Chuckanut

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 you have any).

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

*See showcasing of speed* Cruising flats is not my forte, so a 50k that includes 20k of flat, hard-pack trail is not going to be my favorite. Though it’s always a good test of fitness to see how fast you can go after long climbs and descents. Snow this year also made for some annoying footing.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The high speed factor brought in by the 10k beginning/end of the race is “weird” for a trail ultra in my opinion.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

This was my third attempt and first that didn’t include a blow-up in the last few miles. I felt strong and consistent throughout, which combined with a top 5 finish made for a satisfying race.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

It is so easy to assume that you’ll be able to make up time in the last 10k on the flats, but it is always so much harder than you think. Practice being able to run fast on flats after big descents. It makes it even tougher mentally to feel crushed on flat trail.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Always kick, there’s something left.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Don’t use all of your speed on the first 10k, be sure to save some of your legs for the way home.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The back 30k is pretty nice, but 20k is on inter-urban trail, which is fine, but not stunning.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

A decent amount of climbing packed into the middle 30k, but a lot of flats and 90% of the course is easily runnable. Not much technical trail skill required.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It’s been around for a long time and run by pros. Well-oiled.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Very strong field. A lot of fast people show up for this one.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Easy to get into; you just have to register right when the race opens.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Standard.

Weather and typical race conditions

This race has always had sunny weather in the three years I’ve participated. But we had snow on the course this year.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Fast shoes.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Somewhat. A lot of options to view the first/last 10k. Fewer options on the trail portion.

How’s the Swag?

Minimal. Nothing especially different from other races.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

If you like pure speed, this is your race. A local classic, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “must-run.”

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 ultra runners.
• A good mix of technical and non-technical speedy trails
• Views from the ridge!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The weather can be crappy but it’s March in Bellingham and that’s part of the package!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

There’s a relatively flat 10k interurban out and back that you run as part of the first and last 10k of the race. The weirdest part is that the ‘back’ 10k somehow becomes longer and hillier than the ‘out’ 10k 🙂

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

This was my 8th time running Chuckanut so getting lost on the trails keeps on getting harder and harder (also that the trails are well marked). I think I paced myself ok, given I’ve been doing some speed training as part of my training for Boston, but not so much hill training. Was able to sustain a decent pace in the first and last 10 miles of the race. Took the hills (that are largely sandwiched in the middle 30k) conservatively yet still took on the downhills. Running the downhills after the chinscraper was a lot of fun as usual.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I think the single most important aspect of this race is how long the last flat 10k of this race feels. Saving some fuel for that will definitely help keep the interurban suffer-fest to a minimal.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Over the years, I have gone back n forth between running the early climbs a little too agressive versus holding back a bit too much (hiking up cleator rd instead of running it). This year, I was a bit on the conservative side (given the lack of hill training) but I still thought I could’ve run cleator a bit faster. Also, the ridge is technical and training on technical trails with exposed roots/rocks is definitely going to help.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course is a mixed bag of packed gravel road, technical single tracks and urban trails. The last 11 miles are downhill/flat and definitely worth saving up some battery for.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The views from the ridge and also the interurban trail are stellar. Having said that – given the early time of the year, the likelihood of a Mt. baker sighting is usually low. We definitely lucked out with the weather this year.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

With ~5000ft of vert and much of it packed in the middle 30k section, the race isn’t the toughest but can definitely feel tough if you run out of gas towards the last part. In the past, I’ve had to walk the last 10k due to cramps and have seen many other fast runners struggling to keep the rhythm.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Krissy and the gang to a great job of putting this race up.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Definitely one of the most competitive races in the state.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The race gets sold out fast – if you want to run it, definitely sign up for it the day registration opens up (usually the first week of Jan)

Aid Stations

Well stocked aid stations – I carry a single bottle and usually skip the first and last aid station. The one right before chinscraper has the best ‘drinks’ 🙂

Weather and typical race conditions

The 8 times that I have run this race, it has been sunny *once*. We’ve had hail, snow and wind and almost always cold weather.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Definitely pack a light rain jacket – gloves are a good idea too given chinscraper can make you go on all fours specially if it’s muddy.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

I believe the first (also the last) aid station on interurban as well as the start/finish are good spots for spectators/crew to hang out.

