Canadian Death Race.
The Canadian Death Race takes you out of Grande Cache and back again over five legs and 118 kilometres, with a river ferry carrying you onward on the last of them. It is not decided early but from km 64, where three climbs lift you from around 900 to over 2,100 metres. All of your preparation points at that late ascent.
Canadian Death Race 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is in Central Park in Grande Cache at a little over 1,200 metres, and the loop comes back there at the end. The first 17 kilometres roll in waves of just over 100 metres and are still the run-up. Then the work begins: almost five kilometres and 430 metres of ascent lead into a middle section of short, very steep ramps that tops out near 2,000 metres around km 36. From there you lose about 700 metres by km 42.
The course then falls gently for more than 20 kilometres to around 900 metres. From km 64 comes the core of the day: three climbs follow each other with hardly a break and pack almost 1,200 metres into twelve kilometres, ending at the high point above 2,100 metres. The descent first drops you into a rolling stretch around 1,500 metres, then carries on down to just under 1,000 metres by km 97.
The river ferry sits on the last of the five legs, and from km 107 one more climb of about 240 metres stands in the way. The terrain keeps changing along the route, part of the course crosses private land, and the weather on this weekend can range from heat to cold and wet.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 17.1 | 4.9 km | 8.8 % | 19.2 % | +432 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 24.4 | 1.2 km | 16 % | 30.7 % | +183 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 27.9 | 1.4 km | 13 % | 26.6 % | +185 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 31.2 | 4.4 km | 8.5 % | 19.7 % | +373 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 64.3 | 5k | 12.5 % | 28.7 % | +620 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 70.1 | 1.3 km | 13.6 % | 21 % | +177 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 71.7 | 3 km | 13.8 % | 22 % | +415 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 107.4 | 2.7 km | 8.7 % | 24 % | +236 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Canadian Death Race.
Start under control
Do not split this race into five equal pieces but into two: everything before km 64 exists so that you arrive there able to work. Around 40 percent of the course is steep, uphill and downhill alike, and only a tenth is flat. That rules out a fixed pace, so steer by effort and start walking the ramps from km 24 before they force you to.
Hold your rhythm
The twelve kilometres to the high point tip the balance. At a little over twelve percent on the first section, a strong walking rhythm is worth more than any attempt to run. If you can still eat at the top and ease into the descent, the remaining 40-plus kilometres are a race rather than a retreat.
Spend what is left
The trap is the gentle fall before it. Between km 42 and 64 the running comes easily, your watch looks good and banking time is tempting. In fact your quads are already carrying the 700-metre descent, and on a hot day every hour run too fast costs double. Use this stretch to eat and drink. After the ferry, give your legs time to get going again.
Training plan for Canadian Death Race: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 15 to 24 hours depending on your fitness. That is a long aerobic effort alternating between strong walking on the climbs, running on the flat and braking on the descents. Hard surges hardly matter; the limits are tired legs and whether you can still take in food.
Train race pace
What sets the race apart is where the biggest task sits: the longest ascent only starts after 64 kilometres, and two large descents and a final climb still lie beyond it. Build long sessions with the steepest ground at the end, and add blocks over two consecutive days: a long run on Saturday, a hill session on tired legs on Sunday.
Rehearse the course
Two skills deserve sessions of their own. The first is brisk walking on gradients above ten percent, held for an hour or more, because a large part of the race happens at that speed. The second is downhill running: more than 4,600 metres come back down, and if you have not prepared your quads with long descents and strength work, you will lose more time there than on the climbs.
Arrive fresh
Conditions on this weekend can range from heat to cold and wet, with the terrain changing underfoot as well. So train on purpose in bad weather as well as in warmth, test clothing for both, and find fuelling you can still tolerate after ten hours.
Courses
Download the Canadian Death Race course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Canadian Death Race dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Canadian Death Race.
How long is Canadian Death Race?
Canadian Death Race is 118 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Canadian Death Race have?
Canadian Death Race has around 4,629 m of elevation gain over 118 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Canadian Death Race?
Canadian Death Race is classified as Mountainous, averaging 39.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 24% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 20% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Canadian Death Race have?
The hardest climb of Canadian Death Race starts at kilometre 64.3, runs for 5 km at an average of 12.5% and gains 620 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Canadian Death Race a loop course?
Yes, Canadian Death Race is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Canadian Death Race course?
Yes. The Canadian Death Race course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Canadian Death Race?
Preparation for Canadian Death Race should account for 118 km, 4,629 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Canadian Death Race?
The pacing strategy for Canadian Death Race should reflect 118 km, 4,629 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Canadian Death Race 2027 take place?
Canadian Death Race 2027 takes place on July 31, 2027.
Where does Canadian Death Race 2027 take place?
Canadian Death Race 2027 takes place in Grande Cache, Canada.
Which distances does Canadian Death Race offer?
Canadian Death Race offers 2 distances — 118 km Ultra: 118 km; Near Death Marathon: 41.3 km.
How do I register for Canadian Death Race?
Registration runs through the organiser: sinistersports.ca. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
