Summary: The Chuckanut 50k is a lollipop course in Bellingham, WA. The first 10k and last 10k repeat on the Interurban Trail with smooth running to start and finish. The middle 30k includes all the elevation change and traverses and descends the Chuckanut Mountain Ridge, with some technical terrain and often wet, Pacific Northwest weather. The 2017 course was modified because it was the 25th anniversary of the race, and 2018 will be using the same course.
Lessons Learned from Race Reports
- New for 2018: ALL runners, crews & spectators must park at Western Washington University Lot 12A and take shuttles to the start/finish line at Fairhaven Park. Vehicles are not allowed to park in Fairhaven Park.
- Bring your own cup – cup free race at the aid stations and start/finish, including finish line food
- The infamous Chinscraper climb in the latter part of the race really isn’t the end of the climbing, so be prepared to keep going up
- It’s a long downhill at the end on very tired legs, followed by the flat Interurban trail, so leave something for that long downhill and flat section, as you can pass a lot of people who are completely gassed in that section
- Weather tends to be wet and chilly, so dress accordingly, especially if you plan on walking a lot, as you will chill easily – it can often be windy up on the ridge
- Race tends to feel like 3 different races with the first part being flat, then all the hills, then flat again, so if you do well breaking up races into chunks, this one’s for you!
Detailed course description:
- The interurban trail – first 6 miles of the course
- Start is about a mile further down the trail at Fairhaven park
- Wide and flat dirt path
- Loop through a parking lot to aid station
- Fragrance Lake climb and the descent to Cleator Road
- Nicely groomed trail with switchbacks with steady climb and gentle descent
- Go counterclockwise around the lake
- Cleator Road
- 2.5 mile dirt road climb flat-ish middle section
- The Ridge Trail and the Lost Lake Trail
- The Ridge Trail – somewhat technical and steep with roots and rocks
- The Lost Lake – potential for mud
- Chinscraper
- Short and steep climb
- The Fragrance Lake descent
- Cleator road to Fragrance Lake road
- Make sure to take the sharp left turn onto Fragrance Lake road (front runners have missed this in years past)
- The interurban trail return – last 6 miles of the course
- Wide and flat dirt to the finish (same as start)
Elevation
Total gain/loss: 5147/5147
Ft/mile gain: 166
Total climbs: 5
Longest climb: 2.8 miles, 1200 ft from miles ~10.5-13.3
Steepest climb: (chinscraper) .7 miles, 783 ft, ~20.5-21.2
Course Map and Elevation Profile / Downloadable and Printable version of course map
Aid stations
Total aid stations: 5 (not including start/finish)
Furthest distance apart: 7.3 miles
Locations: Miles 6.77, 10.2, 13, 20.32, and 24.85 (same as AS#1)
What’s available: Clif Organic Energy Food, Clif Bloks, Clif Bars, boiled potatoes, peanut butter & jelly wraps, cookies, gummy bears, oranges, bananas, grapes, potato chips, pretzels, mini candy bars, Fig Newmans & Sunspire Drops. Drinks include: First Endurance EFS, water & cola
Crew access
Access Locations: None, start/finish only
Pacers
None
Race qualifiers
None
Race reports
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Sam Peckham
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Sam Peckham Race Date: 03/19/2022 Location: Bellingham, WA Results: https://runsignup.com/race/results/?raceId=71999#resultSetId-303922;perpage:100 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6850351823 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? This is an iconic and competitive 50k. Being part of such a cool event felt amazing. There were so many big names from the PNW running community out there ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Nick Keenan
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Nick Keenan Race Date: 03/19/2022 Location: Bellingham WA Results: 6:03 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6850385310/overview 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Amazing course - beautiful, variable, and challenging Big race, big names, well run - 400+ runners, but because of the openness of the first 6 miles, and some of ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Olin Berger
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Olin Berger Race Date: 03/16/2019 Location: Bellingham, WA Results: http://www.buduracing.com/race-results-inset.php?eid=1806 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2218404425 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Chuckanut is a local classic that always draws strong competition. It has some good trail sections and climbs, but also has a chance to showcase your speed on flats (should ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Ather H
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Ather H Date: 3/17/2018 Location: Bellingham, WA Results: 4:45 Strava Activity Link: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2561920758 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? This is perhaps one of the biggest trail races in Washington in terms of the number of participants. A great opportunity to meet the local (as well as not so local) fellow ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Matt P
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Matt P Date: 3/17/2018 Location: Larrabee State Park, Bellingham WA Results: 6:02:02 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1458146618 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Super supportive crowd and teammates! Festive Aid Stations: BBQ Pork cooked by folks in grass skirts, Jameson and bars! Beautiful forest Not so much – Aspects of the ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Keith Laverty
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Keith Laverty Date: 3/17/2018 Location: Fairhaven, WA Results: 7th, 3:51:18 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1458074007 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? Stout competition and someone to work with almost every step of the way (David Riddle of Ohio) The weather was a treat. Big sense of community and seeing a ton of ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Frank Fisher
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Frank Fisher Date: 3/17/2018 Location: Bellingham, WA Results: Placed 88, 5:12:39 Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1458439037 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? The course was awesome, the weather was perfect, and one of the most fun race environments I've seen. The race staff and volunteers were great, and lots of spectators on ...
Chuckanut 50k Race Report – Austin W
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Austin W Date: 3/17/2018 Location: Bellingham, WA Results: 5:44 3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most? The weather was unbelievably perfect. Not sure it's possible to get a better running weather and trails were perfectly saturated and gummy, with very little mud. Awesome course and I surprised myself by really loving ...
Chuckanut 50k – Jeff K
Race: Chuckanut 50k Runner: Jeff K Date: 3/18/17 Location: Fairhaven, WA Results - 4:41, 3rd Place Age Category winner 3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most - Being at the same race with all those elite and near-elite trail runners. I was totally blown away. - The “new” old start area at Fairhaven park was ...
Chuckanut 50k – Stephanie G
Race: Chuckanut 50k – http://chuckanut50krace.com/ Runner: Stephanie G Date: 3/19/2016 Results: 5:24:44, 23rd Female 3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most Nice soft trails The climbs are done after about mile 21 I really enjoy running along the ridge. It’s a fun trail with nice views. Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it ...
Strava activities and GPX files
https://www.strava.com/activities/905478204/overview – 2017 course
https://www.strava.com/activities/521484774/overview – 2016 course
Race Website
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