A Colombian runner most people hadn’t heard of showed up to one of Canada’s most punishing ultramarathons with almost no warning — and then proceeded to make history.
Cristhian Lagos didn’t just win the Canadian Death Race’s 42K Near Death Marathon this past weekend in Grande Cache, Alberta — he obliterated the existing course record by more than ten minutes, clocking an extraordinary 3:47:00.
What makes the achievement even more jaw-dropping is that Lagos only signed up a few days before the race, didn’t alter his normal training schedule, and was treating the whole thing as a warm-up.
And if all of that wasn’t enough, a violent storm — complete with winds topping 100 km/h, hail, lightning, and heavy rain — tore through the course on race day, turning an already brutal event into something truly extraordinary.
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A Record That Will Stand Forever
Lagos’s 3:47:00 finish wasn’t just a win — it was a permanent one.
This year marked the final edition of the Canadian Death Race’s 42K distance, with the event transitioning to a 50K format in 2027. That means Lagos’s time displaces Calgary runner Brandon Miller’s previous record of 3:58:46 — set just earlier in 2025 — and will never be broken at this distance again.
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The Colombian runner is now the last person to ever hold this record. Full stop.
Race Director Kirsti Dolson made clear just how remarkable the performance truly was, given the circumstances behind it.
Lagos was using the Death Race as a training day, and didn’t even change his weekly kilometres. To come in on short notice, break the course record and do it on a course this demanding, was incredibly impressive. He is also such a lovely and humble human who was friendly with everyone.
Lagos has his sights set on a far bigger stage — the UTMB-CCC 100-kilometre race on August 28, for which the Death Race was simply a stepping stone.
What Is the Canadian Death Race — And Why Does It Matter?
For the uninitiated, this isn’t your average trail race.
Organized by Sinister Sports — the same team behind the celebrated Sinister 7 ultramarathon — the Canadian Death Race covers rugged terrain in the Alberta wilderness, featuring 4,770 metres of elevation gain across five demanding legs with strict cutoff times.
Runners have just 24 hours to complete the full 118K course. It’s also one of only a handful of Canadian qualifiers for the prestigious Western States 100, cementing its status as one of the most respected events in the country’s ultramarathon scene.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Storm That Changed Everything
Conditions were ideal for much of race day — right up until they weren’t.
As competitors reached the final climb up Mount Hamell, a ferocious storm rolled in without mercy. Winds exceeded 100 km/h. Hail battered exposed runners. Lightning cracked across the sky while heavy rain turned the terrain treacherous.
Getting athletes off the mountain safely became an immediate priority, and the response from the Grande Cache community was nothing short of remarkable.
The whole community came together when the storm rolled in. The local mine shared buses, so people could warm up, search and rescue crews were incredible, and the Canadian Rangers stepped in as well. Everyone worked together to help get runners off the mountain safely and move supplies where they were needed.
That kind of collective effort — mines, rangers, rescue crews all moving as one — speaks volumes about the culture surrounding this event.
Big Performances Across the Board
Lagos wasn’t the only one delivering results worth celebrating.
Samuel Dickie of Banff, Alberta, claimed the men’s 118K title in a commanding 13:25:13, finishing more than an hour ahead of the rest of the field. According to Dolson, any finish in the 13-hour range on this course is considered elite-level — making Dickie’s margin of victory all the more striking.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
On the women’s side, Mandy Currie of Saskatoon had a performance that deserves its own spotlight entirely.
The 2023 champion returned to claim her second Death Race title, crossing in 15:10:05 — nearly three hours ahead of the next finisher and more than 37 minutes faster than her own winning time from two years ago.
Currie put together an outstanding race. It’s always impressive to see someone from Saskatchewan perform so well in the mountains. We always joke that we don’t know how flatlanders come here and crush mountain courses.
Closer to home, Kaylyn Nelson — a Grand Cache local — took the Women’s Near Death Marathon in 5:27:54, giving the host community its own moment to cheer.
What Comes Next
For Lagos, the story is only just beginning. His sights are locked on the UTMB-CCC, one of the most competitive 100K mountain races on the planet, set to take place later this month on August 28.
If smashing a course record — on a notoriously brutal course, in a storm, as a casual training run — is any indication of his form heading into that race, the ultra community would be wise to pay close attention.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Death Race heads into a new chapter of its own. The 42K distance runs no more. When the event returns in 2027, it will be a 50K — and a new era of records will begin.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
But Cristhian Lagos? He’ll always be the last — and fastest — to conquer the original distance.
