Sun Mountain 25k, 50k Race Info

Date

50k – 5/19/18

25k – 5/20/18

Location

Winthrop, WA

Avg Temps f.

73/48

Gain/Loss in ft

25k – ~2400/2400

50k – ~4800/4800

ft/mile gain

25k – 155 ft/mile

50k – 155 ft/mile

Highest Elev.

3,845ft

Start

25k – 10am

50k – 8am

Surface

Single track and dirt service roads

Time Limit

25k – 5 hours

50k – 8 hours

Sunrise/set

5:16am/8:39pm

Furthest Aid

7.2 miles

Summary: The Sun Mountain 25k and 50k races are fun, scenic races about a 3 hour drive from Seattle. They consist of mostly runnable single track and dirt service roads, and have moderate elevation gain/loss for the distances. It has a classic Rainshadow party feel with post race pizza, local beer, and festivities included.

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Don’t underestimate the climbs. While they are runnable, they can also feel long. Also, the end of the second big climb around 9.5 miles has a steep section of about 20% grade.
The start quickly turns into single track, and if you’re not up front you can get stuck in stop and go traffic. If you’re looking for a good time, it may be worth a harder effort up front to get a good position before settling in.
Try and conserve your energy for the final downhill and runnable miles later
It warms up quickly, especially with the 10am start for the 25k
A lot sunnier than Seattle at this time of year, so be prepared for exposure and heat with clothing, cold liquids, ice at aid stations, and anything else you use to stay cool
It is not all downhill after the first climb, so don’t be disappointed, angry, surprised (whatever emotion comes first!) when you still have plenty of climbing left, including some short, steep ups
Especially for the 50k, have a solid fueling plan in the heat, given it’s likely to be hot and sunny