When ultramarathoner Chris Tetlock’s sister died by suicide in 2022 after struggles with mental health and addictions, it instilled a sense of purpose in him. He wanted to bring people together, celebrate overcoming obstacles and support mental-health-related causes.
Enter the inaugural Lost Our Marbles ultramarathon.
The indoor event will take place at the City of Regina Field House on Sat. Nov. 30, with participants able to sign up for three-, six- or 12-hour options.
“There’s an old saying that you’ve lost your marbles and that’s where the whole theme came from,” says Tetlock, a self-described running addict who is organizing and participating in the race. “We all struggle with some form of mental health issues and it’s more coming to light in today’s day and age. This is a way for us to embrace it in a way where we don’t have to hide from it.”
Here’s what you need to know about the event.
What: Participants will run around the 200-metre track at the City of Regina Field House for three, six or 12 hours and track their distance by dropping a marble into an assigned tin after every lap. That’s a lot of marbles and Tetlock has ordered 7,000 for the purpose.
Running so many laps is tough — but that’s the point, says Tetlock, who has been competing in ultramarathons since 2018.
“Part of ultramarathoning is the mental aspect of it. Whether you’re going around a track all day or going up a mountain in bad weather it’s still a mental game,” he says. “Lost Our Marbles is about taking the same things you’ve learned out on the trails into a weather- and elevation-controlled environment.”
Once the 12-hour competitors wrap up, everyone’s marbles will be poured into a bin and participants can guess how many marbles there are. The closest guessers will take home prizes.
Any proceeds raised will go to mental-health-related causes.
Who: This is a race for everyone.
“One of the reasons we’re offering a three-hour event is that you can be somebody who just comes out and walks for three hours and sees how far you can get,” Tetlock says. “I want it to be very inclusive — it’s not just for ultra marathoners. Maybe it opens the door for a 10km runner to go and do a half marathon. Maybe it can bridge the gap between those doing half and full marathons and gets them thinking about an ultra.”
When: Tetlock specifically organized the race at a time when days are short and cold and there aren’t as many events to get people moving.
The event takes place Sat. Nov. 30 with the 12-hour runners setting off at 7 a.m. followed by the six-hour runners at 9 a.m. and the three-hour runners at 11 a.m.
Where: The event will take place at the 200-metre track at the City of Regina Field House.
How to sign up: You can register online via Race Roster. The cost is $50 regardless of time option.
