Few stories resonated with spectators as deeply as the journey of Canadian couple Kirsti Dolson and Matthew “Shep” Shepard, who came to Brazil to race – and unexpectedly became beloved figures in Nova Trento.

Their plan was simple: run together, support each other, and experience one of the world’s most beautiful and demanding trail events. But what unfolded over the course of the week was something far more meaningful.

From the early checkpoints, the pair were impossible to miss, laughing, encouraging each other, and taking on the course with an infectious positivity that lifted everyone around them. Volunteers cheered extra loudly when they approached. Spectators learned their names. Even local families began following their progress live.

When a steep climb near the halfway point challenged many athletes, Kirsti and Shep tackled it side-by-side, stopping to help another runner who was struggling with cramps. The moment was captured by an amateur photographer, later becoming one of the most-shared images of the event.

Their bond, their kindness, and their perseverance quickly earned them the nickname “Os Canadianos do Coração” — The Canadians of the Heart.

Despite facing heat, fatigue, and the sheer brutality of the terrain, Kirsti and Shep kept moving with purpose. Their final kilometres were slow but determined, and when they entered the finishing corridor hand-in-hand, the Nova Trento crowd erupted. It was one of the loudest receptions of the entire championship weekend.

"We came here for a race," Shep said. "But what we found was a community."

Kirsti added, "These trails challenged us, but the people here changed us."

Their story became a symbol of the event’s spirit—proof that in ultra-running, heart matters as much as speed.