Vashon 50k Race Report – Nick Keenan

Photo: Kati Otto

Race: Vashon 50k

Runner: Nick Keenan

Race Date: 06/04/2022

Location: Vashon WA

Results: 4:47:11

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/7255657546/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  • Beautiful trails, challenging but not overly technical.
  • Well supported and great community feel.
  • Three-loop course, so great for pushing the pace and finishing strong.

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

Small field, can get stretched out, and with many turns on the course, you can’t see runners close to you.

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

Not weird, but there’s an unofficial aid station that’s there every year with watermelon, water and other goodies.

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

Knowing the course, you can push the pace to the right level. Varying terrain and short climbs make for constant challenges.

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

  • Three ~ten-mile loops, use a drop-bag at the start for quick aid-station times. It’s spectator friendly, with a kid-friendly spot halfway through the loop, and about 1.5 miles by car or bike from the start.
  • There’s a 10 mile race the same day, starting an hour after the 50k. Very little overlap of runners.
  • Generally easy to pass runners, so don’t go out too fast.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

On the flatter and straight spots on the course — keep your effort level under control, especially the last two miles going into the start/finish area.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

It’s three ~ten mile loops.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Pretty course, tall pines, forested pond, no views of water or mountains though.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Some roots and rocks in spots, can be muddy depending on recent rainfall. A little road running, and two (x3) road crossings.

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

Well organized. Aid station volunteers are veteran ultra runners who take good care of you. RD is super nice and an active ultra runner.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Not usually.

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.

Ferry boat from Tacoma, Southworth or Fauntleroy West Seattle. Camping available, some small lodging options.

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

Standard stuff.

Weather and typical race conditions

Early June in the coastal PNW – usually cool at the start and getting warmer later in the day.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, see earlier comment.

How’s the Swag?

Unique finisher award, shirts available for purchase.

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

Four stars, always fun.

Thinking about running your first ultra? Check out our 7 steps to get started.

Vashon Island 50K Race Report – Nick Keenan

Race: Vashon Island 50k

Runner: Nick Keenan

Race Date: 06/05/2021

Location: Vashon Island, WA

Results: 5:12

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5419971417/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  • Three-loop course, with a variety of terrain and flora
  • Super friendly Race Director and Volunteers
  • Good course to PR

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

One mile sections of dirt road and pavement – 5.5 times.

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

Many turns on this rolling terrain course. Standard roots and rocks for forested trails, no special traction shoes needed.

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

  • The start is three miles from my house – so a hometown favorite. Great first 50k race for folks.
  • Good access for spectators that want to drive around and either great at road-crossings or do a short hike in to great at mile-5 aid station. There’s a ten mile race as well, little overlap expect for the fastest of 50kers.

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

  • Car-ferry only from Tacoma, Southworth or West Seattle. There’s bus service to ~1/4 mile to the starting line, so you could save the hassle and $ of bring your car and just walk-on and bus.
  • As a June race, it can warm-up on laps 2 and 3, so keep up with hydration. There are some unshaded sections that can really heat you up.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Even splits is so much more fun than going out too fast. Lap three can really be a drag if you’re hurting — as you know exactly where you’re at, as you’ve run the loop twice already.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

  • Road shoes are fine.
  • There is a community watermelon and water table at mile 4, supplementing the mile 5 and mile 10 aid stations.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

  • I’m bias as it’s local to me, but I think it’s beautiful. Wide soft trail around Fisher Pond. Winding and rolling trails in Island Center Forest.
  • No ‘views’ per say, and no water crossing.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

3k total elevation gain, no long climbs — all in 50-100 ft climbs.

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

Experience ultra runner is the Race Director, who does an amazing job. Great volunteers and outstanding finish-line food and beverages.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

There can be, but not usually.

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.

  • Vashon can be accessed only by Car-ferry 20 min crossing from Tacoma, Southworth or West Seattle. Line for the ferry can be long in the summer, and you should get to the dock at least thirty minutes early! Short and easy drive from the dock.
  • Camping is available at the start, and there are few lodging options on island.
  • Plenty of restaurants and breweries in-town for post-race relaxing.

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

Standard stuff, but don’t rely on gels from them as the 10 milers can drain their supplies.

Weather and typical race conditions

Can be warm ~80 the last ten miles or so, given it’s June in the PNW.

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

5 mile supply of fluids. No special shoes, no poles. Maybe a hat and sunglasses for the sunnier sections.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

  • Great to hang out at the start/10 mile/20 mile/finish.
  • Option to drive to the two road crossings at mile 3, 4, 13, 14, 23, 24. Can hike in ~1/4 mile to the 5/15/25 mile aid station as well.
  • Kid-friendly finish to have young ones run in the last 1/4 mile or whatever to the finish.

How’s the Swag?

Glass finisher’s medal. Great shirts for purchase.

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

Five stars, you know what you’re getting, great for both seasoned ultra runners testing out their speed, or someone trying for their first 50k

Training for your first ultra? Check out our 7 steps to get started towards you first ultra!

Vashon Island 50k Race Report – Keith Laverty

“Lessons for others: As with any ultra, saving enough energy for the 2nd half can be a game-changer. It can be easy to feel excited for the 1st loop but be aware that all of the little hills turn out to be pretty tough by the 3rd loop! Some sections of trails are pretty rooty and dry, and with the combination of the sun spots, I could see it being easy to snag a root here or there.”