How’s the Swag?

The patagonia shirt (optional) is one of my favorites!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Chuckanut 50k is one of my favorites – it was my first real ultra race back in 2011 and I’ve been running it every year since and hope to keep going back to it. Highly recommend it!

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?

1. Super supportive crowd and teammates!
2. Festive Aid Stations: BBQ Pork cooked by folks in grass skirts, Jameson and bars!
3. Beautiful forest

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

First 10k was crowded, felt like downtown Seattle traffic.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Alcohol at the aid stations…. Maybe that’s normal for mountain ultras? Caught me off guard.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I paced myself and finished strongly. I wish I’d run more on Cleator road like I did in the training, but was able to pick it up on the downhill and flat section. Was pretty fun.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

As advised previously from Stephanie’s race report, saving juice to burn after the Chinscraper uphill was a major advantage. A lot of Chinscraper isn’t easily runnable so if you save up for after that, you can blow by people that passed you going too hard on the uphill sections.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Trust the aid stations. I was way overpacked with water, didn’t need to fill up even once, but wished I’d had as my pack was loaded with food and water. Was not necessary at all. I won’t bring a pack next time.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The last and greatest uphill section – Chinscraper – is followed by miles of downhill and flat.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is pretty. There are a few vantage points but most notably waterfalls, lush forest and rocky, rooty terrain. It is beautiful but not view-laden like other courses.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

For my first mostly-running 50km it was hard but relatively speaking I think the generous time limit and relatively moderate elevation gain makes it more middle of the road in terms of difficulty.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Extremely well-organized. This race has been around for 20-odd years, and they got it right.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

A lot of elite runners and a lot of undertrained runners. Most folks middle of the road.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Registration was limited to I think 300, but it was easy to sign up and register after it opened. I had no difficulty finding lodging 5 minutes from the parking lot within 2 weeks of the race. Bellingham Days Inn was only $58/night and walking distance to parking lots.

Aid Stations

5 or 6 – some with liquor and bbq!

Weather and typical race conditions

For early March it can be hit or miss, and this was definitely a hit. Two weeks before at the training run we had snow and cold though.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

You probably don’t need a full pack.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

If they like to hike. The aid stations seemed festive and packed. Lots of festivities and food afterwards. Yes.

How’s the Swag?

Decent. I bought some shirts and received some bars at the bip pickup. Cool magnet upon finishing.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5/5 – great time.

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?

1. Stout competition and someone to work with almost every step of the way (David Riddle of Ohio)
2. The weather was a treat.
3. Big sense of community and seeing a ton of familiar faces.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I can’t think of anything!

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The funniest/weirdest – Literally within the first minute or so of the race, most of the front pack missed a left turn across a bridge and started running the wrong way.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I paced myself well in the first flatter 10k on the Interurban Trail and the first half in general. This helped propel me to feeling very strong in the 2nd half and I was able to close the final 10k pretty hard.

Nutrition was on point – sticking with Huma Gel + Tailwind. I think I only grabbed a snack once or twice from aid stations.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Resist the urge to blast the first 10k and you’ll very likely have a positive experience for remainder of the race. Don’t fret about the Chinscraper climb. Yes, it’s steep – but it’s ultimately a very short section of the entire race and it’s okay to power-hike a bit.

You can make up a TON of time in the final 9-10 miles after Chinscraper.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The Lost Lake section is a great spot to start really racing and gradually ramping up your effort. Plus the entire section is very runnable. The first year I had run this in 2017, I may have eased up too much on this section and lost some time compared to my competitors.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

This year in particular – pretty good! The sun was shining all day and the green ferns and mosses seemed to glow a little brighter.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

The way the course is designed with the major climbs book-ended by two flatter 10k’s makes for a tougher course. Race strategy is key!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Krissy Moehl and her team did a great job of providing pre-race updates. Everything went smoothly on race day. This was my first race ever of using BibBoards (instead of pins), so that was a tad tricky to put on at first but no issues with those during the race.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

One of the strongest fields out there! This race has continually been arguably the most competitive trail race year after year in the Pacific Northwest. 2017 in particular, had a very deep field on both men’s and women’s sides. This year, all men in the top-10 ran under the 4-hour barrier.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

This race sells out quickly with about 500 runners. Book your AirBNB or hotels at least 1 month in advance!

