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Let the (summer) games begin

Summer Events calendar filling up with running, biking, multisport events
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Wire TO Wire events Tough Mudder athletes brave electrical shocks as they battled through one of the courses' many challenges in 2012. Photo by Tough Mudder

You may think of summer as the time of year for putting your towel down, your feet up and relaxing in the sun, but Sea to Sky has other plans for you. With a new focus on events in Whistler, new events in Pemberton and Squamish generally living up to its billing as the Recreation Capital of Canada, there's always something going on and it typically involves running, biking, swimming or some other form of physical activity.

There are a lot of regular club events — weekly WORCA Toonie Rides and Monday night rides, regular Phat Wednesday Downhill races, etc. — and leagues for beach volleyball, slo-pitch, soccer and more, as well as activities like rugby if you're so inclined.

But what really sticks out are all the special events, such as one-time races and endurance challenges. Here's a partial list of what's ahead in summer 2013 — not including some events that are still in the rumour stage or that are missing key details like dates.

Running Events

May 25 — The annual Loop the Lakes Trail Race, presented by Challenge by Choice Performance Coaching, takes place out of Alice Lake Provincial Park with three categories: 8km run, 15km and Half Marathon on a mix of dirt and gravel, plus a short one-kilometre kids race. The cost is low, between $45 and $65 depending on your category, and there are cash prizes in some of the categories.

June 1 — North Face Whistler Half Marathon — The main 21.1km sold out this year, but there are still a few spots available in the new 10-kilometre event. As well, there's a one-kilometre Little Rippers Kids Run, and lots of opportunity to volunteer. For more, visit www.whistlerhalfmarathon.com.

June 8 — Walk This Way — Nordic walking is a fast-growing past-time where people use poles and hiking techniques to cover a lot of ground, getting a great, low-impact workout in the process. On June 8, a new event called Walk This Way is set for Whistler Olympic Park, with proceeds going to Osteoporosis Canada. Registration is $49 for the event, or you can pay $99 and get a set of poles and a training sessions with a Nordixx-certified instructor. For registration or more information, visit www.osteoporosis.ca.

June 15 — Whistler Valley Trail Run — Organizers have moved this event forward this year from the May long weekend, to June 15. The run takes place out of Spruce Grove Park, using gravel trails in Lost Lake Park. There are 5km and 10km routes available starting at 9 a.m., followed by the Teddy Bear Trot kids run at 10:15 a.m. Register before May 15 and the price is $20 or $40 for a family. After that prices go up to $25 and $45. Visit www.whistlervalleytrailrun.org.

June 23 — Comfortably Numb Trail Run — This run has been through a few management changes recently, and last year it was dropped by the Run the North Shore series and picked up by local Chris Colpitts, who also organizes the 5 Peaks runs and Meet Your Maker ultra run in Whistler. Now Colpitts is working with Run the North Shore, so the event is back with that group. This is a 25km point-to-point trail run on the Comfortably Numb trail, starting at the Wedgemount parking area and finishing at Spruce Grove park. The price is $60, going up to $70 on race day. For more, visit www.runthenorthshore.ca.

June 29 — Tenderfoot Boogie — This relay and ultra run starts in Squamish at the Adventure Centre and finishes in Whistler at Meadow Park, with other starts in between for individuals and groups going a short distance. There's a 50-mile (80km) category, a 50km category and 28km category available, mostly following the Sea to Sky Trail, as well as some other trails.

August 10 — Arc'Teryx Squamish 50 — This ultra has three options: a 50-mile course, a 50km course or a 23km course, plus a one-kilometre kids race for good measure. All of the categories have been sold out according to the website, but organizers are offering guaranteed registration in 2014 for volunteers at the 2013 event. To get involved, visit www.squamish50.com.

August 24 — 5 Peaks Trail Run — This event takes place in the alpine on Blackcomb Mountain with a 10.6km Enduro, 6.5km Sport, 3km Timed Kids Race and 1km Children's Challenge, with early bird rates of $45 for the Enduro and Sport categories and $15 for the Time Kids Race still available. For more, visit www.5peaks.com.

September 1 — Meet Your Maker 50 — This is arguably the most challenging 50-mile ultra and relay in the corridor. One of the legs is almost the entire Comfortably Numb Trail Run distance (25km), and one leg has runners going up Blackcomb and crossing the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to hand off to another runner who then runs around 10km downhill. Relay teams can include up to seven runners, and some 90 per cent of the course is on singletrack. Solo runners are $155 and relay members pay $120 each. For more information and registration visit www.meetyourmaker50.com.

September 15 — Terry Fox Run — This run, walk or roll event raises money for cancer research and assisting those going through cancer treatments. www.terryfox.org/Run

September 29 — Whistler Spirit Run presented by Rio Tinto Alcan — This race has become an annual tradition at Whistler Olympic Park, bringing a traditional cross-country running race to the corridor to benefit up and coming runners. There are categories for schools, universities, corporate challenge teams and individuals. For more, visit www.whistlerspiritrun.com.

September 29 — Rubble Creek Classic — This event weighs in at 24km, and the highlight is a run through the cinder flats behind Black Tusk before descending through the Taylor Meadows. Registration is capped, so early registration is recommended. Visit http://en.escaperoute.ca/events/RubbleCreek.aspx.

October 19 — Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra — This will be the third year since BC Athletics has hosted this event in the resort, which is comprised of a 50-mile (80km) course that consists of four laps of 20km course. Relay teams of four to eight can take on the course. For more, visit www.bcathletics.org/whistler50/.

Cycling Events

May 11 — Ore Crusher — The opening event in the Test of Metal Group of Races is the annual Ore Crusher, a 40km marathon in Brackendale where racers make three laps of a deceptively challenging course in the Cheekye Fan Trails. The trails are beginning/intermediate, but the course is packed with long false flats and singletrack with only a few short descents, so riders end up pedaling the entire time. For registration, visit www.testofmetal.com.

May 25 — NimbyFifty — Pemberton's mountain bike epic race is a 37km challenge that includes the 10.1km, 101 switchback Big Nimby Climb and a separated timed Red Bull Downtime descent race on Overnight Sensation. This race is capped at 420 riders, starting and finishing at North Arm Farm. For more, visit www.nimbyfifty.com.

May 26 — Crud 2 Mud — This classic two-stage race includes a giant slalom ski/snowboard course on Whistler Mountain, followed by a downhill rip through the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Participants can race it alone, or as part of a team of two. For more, visit www.whistlerbike.com.

June 15 — Test of Metal — The Test of Metal has already more than sold out, with 200 local spots, 800 open spots and another 100 spots reserved to riders that register for all four Test of Metal Group races in the series. This race weighs in at 67km and includes some of Squamish's most famous singletrack. There's still an opportunity to volunteer. Visit www.testofmetal.com.

June 29 to July 6 — BC Bike Race — This seven-stage mountain bike race that includes sections of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Squamish and Whistler is sold out this year, but there are still opportunities to volunteer. For more, visit www.bcbikerace.com.

July 20 — GearJammer — This Squamish classic emphasizes singletrack riding, with over 35km of singletrack over 45km. The start is at the entrance to Alice Lake Park, and it finishes in Rose Park opposite the Squamish Adventure Centre. For more, visit www.testofmetal.com.

August 9 to 18 — Crankworx Whistler — This 10-day freeride mountain bike festival is jammed with events, most of which offer open registration to the public. The Canadian Open Enduro is sold out, but will release some additional spots at 9 a.m. on June 1. Registration for the downhill races — Canadian Open DH, Garbanzo DH, Air Downhill, etc. — has not opened yet. For more, visit www.crankworx.com.

August 17 — Just Another Bike Race (JABR) — The newest, and last, of the Test of Metal Group of Races features a lot of trails not included in the other three events, with a lot of freeride options like Half Nelson. The total distance varies, but it will be between 40km and 50km when the course is set. For more, visit www.testofmetal.com.

August 17 — Canada Cup Finals — The Canada Cup tour is returning to Whistler after a long absence. Details still to be announced. The tour was originally scheduled for five stops, but there will only be four events this season, culminating with the finals in Whistler.

August 24 — Women-only WORCA race — The details are still to be announced, but this race will follow in the footsteps of Betty vs. Veronica in 2011 and Charlie's Angels in 2012. More information will be posted soon at www.worca.com.

September 7 — RBC GranFondo Whistler — There are still spots available for this annual event where riders start in downtown Vancouver and finish in Whistler after 122 kilometres of hard but scenic riding. Visit www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com.

September (TBA) West Side Wheel Up — Whistler's longest running singletrack race, the West Side Wheel Up includes most of the best west side trails in town, including Lower Sproatt, Beaver Pond, Danimal, Get Over It and all of A River Runs Through It.

Multisport and Other

May 12 — Squamish Youth Triathlon — This race, which sells out each year, has categories for kids seven and under and everything in between to 16 and up. For more, visit www.squamishyouthtri.ca.

May 25 — Whistler Kids Tri and Adult Super Sprint — The Whistler Triathlon Club is hosting these events, with beginner-level triathlon experiences for all ages. The Kids of Steel triathlon features three different course lengths for different age categories, while the adult distances are similar to other "Try-a-Tri) races with a 500-metre swim, 14km bike leg and 4km run. For more, visit www.whistlertriclub.ca.

June 22-23 — Tough Mudder Whistler — This infamous obstacle course returns to Whistler Olympic Park for two more days of insanity, with competitors covering about 16 kilometres of ground and taking on a few dozen challenges along the way. There will be mud, cold water, fire, electric shocks, monkey bars, cargo nets and everything else you need to have a good time. Registration is going fast and Saturday's event will sell out. Visit www.toughmudder.com.

July 4-7 — Whistler Longboard Festival — Four days of skateboard events, culminating with a downhill World Cup event at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Visit www.whistlerlongboard.com.

July 7 — Squamish Triathlon — The 16th annual Squamish Triathlon: A Memorial to Bob McIntosh includes an Olympic distance category (1,500-metre swim, 37km bike and 10km run) and a sprint event (750-metre swim, 18.5km bike and 5km run), with categories for solos and teams. For more, visit www.squamishtriathlon.org.

August 25 — Ironman Canada — Ironman Canada organizers made the decision to relocate their event to Whistler and Sea to Sky after 29 years in Penticton, and will host their event here from 2013 to 2015, and possibly longer if all goes well. The main race is sold out although some charity spots are still available — and the race needs around 3,000 volunteers to be a success. For more, visit www.ironman.ca.