ACU

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Results have been published by the IAU. Congratulations to all who represented Canada and Canadian running in this global event. In addition to all the kilometres run, there was nearly 4000m of elevation gained, stairs run, wind chill braved, and ice traversed. 

2023 global iau 6hr summary image

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Our 2023 representatives for Canada at the virtual event weekend include 6 men and 5 women. Follow along on our social media channels over the weekend to see how each person chooses to tackle 6 hours in this Global Solidarity Run!

team canada 6 hr men

team canada 6 hr women

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IAU global solidarity image 2023

The IAU 6H Global Solidarity Run was first held on 29-30 August 2020, at the start of the pandemic. With most events around the world cancelled, it was a way to bring ultrarunners from around the world together virtually, over a weekend. There is no ranking list, as the IAU emphasises that this is a run "signifying global solidarity amongst the ultrarunning family." The virtual run weekend has been held every year since then in March.

ACU can name a team of up to 9 women and 9 men to represent Canada in this event. No qualifier is needed. If we exceed maximum numbers in applications, then a random draw will be held to select the team members.

You must be a Canadian citizen (but you can be living abroad) and a current ACU member.

You must run at any time in one continuous six-hour block over the weekend Saturday 18th/Sunday 19th in your own time zone. Results will not count for publication if they are done outside of these designated dates.

You can run indoors or outdoors and make your run as standard or creative as you like (e.g., laps of a track, a treadmill run, hill repeats, run with friends, start at midnight, run for charity....).

You must record your performance on a platform such as Strava or Garmin, where the Team Manager can verify the result within a day, in order to upload results to the IAU. Along with that, we would appreciate some comments and photos (plus possibly short videos) of your run experience, so we can provide that to the IAU Communication team. Prior to, during, and immediately after your run, as possible, we would appreciate if you can post to social media to foster community engagement with your fellow Canadians and with ultrarunners from around the world. ACU will profile runners in the lead up to the event and support the event on social media over event weekend.

Applications open 24 February and close 7 March! Click here to apply.

Run Report from Team New Zealand 2022

Run Report from Team USA 2020

The image below is a collage from 2021.

2021 collage 1024x705

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Congratulations to the athletes below, who have had the following records ratified:

Amanda Nelson - New Open 12 Hour record of 135.072km, with her performance at Desert Solstice in December 2022, surpassing the Open 12 Hour record of 134.025km set in June 2022 by Amanda Nelson
 
Viktoria Brown - New Open (and W45) 48 Hour records of 353.877km, with her performance at Six Days in the Dome in June 2022, surpassing the Open (and W45) 48 Hour records of 346.593km set in June 2021 by Viktoria Brown
Viktoria Brown - New Open (and W45) 72 Hour records of 467.366km, with her performance at the same event, surpassing the Open (and W45) 72 Hour records of 440.350km set in June 2021 by Viktoria Brown
Viktoria Brown - New Open 6 Day record of 736.136km, with her performance at the same event, surpassing the Open 6 Day record of 734.225km set in May 2014 by Charlotte Vasarhelyi
Viktoria Brown - New W45 6 Day record of 736.136km, with her performance at the same event, surpassing the W45 6 Day record of 547.177km set in April 2017 by Kimberley Van Delst
Viktoria Brown - New W45 7 Day record of 736.136km, with her performance at the same event, surpassing the W45 7 Day record of 598.676km set in April 2017 by Kimberley Van Delst
 
Bernadette Benson - New W50 100km record of 8.32.53, with her performance at IAU 100km World Championships in August 2022, surpassing the W50 100km record of 9.07.13 set in June 2019 by Bernadette Benson

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There being only one nomination for each of the three Executive positions at the time of the November 4, 2022 deadline, ACU's new Executive was acclaimed on November 18. 

Incoming president, Bernadette Benson, is an expat Calgarian who lives most of the year near the Victorian Alps, Australia. She spends the summer months in Europe and Canada, mostly enjoying mountainous trails. Bernadette first ran for Canada at the World Trail Championship in Connemara, Ireland in 2011 (Team Canada bronze medal) and most recently ran for Team Canada at the IAU 100km World Championships / WMA World Masters Championships in Berlin in August. She has also been on the 24hr team. Bernadette is a child psychologist and was formerly the vice-president of the Australian Ultra Runners' Association. 

Melissa Boisvenue, the new vice-president, is a communications professional who runs her own public relations and marketing boutique agency in the Bragg Creek, AB, area. Melissa is a busy mom of two young girls and has shared how trail running has brought her healing after pregnancy loss. She has audacious running goals and would love to toe the line in France in the near future.

Adam Takacs will be continuing in the secretary-treasurer role from his base in Toronto.

The Executive is currently supported by Carolyn Caskie in the social media role and Zoey Cheng managing memberships. Carolyn resides in British Columbia with her husband and dog.  She has run numerous ultras on both trail and road including being on the 2017 and 2019 Canadian National 24HR running team competing in Belfast and France respectively.  When she is not working her 9-5 day job she can be found out on the trails either on foot or bike. 

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Get involved, have your say, help lead Canadian ultrarunning into the future!
Dear ACU members,
With the pandemic now hopefully mostly behind us, the future of Canadian ultrarunning has never looked brighter. Canadian ultra road and trail runners continue to post incredible results both at home and abroad. A number of Canadian overall and age group records continue to be broken every year. Ours is a strong and proud running nation, with ACU members shining brightly on the global stage.
Since 2010, the ACU has been delegated by Athletics Canada to be the sole entity in managing ultrarunning at the national level. Among other responsibilities, the ACU coordinates the national race series, selects athletes to compete as Team Canada at continental and world championship events, and ratifies national records.
Two of the current ACU executive positions are coming open for two-year elected terms. After being acclaimed as Vice-president in late 2020, then serving as Acting President since early 2022, I'm stepping away to pursue other opportunities. Adam Takacs (Secretary Treasurer) has provided great insight and leadership through some uncertain times, and will continue in his role to provide continuity and guidance.
This letter serves as a Call for Nominations for the upcoming ACU election. If you are an ACU member and interested in leading the ACU into future success, please email Carolyn Caskie (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with an expression of interest no later than November 4, 2022. A list of nominees for voting will be sent to ACU members via email by November 11, 2022, and elections will be held via email with a Survey Monkey link on November 18, 2022.
The positions open for election, and the primary duties of each, are:
ACU President
The president shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Directors.
The president is the chief executive officer of the Society and shall supervise the other officers in the commission of their duties.
The president is the direct liaison between the ACU and the IAU (International Association Ultramarathon)
ACU Vice-President
The vice-president shall carry out the duties of the president in their absence.
Again, this is a terrific opportunity for you to guide Canadian ultrarunning into the future.
Sincerely,
Lee

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The ACU would like to congratulate Dave Proctor on setting a new TransCanada speed record of 67 days 10 hours and 27 minutes

 CONGRATULATIONS !!

  1. Canadian Records updates
  2. New Canadian Records update
  3. National Teams Updates September 2021
  4. Transition to the new executive

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