Jack.org Mountain Park Ultra.
Running 230km from Lake Louise to Jasper
About Me
My name is Sam Dickie and I am an ultra runner, alpinist living in Banff, Alberta. I love seeing what the human body is capable of, if conditioned properly. I have had many incredible adventures throughout the Canadian Rockies and around the world; including running mountains in the Himalayas and kayaking steep class V waterfalls in the rockies. This pursuit of seeing what the human body is capable of has now led me to seeing if a 230km run in a single push is possible?
Wait.. What are you Doing??
Mid June, myself and crew will start at the south end of the Icefields Parkway in Lake Louise, and I’ll begin the 230km run north to Jasper, Alberta, in a single push. The Icefields Parkway, is considered to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It incorporates the source of both the Saskatchewan and Athabasca rivers, towering peaks and glaciers surrounding you, and with a 360 degree view the entire time.
And... Why, Exactly ?
The purpose of the run is to support Jack.org's youth mental health programs during these difficult times. Running to me is like a moving meditation, your mind taps out from your body, and your body knows exactly what to do. During an ultra, your mind and body go through huge highs and lows, a mental battle, barely visible from the outside. For me running has been an incredible way to deal with my mental health. Those lows became more frequent in day to day life for me and running was my way out, clearing my head, and being present with every step, and battling through those lows.
This past spring, I was supposed to be attempting the record of the Annapurna circuit in Nepal, a 230km trail through the Himalayas. Once Covid-19 came and shut everything down, I lost my 3 jobs, and the goal of breaking the record I worked so hard towards. I hit a low point, not knowing what my future held. Once I finally had the motivation again to lace up my shoes, the idea of diverting this energy into a new project came. After a few ideas got shut down from Covid, I finally locked on to running the Icefields Parkway.