Aid Stations

The aid stations provided some nice energy and motivation as I ran through.

Weather and typical race conditions

A *rare* sunny day for this race. Chuckanut is typically a lot more muddy and rainy for this time of year.

How’s the Swag?

Without buying any extra shirts or swag, I got a big magnet for finishing. The night prior, I had also entered into a raffle for Pro-Tec Athletics and luckily, found out I had won! The pre-race event comes with a lot of free sponsor swag stuff and samples of bars and nut butter.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 stars – Recommended for the competition, the community, the history.

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 the course made it more fun.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I thought the finish area was a little weird. I could’ve missed it, but it would have been nice to have water and whatnot easily accessible. Someone did bring me the tail end of a 3 liter of Coke, which was appreciated.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The aid station that “wasn’t really there.”

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I thought I ran pretty well on the day. My prep for the race was spot on, and I felt solid all day. Climbs were good, and had plenty left for Chinscraper and the finish.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Get used to having a tough climb late in the race, and be ready for flat running after a long downhill. Smart pacing at the front end of the race will be important late.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Don’t drink too much. I over filled my stomach late in the race and paid for it a little in the last 3 miles.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Chinscraper comes later than you think, the final downhill isn’t that bad, but the last 6 miles can be tough if you overdo it early.

Be ready for some technical running on the ridge around mile 15, stay focused and watch your footing.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Really pretty course, so many points along the way to slow down and take in.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

As far as mountain races go, I didn’t think it was terrible. It’s quite runnable with a few good sustained climbs, and one technical section. It will definitely keep you honest.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Race staff did a fantastic job top to bottom. Very well run!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, and this is what makes this race all the more challenging. Lots of good runners from all over, and a solid pro field.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Check when registration opens and set an alarm well in advanced. Its a high demand race and deservedly do. Hotels are easy to book, and didn’t seem to be gouging on race weekend.

Aid Stations

Great!

Weather and typical race conditions

This might have been a special year weather wise, sunny and low 50’s. I think it’s usually rainy muddy PNW weather.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Plenty of aid stations, you can run this with just a water bottle if you’d like.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, lots of spectators along the course.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 stars, must do race!

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?

1. 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.
2. Awesome course and I surprised myself by really loving the flat 10k lollipop stretch at the start and the finish. Everything else was great too; logistics, trail marking, aid stations, volunteers, organization, etc.
3. The incredible Team RunRun support at the race! The cheering crowds are always wonderful but it means so much to see TRR friends out there on the course and finish encouraging you along. Honestly made every step of my day better.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

1. Not knowing how to set overall or incremental goals for a trail race. Realizing a couple weeks ahead of the race that I have zero idea how to ‘push’ on the trails (excited to talk to Matt more about strategy here) but came to the conclusion that I tend to take it easier on the trails than I do on the road (where splits can be tracked consistently) and am probably not pushing myself to capacity. This is clearly my fault and nothing to do with the race but definitely want to get to a place where I’m challenging myself in entirely new ways on the trails. (Of course Matt was incredibly helpful in suggesting a couple of excellent goals ahead of the race, but this is something I want to focus on being able to articulate for myself in 2018)
2. I really wanted PB&J sandwiches, not wraps, at the aid stations. My entire ultra running career (which is not long or impressive) is fueled by pb&j so I really want to look forward to the next square or two at each aid station. I’ve convinced myself that the bread sops up some of the belly slosh from all the liquid. And they are really delicious, so win win!!!
3. I hate GUs and while I know they do the trick, I spend a lot of time thinking about not wanting to eat one. Can someone please design one that is truly flavorless but still provides all the stuff you need?

