‘Gorgeous’ alpine course greets 5 Peaks racers

Article post: Whistler Question
About 450 athletes enjoy Whistler Mountain trail races

August 25,2010

Megan Grittani-Livingston

Newly free from the casts on his two broken arms, North Vancouver’s Ryan Ervin was all smiles atop Whistler Mountain as he crossed the finish line for the 5 Peaks trail running series race held on a surprisingly sunny Saturday (Aug. 21).

“I was a little nervous about this race – I usually do the Enduro (distance), but I had to do the Sport today because I broke both my arms mountain biking in the middle of June, so I just got my casts off. The scree slope running down was a little sketchy, but it was wicked, it was fun,” Ervin said after steaming to victory in the 4.9-kilometre Sport race.

The 5 Peaks series, which encourages runners to “get off the road” and onto trails in a fun, recreational race environment, typically offers Sport and Enduro distances to tempt a range of participants, plus a one-kilometre Children’s Challenge to deliver fun for whole families. In Whistler, the Sport course was 4.9 km and the Enduro racers ran 10.6 km.

The B.C. Coastal branch of the national 5 Peaks series made its annual stop in the alpine setting atop Whistler Mountain on a Saturday that was expected to involve thunder and lightning, but instead delivered blue skies and sunshine to offset the boundless alpine views.

Ervin was the first runner to cross the finish line, in its scenic setting next to the top of the Big Red Express, with a course-record time of 27 minutes, 17 seconds. His broken arms, sustained in a ride on Mount Seymour during his first time out on a new bike, became a worry of the past as he returned to the 5 Peaks series for the first time this season, and enjoyed the Whistler course for his fourth or fifth time.

“I love it… Look at the views – it can’t get any better than this, it’s so gorgeous,” Ervin said.

As it was for many of the approximately 450 athletes who ran around the loop course set at the top of Whistler Mountain, the race was a family affair for Ervin. His wife completed the Enduro distance, and his son ran in the Children’s Challenge.

“People tend to make it part of their summer vacation as well,” said Keri Cawthorne, the 5 Peaks B.C. race director. She said the series organizers continue to be pleased with the beauty and quality of the Whistler venue, and the rave reviews they get from the runners.

“For most, this one is the favourite… It just kind of adds a whole new element, coming up and doing a race in the altitude,” Cawthorne said.

The other events in the B.C. Coastal series run at Golden Ears, Simon Fraser University, Mount Seymour and Buntzen Lake. The alpine environment at 6,000 feet on Whistler Mountain, including the high-altitude atmosphere and the frequently steep terrain rife with rocks, posed challenges for some. read entire article