There’s still over five months of training days left before the
fourth annual Comfortably Numb Trail Running Race, and you’re probably going to
need every one of them.
The course follows the Comfortably Numb bike trail from Wedgemont
parking lot to Spruce Grove Field House, a distance of 25 km from start to
finish. Almost all of the race takes place on technical singletrack, except for
about a kilometre of logging road at the start and about two kilometres through
Lost Lake Park at the finish. There’s also about 1,200 metres of vertical gain
over the first three quarters of the race, most of which is lost over about
five kilometres of steep downhill.
There is one water station just past the halfway point, but
otherwise runners have to be self-sufficient from start to finish and bring
food and water.
This year’s race takes place Sunday, June 24. The organizers
have increased the entry cap to 200 runners after selling out all 150 spots
last year.
The cost is $54 to take part, including a technical shirt, with
all proceeds from the event going towards maintaining the trail.
You can register online at
www.eventsonline.ca/events/comfortably_numb/
.
There is also information on the website,
www.comfortablynumb.ca
, which is in
the process of being updated.
Kokanee Valley Race Series returns Jan. 11
After squeezing in a giant slalom in mid-December the Kokanee
Valley Race Series returns in earnest Thursday, Jan. 11 with a giant slalom on
Whistler Mountain.
The cost is $20 in advance at Whistler-Blackcomb Guest
Relations, or $25 on race day; register in the trailer at the top of the
Garbanzo Chair until 9:45 a.m. All participants are eligible to win a draw
prize for a pair of Atomic skis, as well as prizes donated by other event
sponsors.
Future events are on Jan. 18 and 25, Feb. 25 and 22, March 1
and 15.
Skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers are welcome, starting age
19 and over. There will be a post race awards presentation and video playback
of the race starting at 3:30 p.m. at a venue to be named on the day of the
event.
Nordic Twoonies resume tonight
After hosting about 40 loppers in a pre-Christmas Twoonie Race,
the Whistler Nordics recreational race season resumes tonight, Thursday, Jan.
3, with an event sponsored by Alpine Café and Catering Co and Whistler Sports
Stop.
Tonight’s event gets underway at the ticket booth and makes two
laps of Lost Lake to the Warming Hut, for a total distance of 4.8 km. Both
skate skiers and classic skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Children
will be able to race a shorter course if they choose.
The cost is $2 to enter with a Whistler Nordics membership.
Memberships are available for $25, which includes a race membership in Cross
Country B.C.
Sign-on starts at 5:30 p.m. and the race gets underway at 6:15
p.m. People who still need to pick up their Whistler Nordics memberships should
come a little early in case there is a lineup.
After the race food and refreshments will be provided at the Lost Lake Warming Hut.