Evan Birch

Evan Birch

Ultra trail runner | Alberta, Canada

"I am heading into my third year with XACT Nutrition. In that time, I have become the IKEA test couch of products, having completed races from 5km to 500km. When you are running the equivalent of nearly 12 marathons, you need products that can meet and exceed the demands of your efforts. XACT is that for me."

https://www.instagram.com/ultrabirch/

Meet Evan

Evan Birch is a Calgary-based ultra-runner, endurance coach, breathwork facilitator, husband, father, and graduate student who has spent over two decades exploring what happens when you push the human mind and body from 5K to 500K. For Evan, running isn’t just about logging miles or chasing finishes; it’s a framework for moving through life with intention, presence, and purpose. His approach pairs physical grit with a deep emotional awareness, trading the old-school mentality of suffering for an active pursuit of joy, curiosity, and genuine connection on the trail. Through endurance and breathwork, he guides people to slow down, strip away the noise, and fully inhabit the present moment, always being right where their feet are. He believes deeply in championing individuals who embrace exercise as a form of self-love, an arena to be vulnerable, and a space to grow beyond measure.

photo credit: @dylanleeder

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About Evan

Most Memorable Race: Canyon De Chelly Ultra held in Arizona every year in a Navajo Canyon. Getting to run stride for stride with wild horses for several KMs is unforgettable.
Favourite meal before a race: Carbonara Pasta (been known to order and travel with it).
Favourite spots to train: Kananaskis Country, Bragg Creek, Canmore area, City trails less than 1km out my front door.
Fun Fact: I have been surfing for 15 years and am the most land-locked surfing lover around. I have surfed in Australia, Costa Rica, Panama and Tofino.
Goals: Continue to explore what my body is capable of through endurance sports while finding joy in the pursuit. The big future goal is to go after a Canadian record that has stood for over 100 years, not ready to put it out into the world yet though.

photo credit @christopheramat

SuperNova: The 100 Mile Dog (2025) Official Documentary Film

SuperNova is a film about Nova, a 7 year-old Hungarian Vizsla, her ultra-running Dad, Evan Birch and her crew chief Mom, Cassie Hawrysh. A story about trust, instinct, and the magic of moving together. It goes far beyond any start or finish line; it is a love letter to how impactful our dogs are to us. Since Nova was a puppy, her and Evan have been inseparable on the trails and they are finally ready to take on something big.

The Orcas Island 100 Miler in February of 2025. The Orcas Island 100 has 8200 meters of elevation over four gruelling 25-mile loops. Late winter and early spring conditions meant rain, fog, wind, mud, and long hours of darkness overnight.This was the perfect stage to attempt what may seem impossible by most standards and see just how far he and Nova can go together before she settles down and becomes the "couch dog."

Created, Filmed, and Produced by: Lucas Cullen and Tommy DeWitt