FERG HAWKE Age: 54 Nationality: Canada

FERG HAWKE Age: 54 Nationality: Canada Hi Ferg! How did you hear about the G2G and why did you decide to sign up? I had been competing in triathlon and ultra-­‐marathon races for over twenty years including running the Badwater Ultramarathon for 3 consecutive years, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and decided to take some time away from racing and focus on a much needed major renovation of my house. Following the three year reconstruction project I started slowly ramping up my mileage while trying figure out what race or challenge I would try next. Out of the blue I got a call from Ray Zahab asking me if I would be interested in joining his Impossible 2 Possible team on an i2P Youth Expedition to Bolivia. I had been following Ray and his Impossible 2 Possible foundation for the past few years and really admired all the great work they were doing with the youth, so I was thrilled that he wanted me to be involved. When I heard about this unique new multi day stage race called the G2G Ultra, with the spectacular course they had designed and their decision to donate a portion of the profits to their chosen charity, Impossible2possible, I decided that this was the perfect race for me. In preparation for the Grand to Grand Ultra, how will your training schedule look like, and how different will it be compared to your training for Badwater and other ultra runs? My training for the Grand to Grand Ultra will be more similar to the approach I used for the Marathon de Sables back in 2002 where I finished 8th overall. I will run more back to back to back long runs to simulate the G2G race, and train with a pack for the final six weeks leading up to the race. Training for Badwater I had training runs over seventy miles long, and primarily on the road. For the G2G I will incorporate more off road runs with nothing longer than fifty miles. I also did a ton of heat training in my custom designed sauna on a treadmill for Badwater, and I will definitely get in my sauna for some heat training for this race as it could get quite warm in Kanab in September. What advice do you have for anyone considering signing up for the Grand to Grand Ultra. I would suggest simulating the race conditions as much as possible in your training. Run with a pack with weight inside of it, use the same fuel, electrolytes, shoes, socks, etc. so that there are fewer surprises on the race days. During the event, try to meet and get to know as many competitors as possible. These races attract some of the most amazing people on the planet and this is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and learn new things. FERG’S TRIATHLON AND ULTRARUNNING HIGHLIGHTS: Olympic Distance Triathlons (1.5 km swim; 40 km bike; 10 km run) 1991 – qualified for the Canadian National Triathlon team and represented Canada at the World Triathlon Championships in Surfer’s Paradies, Australia that same year. Ironman Triathlons (2.4 mile swim; 112 mile bike; 26.2 mile run) 1989, 1991 & 1999 – Ironman Canada, Penticton, BC ( 28th overall in 1991 and second in the Master’s division in 1999) 1990 & 2003 – qualified for and completed the Ironman World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii 2003 – Ironman Coeur d”Alene Ultraman Triathlon World Championships (Day 1 -­ 6.2 mile swim and 90 mile bike; Day 2 -­ 172 mile bike; Day 3 -­ 52.4 mile run) 1999 – 3rd overall (23hours and 41minutes, second fastest bike and run split in this race) Ultrarunning * Chuckanut Mountain 50km, Bellingham, Washington in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999. First overall in 1995, second 1998, and third in 1996 and 1999. *Kneeknacker 50 km, North Shore Mountains, Vancouver, B.C. 1995; fifth overall. * Elk Beaver 50 mile Canadian Championships, Vancouver Island, B.C. 1996; first overall. * Rose City 50 mile Ultra, Portland, Oregon, USA, 1995; first overall. * Haney to Harrison 100km, 1997; second overall. * 100 km. World Championships, Winschoten, Netherlands, 1995; 36th overall (3rd Canadian) *100 mile Eagle Run, Apex Mountain, B.C.1997; first place overall. (This race was the first official 100 mile distance Ultramarathon ever held in Canada). * Western States 100 miler, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, 1998; 18th overall (First Canadian) * 2002 Marathon des Sables. 8th overall and the highest placing North American in the 21 year history of the race. *2004/2005/2006 Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley Ca. Badwater (135 mile run through Death Valley) 2nd overall in 2004 with a time of 27:30 2nd overall in 2005 with a time of 26:33 4th overall in 2006 with a time of 28:45