Yukon adventure runners Greg and Denise McHale are hoping to finish the 2008 running season on a high note with a strong finish at two separate world calibre competitions.

The married couple won't be competing together at the two races, but will instead split up up for the two racing events.

The competitions include the Adventure Racing World Championships in Brazil, which Greg is competing at for the first time as a member of American-based Team Merrell.

Thanks to an outstanding run in her first-ever ultra race back in May 2007, Denise locked down one of the six spots for the Canadian women's team at the 100-km world championships in Italy.

"I am not going planning to win, just being realistic," Denise said. "Really for me I would like to be the first Canadian women and to be in the top quarter would be great."

Both Denise and Greg began this year's running season with dominating performances at the Rock and Ice Ultra in Yellowknife back in March.

In Yellowknife, Greg ended up finishing with the best time in the six day competition, while Denise finished an impressive third overall, for both men and women, in the three day competition.

Since then the two have run into some bad luck, including having to pull out of July's Primal Quest adventure race because an injury to one of their teammates.

At the time when they were forced to pull out of the Primal Quest, the McHale's team was in a close battle for second place with Team Marrell. The group was around a day away from finishing the race when they had to call it quits.

Denise has also suffered some unlucky breaks this year, which most recently included an ultra running competition in Lethbridge, Alberta in August. Heading into the final loop keeping pace with the leading group, the race was called off due to a heavy thunderstorm.

"I have felt great," she said. "So it's really hard, but I get confidence knowing that I was ready, I felt good, I felt strong, so hopefully that carries over into this. We are hoping for better things for 2009."

This will be the first time Denise has represented Canada at an ultra race.

Greg's competition in Brazil will also mark a first for him as it will be the first time he has competed on an adventure racing team without Denise.

Greg said he is looking forward to competing on Team Merrell, which he added is one of the best adventure racing teams in the world.

"I know the team I am racing with is super strong, so our goal is to win," Greg said.

"It's a team that kind of moves at a consistent pace all of the time. So I think it will be a different role for me to play, probably having to focus with moving slower on my feet and working a little harder on some of the other disciplines."

Greg, who has been competing in adventure races for the past six years, has been training for around 20 hours each week since September in preparation for the competition. The different challenges in Brazil will include running, cycling, sailing and kayaking.

He said it should be a good fit for him on Team Marrell.

"All you can do is go out and go as hard as you can go and see how things shape out in the end."