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Virtual race day
On what would have been race weekend, Ben Groenhout photographed runners on the course and at Doug's 3.5 aid station.
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What people are saying
It has been a great training block leading up to the #chuckanut50k Grateful for the ability to be out there. Pics are from the past few weeks. Some even professional laurawaldronphotography
January trail run to remember. Happy surprise to be able to see Baker. Super sweet to see Rainer and the Olympic range. Damaged bridge up by Fragrance lake happened sometime after I passed over it last Saturday in the dark.
2025 Recap ✨ March ✨ An absolutely incredible experience (insane weather notwithstanding) was completing the Chuckanut 50km trail race in Washington chuckanut50 After working so hard and training for months, it was an amazing accomplishment, and so incredible to be surrounded by such a supportive crew peakpursuityvr 🏔️ 🙌 Plus, seeing more live music, going to the Juno’s, and more fantastic eats & drinks 😊
snatching_panda and I are about to have some fun again in Washington.
My 3rd Chuckanut 50k finish. Humbled, chilled (literally 🥶), yet filled with gratitude. You’d think that in my 3rd attempt with all that course familiarity and in my 11th year of ultra experience, that I’d have things mostly figured out but that’s not how ultras work. Last weekend proved to be a more complex problem to solve and needle to thread on the race strategy and execution, and I completely underestimated the conditions of constant rain, temps in the 30’s, and wind gusts at the high points. Wet arm sleeves followed winds got me chilled, and ultimately found myself unable to respond like I thought I would between halfway along Ridge Trail until finally returning back to the Interurban Trail. The rain had stopped for the final, flatter 10k and I felt better again to get it done, despite a rough day on the trails. I usually race “warm” but lesson learned on wearing a proper rain jacket next time in similar conditions, and probably even mittens > gloves! My lowest ever finish in any trail race of my career but finishing on such a brutal day felt like a win to me. But what stuck out to me the most and why I’ve returned to Chuckanut 50k again, is all of the love, support, cheers and kind interactions I had before, during and after the race. And while I didn’t grow up in Bellingham, I was born here which makes it feel meaningful to where it all started. Thank you krissymoehl and company for hosting a well-cared, incredible event once again, and to the volunteers for spending hours in the cold! And more thanks to hand out for my race day including mntntrailbird for supporting me on this trip while juggling the two kiddos, t.jibs last-minute bottle hand-off, gusgibbs for just your good vibes all-around and cheers from ryanthrower, leasha24, kristina.randrup, matthewbigmanruns, mariadalzot, longsmileyface and so many more! 📸: tiarebowmanphoto
Five years in a row racing and/or volunteering at chuckanut50 ! What a wet, wild muddy day! I dont know if I've ever seen the entire middle 18 that muddy. I've seen sections like that but never all of it! The day quickly turned from having time goals to playing in my muddy backyard and finishing healthy. I was lucky to be picked up mentally three different times by three different groups. Keeping a positive outlook and lifting each other up can really power us forward! ❤️ to the Books guys, the ridge brothers and the backhalf 3 badass women who really made today fun! Thank you to all the amazing volunteers, without your support we wouldn't be able to have these amazing races! Extra BIG thank you to my amazing partner jen.szo for standing out in the wet cold day cheering me on and always being my biggest supporter.🥰 Feeling good, next up Canyons 100k. 📷tiarebowmanphoto pacificmultisports bellinghamexperience runfreetrail
First ultramarathon complete! #chuckanut50k It was a privilege to be able to participate in such an incredible event so close to home. From the passionate race director team and our local community, to the incredible sponsors and elite trail runners that flocked to Bellingham: everything came together to create an experience that all of us running will never forget. A special thank you to all of those who volunteered and kept us safe out there! I am grateful for the support from family and friends that have encouraged me day in and day out to try and explore what it means to reach deep and find my full potential. A special moment of gratitude also to the coaches and friends that taught me so much. To find healing and growth in the lessons that every mile has taught me. I look forward to seeing what comes next! chuckanut50 fairhavenrunners primebellingham teamwilpers onepeloton mattwilpers #womentrailrunning #pnwtrailrunning #trailultrarunning #altrarunning #patagonia #skratchlabs *A special thank you to tiarebowmanphoto for capturing the last photo!
