The 2011 Gnarly Awards
Recognizing the Northwest’s Best Trail Runs
By Yitka Winn
The first trail run I ever witnessed was a 50K – the “Psycho Psummer” – outside of Kansas City in the middle of July, with stifling humidity and temperatures pushing 100 degrees. At the 25K aid station where I volunteered, my job was to not only get water and food into the runners, but to chat with them enough to gauge lucidity levels, and remove from the race anyone mumbling incoherently, unable to answer simple questions, or in some cases, full-on hallucinating. At some point, we had to track down a runner who’d veered off course to chase an imaginary dog.
At the time, I wrote them all off as crazies, and vowed to stick to my road 5K’s. Fast forward several years: I moved to Seattle, beat myself up pretty well running my first road marathon, and somehow let myself get talked into giving a 25K trail run a try.
It was love at first run. In the year since that I’ve spent exploring the sport, I have come to learn that trail running is 10 percent running, 40 percent eating, and in keeping with my initial impressions, 50 percent getting in touch with your inner crazy.
Read enough descriptions of trail runs, and your stomach will begin to hurt from laughing at the goofy, awe-inspiring, and sometimes insane brainchildren of these race directors, who range from pleasantly creative to downright masochistic. With trail runs exploding in popularity, Outdoors NW wanted to recognize some of the best of the best.
We called upon three other avid and accomplished Northwest trail runners to help dole out the honors – certified ChiRunning instructor and trail running enthusiast Laura Houston, Alex Henry, overall winner of last year’s Washington Ultra Series, and a seasoned Marathon Maniac who wished to remain anonymous.
With many years of running and roughly 100 races (run or volunteered) under our collective belts, our panel met up over dinner and a couple pitchers to hammer out the categories, nominees, and most memorable Northwest courses our legs have carried us over.
Most Classic Northwest Run (or, Good Luck Getting into These)
Chuckanut Mountain 50K, Bellingham, Wash. (March) Chuckanut will celebrate its 20th birthday in 2012. With a long history of rock-star race directorship, a post race potluck and do-it-yourself burrito bar, great sponsors, runners traveling from all over the country to participate, and a commitment to protecting the environment, this is the ultimate classic Northwest run.
Honorable Mentions:
- McKenzie River Run 50K, McKenzie Bridge, Ore. (Sept.) Laidback and rich with Oregon scenery; 24 years running.
- Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run, Easton, Wash. (Aug.) 13 years running. 20,000 feet of elevation change, and a watering hole for the most elite ultrarunners.
- Siskiyou Out Back (SOB) 50K or 15K, Ashland, Ore. (July). 13 years running. Cowbells for top finishers.
Best Choice for Newbies
Cougar Mountain Trail Series, Issaquah, Wash. (May-Oct.) A five-race series, starting with a 5-miler in May and working up to a 50K in October. Established in 2003, so the races are well-organized, well-marked and very approachable.
Honorable Mentions:
- Haulin’ Aspen Trail Marathon, Half, and 7-Mile, Bend, Ore. (Aug.) Familiar distances on fast single track and open jeep trails, great views, and post-race pastries and brews.
- Go Girl Trail 10K+, Portland, Ore. (July). Women-only trail running and walking race on a loop course, with post-race festivities and music.
- Redmond Watershed Preserve, Redmond, Wash. (March and July). 5-mile, 10-mile, and marathon options on a loop course, with wide, smooth trails and low to moderate climb.
Quirkiest Run
3 Towers, Olympia, Wash. (June) There is no route – only an undisclosed starting location, and three checkpoints at Olympia’s three water towers where runners must check in before returning to the start. Distance can be anywhere between 10-15 miles, depending on a runner’s navigational skills.
Honorable Mentions:
- Havoc at the Hideout 5-6 Mile, North Plains, Ore. (May). A tropical-themed race, fully encouraging of Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, and coconut bikinis. Also: onsite camping and a marshmallow roast.
- Cupcake Classic Backwards Mile, Olympia, Wash. (April). Run a mile backward, then eat cupcakes. Pretty self-explanatory, huh? One hundred percent of profits benefit breast cancer research.
- Waldo 100K, Willamette Pass Resort, Ore. (Aug.) Special prizes for the first runner to “Find Waldo” by summiting Fuji Mountain first, for the “Wet Waldo” who swims in the most lakes, and a crazy perpetual hat to the best Waldo overall, as judged by aid station volunteers.
Most Hardcore Course
Pine to Palm 100 Miler, Williams, Ore. (Sept.) A rugged point-to-point course across the Siskiyou Mountains range, with 20,000+ feet of elevation gain up to 7,000 feet. Its 2010 debut featured intermittent rainstorms, powerful winds, and wildly fluctuating temperatures. Belt buckles to all finishers, with special ones for sub- 24-hour finishers (of which there were 11 last year.)
Honorable Mentions:
- Lost Lake 50K, Bellingham, Wash. (May). 8,200 feet of elevation gain.
- White River 50 Mile, Crystal Mountain, Wash. (July). 8,700 feet elevation gain.
- Yakima Skyline Rim 50K and 25K, Ellensburg, Wash. (March). “Four monster climbs.” (We tried to do the math from the course description, and came up with 10,000ish feet elevation gain. Oof.)
