5 Peaks – SFU

Simon Fraser University was a new location for 5 peaks in BC this year and the course was quick, challenging and like all 5 peaks events I have run in, just a whole lot of fun for everyone involved.I arrived pretty early as usual, checked in and said Hi to a few people working in the sponsor tents before heading back to my truck to change and begin a pretty long and slow 30 minute warm up run.  The course elevation looked pretty challenging with a good 2.5k downhill before a nice 3k climb and then small loop of the same again with the home stretch all being uphill.

5 Peaks SFU - Profile

I lined up at the start line with the idea to conserve in the initial downhill so I can attack on the uphill from there on out.  But I also lined up at the start alongside the likes to Tom Craik, Duncan Coo, Kim Steed and Nicola Gildersleeve.  It was a tough field of very accomplished runners and when the gun went off it became all about racing and trying to hang on to the fast guys right from the start.

The first K was on the road and did a pretty decent job of spreading out the 30 of us in the first wave of starters before funnelling everyone into some tight and dusty single track.  The pace was quick and we were still heading down.  I probably could have given a bit more in this first section but the track was narrow, I was in behind Matt Sessions, and I figured that it wasn’t in my race plan to all out attack in the first few K anyway, so I settled in nicely for the quick decent down.

At the bottom the track opened up a bit and I found myself in a bit of a pack with Duncan, Nicola, Matt and some other bloke I don’t know.  The initial climb was subtle and I found myself working hard on it to try and get away from the guys, Matt was pushing hard, so I kept working in behind him and as his lead increased with the incline I soon saw Kim Steed up ahead and set my sights on trying to catch him.  I was crossing over between a power hike and a short stride jog up the steeper sections and eventually caught up to Kim, but he is a mountain goat and whenever I go close he seemed to be able to gap me pretty easily.

At the top of the climb the course loops back to the same section of the dusty single track decent and this is where I decided to open up and give it.  I leaned forward and just let it rip, flying down the track and leaping over the mountain bike stunts arms flailing in the air just loving being out there and running in the trails.  I caught up to Kim, probably sounded like a wild boar on heat coming up behind him, so he graciously let me past.  I also heard Nicola right behind me asking where his downhill legs were and as the trail flattened out ahead of me I knew I was undone.

2 elites right behind me and I had maxed out flying down the hill, I needed to back off for some recovery and this is where both Kim and Nicola passed me.  I just tried to dig in behind them and not let them get out of sight while I worked to try and bring my heart rate down a little before the climb back up to the top.

As I approached the aid station before the climb back up I saw Nicola stop to tie her shoe and Kim pulled over to grab some water.  I don’t usually take aid on a short course so I put my head down and took off past them ready to begin work on the climbing.

This was the section of course where the enduro racers meet with the sport racers, so there was a bit of dodging going on, but I knew that if I could hold on and keep the push going I may get in a strong finish.  I dodged my way up to the steeper section of the course and caught up with Simon Cowell, we took a few steps together, I’m sure I whinged about the climb a bit, then he took off along with Kim who had caught up as well.

I settled into a rhythm on this climb of walk run and initially it was working well as Simon, Kim and I all worked our way up the incline at a similar pace.  Eventually, I could only manage a hike and had to watch on as the stronger runners trotted off up the hill, not out of sight, but definitely out of reach.

I pulled myself up the last climb and out onto the road where I ran in and over the line in 51:57, which was good enough for 14th overall and 8th in my division.  I was really happy with the result and also stoked to have had such a good run with some of the best trail runners in the lower mainland.

The sun was shining, people were smiling and a great day was had by all. Another great event put on by the 5 Peaks team, can’t wait for the next one!

5 Peaks SFU - Stats