Whistler is a can’t-miss destination of the season for the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series, the popular string of events that encourages runners of all ages and abilities to get out there and hit the trails.
The B.C. chapter of the national race series is storming back to Whistler on Saturday (Aug. 22), when organizers expect about 600 runners will test themselves against the beautiful but challenging alpine course set at the top of Whistler Mountain.
Amid a coastal B.C. leg that has included races in stunning locations such as Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Mount Seymour, the Whistler event is being billed as an epic run, the “best of the season so far,” Keri Cawthorne, B.C. race director for 5 Peaks Adventures, said last week.
“It’s a great run to put everyone’s training together,” Cawthorne said, adding that she always enjoys the Whistler race and gets excited when she heads up the mountain to mark the course.
“It’s pretty impressive starting it at 1,860 metres,” she said.
Beginning above the Roundhouse Lodge, the course will be pretty much the same as the one used for the past few years, Cawthorne said, including a pass around the Harmony Lakes area. But this could be the last chance for runners to sample it in this exact form, as Cawthorne expects that organizers will want to shake things up next time they’re back in Whistler.
“We just thought, with it being 2010, it’ll be the fourth year (for this course), it’ll be time to change it up a little bit,” she said.
As it stands, the popular Whistler course is known for its “steep climbs, sharp descents, craggy wilderness trails and tremendous views,” Cawthorne said.
Runners taking on the Sport course will charge through a 4.9-kilometre loop, with a total elevation gain of 297 metres, while the Enduro course competitors will run 10.6 kilometres with a total elevation gain of 760 metres.
The course is breathtaking, but that’s not just because it’s beautiful — running in the alpine environment adds another layer of difficulty for those who aren’t accustomed to it. The sights and challenges in the run are well worth the occasional struggles with shortness of breath, though, and other runners won’t frown on you for walk-running up some of the steep inclines.
The 5 Peaks series continues to be “as popular as ever” despite the economic downturn, Cawthorne said. That could be because it offers something for everyone, with races varying in length and events including everything from Children’s Challenges to prizes and race souvenirs.
Cawthorne said she thinks participants appreciate the organizers’ willingness to change up their courses and venues, such as this season’s inclusion of SFU while taking a pass on Cypress Mountain.
Online registration has closed, but interested runners can register in person at the Salomon store below the Pan Pacific Hotel on Friday (Aug. 21) from 5 to 9 p.m., or Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Registered racers can pick up their run packages during those times.
The day-of-race fee of $50 gets participants event entry, a 5 Peaks race souvenir, a ticket for uploading on the Whistler Village Gondola and riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, and a coupon for a discounted gondola ride for any family members or friends willing to cheer on the runners.
The Children’s Challenge kicks off the racing with a 10:30 a.m. start, while the rest of the runners will begin at 11 a.m. For more information on the Whistler race and the series, visit www.5peaks.com.
