Gibsons-born Kimberley Doerksen is running in Qatar’s capital this week with the Canadian national team in the first International Association of Ultra-runners (IAU) 50k World Championship on Dec. 4.
This is the first year that the 50k will be a world championship event, although it has been a trophy race in previous years. The difference, Doerksen explained, is that countries can enter a team in the championship.
“That’s the big incentive this year, because it’s a championship event they wanted to field the strongest women’s – and men’s – teams that they could, to try and get as high of a placing as they could,” Doerksen said.
An ultra-marathon is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42 km.
The race is 50,000 metres (50 kilometres) in the city of Doha, which is across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Doerksen said that while her strengths lie in her endurance more than her speed, she is concerned about the heat factor in Doha.
“I’m not worried about the distance. It’s more about the climate and how my body adapts to that,” Doerksen said. “If you’re running in Vancouver now – where it’s two degrees out – it’s very different than going to Doha where it’s 20 to 25 degrees.”
Doerksen was selected as a wildcard for the 50k. Normally a runner would have to run a qualifying standard – or have competed in previous ultra-marathons – in order to be considered. However, each national team is allowed to select one wildcard each year, someone who doesn’t have the regular qualifications.
“There aren’t very many women ultra-marathoners in Canada,” Doerksen said. “They contacted me and said that with my marthoning results, they thought I would be a strong candidate and wanted to use me for their wildcard.”
Doerksen grew up in Gibsons and now lives in downtown Vancouver. Her parents and sister are still on the Coast.
