Run Like Ole XC Running Series

Vikings Athletics Club is proud to introduce an exciting and very meaningful spring running event  to the Camrose & area Running Community: 

Run Like Ole XC Running Series.

About Ole Heie

Ole Heie, an aspiring 12-year-old elite athlete was suddenly taken from us on July 10, 2021. 

Ole was a phenomenal person & athlete. He absolutely loved to run. His passion and drive became apparent at a very young age when he would happily hike and run tirelessly for hours and hours at a time.  He absolutely loved to explore the world around him while running - even in the wind, the rain, the cold, the snow and the inevitable mud. To Ole, that just added to the adventure and made every run unique. 

A driven and dedicated athlete, Ole became well known in the running community. By the age of 12, he had befriended running buddies of all ages and abilities around the world - in person and online. His big beaming smile and long blonde hair became an icon on trails and roads near and far. He was unbelievably encouraging and fun to be around. Ole loved giving kudos on Strava, he worked tirelessly on his technique, became an amazing teammate & competitor, and he got fast. Really. Really. Fast… 

Ole loved setting huge goals & putting in the work to accomplish them. He loved the process and he loved sharing it with others. These accomplishments and hard work were recognized by Salomon, KV+, Attitude Over Altitude and Fast Trax Run and Ski shop - where they took a chance on him and took him on as an ambassador. Ole took great pride in this which encouraged him to work even harder at becoming a well rounded role model.

By the time he was 12, Ole had crushed some pretty impressive goals. At only 11 years old, Ole had reached 1000 KM in his first 54 days of the last ski season, made national news with his single day 102 KM xc ski, & rollerskied 100km on his first rollerski of the season. When he wasn’t on skis, he also loved to run. He ran his first full marathon at the age of 11 and his first Ultra (53km with 1800 metres of elevation gain) when he was just 12. He became known at the Frank McNamara series, dominated the school xc running circuit, set a new course record in Hardisty and had a goal to break the grade 8 boys course record in New Norway…Unfortunately he never had the opportunity.

Although usually one of the first to finish a race, Ole’s success never went to his head. He thrived off of being humble and treated everyone equally with kindness & respect, no matter what their level. This little Legend had a heart of Gold and was always looking out for others. He viewed his competitors as future teammates and would usually be found enthusiastically cheering the last racer across the finish line – no matter the weather or who it was. He had a natural way of creating energy that motivated those around him and a determination to wish others well. He was a living example of love and a true gift of inspiration. To Ole, sport wasn’t just racing, it was for seeing friends, pushing oneself, celebrating gains, encouraging each other, sharing hope, helping each other through his kind gentleness, his caring attitude and sheer passion for his beloved sport in enjoying every single moment. He was also a gifted cyclist, swimmer, musician and conscientious French Immersion student who loved to travel & lived life to its fullest.

To know Ole was a true blessing. To get to run with him was even better. Ole’s smile, kindness, adventurous passion and positive spirit was infectious to all who had the honour of knowing him…

Ole looked up to some incredible role models doing amazing things and wanted to become an inspiration to others just like they were to him. He had so many hopes and dreams to do incredible things in this world - like make the national team, go to the Olympics, but most importantly he wanted to inspire people of all ages and abilities to live their best lives…By the presence of the flag bearer from the Korean Olympics and former and present Olympians at his Celebration of Life, it appears as though he was already a part of Team Canada and when Killian Jornet (one of Ole’s adventure running super heroes) reached out after hearing the news, it appeared that Ole already had indeed left his mark on this world.  

We hope he inspires you every day, like he does us and so many others whose lives he touched.

“I am so grateful for the places my feet can take me” ~ Ole Heie

Run Like Ole - XC Race Series

This running series embraces Ole’s spirit by encouraging runners of all ages and abilities to come explore the amazing running Camrose has to offer. Ole’s feet have run and explored every inch of these trails - in every single season…

4 Week Timed Race Series. Come to one or come and enjoy them all! Each race will be different and cover different terrain.

Dates: Mondays Starting at 6:30pm 

May 6- Stoney Creek North

May 13 - Happy Valley

May 27 - Stoney Creek South 

June 3 - Camrose Biathlon and Range

Course distances 4-8km and kids course 2-3km

Timed races with a Point series: Medals awarded by total points over 4 races. 

7pts - 1st

5pts - 2nd

3pts - 3rd

1pt - for participating

Age groupings: male/female

12 - under (2-3km course)

open division

17 - under (regular distances)

18-29

30-39

40-49

50+

Entry fee $15 per race

4 Race pass: $50 includes a Run like Ole t shirt

Register at: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=31659

For more information go to www.vikingsathleticclub.com

A portion of the proceeds will go to supporting the Ole Heie Legacy foundation.

Click on the button to view the Run Like Ole race courses from 2022