Constable Eric Doucette will be running a leg of the Challenge Cup Relay from Baker California to Las Vegas this week with a team of RCMP officers.
A Drumheller RCMP officer has been training to take his place on a team tackling what is billed as the worlds’ most prestigious law enforcement foot race this month.
Constable Eric Doucette is an avid runner and has competed in a number of races. This year he has a spot on a team of RCMP officers from Alberta taking on the Challenge Cup Relay Baker to Vegas. This is a 120-mile race, over 20 stages from Baker California, through the scorching unforgiving climate to Las Vegas.
It is a prestigious and unique race,” said Doucette.
He says there are a number of teams from Alberta including officers from the Calgary Police Department, Edmonton police and Canada Border Services. The team he joined had a runner cancel. A call was put out from K Division and he signed on. The captain of the team has completed the race four times.
Doucette is a strong runner, but says there are some incredibly strong teams, and he is content to participate. Overall times range from 12 to 21 hours, and there is a limit of 270 teams.
The racers leave Baker at 10 a.m on March 28 and by the time Doucette will be running his leg after it is dark outside. His stage is a 5.8-mile descent of the Mountain Spring Pass. To prepare he has been working hills and has bought smaller shoes to minimize the impact of running downhill.
The race concludes at the Convention Centre in the heart of Las Vegas.
After the race there will be a celebration. The participants will have a couple days to enjoy Vegas before they head home
The Challenge Cup Relay is organized by the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club. It has been staged since 1985.
