The 5 Peaks Trail Running Series

This is a guest post from Karl Woll from OutdoorVancouver. He posts an incredible amount of juicy, outdoor goodness at OutdoorVancouver and just recently ran the Vancouver Marathon.

If you’re not aware of the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series and are looking to get your trail running shoes a little (ok, a lot) dirty it’s something you need to check out. This year there is a different series of races held in 5 provinces. This year’s circuit for BC’s coastal region boasts five great runs:

1. Golden Ears, April 24
2. Simon Fraser University, June 12
3. Mount Seymour, July 24
4. Whistler Blackcomb, August 21
5. Buntzen Lake, September 25

Each race has 3 or 4 course lengths. The Children’s Challenge; a 1km trail. The Sport; a 4 – 8 km trail. The Enduro; a 10 – 17km trail. Ant this year, the Buntzen Lake event will really push people who want to try their hand at the half-marathon distance.A bit more info about 5 peaks:

5 Peaks is the premier trail running company in Canada. Our goal is to provide an exciting atmosphere, a challenging course, a competitive field, and an amazing off road experience, all while practicing & promoting sound environmental ethics. British Columbia Trail Running Series

The British Columbia Coast Mountains offer tremendous terrain and incredible scenery. The 5 Peaks courses cover single-track, hiking and cross country trails, with elevation gain varying according to the course design. The trails are always challenging and you get to experience some of BC’s finest, most beautiful backcountry.Each race venue is located within one and a half hour drive or less, from Vancouver. So here’s your chance to get out of the city and into the backcountry for an exhilarating Saturday morning experience. What better way to start your weekend?! You’ll be physically challenged while experiencing some of the most spectacular terrain BC has to offer.

If you register for all 5 of the races, you get one race free. Also, the website has a lot good information on training, clinics, course descriptions, and so on.