Wet and Wild day out at Chuckanut 50k! I finished in 06:00:48, a PR for me!! I haven’t raced an ultra in over a year so this was a treat! Congrats to all the other runners out there today!!🎉Happy to finish another race right at the end of my Physical Therapy program! Time to rest and reset, get ready for graduation and then train for the Swiss Alps 100! 😱
#chuckanut50k challenging conditions for the chuckanut 50 K. Be ready with warm fluids and blankets at the finish line for your finisher.
What an awesome experience! Running my first 50k seemed to be less about running than the amazing people, community, and beautiful scenery that surrounded the event. Seeing friends on the trail, hearing everyone’s encouraging words along the way, and enjoying some of the country’s prettiest woods made the experience glorious. I have so much gratitude to this body that can run far and everyone that makes this space so welcoming. Photo credit to tiarebowmanphoto for the first two photos and ben_groenhout for the third and fourth photo.
First Ultra 🏃🏽♀️Race, 50km/31 mile, done and dusted. Chuckanut 50k is a race I've wanted to do for years because the area is just so beautiful. Finally, at the end of last year I decided it was time. I signed up for it's 30th running and started training late December to run WA State's most well known 50k race. Over 600 athletes took over the trails Saturday on a sunny, perfectly clear day to run for hours. During training everyone asked if or what my goal was, it was always just to finish since this would be my longest run and my longest trail run ever. Well into my training though I figured I'd be somewhere between 5-6 hours and I'm happy my estimates were right :) I enjoyed most of the race, I felt well trained, I was happy that most types of terrain and elevation gain were familiar to me (except chinscraper - a double black mtb trail we walked up for a mile...ha ridiculous!). #runner #chuckanut50k #trailrunning #trailrunner chuckanut50
Chuckanut photo dump 🥜☀️🏔️🍕 Sunshine runner 📸: j_saffs
So proud of my two runners today: Ben ran 3 miles and Oliver ran 2.5 miles during the Chuckanut Kids’ Race 🏅They had 30 minutes to run as many half-mile loops as they could and both boys pushed hard.
Final couple weeks of training for the #chuckanut50k Thanks BDP for hosting again. Wisconsin weather.
#chuckanut50k #bodyworkfortheactive #primebellingham #TeamBellingham #PacificMultisports #BellinghamExperience #gbrc1976 #bellingham_triathlon_club_ BellinghamExperience PacificMultisports chuckanut50K
Scary part of ridge trail. #chuckanut50k #teambellingham #bodyworkfortheactive bellinghamexperience
https://pacificmultisports.com/athlete_ambassadors-2024/#chuckanut50k #bodyworkfortheactive #primebellingham #TeamBellingham #PacificMultisports #BellinghamExperience #gbrc1976 #bellingham_triathlon_club_ BellinghamExperience PacificMultisports chuckanut50K
Part of The Chuckanut 50k crew I’ve been training with.
#chuckanut50k is approaching. Great morning for some elevation.
#chuckanut50k training. The sun broke out after starting in the dark. Great morning in the
Building mileage for the #chuckanut50k and debriefing from a hectic and crazy year. So grateful for a return to health and ability to see these sights.
I'm in, #chuckanut50k chuckanut50 #bodyworkfortheactive #TeamBellingham #PacificMultisports #BellinghamExperience BellinghamExperience PacificMultisports #primebellingham #Bellingham_Triathlon_Club #gbrc1976 @ and # aren't my thing
Throwback to last Saturday's most amazing Chuckanut 50K day, EVERRRR! 🥳 It was my 3rd time running this fantastic race (and also my first 50K ever, back in 2015) and the first time I didn't get any raindrops on my head and also got this spectacular ridgeline view of Koma Kulshan (aka. Mt. Baker). *SWOON* 😍🏔️🙌 A YUGE thank you to krissymoehl and all of the absolutely AMAZEBALLS volunteers for making this such a special race (even and especially when the weather isn't as cooperative 😉).
