Lost Soul Ultra

Lost Soul Ultra takes place in Lethbridge, Alberta, the weekend after Labour Day, offering 50 km, 100 km, and 100-mile trail races. The field is intentionally limited to about 350 ultrarunners. The longer races have strict time limits: 21 hours for 100 km and 33 hours for 100 miles. The 50 km race has an 11-hour limit, three aid stations, and course segments between 7 and 16 km between aid. The route crosses the river valley coulees on public and private land, making the race significantly hillier than a "prairie" designation might imply. A 50 km lap includes approximately 1,100 meters of elevation change and 16 major hills. The fastest runners typically complete 50 km in just over four hours, 100 km in just over ten hours, and 100 miles in just over nineteen hours. The valleys hold historical significance as the site of the last major First Nations battle on Canadian soil, fought between the Blackfoot and Cree Confederacies. Lost Soul is also important to serious ultrarunners as its 100 km finish can qualify runners for Western States, and 100-mile finishers can also qualify there if they meet the 33-hour cutoff.