mICHAEL wILLIAMS CO-RACE DIRECTOR
Michael grew up on the swampier side of Nordegg, in Edson AB, where he first got into trail running as a member of his high school's cross country team. He took a break after high school but eventually fell in love with mountain running and ultras when his wife and mother-in-law pushed him to join their relay team for an ultra. Since then he’s been lucky to compete in various trail and road races solo and as a team.
As a husband and father to a two year old (with another one on the way in October) his available training time has been limited in the past few years. Lately, he has been focused on participating in team events and sticking to 50k ultra solos. This year's plans include a short leg on a relay team in addition to planning and trail maintenance duties for Black Lung Ultra. One year in the future Michael hopes to compete as a soloist against all the amazing athletes that will flock to the area for this race.
As a passionate racer Michael shares in the group's goal to run a race that challenges the best athletes in the area but also supports all racers with the sense of community that makes trail running so special
tRAVIS jONES - RACE REPRESENTATIVE
Meet Travis, an avid endurance athlete based in Sylvan Lake. Travis enjoys the nearby Rocky Mountains, where challenging trails in the David Thompson Corridor and around Nordegg fuel his love for adventure.
With a passion for pushing his limits, Travis has been immersed in endurance sports for years, transitioning from triathlons to ultra-running. He thrives on training and racing amidst big elevation, high summits, and technical downhills.
Travis is gearing up for 50 km ultras in California, British Columbia, and Alberta this year, with plans to conquer trails across Europe in the years to come.
sTEPHANIE mCLEAN VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AND SPONSORSHIPS
Stephanie is a proud resident of Rocky Mountain House. She was born and raised in this beautiful area known as the Rocky Mountains. From a young age, Stephanie developed a deep love for this region, spending countless hours out west with her dad for his work. She greatly admires her dad's knowledge of the outdoors, which has inspired her to spend as much time as possible hiking, fishing, camping, and immersing herself in nature.
In recent years, Stephanie has discovered a new passion for helping others and volunteering in community events. She feels fortunate to have close friends who share the same passion, and she was honored to become part of a new team. Witnessing the growth and development of the Black Lung project has been truly amazing for Stephanie. She eagerly anticipates the Kick Off event on September 7th and looks forward to seeing it evolve into an annual event that benefits not only individuals but also the entire community.
nICK lADE 2024 Race director
Born in Alberta, raised on Vancouver Island, it wasn’t until his early 30’s when Nick took to running. In fact, prior to that he despised it! Through the persistent persuasion of a motivated friend, Nick joined a relay team and found himself later that year in the woods, in the dark…feeling surprisingly alive. From there, running became a part of life, completing half and full marathons home and abroad, along with various adventure races.
Nick was the inaugural race, Race Director and creator of the event. Surrounding himself with determined local people under a shared vision, the result was the Black Lung Ultra in 2024. Five years of thinking it through and two years of planning, collaboration and then execution resulted in the co-founding of a beautiful race, right in the heart of Clearwater County; a gem on the Alberta ultra circuit that offers something for all skill levels - beginners and experts alike.
Now raising a family in BC, Nick continues to fully support the race in various capacities and loves being apart of a high performing team.
Dig Deep. .
MARK mORRISH COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
Meet Mark, the Community Director of the Black Lung Ultra Marathon. Hailing from Rocky Mountain House, Mark's upbringing amidst the rugged beauty of Clearwater County instilled in him a deep love for adventure. Now residing on a tranquil hobby farm with his wife and four children, Mark's passion for the outdoors knows no bounds. Whether it's hiking, camping, mountain biking, hunting, or any activity that brings him closer to nature, Mark is always seeking new thrills and challenges.
His fervor for adventure culminated in his involvement with the Black Lung Ultra Marathon, a journey that not only ignites his excitement but also promises significant benefits for Clearwater County. To Mark, this event is more than just a race; it's an opportunity to showcase Nordegg's stunning beauty and unite the community in a meaningful way. With anticipation building for the inaugural event on September 7, 2024, Mark eagerly looks forward to welcoming participants and spectators alike to what is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
pETREA bURGAR CO-RACE DIRECTOR
Raised on a ranch in central Alberta, Petrea's love for the outdoors was established at a young age. Whether riding horses or helping on the family ranch, being outside has always been a part of her. More recently, she has found a desire for exploring the mountains through hiking and trail running. Running has been a constant in her life as she has participated in road races and triathlon, but trail running is a new passion. Petrea ran her first trail run alongside her brother in 2022 and then tackled her first 50km in the Crowsnest Pass in 2023. You could say she's hooked.
Petrea continues to challenge herself with new ultra trail running distances in the beautiful Rocky Mountains throughout Alberta, British Columbia and this year into California. Nordegg holds a special place for her as she spends many hours backpacking, running and now biking throughout the David Thompson Country. As the co race director, along with the Black Lung Team, she invites you to be part of the Black Lung Ultra as a racer, volunteer or spectator where an amazing adventure awaits!
