his recovery will consist of a lot of icing down, and also some pizza and other cold beverages.
“It’s all good,” he laughed. “That’s the great thing about doing 100km. I can eat anything I want now.”
Another shift in the conditions made things difficult for the 100-mile runners who were going through the night.
“It was pretty exciting at three o’clock in the morning when the fog rolled in,” Poulin said. “I had never seen fog so thick. The runners couldn’t even see the next flag.”
The dangerous hindrance caused the organizers to make a difficult decision. They ended up pulling the runners who had yet to make it to the last aid station.
“The runners were in awesome shape. They totally could have made it,” she said of the three runners who were pulled.
All in all, though, the event was a success.
“It was very good. The runners were really pleased with the course,” Poulin said. “The feedback was really good.”
Though the all-night event had the organizers almost as tired-out as the runners, Poulin is still up to do it again next year.
“When I return the key to the town today, I will book the Reunion hall for next year,” she said.
Results
100 km Solo
Hubbard, John - 10h 31min
Johnson, Mark - 13h 23min
Closson, Stephen - 13h 47min
100 km Team
The Hawks - 10h 10min
Mind Over Miles - 11h 07min
Between a walk and a hard pace - 11h 48min
100 mile Solo
Campbell, Dawneen - 19h 18min
Blackbird, Bert - 21h 01min
French, Adam - 21h 01min
100 mile Team
Adonis Brothers - 14h 59min
Dragon our sorry asses - 18h 09min
The Donner Party - 19h 58min46
