More than 1,000 racers are currently training vigorously for the 4th annual
Sinister 7 Ultra + Relay, which is only a couple weeks away.
This year, the race begins on Saturday, July 9th at 7 a.m., and racers have 27 hours to complete the course, by 10 a.m. on Sunday.
During the course of the race, runners will battle it out against the elements and 148 kilometres of challenging terrain with more than 5,250 metres of elevation gain.
Runners can run solo, or in teams of up to seven people, and will complete seven stages throughout the Crowsnest Pass.
The first stage takes the runners from Blairmore through the Frank Slide, through Hillcrest, and to the base of Hastings Ridge. The second stage takes them up Hastings Ridge and back down the other side of Turtle Mountain, back into Blairmore.
The third stage takes them back out of Blairmore in a loop that includes York Creek, Willoughby Ridge, and part of the Lost Creek Fire area, before bringing them back into Blairmore again.
The fourth stage will return to York Creek and then head west through the Star Creek area before returning to the highway near Crowsnest Lake.
Runners will then head north near Atlas Road and cross into McGillivray Creek before this long stage is finished.
The fifth and sixth stages go all around Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters Mountain, from which the race takes its name, before arriving back at McGillivray Creek.