It’s been one week since I was climbing up Fragrance Lake Trail an hour into Chuckanut 50k. With the little perspective that a week affords, I’m really proud of this run and how much stronger I felt during so many of the hard portions. It’s a really special/classic race for a reason and it felt good to be able to tap into that energy and community. Grateful that I could do it, grateful for the encouragement from other runners, grateful for the familiar smiles at all the aid stations, grateful for such a beautiful location on a perfect day. 📸: tiarebowmanphoto
Other than wrecking my knee, my first 50k was an amazing experience! Time for the next! #chuckanut50k 📸 tiarebowmanphoto
Beauty weekend in Bellingham, WA at the #chuckanut50k ultra. Epic way to start off the season! Scenic route with technical ridge running, speedy flats and 1500m of climbing to make for a challenging fast paced course! What a glorious bluebird day with ocean views, and hundreds of happy, strong souls sharing the trails! Very inspiring to be a part of such a high energy race. Very impressed with all you incredible runners out there pushing the limits! Dusting off the winter cobwebs and battling a bit of a cold, glad I still made it down! It was a bit of a push, energy levels zapped and very congested but sunshine and positive mental energy are the best medicine. Finished with a time of 5hrs 30min, 38th female. Super stoked for all the trails ahead. Just getting started 🙂
One of the best days ever. Still in awe that I shaved 11 minutes off my 50k time 🥹 But! Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. So much growth happened between my first 50k at Grand Ridge in 2021 and running Chuckanut 50k last Saturday. I learned to trust my body and my feet to lead, to grind out the climbs, and to find joy in hammering the downhills and embracing the feeling of flying on the trail. My time at Grand Ridge: 8:16:30 My time at Chuckanut: 6:42:02 📸: tiarebowmanphoto . . . . . .
My First 50k!! (part two) Another post to drop a few more pics & vids from the chuckanut50 I ran on Saturday March 18th, 2023!! It was an awesome time and I couldn’t have done it without the support from my awesome peeps!! And also a big shout to all the volunteers that made this race even possible!! thanks for everything! - - - - - bocogear tailwindnutrition brooksrunning runsmartofficial injinji rockay_running chidorimassage upwardptseattle thrpstpreferred
My First 50k!! (part one) -Well, I fucking did. it! I ran my first ever 50k Trail race… and I am now ‘officially’ an Ultra Runner! I can say, that I was unsure of how it would go and if I could make it happen, but I did it! I pushed through the physical and the mental challenge and finished the chuckanut50 - 6:51:12 (official) with well over 5000ft of elevation! Overall I felt pretty good throughout… But it was brutal at times!! The course is challenging… starting (& finishing)with a flat 10k… The middle 18 has three significant climbs… the extremely technical Chuckanut Ridge, and after the infamous mile Chin Scraper climb, at mile 21, a long, 4 mile, very tough on the legs, downhill, which I think was the toughest part for me. The climbing while sustained and tough, felt really good to me overall! Then the 6 mile flat finish that was such a mental game, as the exhaustion from. the day really starts to hit in that part. I got a cramp at mile 26, that thankfully I chased away with some pickle juice that saved me! I finished strong, coming in hot and giving all I had left that last mile to the finish!!💪🤘 I am definitely sore but overall not as bad as I expected! I already am thinking of how I can knock off more time next year… Yes! I’m doing it again next year!! 💪🤘 It was an amazing experience, and actually quite an accomplishment! My tailwindnutrition kept me strong and hydrated throughout and it was a true test to how great it is!! - - - - bocogear tailwindnutrition brooksrunning runsmartofficial injinji rockay_running chidorimassage upwardptseattle thrpstpreferred
We had a perfect day for the #chuckanut50k Despite some slacking off in my training, I took nearly 25 minutes off my time from last year! Thankful for the friends who convinced me to sign up, my loving husband who supported me in getting out on the trails, and all the crew and volunteers that make this race so fun for all of us. While I was slogging up Cleator Road, the boys toed the starting line of their first race...and had their first DNF 😆
A fellow runner just sent us this!! About a year ago my hubby ran a 50k (31.1 miles) & this was right as he finished 🥹😭. I’m so proud of the man that he is.