Muddiest Course
Hagg Lake 25K and 50K, Forest Lake, Ore. (Feb.) So muddy they have a “Hall of Mud” with pint glasses and buckles for those who’ve been crazy enough to run this sloppy, slippery course at least five times.
Honorable Mentions:
- Buck Mountain Mudslinger Trail Run, Silverton, Ore. (Feb.) According to the website: “You will be a filthy mess after this event!”
- Bridle Trails 5-mile, 10-mile, and 50K, Kirkland, Wash. (Jan.) Mud and horse poop; watch your step.
- Willamette Mission Trail Challenge 5K or 10K, Salem, Ore. (Jan.) Muddy river course with occasional standing water.
Best Stewards of the Land
Capitol Peak Ultra 55K and 50-Mile, Olympia, Wash. (April) This is a benefit run for the Friends of Capitol Forest and Washington Trails Association. In 10 years, Capitol Peak Ultras has donated $10,000 to these and other nonprofits, as well as contributing hundreds of volunteer hours to trail maintenance projects.
Honorable Mentions:
- Carkeek 12-Hour, Seattle, Wash. (Oct.) Eight hours of volunteer service required for entry, and all proceeds are split between four local nonprofits.
- Big Dabrowski 50K and 25K, Issaquah, Wash. (Sept.) A run dedicated to the legacy of conservationist Harvey Manning. Entrants are encouraged to volunteer for at least one day of trail work.
- Rainshadow Running Series, Pacific Northwest (Year-round). Several trail work parties a year; volunteering gets you free entry into a race. Support for carpooling and van-shuttling.
Most Ecofriendly Race
Evergreen Trail Run Series, Issaquah, Wash. (April-Oct.) Where to begin? Since 2007, these environmental heroes have shopped Goodwill for race supplies, generally eschewed swag bags (or used biodegradable ones), provided reusable cups and plates, used ecofriendly cleaning agents, provided onsite recycling and compost bins, partnered with local organic farms for aid stations, and even committed to reusing their course marking streamers.
Honorable Mentions:
- Pocatello 50-Mile, 50K, and 20-Mile, Pocatello, Idaho (May). Totally carbon-neutral race with donations to offset commuting done by runners and volunteers.
- Chuckanut Mountain 50K, Bellingham, Wash. (March). Cup-free race, compostable plates at the post-race party, with encouragement to bring your own.
- Mountain Marathon & Hillbilly Half, Olympia, Wash. (March). Limited paper in race packets, recycled fabric tech t-shirts, and a zero-tolerance disqualification policy for littering.
Best “Run for Your Money”
Roots Rock Trail Running Series, Port Gamble, Wash. (Year-round) These folks put on eight trail runs annually, ranging in distance from their Forest 5K in May to their April Lumberjack Endurance 100s and 50s. Their February Fishline 25K/50K has been FREE for five years and counting. Entry fees for other events are consistently low.
Honorable Mentions:
- White Salmon Backyard Half, White Salmon, Ore. (June). FREE, with a suggested $10 donation to the Columbia High School Cross Country team. Bonus: It finishes at a brewery.
- Bridle Trails 5-mile, 10-mile, and 50K, Kirkland, Wash. (Jan.) “No-frill” and “low-frill” prices, ranging from $10 to $25 for all solo events.
- Anything with “Fat Ass” in the name (Year-round). Hint: That means they’re free. Warning: That also generally means no aid, shirt or prizes either.
Best Overall Gnarly Trail Run
Orcas Island 25K/50K, Eastsound, Wash. (Feb.) Organized by James Varner of Rainshadow Running, this race has it all: stunning views of the San Juan Islands, the Olympic and Cascade mountains, and Puget Sound, and a heart-pounding single-track course up and down Mount Constitution. There’s also an all-weekend race party on the island: Friday night potluck, camping out in bunkhouses, quirky thrift store official race wear, and stellar post-run grub, kegs and live music.
Honorable Mentions:
- Mountain Marathon and Hillbilly Half, Olympia, Wash. (March). Steep climbs, stunning views and serious mud. Finishers medals, tech t-shirts, and trucker hats for all entrants; winners get signed art prints by local artists and free running shoes. Proceeds go to breast cancer research, Friends of Capitol Forest, and Run Like a Grrrl’s scholarship program. In solidarity with the troops, there will be a simultaneous 13.1 mile run by soldiers in Afghanistan.
- PCT Bunker to Bonneville 50K, Carson, Wash. (Sept.) Views of Mt. Hood, Adams, Helens, Rainier, and Jefferson – all with ample huckleberries on the trail to boot. This is a poker run, with runners collecting cards at aid stations; winning hand takes home a growler of beer. Rumored bacon and turkey sliders at the aid stations (along with the usual ultra grub), and massage, pool, and Jacuzzi at the finish line.
- Pocatello 50-Mile, 50K, and 20-Mile, Pocatello, Idaho (May). A challenging course at any distance, with scenic views, mud, the potential for snow, and a reputation in its three years that causes it to sell out its 300 spots months in advance. La Sportiva sponsors the $500 prize purse. Donations to the Renewable Energy Campaign offset the race’s carbon footprint.
Yitka Winn is a trail running devotee who appreciated the opportunity to geek out about wild race directors and squeezable packs of peanut butter with the 2011 Gnarly Awards panel at Big Time in Seattle.
