Calgary

Canadian Death Race ultramarathon winner proposes to girlfriend at finish line

Matt Leduc popped the question to his girlfriend Mindy Fleming right after he won the 125 kilometer Canadian Death Race in Grand Cache, Alta.

When he got down on his knee to propose, she ‘just thought he was exhausted’

Matt Leduc proposed to his girlfriend Mindy Fleming on July 30 at the finish line of the Canadian Death Race in the Alberta Rockies. (@skechersperfcan)

After running more than 13 hours through hail, rain, fierce winds and 17,000 feet of elevation change, Matt Leduc got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend.

"At first I just thought he was exhausted … But then he said he loved his adventures with me and wanted to have another," said Mindy Fleming.

Leduc popped the question moments after crossing the finish line at the Canadian Death Race in Grand Cache, Alta.

Oh, and did we mention he also won the race?

Leduc ran what he calls a "'punishing" 125-kilometer ultramarathon through the Rockies in 13:04:48 — which was faster than the winning relay team.


His soon-to-be-wife also placed first in the women's marathon.

"In the late stages when I felt that some guys were getting close to me, I sort of kept reminding myself, 'This makes a much better story if I win,' because I knew at that point that Mindy had already won her race," Leduc told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

He didn't carry the ring with him during the run because he was "terrified" that he would lose it. So he had a friend hold onto it and hand it to him at the end of the race.

We speak to a couple who celebrated their victories at Alberta's Death Race over the weekend by getting engaged at the finish line.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener