Race: Whistler Alpine Meadows 25K
Runner: Rohit E
Race Date: 09/21/2019
Location: Whistler
Results: https://racedaytiming.ca/results/search.html?name=RohitEipe&fullName=true
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2728996747
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Small field, so trail wasn’t crowded.
The 1 aid station they had was well stocked. I went back for seconds of the bacon.
The trail was rugged and beautiful, if you’re looking for a challenge.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
There was just 1 aid station and it was 19k into the race, which sucked.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Coming off a slow year, I was just happy to finish.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Carry a hydration pack with water.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It was pretty nice, particularly the last 6k, which had views of a lake, but not the greatest.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Pretty rugged. Elevation is moderate (~2600 ft in a 25k), but it was hard going.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It was fairly well run, course length was accurate. But having just 1 aid station was disappointing.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Pretty strong.
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.
Does sell out pretty early as it had a very small field.
Hotels are expensive, but Airbnb can work well if you have a big group (even that is a bit expensive though). Book early.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Well stocked, but just 1, at 19k out of 25.
Weather and typical race conditions
Weather was fairly good for the 25k. Can be pretty rainy at this time of the year in Whistler, so 25k runners were pretty lucky. The 55k runners got rained on the very next day. It felt warmer than the thermostat indicated – maybe due to humidity?
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Trail shoes for sure, and a hydration backpack with 2L of water and lots of fuel.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Not very – hard for spectators to access the course other than at start / finish.
How’s the Swag?
There was a nice medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
I’d give this 3 stars out of 5. It was really well run and a good challenge, but a bit of work to get to from Seattle, Whistler is expensive, and there are plenty of other options in WA state.