Whistler Friends announce plans for annual running event starting next June.

Organizers of a new athletic event in Whistler are hoping to take your breath away — in a good way. The Whistler Friends, a local fundraising organization, this week announced plans for a half marathon road running event with the first annual race set for June 4, 2011. “It will be hands down one of the most scenic runs in Canada… breathtaking in a good way,” said Dave Clark, race director and Whistler Friends co-founder. Clark made a presentation to Whistler council about the half marathon on Tuesday (Aug. 17) and a launch event was held Wednesday (Aug. 18) at the Crystal Lodge. Feedback has been good so far and people are “excited” about the event, he said. The 21.1-kilometre half marathon is the fastest growing distance in the sport of running, Clark said, quoting a statistic that 600,000 people in the U.S. completed at least one half marathon in 2007.

 The Whistler Friends chose a half marathon because it’s not currently offered in Whistler, and there’s a great opportunity to draw runners in a growing discipline, he said. While the goal for the first year is to attract about 300 runners from the Sea to Sky and Lower Mainland, Clark’s vision for the long-term future of the event includes a maximum of 2,000 participants with people coming from farther away. The nearer-term goal is to grow to 750 runners by year five, he added. “I think we’ll see people travelling a fair distance to come to the event in years to come,” he said. In addition to the run itself, a runner’s expo, awards ceremony and pre-race carbo-load dinners are also planned for the June 2011 weekend.

 The expo will be open to the public and offer partners and related businesses to showcase their products and the latest in running gear, Clark said. Carbo-load dinners are a tradition for distance running events, he said, and the goal is to offer two such events the night before the race. The idea for the awards ceremony is to make it a fun, festive event styled on a Whistler après theme, he said. The overall goal is to create a unique, well-managed and memorable half marathon event that will get people talking and excited to run in Whistler every year, Clark said. “The running experience here is just so unbelievable,” he said. “I think that alone will draw people.” Clark said the route for the 21.1 kilometre road race has not been finalized yet, but it will include the Village and nearby neighbourhoods. He said the route will take participants past lakes, rivers, amazing viewpoints and through stands of trees. There will be some hills, but the aim is to keep them as short and shallow as possible. The route won’t be the “flattest or fastest” one around, but it won’t be the most challenging either, he said.

he race will include men’s, women’s, wheelchair and visually impaired divisions. As with all Whistler Friends events, the half marathon will have a fundraising component with a percentage of every paid registration to be donated to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. Participants can also collect pledges to make additional donations to the foundation. Whistler Friends was founded by Clark and his wife Wendy in 2002. They organize annual fundraising events in Whistler such as Balding For Dollars and the tasting pass component of the Canadian National BBQ Championships.

Whistler Friends has raised more than $200,000 to date for the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Crohn’s and colitis foundation. Clark said the organization is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit society, with an eye to positioning itself as a non-profit event producer. “We’re trying to create events that inspire people,” he said. The idea to organize a half marathon in Whistler has been brewing for about four years, but it was the success of last September’s slideshow and live music event, called Swell, that gave the Whistler Friends the confidence to move ahead with the idea, Clark said. Organizers are still seeking partners and sponsors for the half marathon and related events, and there are a number of ways businesses can get involved, he said. Social media marketing plans are rolling out this week and race registration is expected to open in January. Find out more and sign up for updates at whistlerhalfmarathon.com.

If you’re looking for some great training options in Whistler, check out the blog “Whistler – On the Run,” a visual diary of a Whistler residents running adventures through this beautiful mountain paradise. During your Whistler visit, make a truly nature filled experience by staying at the beautiful Whistler RV Park and Campground. 

 Source: The Whistler Question