Lewiston Ultra Events
About Lewiston Ultra Events
I’m Kara Leinweber, the Owner & Director of Lewiston Ultra Events, where our mission is to create trail races that are accessible, connect communities, push boundaries, and give back. I’m a proud mom of two boys, wife to an incredibly kind husband, and a lifelong runner who believes in showing up, giving back, and sharing the stoke for the outdoors.
Our story began in 2018 with the Shuswap Ultra, inspired by the beautiful trails in Sicamous, British Columbia, and a deep connection to Lewiston James and his family. Since then, Lewiston Ultra Events has expanded to include:
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• Moose Mountain Trail Races (Alberta’s oldest sanctioned trail race)
• BC Backyard Ultra (Silver Ticket event and 2026 Canadian National Backyard Host)
• Bow Valley Ultra (While we didn’t receive final permit approval for 2025, we’re still working hard behind the scenes & hope to bring this event to the Bow Valley in some form & in another year. Stay tuned!)
In 2024, we made the difficult decision to pause the Shuswap Ultra, taking time to re-evaluate how best to support the Shuswap community and its incredible trail system. This isn’t goodbye—it’s a chance to realign with our mission of uplifting communities and preserving the magic of the Larch Hills Traverse. We are deeply grateful for six amazing years and the incredible support from the trail and running communities.
At Lewiston Ultra Events, our goal is to celebrate the spirit of trail running, build community, and give back through group runs, socials, and orientation runs. I am forever thankful for every runner, volunteer, and community partner who joins us on this journey.
I can’t wait to see you at the start line—let’s rise up, run towards our roar, and share the joy of giving back!
Leo Fung
Caroline Weber, Live Wire, Pollyanna
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I took up trail running because back in the day, my extracurricular after-school activities were substantially more academic than athletic. And the one cool thing about the community is that it's one of those few non-judgemental places that will unhesitatingly take you in regardless of your background or how broken you think you are.
I'm a big believer in trail karma and leaving this place in a better shape than when you found it, so when Kara and the LUE team gave me this opportunity to help out in the local running village that has helped me grow and open my heart so much, I saw it as a natural fit to my values and goals. I'm super stoked to be a part of something big like this, and am looking forward to celebrating your fitness in the near term!
Christine Goode
Volunteer Coordinator
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Running has always been a great way to clear my mind, focus on breath and enjoy nature. I've been running since high school, but really started to enjoy it again once I began discovering the many different run groups around Calgary. I've completed race distances from 5km to 60km & enjoy both road and trail running.
The trail running community is such a welcoming group full of contagious energy - the instant bond that forms between people sharing movement outdoors is magical!
I'm looking forward to fostering a fun volunteer experience with plenty of laughter, connection and support.
Elizabeth Burke
Timing, Course & Volunteer Management
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An avid outdoor enthusiast and amateur photographer, I spend my free time trail running, hiking and paddleboarding. I've been a runner for much of my life, moving into ultra running in 2019.
Helping runners achieve their goals is my favorite part of the run community. Whether you're crushing your 100th ultra or running a kilometer non-stop for the first time, it's a milestone I want to celebrate with you.