Race: Vashon Island 50k

Runner: Keith Laverty

Race Date: 6/05/2021

Location: Vashon Island, WA

Results: 2nd, 3:51

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5419805111

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. The low-key, inviting, island community vibe and the spirited volunteers!
2. Honest competition up front!
3. The trail systems utilized!

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

Not too much to complain about – the design of the 3-loop course can make this race a little tougher mentally but at least always easy to know how far you’re into the race.

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

Nutrition and electrolyte intake seemed on point and no major energy or bonking issues.

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

As with any ultra, saving enough energy for the 2nd half can be a game-changer. It can be easy to feel excited for the 1st loop but be aware that all of the little hills turn out to be pretty tough by the 3rd loop!
Some sections of trails are pretty rooty and dry, and with the combination of the sun spots, I could see it being easy to snag a root here or there. There was one downed tree but not a huge deal to hop over that one.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

For this course in particular, I probably could’ve worn a more supportive/cushiony trail shoe rather than my more aggressive and minimal Brooks Mazama 2’s. There was enough road and hard-packed dirt that the balls of feet were much more sore than usual. My legs felt a little off and not as zippy, and came apparent when I tried to lay chase on the eventual winner on the final loop. We were together at the start of the last loop and I didn’t have enough in the tank to close it super hard but I was also attempting to train through this event in my build-up toward a 100-miler later this summer.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course has changed from the previous years and appears to be longer and closer to the intended 50k and 10-mile distances (about 31.75-32 miles and 10.5 miles for each race distance respectively).

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

I’d say so – fun to cruise through the forested trails. No big views of the mountains or the water but still a fun place to run.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

With only 2500′ of total gain, it doesn’t look too difficult on paper but I’d say it can be deceptively tougher course with the constant tighter twists and turns, and many short ups and downs – so getting into a fluid rhythm throughout is tough. With that said, there are a few longer road sections and wide trails to open up your running gait.

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

Very well-organized. Despite the numerous amount of turns, twists and the maze of trails around Island Center Forest and Fisher Pond Preserve, the course was extremely well-marked with extra flagging, chalk, tape and even some fun signage. The volunteers were rockstars!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Historically, this is not a particularly competitive field but this year’s podium runners on both the women’s and men’s side were very strong, experienced ultra runners.

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 the ferry schedules in advance! There are three different ferry options to board the island.

Usually spots available up until one week prior to the race (then closes for registration the week of). However, if traveling to Vashon Island from out of the region or wanting to spend the night prior, book your AirBNB/hotels at least one month in advance. There is also a free camping option available too.

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

All pretty standard fare including watermelon and Coke (which I enjoyed!). I believe this was the first ultra I’ve been to that also had a full offering of several different Spring Energy gels to choose from, which was a nice surprise to see.

Weather and typical race conditions

This race got deceptively quite warm as the morning unfolded and a couple of sections were exposed and felt warm. And probably not too typical but wind gusts were plentiful! I had debris get into my eyes as well as bugs sneaking into my throat. Sunglasses probably could’ve been a smart gear choice for this day.

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

Sunglasses probably could’ve been a smart gear choice for this particularly windy day. Otherwise, just plan for enough sodium/electrolyte intake as it can get on the warmer side. With the 3-loop course, this makes it very convenient to use a drop bag at the start/finish area between each loop.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Very much so, yes! Friends can hang out at the start/finish area to see their runner come through twice, plus the finish.

How’s the Swag?

Everyone received a custom, laser-cut, wooden medallions in the geographical shape of Vashon Island. Everyone can get a box of food afterward too.

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

4 out of 5 stars – Friendly, welcoming, old-school ultra vibe and always a pleasant visit to the island!

Keith Laverty is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Keith, check out his coaching page.

vashon island 50k race report

Vashon Island 50k Race Report – Sammy H

“Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular? I finished! This was the longest distance I have ever ran and it was mentally and physically tough but I pushed through it and ended up enjoying it”

vashon island 50k race reportRace: Vashon Island 50k

Runner: Sammy H

Race Date: 06/01/2019

Location: Vashon Island, WA

Results: 6:57:15

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The Volunteers
The aid stations
Well mapped course

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

Doing 3 loops

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

I finished! This was the longest distance I have ever ran and it was mentally and physically tough but I pushed through it and ended up enjoying it

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

Definitely put trails and elevation gain on your training plan

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Bring back up water

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very beautiful course

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Some parts of it were tough climbing up the hills and then running straight down them

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

They were very organized! It was their 10th year anniversary so they had everything pretty well figured out

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.

I would definitely book a hotel as soon as possible Vashon Island does have limited places you can rent but you can always stay off of the island and take the ferry but you need to plan it out in advance so you don’t miss the ferry!

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

They had a wide variety of food and treats at the aid stations and had restrooms at each one as well

Weather and typical race conditions

It was a foggy colder morning when it started but it did clear up and ended up being beautiful and warm

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

Make sure you have enough water and nutrition so whatever you use to carry those because there is only 2 aid stations but you see them 3 times

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

No

How’s the Swag?

The shirts were great and the medals were handmade

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

9 out of 10 I really recommend others to run this

vashon island 50k race report