What a gorgeous course for the chuckanut50 Well run, great course markings, fantastic volunteers!
Chuckanut and Bellingham you did not disappoint! Thank you for the adventure and the memories I will cherish the rest of my life. Already looking forward to coming back.
Been there. Done that. And got the shirt. A big thank you to all the people involved to make it a fantastic event.
Soaked. Sore. Tired. Cold. And apparently foaming like a whipped horse. Absolutely did not want to grind another 10 miles today after yesterday’s 22. Last week I took a rest day instead of going back-to-back. But that was after a true pounding like I hadn’t taken in months. Today I was tired but I knew in the back of my mind that a run was doable. 43 degrees and pouring at the Rattlesnake parking lot, and it only got colder and slushier as I went up the Iron Horse. The slight uphill grind on the way out meant a fast return. When I finished I was not only freezing from being soaked completely through my rain jacket, but my thighs were actually foaming through my tights — something I’ve never seen before. Anyway. First 50-mile week in 18 months. Put in the work. Trust the training.
A bit icy up on the chuckanut50 course today. Did the middle 18 with 2 miles on the Interurban to start and finish. Some long stretches of snow on the ground but nothing that required pulling out traction (which was good since I stupidly left mine in the car). This one stretch had some spectacular icicles. Weird run — felt better rested than last week but the legs weren’t giving me any juice and I felt slow and plodding all day. But my overall pace was even better (probably due in part to the 2 additional flat miles) but even up to that point it wasn’t far off. Anyway, this is my peak training week, with the race now just three weeks away. Excited to toe the line and put it all together. 22 miles, 4,800 feet of climbing.
Today was a mental challenge as much as it was a physical one. It was classic PNW February in the mountains, meaning mid-40s and raining. Oh, and wind and a few gusts of sleet as well. Oh, and mud pits that would make Truckzilla break down and weep. Today’s training goal was to do the core mountain section of the chuckanut50. I’ve run most of this course at different times but never linked it all up in one go before, and holy moly. I’d forgotten how technical the Ridge Trail is, and the rain turned most of it into a slip and slide. Amazingly, I didn’t fall once but had a couple close calls. And then there’s the final climb, which will come at about mile 20 in the actual race, when you have to gasp up a double black diamond mountain-bike course that gains 800 feet in about 3/4 of a mile. The sufferfest of the climbing gave way to a surprisingly spirited finish on the return down followed by an extra kick on the Interurban. Also trialed a new fueling strategy in which I popped a Gu, some Shot Bloks, or a Clif Bar every 30 minutes instead of 45. Also had Skratch in my pack bladder instead of plain water, in addition to the usual double Gatorade flasks up front. Consumed over 1,200 calories and 2.5L of fluid, about 50% more than usual, and no gastric issues. Gotta trust the training and we’re in the crux of it now. Four weeks to race day. 20 miles, 4,700 feet of gain.
Jumped into the vert training phase with a double ascent of Poo Poo Point. Good news was plenty of parking and very little trail traffic on a Tuesday night. Bad news was finding out just how much my climbing legs have atrophied. But all good, gotta trust the process! 7.7 miles, 3,300 feet of vert.
This guy crushed it today! So incredibly proud of ethannewberry, 50k in the bag, a well deserved finish! The past year has been riddled with anxiety, doubt, fear and injuries, today he put that all aside and conquered this shit! So much love and admiration for him for getting out there today, have I mentioned that I’m so PROUD of him?!? Smiles, miles, snarfs!
Had a great battle today at #chuckanut50k . Couldn't have asked for better competition between hawks_hayden11 sagecanaday davidlaney12 and Travis Morrison. Took everything I had and a balls to the wall effort over the last 10k to keep the lead. I do love that course. A little bit of everything and a whole lotta mud today. Thanks krissymoehl for a great race! 📷 nanoontrails by repostapp salomonrunning swiftwicksocks guenergylabs florahealthy
