Uphill Running LIVE at Deception Pass 50k
Rainshadow Running events will take on a new dimension this year as Rainshadow Running's head honcho James Varner teams up with Uphill Running for full online course coverage. Expect video interviews, runner commentary, photos and race day social media coverage.
The Deception Pass 50k December 15th will kick of this budding partnership. The 50k course starts on Whidbey Island inside Deception Pass State Park near the northwest corner of Cranberry Lake with a quick out and back along the lake's shore before joining the North Beach Trail toward Deception Pass Bridge. The course continues north over Canoe Pass to the second of six lollipops. At this point, the forested trails give way to coastal views at Lighthouse Point, before the trail wraps around Bowman Bay, which offers the first of five aid stations. After lollipop 4 at Rosario Head, the course retraces Bowman Bay and continues to lollipop 5 flanking Pass Lake before runners make their way back to Whidbey Island.
After crossing the bridge for the second and final time, the course turns east and follows the Goose Rock Perimeter Trail before winding up the rock's 440-foot summit. The quick climb is followed by a gradual decline toward Cornet Bay and an aid station just before mile 15. After two loops around Hoypus Point, the course takes runners back to North Beach via Cornet Bay Road and Discovery Trail. The North Beach trail awards runners with a flat and fast photo-finish at West Point. The course totals about 4,000 ft. of elevation gain
In its first year, the 50k drew 63 runners (43 men, 20 women). The following year 86 runners completed the course (56 men and 30 women). Now in its third year the race continues to grow and sold out in late summer. The 25k has also grown in popularity with 116 entrants the first year and 153 in 2012. In order to allow even more people in on the fun and reduce trail congestion, the race is split between two days. This year's 50k will have 250 trail runners (119 men, 131 women).
The event's inaugural men's 50k winners included Yassine Diboun of Portland, OR (4:16:40), Jonathan Neinz of Calgary, AB (4:22:00) and Jacek Doniec of Burnaby BC (4:41:25). Top women 50k finishers that year included Rhea George of Seattle, WA (4:46:23), Shawna Thompkins of Mount Vernon, WA (5:16:27) and Monica Ochs of Anacortes, WA (5:18:00).
Last year's 50k winners included Gary Robbins of North Vancouver, BC (3:57:25), Michael Wedemeyer of Portland, OR (4:15:44) and Adam Lint of Seattle (4:15:55) for the men. The top 2012 50k women included Megan Schorr of Anacortes, WA (5:08:10), Megan Bruce of Portland, OR (5:34:27) and Alex Gillett of Victoria, BC (5:39:26).
This year's top finishing favorites include a slew of runners from the north. Varner's top three picks for men include Canadians Matt Cecill and Jeff Hunter in addition to local Andrew Wyman, who lives just south the park in Oak Harbor.
Varner's picks for top female finishers all hail from Canada: Nicola Gildersleeve, Stacie Carrigan and Liza Polizzi.
Follow @UphillRunning on Twitter and 'Like' Uphill Running Live on Facebook to follow the action as it unfolds! Race day coverage will begin on December 15.
Note from Uphill Running's Mighty Mouse, Trey Bailey: It's a work in-progress. Be patient, send us comments and suggestions, and share things you like. You can even email us.
