West Coast ultramarathoners are in it for the long run
B.C.'s variety of runs and terrain tests athletes of all skill levels
If you're planning to do The Vancouver Sun Run, here's a word of caution: You may enjoy it so much that you'll soon be running marathons, and then ultramarathons.
That's what happened to Margaret Paxton of Squamish, who began walking for fitness and relaxation about 20 years ago. She slowly added in stretches of running, and it wasn't long before her walks turned into runs. Then her brother encouraged her to enter the Sun Run. Paxton hasn't looked back.
Ten years after her first Sun Run in 1991, Paxton ran 100 kilometres in the Haney to Harrison Ultra. As part of her preparation for Haney to Harrison, she had run the inaugural STORMY (Squamish Test of Running Metal, Yeah!), then held on the course of the popular 67-km mountain bike race, the Test of Metal. In 2007, the STORMY was expanded to an 80-km event.
August's STORMY is one of three 80-km races offered in the Sea to Sky Corridor this year; the others are May 14th's Tenderfoot Boogie, which made its debut in 2010, and the inaugural Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra, set for Nov. 5.
But you needn't run that far. In early June, runners can test their resolve in the first The North Face Whistler Half Marathon. The Squamish Days 10 km is back in late July, while the fourth edition of the Whistler Spirit Run cross country and trail running festival is on in late September.
"Having races close to home does inspire me to race more," says Derek Gagne, also a Squamish resident. Gagne says he likes being able to race closer to home, with family and friends nearby, and running on terrain that he's familiar with.
"I need all the hometown advantage I can get," he says.
Margreet Dietz is the author of A Hundred Reasons to Run 100 km.
ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET ...
Chart your course for long-distance fitness
TENDERFOOT BOOGIE
Distances: 28 km, 50 km and 80 km (50 miles), also the 80-km three-person relay
Date: May 14 Time: 50-miles solo and relay teams start 5 a.m., 50 km at 7 a.m., 28 km at 9 a.m. (sign in 30 minutes before start)
Register at: trailwhisperer.ca/Tenderfoot Race fee: Between $60 and $160
THE NORTH FACE WHISTLER HALF MARATHON
Distance: 21.1 km
Date: June 4
Time: 7: 30 a.m. start
Register at: whistlerhalfmarathon.com
Race fee: Between $75 and $95
COMFORTABLY NUMB 25 KM
Distance: 25 km
Date: June 26
Time: 9 a.m. start
Register at: runthenorthshore.com/ Comfortably-Numb
Race fee: Between $55 and $75
SQUAMISH DAYS 10 KM
Distances: 10 km, 10 km wheelchair, 10 km runner + stroller, 1 mile
Date: July 31 Time: Start times from 8: 25 a.m.
Register at: squamishdays.ca
Race fee: $23 or $28 for 10 km, $10 or $15 for 1 mile
STORMY 50 Miler and 50 Miler Relay
Distances: 50 miles solo and relay teams of 2-7 runners Date: August 7
Time: 6 a.m. (early start option at 5 a.m.)
Register at: stormytrailrace.ca
Race fee: from $60 for solo runners, relay from $100 for two runners
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