Just in case you can't make it - Race Refund Policy

February 13 is our deadline to let race directors know that you will not be able to make it for whatever reason on March 21st.

If you are unable to attend the race please let the race director know at chuckanut50 at gmail.com before Thursday, February 13 to receive an entry refund less $25. If you pre-ordered a shirt, we will be happy to send it to you, just let us know via email. We do not allow entry roll-overs or transfers and are unable to issue refunds after that date.

Bellingham Trail Work Party - February 15

Recreation Northwest is hosting a trail work party for the community. On February 15 at 9am volunteers will meet in the upper parking lot of Fairhaven Park. There are more details on our Registration Requirements page as well as a link to the work party.

Additionally, if it is looking like it will be impossible to get in your trail work before the March 21 race date and the donation isn’t your ideal, there is another volunteer opportunity through Recreation Northwest. You can sign up HERE to volunteer at the May 2nd Recreation Northwest Expo.

2020 Trail Work & Donations

We are excited to see the quick acceptance of this year’s trail or volunteer work add to the race registration. Thank you for your easy support! It makes these RDs happy to know that this is a no-brainer for the trail run community.

4 hours of trail work or volunteer time is one option

Making a suggested $100 donation to a non-profit is another option.

One of our Run the Ridge Sponsors, Patagonia, is running a match program through the end of the year. You can double your donation dollars by making a donation through the Patagonia Action Works website.

Please note:

*Patagonia will match all donations made on Patagonia Action Works between Nov. 29 and Dec. 31, up to $10,000 per donation, until we’ve reached a maximum match of $10,000,000.

The good news is Patagonia has almost maxed out their $10,000,000 donation! Incredible!

If you are thinking completing the 4 hours of trail or volunteer time is going to be a challenge, consider making your donation through the Patagonia Action Works site before the end of the year for the possible donation match.

2020 Race Registration opens tomorrow! (Dec 6, 8amPST!)

That title says it all, down to the exclamation point. We are so excited to launch into the 2020 race! We have already been meeting, planning and dreaming up our next edition of this classic Bellingham race. Be sure to check out our Race Registration Page for details regarding our Trail Work or Volunteer Time.

The community that gathers around the Chuckanut 50k comes from near and far. With financial support from Patagonia and Hoka One One as our Run the Ridge SPONSORS we are able to create more for our field of runners and with the Interurban Sprint Sponsors our prize purse is looking great! Local hotels jump in with room discount rates for our runners. Local businesses and the City of Bellingham all support the event by showing up to volunteer, cheer and share the town with runners from afar. We have a strong local field, and spots fill fast (600 spots in 6.5 hours last year!) so be sure to be on UltraSignUp.com at 8am PST tomorrow (Friday Dec 6, 2019)!

2019 Aid Station Locations

With the amount of snow on the ridge we had to move aid stations. Aid 2 and 3 are in different locations. New mileages are listed below.

Aid #1 - 6.8 miles, Lost Lake Parking Lot - 4.2 miles to next

Aid #2 - 11 miles, Hairpin on Cleator Rd - 5 miles to next

Aid #3 - 16 miles, end of Ridge, where Ridge meets N. Lost Lake - 4.3 miles to next

Aid #4 - 20.3 miles, bottom of Chin scraper - 4.7 miles to next

Aid #5 - 25 miles, where Fragrance Lake Trail meets Interurban - 6.1 miles to finish

BE SURE TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS! THEY WORKED HARD TO HAUL IN WATER AND SUPPLIES TODAY AND WILL TOMORROW.

2019 TRAIL CONDITIONS, WEATHER FORECAST, MANDATORY GEAR & CREW DIRECTIONS

Our 27th running is hours away! So exciting! There are a lot of details in this post and the photos take up some room. Please scroll through for our latest information.

TRAIL CONDITIONS (photos included)

The trails are improving, considering they were covered in snow no more than a week ago, but are still more wintry than usual. Race friend Gretchen Walla and RD Krissy Moehl spent time on different parts of the course Wednesday evaluating conditions. Our fearless founder Doug McKeever spent Thursday marking the course with ribbons and his Doug-style race signs. The trail condition varies from good, to muddy, to snowy and patchy ice areas. It will be slow going in sections and my biggest concern is that people feel safe out there. Please be considerate of runners in front of and behind you. Make room for people more comfortable and moving faster to get by when it feels safe. And if you need to pass, let the person in front of you know AND be patient for them to find a spot they feel safe to move aside. This is a race AND trail runners take care of each other.

Two Dollar Trail is in great shape!

You will start to see snow on Cleator Road.

There are some icy spots on the way up Fragrance. This is at the trail split just before the Lake. Runners stay Right this year.

The Ridge Trail is snowy & icy in patches, especially the first mile.

Once you get past the connector to Lower Ridge Trail, the North end of the Ridge starts to clear up.

WEATHER FORECAST - area link

We are expecting partially cloudy, warmer than we’ve had weather conditions all day Saturday. Be sure to come prepared and dress adequately. 

MANDATORY GEAR

We recommend that each runner have a jacket, gloves and beanie. Traction is also advised, but with the patchy conditions, I acknowledge it will be frustrating to put on an off. I recommend screwing your shoes. Poles are allowed. A handheld or hydration pack and a UD Re-Cup are also recommended. We do not provide cups on course. We are not going to REQUIRE any specific gear. These items are highly recommended and if you are thinking “nothing is going to happen to me” then you are probably the one that should pack gear.

AID STATION LOCATIONS

With the amount of snow on the ridge we likely will not be able to haul supplies up Cleator Road to the top of the Ridge. Our back up plan is to send the Ridge Aid Station to where Doug has held Aid 3.5 for many years now. You will need to better supply at Aid Station #2 as you will now climb Cleator Road AND traverse the entire Ridge until you get aid where the Ridge meets North Lost Lake Trail ~6 miles (instead of 3 miles). This move still has to be approved by the Park.

This is where we typically host Aid Station 3. The snow on Cleator is even deeper, so we will not be able to drive vehicles up there to transport supplies and equipment.

This is what the whole of North Lost Lake and most of South Lost Lake looked like on Wednesday. With the warmer temps be prepared for smooshy, sloshy snow.

CUTOFFS

This year we have offered an early start at 7am to give runners an extra hour on the course. In light of the slower conditions we are also going to extend the cutoff to 5pm for an official finish.

POST RACE

There will be a warm shelter and open-sided tents in Fairhaven Park for runners to rest, clean up/change, relax, eat, drink and socialize after finishing the race. Each runner is able to leave one small (12”x12”x9”) bag with dry clothes and other post-race necessities (a towel would be nice!) properly labeled with a bib number  in the shelter near the finish line - your race bib has a tag you can attach to your bag. Note that we cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items (this has never happened, but we have to say it anyway!) Please stay for the many post-race festivities and Awards Ceremony and GOTR Prize Draw - details on the activities and celebrations are outlined on our Race Weekend Details page.

CREW DIRECTIONS

Please see the link to our Crew Directions under the RACE INFORMATION menu tab for information about race day crewing. We welcome crews at Aid Stations #1  & #5. Crews need to be ready to travel on foot to Aid 5.

See you soon!

Race Tracking! via RaceJOY and BuDuRacing

Thanks to our timers, BuDu Racing, Chuckanut 50k runners and spectators will be able to Live Track runners. Each runner needs to set up the RaceJoy App on their phone and subscribe to the Chuckanut 50k course with their bib number. Then, spectators will be able to watch you on their phone set up with the same App - spectators need to be sure that they select the “Viewing” option as opposed to the “Racing” option. (Racing option will track your phone).

For more information, please go to the following links:

About RaceJoy: https://www.racejoy.net/about-the-app

How To: https://www.racejoy.net/how-to

There are a lot of other features to the App including spectators being able to send you messages and cheers along the way!

Look for this App to sign up!

2019 PARKING & SHUTTLES

Runners and Supporters will park at Western Washington University Lot 12A, see map, and be shuttled by The Baker Bus to the Start/Finish area.

The first shuttle will leave the parking lot around 6:15am and the last shuttle before race start will leave at 7:45am.

Official Race Start is 8AM. Early start is at 7AM.

Shuttles will run 6:15-9:30am and 11am to 6:30pm to transport crews & friends.

Runners may be dropped at Hillcrest Church and walk a short distance on the Interurban Trail to Fairhaven Park. There is no race parking at the Church.

Prize Draw to benefit Girls on the Run

This is our 3rd year (at least!) hosting a Prize Draw for Girls on the Run. We group together some of our awesome SPONSOR and SUPPORTER products to create high value packages. Your ticket purchases go directly to our Whatcom County Girls on the Run Program. Check out the awesome packages below!

You will be able to buy tickets for these bundles of our sponsor goodies on Friday night at Packet Pickup at PRIME Sports Institute and on Saturday morning around the Start and Finish line in Fairhaven Park. Look for people in Girls on the Run T-shirts to purchase.

We will do the prize draw at 5pm on Saturday at Fairhaven Park in the Beer Garden. You do not have to be present to win, but it is a LOT more fun if you are!!

We themed this “Hers” because some of the sizing is womens, but these products work for EVERYONE!

We themed this “His” because some of the sizing is mens, but these products work for EVERYONE!

We themed this “Theirs” because there are different sizes and these products work for EVERYONE!

Race Shirts - NEW Patagonia Fabric!

I think it is pretty cool that Chuckanut 50k runners are going to be the first to touch and wear Capilene Cool Daily. This is a new fabric from Patagonia, and our race shirts were shipped to the screener the same day the new item was delivered to stores. If you did not order a shirt Ma Moehl will be selling them at Packet-Pickup and PRIME on Friday night 5-8pm and on Saturday morning before the start and at the finish line. $25 each. Limited Sizes.

Important Race Update: Mandatory Gear

Due to incoming conditions we are looking to implement a gear check and REQUIRE all runners to carry a jacket, an insulating layer, pants, beanie, gloves and a space blanket. Without these items you will not be permitted to race. We recommend (in addition to the required gear) runners carry traction and a phone. Runners are permitted to use trekking poles. We will finalize this decision after assessing the course on Thursday. Runners should have these items prepared if you are coming to the event.

Race Directors are responsible to create the event, assess the conditions and produce all aspects of a safe race and fun event. The possible required gear list is to ensure your safety should something happen during your run. Because of the weather and trail conditions our response time to an injury will be significantly slowed. Runners need to be prepared to care for themselves and others should something happen and until our team can get to you.

Additionally, our team is considering three course options and will decide by Thursday night.

1) as is

2) move aid stations 2, 3, & 4.

3) modified course on lower trails.

Runners are responsible for their training, to know their fitness and assess their ability to handle the course in whatever conditions present on race day. Runners must adjust goals and game plan to accommodate the conditions. Come race day each individual needs to make the decision if they are prepared to run this event.

No matter what - we will have a fun celebration including sponsor booths, food trucks and the beer garden in Fairhaven Park on Saturday.

Please continue to check the website for updates. And thank you for enthusiasm for this event! We are excited too and will put all of that energy towards a great event on Saturday!