If there was ever a race tailor-made for the elevation junkies of the Bow Valley, it would be Unbreakable, the steepest race in Canada.
Buff Canada is so confident a Bow Valley resident will win the event, the company is offering to pay for two free entries into the Saturday, Aug. 23 event which challenges competitors to run 250 metres up a 37 per cent grade at the Calgary Olympic Park Ski Jump.
Titled Unbreakable, waves of 10 will sprint up the tower, covering 148m of elevation, and will raise money for Luca Stamile, a six-year-old Calgary child battling brain cancer.
“We’re hopefully going to run the race every year and we’re starting at the right place at COP,” said BUFF Canada spokeswoman Gigha Smith. “It’s a fantastic location to do it, it’s challenging and we love anything that challenges you.”
A beer tent, DJs and an after party will contribute to the fun atmosphere around the event, while a team of firefighters will be at the top of the course to help anyone struggling with the run.
Two-time Olympic cross-country skier and sprint specialist Dasha Gaiazova will lead the warmup for the event, and has offered tips to local residents on how to win.
“It’s the steepest race in Canada and you climb right from the start. The main goal is to get the blood flowing. You want to get to the point where you’re almost going to sweat, so it’s not a complete shock to the system,” Gaiazova said, who will also be on the start line.
She says anyone who has hiked up Ha Ling, Lady Macdonald or East End of Rundle will have an advantage in the race, which is another bonus for Bow Valley residents.
“Strategically, you have to break it up into sections. A good way to judge your effort is see if you are in the green, yellow or red – like a car. You don’t want to get in the red right away because you’ll get tired really quick. For the first half, stay in the green, maybe a little in the yellow. In the second half, rev it up and people will start to fall off. In the last quarter, go all out,” Gaiazova said.
To win the free entry, enter on the Buff Canada Facebook and Twitter page.
