Squamish鈥檚 Paul Romero seems to have thrived, rather than just survived, Survival Run Canada, a race which saw participants throwing axes, running with log chokers and chopping down trees.
Catching third place overall and second in the men鈥檚 division, the 47-year-old finished the 36-hour race in about 32 hours.
Romero is the two-time winner in Survivor Run Nicaragua, and so was the favourite going into this competition.听
Austrian racer David Dietrich and German athlete Vanessa Gebhardt, respectively, placed first and second overall.
鈥淲e were playing cat and mouse the whole race,鈥� Romero said of his competitors.
Eight of the 18 competitors managed to finish the race, which runs more than 100 kilometres.听
The completion rate may seem low, but race director Dylan Morgan said this was actually a high number for a Survivor Run.
For those unfamiliar with survival runs, think of a race that combines elements of loggers sports, ultramarathons and obstacle courses.
The idea is to simulate the feeling of living off the land while racing a group of elite athletes.听
As a result, competitors found themselves doing a lot of activities that pay homage to Squamish鈥檚 First Nations and logging roots.
One of the first tasks involved whittling down wood to create a traditional harpoon. Another involved an icy underwater dive in the middle of the night.
Trees were climbed, chopped down and carried.听
鈥淲e had to chop down wood and tree and then carry a tree eight kilometres uphill,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was big.鈥�
It鈥檚 an activity that most people would probably associate more with gruelling punishment rather than leisure and fun, but Romero appeared to relish the challenge.
鈥淚鈥檓 always looking for next level,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always looking to test my mind and body to the limit.鈥�
It appears as if his eagerness to push himself is, in part, due to his desire to be a role model.
Romero, who alternates between living in Maui and Squamish, is a full-time nutrition, strength and conditioning coach who specializes in crossfit.
鈥淚 need to lead by example with my athletes,鈥� he said.
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***Please note this is a corrected version. Due to faulty results provided to The Chief, the number of competitors who started and completed the run was previously mistated.听
