Oakville, Ont. native Matthew Munro grew to become the youngest individual to complete the Sulphur Springs 100-mile path race in Ancaster, Ont. on Might 28, 2023, on the age of 19–however he wasn’t fairly happy. On Aug. 9, Munro, now 20, moved as much as 200 miles, toeing the road on the Bigfoot 200-miler in Washington state. Crossing the road on Aug. 13 after 93 hours, 37 minutes and 44 seconds, he grew to become the youngest Canadian ultrarunner to finish a 200-mile race.
The 333-km course traverses by way of the Cascade Mountain Vary in Washington state, and contains 13,887 m of elevation achieve and 14,289m of loss. Alongside the route are six sleep and 13 support stations with scorching meals, medical and crew entry.
Munro admits that the toughest half concerning the race was understanding he’d be on the market on the course for days–he didn’t really feel mentally ready for the gruelling expertise. “I used to be starting to lose my thoughts at 70 miles in–I couldn’t grasp that I wasn’t even midway achieved but,” he says. He notes that the members of his crew motivated him by way of that first tough patch.
By the 150-mile mark, the Canadian reveals that he wished to give up. “I felt like a zombie. I may barely discuss or stand; I didn’t have sufficient energy,” Munro says. “I couldn’t resolve if I ought to proceed to undergo, or if I ought to drop out and doubtless remorse it for the remainder of my life. I considered all of my coaching and the sacrifices I made–it was a really emotional second.” After an influence nap and a snack, he continued trudging alongside the path to finish the ultimate quarter of the race.
Munro took 111th place in a subject of 219 racers (84 of whom didn’t end), changing into the youngest Canadian and third-youngest individual ever to finish the Bigfoot 200 mile.
19-year-old Ontario runner turns into youngest finisher at Sulphur Springs 100 miler
Munro says the percentages of him taking up one other 200-miler are good, since he now is aware of that he can do it bodily and is aware of what he’ll need to combat by way of mentally. “I do know I may’ve run that race quite a bit sooner,” he says. “I even hope to be on the rostrum in the future.”