19 time finisher- Morris Arthur

Morris Arthur first ran the Chuckanut 50k in 2002. That also happens to be the last time current race director Krissy Moehl ran the event. So in tandem Morris has continued running the Chuckanut 50k race as Krissy continues to RD. They can look to each other to know how many times “we’ve been doing this”. Now with the tricky year that was 2020 the count isn’t as easy.

To ensure his streak, less the hiccup of 2020, Morris started the 2021 Chuckanut 50k around 5pm on Friday 3/19 and finished around 2am 3/20 deeming himself the first finisher on what would have been race day. (We always run the Chuckanut 50k on the third Saturday of March.) We love that he printed the Virtual Race Bib and got to wander about the Chuckanuts through the night. “It was a different experience not having others out there, but there really wouldn’t have been others out there being virtual” Morris told Krissy in Fairhaven Park on Saturday. Morris had ridden his bike the couple of blocks from his home to pick up his race packet and share his 2021 finish.

“I have seen Morris start and finish in an arm sling, so I am not surprised by his all night adventure to get it done. I just love that the connection to this race runs so deep for runners.”

Thank you to all of the runners that join the Chuckanut 50k year after year! And to the many that choose us as their first ultra. The running and Bellingham communities support this event in such strong ways, through volunteering, donating to our chosen organizations, running the race and cheering from the beer garden. We can’t show enough gratitude, but we can keep putting together a great reason to keep coming back!

2021 Awards & Thank Yous

Thank you for your support this year and to those of you that joined us Sunday, thank you for sharing your stories at the virtual post-race party. It was wonderful to hear your counts and see so many faces after our first all virtual race. We can not wait to be with you all (hopefully) in-person next year.

Remember!: Your registration in 2021 means priority registration in 2022!

Watch your email early December for a link to early registration and your chance to beat the rush and secure your spot.

Photo: Ben Groenhoet

Prizes!

We handed out a lot of prizes on Sunday; for speedsters, for climbers, for sharing, and for being with us. Prize winners are listed at the bottom of this post.

We need to put together these prize packages from our sponsors, and we are aiming to get those out to those that won them by April 16th (if not sooner). We will communicate with all of the prize winners to figure out if you can pick up your goods from Prime Sports Institute or if you would like us to mail them.

Photo: Ben Groenhoet

Doug

We are SO thankful that race founder Doug McKeever continues adding his energy to the Chuckanut 50k. For those that ran the course 3/13 and 3/20 Doug set up signs and manned the 3.5 aid station for runners and hikers as they came off of the ridge. He also shared stories on our Sunday Virtual Post Party. What I did not know when I (Krissy) took over the race in 2003 was the life long friend I would gain in this local legend.

Photos

Fellow Virtual runner, local photographer, and phenomenal bread baker, Ben Groenhout created an awesome album of photos of local racers that ran the course on 3/20. He has given us the thumbs up to share away. If you download any of these photos please give him photo credit. (Instagram handle: @ben_groenhoet )
https://bengroenhout.smugmug.com/Chuckanut-50k-Virtual-Race-Day/

SPONSORS

And last, a huge thank you to all of our sponsors that helped make this virtual race happen, and help us make this race special year after year :

Patagonia, Hoka One One, Wander Brewing, Aspire Adventure Running, Trail Butter, Ultimate Direction, ProTec Athletics, Fairhaven Runners & Hammer Nutrition

See you all next year!

Krissy, Kevin and Tyler

2021 PRIZE WINNERS

Most Segment Attempts (Jan - March) - Kelsey Groenhoet (15 segments)

Most Mileage & Vert accumulated (Jan - March) - Katherine Gifford (179 miles, 7,749ft, 11 segments)

First Person to enter their 50k result in March: Monica Ochs

Last Person to enter their 50k result before the noon 3/21 cutoff: Bill Tokhein

Biggest Donations: Amanda Cook, Evan Griffith & Jennifer Bard

non-profit organizations we support: Girls on the Run Whatcom County, The Conservation Alliance and Recreation Northwest.

FASTEST on 50k COURSE:

• Time: Kristina Randrup - 4:43:08

• Male: Maxwell Chmielewski 4:49:01

• Female Masters: Corinne Sayler 5:32:54

• Male Masters: Kevin Sayler 5:07:47

Previously Picked Finish Times by the Race Directors

• 5:03:41 Kevin Sayler

• 5:30 Tad Ochwat

• 6:10:44 Mike Agamenoni

• 6:49:32 Albert Frederick

• 7:23 Emily Johnston

• 8:02:19 Brendan Bracken

Random Prize Draw from people present at Virtual Party

• Dana Sturtz

• Colleen Rice

• Scotty Johnson

Random Prize Draw from 50k finishers

• Brendan Bracken

• Morris Arthur

• Rod Putney

Final Event! Chuckanut 50k Virtual Post Party

On Sunday, March 21 at 3pm Chuckanut 50k RDs & Pacific MultiSports will host a live Zoom Event - Chuckanut 50k Post Race Party

As Chuckanut 50k is known, we have a lot of great swag and Sponsor Prizes to give away! Please join us in marking this Virtual year, we want to see your faces! Bring your own beverage and join us for a post race party from the comfort of wherever you want to be. (We’d rather be sitting under the tent in Fairhaven Park with Wander beverages, but that will have to wait one more year.) In addition to prizes we want you to come prepared to share some highlights from these three months of running with us virtually or a special (maybe funny?) story about a particular Chuckanut 50k run.

The way it will work:

• Zoom Link was sent to you via email Friday night.

• Everyone will join muted to avoid any awkward animal noises or speaker feedback. But please turn on your video.

• You can “raise your hand” by clicking the button under “Reactions” at the bottom of your screen and we will unmute to share your segment running stories in 90 seconds or less.

• Prizes can be picked up at Prime Sports Institute or mailed to you.

Additional Info for Locals:

Locals that selected “pick up” at registration:

• Krissy has the local’s runner packets in her white Sprinter van, you can pick them up in Fairhaven Park Saturday 3/20 from 1:30-4pm.

Locals running the actual course on Saturday March 20.

• Doug McKeever will be at the bottom of the ridge, where the trail connects to Lost Lake trail, to cheer you on!

• Ben Groenhoet, 50k participant and local photographer will be taking photos! And will share them on our Sunday Live Post Party.

• Ma Moehl will be in Fairhaven Park to cheer you on!

• Race Director Krissy Moehl will run out and back on the interurban to cheer on! and run in runners.

• Race Director Tyler Pouley will be in Fairhaven Park to cheer you on!

UPDATE: Runner Packets Delivery Options

Runner packets and shirts (if ordered) shipped to those of you that selected the 'mail' option Friday, February 19. Watch your mail!

If you selected the ‘pickup’ option we will be at Wander Brewing, Sunday March 7th, 3-6 pm for you to pick up your packets. Masks are required. While you're there make sure to pick up a 4-pack and get $1 off with your packet. We will also have Chuckanut 50k shirts for sale! $25 each for 2021 and 2020. $20 each for 2019. Cash or Venmo preferred.

If you are unable to pick up your packet from us at Wander on Sunday 3/7, you will be able to visit our friends at Fairhaven Runners & Walkers Monday 3/8 - Sunday 3/14 and collect your runner packets. Their hours are 10-6pm Monday - Saturday and 11-5pm on Sunday.

Looking ahead to March, we announced on Friday 2/19/21 that we will continue with the Virtual version and not add the in-person event this year. You can read more on our race update on the website.

We can't wait to see you all (virtually) running your 50k!!

Download a race bib so we can cheer each other on whether in the Chuckanuts or tag us @chuckanut50 in photos on social. And keep updated on our website and/or social media channels for the special extras our team continues to share.

AWARDS: February Segment Awards Announced

Two months of the Virtual Challenge are complete! The February Segments prizes were first announced on Ginger Runner Live Monday night March 1. The following list shares the prizes of our individual winners.

Award winners will be emailed by Krissy and prizes will be shipped direct from the sponsors.

All prize winners had to meet the minimums of the required mileage and elevation gain or loss as specified.

GingerRunner Live Announcement

Segment 7 “Out & Back on Interurban” - Sponsor: HOKA - Time to Fly

$100 cash each

Fastest Avg Speed Female Open (under 40) - Shelby Traeger

Fastest Ave Speed Male Open (under 40) - Conor Crowley

Hoka Shoes!

Fastest Avg Speed Female Masters (40+) - Gretchen Walla

Fastest Avg Speed Male Masters (40+) - Damon Kruger

Random Prize Draw - Colleen Rice

Random Prize Draw - Lindsay Anderson

Segment 8 “Middle 18”- Sponsor: Patagonia

High Endurance Kits - awarded to most ft climbed for Middle 18

Dimitri Hunter climbed 7154 ft

Virginia Reinert climbed 5745ft

$100 cash each - for speediest time on Middle 18

Greg Pappas 2:52:05

Kristina Randrup 3:09:35

February Awards & Runner Packets

Email to our Runners! Pasted below is an email we sent to all of our registered runners. If anyone is still interested in joining us for the 2021 Virtual running REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN on Pacific MultiSports.

Hello Chuckanut 50K Virtual Racers!

We hope your February segments are going well. Please enter your stats on Pacific MultiSports by Sunday, February 28th at 3pm to be eligible for this month's sponsor prizes. Patagonia is awarding two High Endurance Kits and HOKA is awarding 4 pairs of shoes! We will announce the winners on Ginger Runner Live (YouTube) Monday, March 1st, 4pmPST.

Race packets and shirts are packed and on their way to you if you selected the 'mail' option. If you selected the ‘pickup’ option we will be at Wander Brewing, Sunday March 7th, 3-6 pm for you to pick up your packets. Masks will be required, and if you want us to deliver your packet to your car please text your name and description of your car to 206-979-7219 once you are in the parking lot. While you're there make sure to pick up a 4-pack and get $1 off with your packet. We will also have Chuckanut 50k shirts for sale! $25 each for 2021 and 2020. $20 each for 2019. Cash or Venmo preferred.

Looking ahead to March, we announced on Friday 2/19/21 that we will continue with the Virtual version and not add the in-person event this year. You can read more on our race update on the website. We can't wait to see you all (virtually) running your 50k!! And are working to add some fun extras to March! Keep updated on our website and/or social media channels.

Remember to tune in to Ginger Runner Live Monday evening March 1st 4pm PST to catch the prize winners. We will post the February segment winners to the website after they are announced.

Thank you for your support this year!

Run,

Krissy, Kevin & Tyler

w: chuckanut50krace.com

i: chuckanut50

f: /chuckanut50k

2021 remains Virtual

Our team made the tough decision that the 2021 running of the Chuckanut 50k will be a Virtual event. We had held hopes to pull together some form of an in-person event as we started planning last November, but for a multitude of reasons, including the inability to even apply for permits, we are not going to organize an in-person running for 2021. Thank you for holding out hope with us and we sincerely hope and look forward to bringing the Chuckanut 50k community together once again! 2022?!?!

With this decision we are putting all of our energies into the creative aspects of this Virtual running. We super appreciate the teamwork and support of Pacific MultiSports in their management of registration, results and their impressive customer service to the runners and our team! You’d think it was at least 25 people over there, but PacificMultiSports is a powerhouse team of two! Thank you Marc and Brooke!

Our Sponsors have joined in our creativity helping ship out prizes and supporting the very different running this year.

Things to come:

We packed up Runner Packets last night!: At registration you chose to Pick Up your packet OR have it shipped.

SHIPMENTS

Your mailed envelopes will start going out today and early next week thanks to the team at Fairhaven Post and Parcel (processing all of those envelopes!).

PACKET PICK UP 3-6PM Sunday March 7 at Wander Brewing

This year Wander will host round 1 of our packet pickup. We will have a table outside for runners to collect their pre-packaged goodies. And if you want to grab a 4 pack to go Wander is offering $1 off purchases to Chuckanut 50k runners. We will send a follow up email to all racers with additional information.

SEGMENT AWARDS

Continue to submit your results! We are looking forward to announcing the awesome prizes from HOKA and PATAGONIA for February’s challenges!

Race Bibs & February Segments GPXs now available!

Thank you for your patience! Our GPX tracks for Segment 7: HOKA sponsored “Time to Fly” on the Interurban and Segment 8: Patagonia sponsored “The Middle 18” are now available for download on our Virtual webpage.

AND! AND! Did you see we have Virtual Race Bibs???

ROUTE MODIFICATION

Segment 7 is a little shorter than initially referenced. The iconic bridge over Lake Padden Creek in Arroyo Park was struck by a tree and is currently impassable.

• For those that are local, the southbound portion of the track now turns off the Interurban after you cross Old Samish Parkway at the crosswalk. Follow the gravel pathway to the intersection with Chuckanut Drive. Run along Chuckanut Drive for a short bit to the North Chuckanut Trailhead where we pick up the joining trail, and run up the switchbacks to rejoin the Interurban just before crossing California Street. As you return northbound, after crossing California Street the trail splits and you want to steer left, downhill, and down the switchbacks to the North Chuckanut Trailhead parking lot. Hop up on Chuckanut Drive for a short bit and at the intersection with Old Samish Parkway turn right on the gravel path to rejoin the Interurban and safely cross Old Samish Parkway at the crosswalk.

• For those running the Segments in other locations: Your stats can match the current/updated GPX track stats.

Segment 7: Click picture for link to GPX file

Segment 8: Click picture for link to GPX file

AWARDS: January Segment Awards Announced

The January Segments are complete! And now for the fun part - to announce your prizes! Names were first announced on Ginger Runner Live Monday night February 1. The following list shares the prizes of our individual winners.

Awards will ship the middle of February. All prize winners had to meet the minimums of the required mileage and elevation gain or loss as specified.

GingerRunner Live

Segment 1 - Sponsor: Wander Brewing

$100 cash each

Fastest Female Open (under 40) - Corrine Malcolm

Fastest Male Open (under 40) -Andy Wacker

Fastest Female Masters (40+) - Monica Ochs

Fastest Male Masters (40+) - Allen Carburt

 Segment 2 - Sponsor: Aspire Adventure Running

$100 Gift Cards to an upcoming Aspire Adventure

Got the most time out there!

1. Tessa Burchardt

2. Kirstie Polentz

3. Jennifer Wascher

4. Sherry Gallant

Segment 3 - Sponsor: Trail Butter

Big Squeeze Pack, Headwrap and 1 jar

Most Attempts on Segment 3

1. Kelsey Groenhoet (3)

2. Maxwell Chmielewskie (2)

3. Scott Barrow (2)

4. Twila Wiebe (2)

5. Tessa Burchardt (2)

Segment 4 - Sponsor: Ultimate Direction

Hydration Packs

Middle of the Pack

The 4 runners that are middle of the pack, based on time.

1. Shelby Traeger

2. Amanda Cook

3. Meghan Lelonek

4. Dana Sturtz

Segment 5 - Sponsor: ProTec Athletics

Top 3 in Mileage to achieve the required elevation loss 1601 ft

$100 Katherine Gifford

$75 Alana Killeen

Top 3 most elevation loss accumulated

Foam Roller & IT Band Support

1. Rod Putney

2. Angela Kuzior

3. Dorene Hopkins

4. Dimitri Hunter

Segment 6 - Sponsor: Fairhaven Runners & Hammer Nutrition

Randomly assign 8 prizes!

(All runners that submitted to this segment were eligible for prizes)

Fairhaven Runners $25 GC’s

1. Ashtyn Mott

2. Brett Jamieson

3. Diana Kitching

4. Carl Reppun

Hammer Nutrition Products

1. Jocelynn Rooke

2. Jordan Nash

3. Scarlett Graham

4. Erin Brunner

Monthly Awards Announcements: to be hosted on GRLive!

We are teaming up with Kim and Ethan on GingerRunner Live to announce our Monthly Segment Awards!

Kim and Ethan are PNW Trail Runners, Race Directors of the Tiger Claw in Issaquah in addition to creating amazing community for 10+ years through their online and in-person gatherings.

Creating a new Chuckanut Virtual 50k has been an incredible challenge our team keeps responding to, and coming up with, awesome ways to engage with our runners. From surprise PRIZE giveaways to local editions of the segment challenge (first to launch is OLYMPIA) we are continuing to work within this virtual world to stay engaged with our Chuckanut 50k running community.

2021 Race Registration is still open and we would love for you to join!

Participating in even one segment counts and supporting the 2021 Virtual Event ensures priority registration for our next in-person event (2021 and 2022).

We are so excited that Ethan and Kim are IN to share time on their regular Monday evening segments to help us announce the winners of the fun segments. Each segment is sponsored and there are fun prizes to be announced and shared! GRLive will help get the word out and make sharing even more fun!

Our January Segment Award Winners will first be announced on GRLive on February 1st! Join the show!!

GO! - 2021 is here! Time to start the January Segments

Ready? Set. Yes and yes - You registered and then paused until the calendar flipped over. Now it is time to GO! Happy New Year and fun kick off to 2021!

We are excited to have participants start uploading their segments. Those that are currently registered received an email from Pacific MultiSports yesterday (Jan 1) with instructions and details on how to upload their segment results. Please let us know if you have any questions!