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Team Western Canada came together in late 2001 and is made up of four athletes (ok, three athletes and a photographer) with different perspectives on the Marathon Des Sables
Dom Repta - Masters Student
Dom has been featured in
Ultra Running Magazine, The Vancouver Sun, The Georgia Straight, and The
Vancouver Courier. He relocated to Vancouver to train in a mountainous
environment in preparation for taking his running career to the next level. He
attributes his success to a few factors: family and sponsor support, dedication
to training and lifestyle choices. Dom
lives a vegan lifestyle, and feels the nutritional and ethical benefits have
directly contributed to his success. Dom is the speed demon of the team,
overcoming a nasty bout of sciatica to place 36th (of over 670
runners) in the Marathon Des Sables.
Race Highlights:
36th Marathon Des Sables 2003; 2nd
Dirty Duo 50k 2003; World Record 6h Treadmill run 2003; 6th
Bridle Trails 50km Seattle 2002; Finisher Western States 100 Mile Endurance
Run 2002 (22:21:00); 29th 50 Mile US Trail Run Championships 2002;
4th Mohican 100 Mile Trail Race 2001; 2nd Greater
Toronto 50km 2001; 1st Banff Three Mountain Ascent 2000; 1st
Haliburton 50 Miler 1999; Finisher Ironman Florida
Wade Repta - Occupational
Therapist
Wade lives in Vancouver and works as an Occupational Therapist and Rehabilitation Consultant. He has traveled and worked in various countries throughout the world, and enjoyed the cultural experience that accompanies the Marathon des Sables. Wade, like his brother Dom, is a vegan athlete - indicative of the importance he places on making positive environmental and ethical lifestyle decisions. Wade has been through two Ironman competitions and the endurance and mental toughness gained in those experiences helped get through the long days in the desert. Along with his athletic skills, Wade provided the bulk of the teams stand-up comedy support.
Race Highlights:
195th
Marathon Des Sables 2003; 7th Sulphur Springs 50km Trail Run
2000; 4th DTRB 50km Trail Run 2000; 3:05 finish Toronto
International Marathon 2000; Finisher Ironman Canada 2001, Ironman Utah
2002
Jim Mandelli - Structural
Engineer
Jim
is a veteran of the 2001 Marathon des Sables and while many competitors may
state reasons such as wanting to better their times, or to deal with unfinished
business, nothing could be further from the truth when Jim considers why he
wanted to return to the Marathon des Sables. Simply stated he is very
passionate about deserts. Like climbing mountains, one must learn to respect
this barren landscape. At the same time, Jim loves racing and being
competitive. Jim decided that racing the Marathon Des Sables wasnt hard enough
so he managed to get severe frostbite on six of his toes two months before the
race putting his participation in jeopardy. His perseverance through the
pain, along with his foot care skills, showed the rest of the team what
endurance racing is all about.
Race
Highlights: 1st Raid The North, Hope 2003; 276th
Marathon Des Sables 2003; 7th Eco-Challenge Fiji 2002; 9th
Discovery Channel World Adventure Race Championships 2001; 4th
Elf Authentic Adventure (Brazil) 2000; 1st Raid of the North 1999;
Finisher Eco-Challenge 1997, 2001, and 2002; Finisher Raid Gauloises
(Vietnam) 2002; Finisher MDS 2001
Paul Kennedy - Software
Engineer/Photographer
Paul is a photographer and writer who has traveled extensively in North America, Europe, and Africa. After providing media coverage of the 2001 MDS, this experienced cyclist and outdoorsman took up the challenge of running in the Marathon of the Sands with Team Western Canada hoping to survive the experience. Over a year of dedicated training and careful preparation was just enough to reach his goal.
Race Highlights:
225th Marathon Des Sables - 2003; Finisher 2002 Seattle Marathon; Finisher 2002 Five Peaks Trail Race Belcarra; Finisher 2002 Silvertip 25km Trail Race; 3rd BC Cup Cross Country MTB, Rossland 2000.
Come meet the guys at their slideshow!