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Perhaps the finishing magnet? Although certainly much more useful than a medal…

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

1. The Interurban portion of the race was outstanding and while not my favorite part of the trail, definitely a highlight for me. Matt encouraged me to go out pretty strong, since I’m not really good at climbs or downhill (hopefully, not good at these things YET) and it was excellent advice, as usual. I didn’t blow out but I didn’t hold back too much either and then spent the rest of the race excited to get back to the flat with enough energy to push a steady pace. I was a bit worse for wear on the way back but still able to run and I loved looking for people ahead to pass.
2. I loved running along the Chuckanut mountain ridge–it was clear day and the views were stunning. I was by myself for a lot of this section and couldn’t help but let out a couple of delighted cheers along the way.
3. I was worried about nagging hamstring and knee issues but was pretty good about getting into PT (Dr. Z is amazing) and focusing on the troubled areas all the way up to the race. I think this helped a lot.
4. This race gave me a shot of confidence about the possibility of getting faster and better at the up/downs, so I can push myself harder and set more challenging goals.

The TRR crew was so amazing–so grateful for the support and encouragement. Absolutely made my day!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

This is a great PNW classic race and while it isn’t always ‘fun’ to slog through winter training miles, it was a great way to stay motivated and focused through the dreary grind of short, grey days. Training in the summer is fun too, but it seems like there is a lot more stuff to work around (adventures, weddings, BBQs). I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything in putting in the miles Nov-March instead.

I don’t have enough experience to confirm this but I expect this is a great race to try as a first ultra, as the trails are not too technical, it’s well-supported, you gain some vert but not too much and not all at the same time, and 20k of the race is mostly flat and fast.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Figure out how to run downhill faster, better, and more strategically. Get way stronger on climbs, so I can shuffle most of the way up instead of hiking so much.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Pretty standard/classic: very runnable throughout, some sections on roads (sharing with cars and bikes), with plenty of ups and downs and awesome single-track.

There is often an organized training run or two on the course a couple weeks out from the race. I did this for White River and again for Chuckanut and was really glad to run the trails and know what to expect on race day. Highly recommend.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes! Mostly wooded, very green, lakes, and great ridgeline views on a clear day.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Not enough experience to say but it seemed faster than it was difficult, and very approachable for any level of runner.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes, very well-managed and executed.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, it definitely seemed like a competitive race–fun to see those fast racers FLYING by!!!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Seems to sell out the day registration opens, so you have to commit early. However since the wait list is long and people are eager so you can drop in mid Feb. and get most of your $ back. It’s possible to drive up in the morning on the day of the race from the Seattle area, and there are lots of places to stay in Bellingham.

Aid Stations

Awesome–positive, helpful, and wonderful.

Weather and typical race conditions

We had incredible weather this year but last year was miserable, so impossible to predict. Always going to be variable and I think you have to be prepared for anything. We ran an organized practice run on the course in early March and there was still a lot of snow up high, everything was melted by race day but it easily could have been snowy, rainy, muddy, and windblown.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Only variable is the weather–everything else is standard.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not sure if some courses are way more open but I was happy to see the TRR crew at the start, mile 7, mile 24 and the finish.

How’s the Swag?

Great long sleeve technical Patagonia shirt. I can see myself wearing it a lot. Also good free stuff after the race. I didn’t go to the bib pick-up but expect there was probably great stuff there too.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5/5 especially in such spectacular weather, it was a great day!

Race: Chuckanut 50k

Runner: Jeff K

Date: 3/18/17

Location: Fairhaven, WA

Results – 4:41, 3^rd 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 much better than the gravel lot as the past years.  They had a nice warm up area, bag drop, food trucks.  It was really great

– Had a good group of runners to ride up with (Ather H, Steven K, and Sudheer M).   We went to the brewery post race, and drank beer with other runner and that was really fun.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There isn’t really anything about this race I didn’t like.    If pressed to name something, I guess I could do without sections of terrain that I’m not very good at running.   You think you are done with Chinscraper when you see Glen Tachiyama taking pictures, but then there is still a long way to the top.  This part goes on forever.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Runners were talking that they thought the classic course this year was longer than the modified course.  I checked my GPS data from last year in an attempt to myth bust this theory.   This year’s race did record 1.4 miles longer on my Garmin watch.     This could have been because of less switchbacks which are known to cause GPS data to be off slightly.   On the other hand, there were way more finishers under 5hrs this year than last year, so if it really was longer, you would think there would be a smaller number of faster finishers.   Perhaps this is a mystery that we will never really know.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

The initial out on the IU trail went pretty good. I was running with Phil K from Seven Hills and we were running at a speedy pace.    There is loop at the end with a small section that doubles back so we were fast enough to see the front runners come charging back before they turned to go up fragrance lake.

