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Darcy Africa

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Boulder, CO

Bio
In recent years, Darcy Africa has become on of the nation's top ultra runners. Darcy has earned an impressive trail running record since her entry into the sport in 2000. Darcy grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan with very little exposure to running in her youth. She preferred skiing as her sport of choice and it wasn't until after graduating college that she seriously took up running. Darcy moved to Breckenridge, Colorado after college where she decided to train for the Breckenridge Mountain Crest Marathon. This was only the beginning and after a couple more marathons and pacing friends competing in ultras %u2013 she was tempted to try herself.

Darcy has quite the list of remarkable wins. Darcy has won the female division in numerous 50Ks and 50 milers including the Squaw Peak 50-Miler, the Spring Desert Ultra 50-Miler, and the Moab50K. She also has a few female division 100-Miler wins under her belt including the Wasatch 100 in 2005 and more recently the Bighorn and Cascade Crest in 2007. In 2006, Darcy achieved the "Ultrarunning Grand Slam" title. This title is earned after completing four of the oldest endurance runs in the country in the same year consisting of the Western States Endurance Run, Vermont 100, Leadville, and the Wasatch Front 100. Darcy had the fastest combined time for all four races of all racers (man or woman) who completed the Grand Slam that year. This achievement earned Darcy the 2007 Everest Award in trail running. The Everest Awards are known as the 'Oscars of the Outdoor Industry' and are presented to a male and female adventure athlete with the most impressive accomplishments of the previous year.

In training, Darcy tries to do at least an hour every day during the week with long back-to-back runs on the weekends. Darcy has nearly won every race she entered last year so don't expect to see Darcy slowing down anytime soon. Only in her early 30's, Darcy is just getting started and has plenty of time to make a serious presence for herself in the ultrarunning sport.

Career Highlights

2007 Everest Award

Bighorn 100 %u2013 1st place female division and female course record (2007)

Cascade Crest 100 - 1st place female division and female course record (2007)

Spring Desert Ultra 50-Miler %u2013 1st place female division (2006-2007)

Grand Slam of Ultrarunning - (2006)

Squaw Peak 50-Miler %u2013 1st place female division (2005 - 2006)

Wasatch 100 %u2013 1st place female division (2005)