An ultramarathon in southern Manitoba today is testing the limits of human ability, while also sharing compassion and hope.

The annual Actif Epica is traditionally a 120 km race that follows the historic Crow Wing Trail.

However, this year racers have an option to cycle 200 km or run 162 km. The race's motto is "celebrating human resilience," and this year organizers couldn't help but note the similarities between the race and the plight of refugees, given that the 200 km trek begins in Emerson, MB.

In recent weeks there has been an influx of asylum seekers illegally crossing into Canada at the Emerson border crossing.

Organizers decided to ask both participants as well as the public to make donations to Hospitality House Refugee Ministry, located in Winnipeg, this year. "As organizers, we had no idea that we’d be witnessing an entirely different display of human resilience right along our newly extended route. People who’ve survived things most of us can’t imagine and who are making a similar journey as our 'tough' cyclists. But they’re doing it for survival. Out of pure resilience. We’ve all been a little sobered by these folks crossing the prairies out of desperation and uncertainty in conditions that are challenging for athletes who have trained to do so."

As for the race itself, one of the organizers noted this morning that the mild temperatures could actually provide more of a challenge. David Pemsato said, "We've never had such a warm year. Ironically that actually make things a little bit more challenging, just because we've had a lot of snow. There will be a lot of sections where racers will have to get out and push their bikes through the melting snow."

In the end, organizers are hoping that people are inspired by both the refugees and the racers.

Read More:

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Children among those seeking asylum crossing border

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