The race got spaced out once I reached Cleator Road.  Up on the ridge I was mostly running solo until Corrine Malcom caught up with me then we ran for a half mile or so ducking and dodging on the terrain and then had a good downhill to the aid station.  It was nice to run with her because otherwise would have gone way too conservative and she is really good on a technical trail and it is one of my weak spots.

In past races the backside of the ridge and little chinscraper has always been a slog.   Some guy I didn’t know started to push the climb pretty good and we were passing the runners who passed me going up Fragrance lake.   We were nearing the high point of that muddy trail road then he just stops.  I’m like ‘cmon man we are killing it!’ and had to keep going without him.   There were a few runners keeping up to run with the rest of the way to the base of Chinscraper.  I had a yard sale wipe out that looked deadly to the guy behind me, but came away unscathed, luckily.

At the end of the race, you see everyone you were out there with, and we were all hanging around in the covered tent talking about it.  That was really a fun experience!  lots of camraderie.

This was my 4^th time running and fastest run at Chuckanut.  Last year I did a 5:52.   I was over an hour faster this year.    The training program was definitely a highlight.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Be prepared to handle the long downhill on tired legs at the end.   It is harder than you might think.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Climbing fast doesn’t necessarily get you ahead in the end

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Chinscraper hill can take a big chunk of your time.   But know that when you reach the top, the climbing portion is basically over

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Yep.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

Uh huh.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Absolutely.

Competition – is there a strong field?

This year had Max King, Hayden Hawks, Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Sage Canaday, and David Laney and that was just the tip of the iceberg

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

If you want to run it, you need to register on the day it opens.  It will sell out in 48hrs or less.

Aid Stations

Plenty of them and they are great.   The one on top of Cleator Road was a real production.

Weather and typical race conditions

Several years back there was snow on the ridge.  This year was rain and mud

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I carried an ultralight rain jacket in my pack and had gloves.   If something happened and you needed to slow down or stop for a while I think you could get chilled quickly.    Because there are a lot of aid stations, carrying one bottle was enough for me.

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

Yes.  It seemed as there are a lot of points you can be at to see runners go by

Awards –

The winners get prize money and there was a bonus for Max who broke the course record.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

5 out of 5!

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 for you

There was a lot of time in the first ~7 miles on the Interurban Trail to anticipate the climbs, which made me a little nervous. The race almost seemed like 3 different races: the first 7 miles, the middle mountain-y part, and the last 7 miles.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

Probably how compartmentalized the three different parts of the race felt.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I thought I ended up pacing pretty well and my endurance held out. I felt good on the downhills and didn’t even hate the ~7 miles of Interurban at the end (which everyone seems to). Pretty happy with my time too.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Might be good to practice the transition from downhill to flat running. Also, I knew the course from practice runs and having run on the Interurban which I think helped a lot.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

A lot of it, yes. There are definitely some parts that are less beautiful than others though.

Difficulty – is it a tough course

It felt hard, but I guess my time would say it’s easier than some others!

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well-run

Competition – is there a strong field?

Seemed very strong on the women’s side this year, with 13 women under 5 hours. Average seems to be about 6 under 5.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Sells out, but not super quick. Logistically very easy.

Aid Stations

Somewhat oddly spaced, but worked just fine.

Weather and typical race conditions –

This year was perfect – mid 40s/low 50s and DRY. Even some sun.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Cupless race! Probably not a big deal if you’re carrying bottles. But if you have a bladder, might be nice to have a cup for aid stations

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

There seem to be several accessible points.

Awards –

Very nice custom mugs (among other things I think, but those caught my eye)

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

4 stars – not my favorite course ever, but definitely would recommend it. Plus Bellingham is my hometown!