Since the start of the millennium, racers have come to the Canadian Rockies to cheat Death in one of the world's toughest ultramarathons. The 118km course begins and ends on a 4200-foot plateau, passes over three mountain summits, and not only includes over 17,000 feet of elevation change, but a major river crossing at the spectacular Sulphur Gate canyon at the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur Rivers. Each year, extreme athletes push themselves to the limits of their endurance against the breathtaking background of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Finishing is the prize and the bragging rights are priceless. Racers may take on the 42km Near Death Marathon as an alternative to the full distance.