Reid Roberts posted the second-fastest time in the gruelling 115-kilometre Fat Dog Trail Run in Manning Provincial Park on the weekend.
The 45-year-old ultra-marathon runner from Prince George clocked a time of 14 hours 22 minutes on the test-of-mettle course, breaking the old record of 15 hours. However, American competitor Matthew Urbanski came along and smashed it, clocking in at 13 hours six minutes.
Roberts beat his expectations of finishing the race in under 17 hours.
The Fat Dog, which straddles three provincial parks, is one of the most scenic ultra races in Canada.
The 115km course, with more than 15,000 feet of elevation gain through the southern Cascade Mountains, began in Manning Park at the upper parking lot on Blackwall Peak for the first 6km leg.
Competitors then endured a 40km trek on open and single tracks across meadows, steep descents and long downhill switchbacks on the Heather leg.
The third, 36km Skagit leg featured easy and flat terrain along the Skagit River Trail. The final Skyline 36km leg included ascents and descents with a finish at Lightning Lake.
Roberts is a teacher at D.P. Todd secondary who began competing in ultra-marathons in 2009.
Other distances in the Fat Dog Trail Run included 32km, 48km, 80km and 193km.
