Elk Valley Ultra 2022 race report

Stuffing a peanut butter sandwich in my mouth at the side of the trail, I watched absently as runner after runner passed me.

It was a couple hours into the 2022 edition of the Elk Valley 50K.

As I tried to keep up with the runners along the conga line of the Mount Fernie climb, I started to feel faint hunger pangs. Alarm bells went off immediately. Feeling hungry so early in the race was not good in the fuelling side of things.

While I sipped nutrition with every pause along the climb, I didn’t want to stop to consume any solid food.

I waited until there was a bit of reprieve between climbs after the big summit to shove some food down and get my head right.

The 6 a.m. start really threw me for a loop. I was really scrambling to wake up, eat and drink water. Clearly I didn’t eat enough to sustain the running and climbing.

Oh the lessons we learn.

I continued to eat and drink until I felt better. I smiled at all the runners who breezed by me. At the end of the day, you get to choose the kind of runner you want to be. I chose not to let my poor planning ruin my race. I chose to adapt and recover.

Leg 1 – 20.5 kilometres with 1,400+ metre gain

The first leg is the longest leg with the most vert. I had estimated I would finish this leg in about 4 hours but I was off by about 30 minutes. The climb up Mount Fernie was hot, sweaty and muggy. The conditions and poor fuelling zapped most of my energy. After stopping to eat a couple times, I gradually started to feel more energetic as I navigated the single track, rocky sections and the rugged trails. I really did not like some of the rocky sections. I kept getting flashbacks of Sinister.

When I reached the aid station, I was happily surprised to see a few running friends volunteering. They were chatting away but I looked at them with what I think must have been a vacant stare. I was so happy to be finished with leg 1.

Leg 2 – 16.5 kilometres with 610+ metre gain

This leg was the “easiest” most runnable leg with the least elevation. I packed my poles away in my quiver because I wouldn’t use them for only 600 metres of gain. I estimated I would be about three hours for this leg and I was nearly bang on. After leaving the chaos of the aid station, I ran half a kilometre before stopping to drink more nutrition and eat the food I snagged from the aid station. I kept an easy pace as I trotted down the trail and over roots and logs.

It felt good to actually run through the shaded forest. My legs welcomed the reprieve from the rugged terrain. I welcomed an unexpected and refreshing river crossing where I walked quickly across. A few runners were taking off their shoes and wading through the river barefoot. I honestly did not want to waste my time. I could deal with wet feet for a few minutes. It was so hot that I knew they would dry eventually.

At one point I was happy to catch up with one of my new CTR running pals who offered some Advil, which I happily accepted. My right glute had been giving me trouble for about a week. I knew it would only be a matter of time before it would start crying.

The Advil was a blessing, quieting down my glute’s whimpers within about 15 minutes. With a full belly and a happy glute I glided into the final aid station.

Leg 3 – 14 kilometres with 800+ metre gain

Mother Nature had turned up the heat by the final aid station. Some kind souls set up some sprinklers in the last 200 metres or so of the check in point. Amazing. I spent a few extra minutes at the aid station getting ice shoved down shirt by a very excited volunteer named Susan. She also ensured I had as much water as possible before she sent me on my way.

I estimated that this final leg would take me about 3 hours and I was happy to finish under 3 hours. For the first bit, I chatted with a runner from Calgary about the heat, running and how I am not related to Rhino in Lethbridge who sandblasts the finishers’ rocks. Calgary has a large running community but it very small in many ways.

I remember thinking, this isn’t so bad, when we climbed up a road. I didn’t see anyone in front of me until I turned onto a proper trail again. Ahead I could see several of the runners who I had crossed paths with on my way to the aid station. I admit I had a tiny bit of satisfaction when I ran by three guys who had immediately recognized me from earlier.

At the base of the ski hill, someone was handing out ice and water to the runners. I glanced up at the line of people slowly climbing up the ski hill and saying out loud, we’re going up there? Nobody within earshot answered. I didn’t want to think about how much this was going to suck so I just put my head down and grinded my way, following the shade as much as possible, to the top.

I was another sloppy, sweaty mess before I eventually I made it to the snow field. I cooled off my neck with a few handfuls of snow. I spotted my CTR/Sin 7 pal Kelsey straight away from a distance. It was great to see a familiar face. There was a photographer at one section who promised us the climbing was over and it was “all downhill from here.”

It wasn’t exactly “all downhill from here” but there was some sweet downhill running including a nice switchbacky road section. I could see some tents from the top of the road. My mind must have been playing tricks on me because I thought it was the finish line. I happily sped up. Of course the end was not in sight but I did receive a few cheers from a family who were out for walk.

Thankfully I still had something left in my tank. Sometimes I think I don’t push hard enough because I always seem to feel good at the finish line. Aren’t we supposed to be dragging ourselves across the finish line?

I enjoyed the last few kilometres through the forest to the finish. I passed one woman on the downhill while I got passed within a few 100 metres of the finish line by two young women. I happy to see Heather and a few others from CTR had already finished.

While many runners didn’t like this final leg, I think it was my favourite. Maybe it was because I wasn’t as miserable as I was on leg 1. Also I love tough climbs with beautiful outstanding views.

Final thoughts

Generally I feel good about this race. I finished in 10:19. I estimated that I would finish under 10 hours. I am okay with where I landed. The time really doesn’t matter: I finished and it’s another training run in the books. I ran this race a couple of years ago. I can’t say the new course was harder or easier than the old one. The elevation and distance was relatively the same, and I had a faster time this year then before. But I must point out I now live in Calgary so I have more access to the mountains and I am fitter than I was when I did the race in 2019.

This race really underpinned the importance of eating enough the day before a race, the morning of and early in the race. Thankfully I was able to pinpoint my missteps early enough to recover. This was another opportunity to learn from my mistakes and bounce back for the next race or training run.

I love Fernie and I loved this race. So much fun to see so many CTR pals and to meet so many others on the course. The running community is so awesome and welcoming. I can’t wait to go back next year.