West Vancouver, British Columbia – The second Saturday of July is coming up, and that can only mean one thing for a growing number of enthusiastic long-distance runners – time for the Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run (the “Knee Knacker”). The race traverses the trails of West and North Vancouver, and the seventeenth edition takes place on Saturday July 9, 2005.

The race started out as a “fun run” with only 8 participants in 1989, when the sport of ultramarathoning (races longer than a 26.2 mile marathon) was in its infancy in Canada. This was long before adventure races like Eco-Challenge and “reality” television shows like Survivor made their mark on modern society. While there are races over distances much longer than the 30 miles covered by the Knee Knacker, not many are tougher. Canada’s largest ultramarathon race takes participants from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove along the 30-mile (48.6 km.) Baden-Powell trail. Runners go up, over, and around the major North Shore mountains – Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour – gaining over 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in elevation along the way for a total elevation change of over 16, 000 feet (4,800 m).

Over the years, top ultramarathoners from around the world have traveled from afar to challenge themselves in what is referred to as the “knarliest” footrace in Canada. However, the great appeal of the race is that it caters to adventure seekers of all levels and not just the elite competitors. Race participants were selected by lottery in March. By the luck of the draw, almost 200 racers will toe the line on race day. Half of these runners will be taking part in the race for the first time.

This year’s race sees the highest ever percentage (35%) of female athletes with a highly competitive field. North Vancouver’s Patricia Jensen, 6-time finisher, 2-time champion and course record holder returns this year to defend her title. Jensen ran away from the field in 2003, winning by over a half-hour en route to a course record of 5 hours and 41 minutes and returned in 2004 to set the Masters course record. Topping the list of competitors ready to challenge for victory are former champions Jacquie Trudeau (2002) and Alexander Watson (2001), along with first-timer Suzanne Evans, current course record holder at Diez Vista 50km.

The men’s division will see 7-time finisher and 6-time champion Peter Findlay of Kamloops return to defend his title. Findlay’s previous course record (1991) stood the test of time until Kevin Titus of Whistler lowered it by almost 3 minutes to 4 hours and 42 minutes in 2003. A strong field of competitors will challenge Findlay this year, including first-timer, and world-class triathlete, North Vancouver’s Mark Bates.

This year’s oldest competitor, Harvey Nelsen, 71, of Langley, is looking to complete his 5^th Knee Knacker, competing in the Super-Veterans category. Two additional athletes are expecting to celebrate a significant milestone upon their successful completion of Saturday’s race. Mark Grist and Marcia Boulanger are looking to join the exclusive 10-time finishers club, a feat accomplished by only 16 athletes to date. Boulanger is last year’s Veteran’s winner and Grist will be the youngest competitor to reach this milestone.

The race itself starts at 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9^th just above Horseshoe Bay, at the Eagleridge Drive exit off the Upper Levels Highway. Runners must arrive at the Panorama Park beach in Deep Cove by the race cut-off time of 4:00 p.m. Following is a schedule of where and when to catch the top runners in action: