What is usually the most scenic section of the Rubble Creek Classic trail was this year's most extreme, with runners facing snow, sleet, hail and howling winds as they crossed the cinder flats connecting the Helm Creek Trail to the Rubble Creek descent on the backside of Black Tusk.
Race director James Retty, who has been organizing the event for the last 11 of its 26 years, said the conditions were the worst he's seen.
"People have run on snow and we've had rain, but this was a real Whistler alpine day where they got a bit of everything," he said.
The men's race was a two-way battle from almost start to finish, with ultra runner Adam Campbell placing first in a time of 1:59:45. He spent most of the race arm's length from Edward McCarthy, pulling away on the final descent. McCarthy finished in 2:00:02, with Seamus Frew placing third in 2:09:24.
"Ed was there pretty much every step of the way, so it was a blast," said Campbell. "We were definitely pushing each other, but I think I was a little faster on the eight kilometre downhill session and I managed to get away near the bottom."
Campbell was glad he dressed for the cold, but said there was no way to avoid getting wet - especially with a mandatory creek crossing where the water was running higher than the stepping stones placed there by hikers.
"My feet were frozen and wet anyway, so I just ran through it," he said. "My feet were ice blocks afterwards. I froze my ass off going over the top, but just put my head down pushed through it. I'd never been up there and wasn't sure exactly where to go, I just hoped I was going the right way."
Campbell had never done the race before and wants to come back and run it again on a day when you can actually see the peaks.
"It's really different, there's not too many races around at altitude like this," he said. "You can feel the blood in your veins and every little climb your heart rate spikes. It's one of the best races around."
McCarthy said he would definitely be back to train in the area, and was already planning an ultra loop next year that would run from the Garibaldi parking lot to Cheakamus Lake parking lot, and around the Rubble Creek Classic route back to his car.
He also wants to practice the descent. "It was crazy. You'd be going flat out, then would have to get yourself back under control, come to a complete stop at the switchback and then accelerate again. You had to do this over and over," he said.
The top female racer this year was Squamish ultra runner Jen Segger, who placed eighth overall. It was her first event since running the Ultraman Canada, finishing first among women, and she said she felt slow at the start.
"I'm obviously always training, but without any particular focus I lost a bit of leg power," she said. "The two other women went hard off the line with the big climb and Helm Creek, and climbed really well until they were gone. I just thought, 'okay, no stress,' and kind of ran at my own pace until I got to the cinder flats where I really started cranking and having fun. As soon as I started the descent I caught the two women in front and started to put the hammer down.
"At the start I wasn't concerned how I would do, I was just out for a good time and winning was kind of a bonus. I wasn't really expecting it."
Segger finished in 2:30:43, while Stephanie Hamilton was second in 2:36:53 and Margret Scallion third in 2:36:53.
Segger said she is busy with her gym, Challenge By Choice, but will work on her speed again in the next few months while picking out her races for next season. This past season she raced the six-day TCC Costa Rica (250km, placing second), the Coyote 2 Moons 100 Mile Ultra (ran 82 miles then called because of rain) and placed first in the Ultimate XC, the Scorched Sole 50km, the Sinister 7 150km, Ultraman Canada and Kaslo Sufferfest. She hasn't picked any races for next year, but said she will sit down at some point and make up a schedule.
"Right now I'm just looking forward to winter and doing some backcountry skiing, and then I'll get serious about what I want to do for next year," she said.
Men Under 30
1. Edward McCarthy - 2:00:02
2. Chris Kennedy - 2:26:56
3. Mark Schmidt - 2:30:55
Women Under 30
1. Margret Scallion - 2:36:53
2. Erin Donnelly - 3:01:59
3. Charlene Lucjan - 3:05:15
Men 30 to 49
1. Adam Campbell - 1:59:45
2. Seamus Frew - 2:09:24
3. Thomas McCarthy - 2:11:32
Women 30 to 49
1. Jen Segger - 2:30:43
2. Stephanie Hamilton - 2:36:53
3. Poalo Chadwick - 2:39:04
Men Over 50
1. Terry Bushnell - 2:38:22
2. John Neels - 2:51:44
3. Daniel Havens - 3:08:39
Women Over 50
1. Gail Forshaw - 5:17
1. Lori Wong - 5:17
1. Kathy Hachey - 5:17
