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The King and Queen of Pain

Duncan Munro, Sarah O’Byrne do all Month of Pain events
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Six for Six Duncan Munro and Sarah O'Byrne completed all six events and then some in the September Month of Pain.

Dozens of local athletes took part in more than one event during the September “Month of Pain”, but only two athletes took part in every ride and run this month — Duncan Munro and Sarah O’Byrne.

The list of events includes the West Side Wheel Up on Sept. 8, the Squamish Loop the Lakes on Sept. 9, the Terry Fox Run and Soo Valley Rumble on Sept. 16, the full Cheakamus Challenge Fall Classic on Sept. 22, and the Rubble Creek Classic on Sept. 23.

The two also participated in some other events. For example, O’Byrne raced in all three Loonie Races hosted by the Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA), while Munro took part in two out of three events — opting out of the event on Sept. 13 to ride PHD in the Rutherford.

On the morning of the West Side Wheel Up, O’Byrne and Munro also helped coach a half-marathon clinic and with commuting to and from the clinic to the start line they had already ridden close to 40 km before the race got underway at noon.

In the Wheel Up, O’Byrne finished seventh in the women’s category in 1:44:35.

“I cut one hour off my time from the year before,” she said proudly. “That was really good, I was so happy with the way I was riding.”

Munro was 30 th in the Wheel Up in 1:23:52, his own personal best in the race.

The next day O’Byrne finished second in the Under 40 category while running the 15 kilometre Loop the Lakes course, crossing the finish line in 1:22:05.

Munro, recovering from a sprained knee in the 80 km STORMY race in August, decided to do the shorter 8 km course, and won the Men’s Under 40 category. He also set a course record for the short course, coming in at 32:03.

The following Sunday, Sept. 16, Munro made up for running the shorter course by running the entire 10 km Terry Fox Run route in his volunteer firefighter gear — complete with the oxygen tank after he was dared by another firefigher. O’Byrne raced the 5 km Terry Fox route, saving her energy for that afternoon’s epic bike ride.

O’Byrne and Munro rushed from the Terry Fox finish line to the Soo Valley Rumble start at noon. The Soo Valley Rumble started on the Soo Valley Forest Service Road, and included the North Flank, Rick’s Roost, Cat Scratch Fever, Shit Happens, White Knuckles, No Girly Man, Big Kahuna, Section 102 and Kill Me Thrill Me.

Munro had a solid ride, finishing the course in under four hours, while O’Byrne was the fourth female across the line.

On Saturday, after both participated in the last Loonie of the season on Thursday, Sept. 20, both athletes were at the start line in Brackendale for the 71 km Cheakamus Challenge Fall Classic.

Munro had another solid race, despite breaking his pinky and losing his iPod in a crash. He placed 21 st out of 75 riders in the Men’s 30 to 39 category with a time of 4:25:29.

O’Byrne also had a strong ride, placing first out of four riders in the women’s 30 to 39 category with a time of 4:57:56.

The final day in the month of pain was the 26 km Rubble Creek Classic trail run.

O’Byrne deliberately took it slower, feeling the effects of the past month, as well as a full shift on her feet in a restaurant on Saturday night.

She finished the run in 2:58:02, meeting her goal of breaking the three-hour mark.

Munro had done the race the previous six years, and while he didn’t post a personal best he finished fifth overall in 2:43:06.

It was a tough month for both athletes, but neither had any regrets.

“I’m tired, sore, beat up, but I’m also ecstatic that I was able to do it — and that I didn’t get any major injuries coming out of it,” said Munro.

“It was a long month, but those were awesome races to compete in and everything was super fun. Even the super-hard races, like the Soo Valley Rumble and Rubble Creek — they were hard but I had fun in each of them.

“I’m also happy that Sarah was able to compete in everything as well. I’m surprised that there weren’t a few more people out there battling for it.”

Munro would like to see the Month of Pain become more of an official race series, with a system that recognizes the athletes that take part in several events. He says that would encourage more people to take part, and draw more people to the resort.

“How many towns in the world can do something like this, event after event, weekend after weekend? It’s pretty awesome to have something like this in our own backyard, and September is such a great month to do it. The weather was mostly good, and everybody is in shape after the summer. It’s a great way to end the season.”

Not that the season is over. Munro and O’Byrne plan to run the Lumpy’s Epic in Pemberton on Oct. 13, and the Haney to Harrison relay on Nov. 3. After that, Munro is excited for skate skiing, Whistler Nordics Twoonie Races, and the opening of the Nordic Centre in the Callaghan.

O’Byrne said she asked herself “why?” a lot during the events, but enjoyed her September.

“I’m pretty tired, and ready to sleep in instead of getting up to do five hour events every weekend,” she said. “But it’s been fun. Today (the Rubble Creek Classic) was such a good way to end it, it’s such a beautiful run. I also made sure I had fun out there instead of racing. Yesterday (Cheakamus Challenge) hurt so much, I just wanted to enjoy the views, chat with the other runners, and get to the finish feeling good.”

O’Byrne said the hardest part of the Month of Pain was the Soo Valley Rumble.

“I had no idea that it would be that hard, but it was definitely not just another race,” she said. “I hadn’t been that far up the Soo Valley before, and it felt like I would never get out of there. I was so happy to get out on those Emerald trails again, even though they were hard, because I at least knew where I was.”

As well as the Lumpy’s Epic and Haney to Harrison, O’Byrne also plans to run the Fall Classic Half Marathon in November before switching into winter mode.

“Some couch time will be good, but I know I’m going to want to get out there on my bike and running while I still can,” she said.