Whistler is This Weekend

The inaugural Whistler by UMTB event is this weekend (Sept -28-29, 2024), with a start and finish at Whistler Creekside, BC. The event offers 3 race distances:

• 70km with 3,850 meters of vert in the 100K category for 3 running stones
• 50km with 2,600 meters of vert in the 50K category for 2 running stones
• 25km with 1,550 meters of vert in the 20K category for 1 running stone

Since the controversial announcement about a year ago the noise has died down and the race organization has been quietly putting the pieces together to build the race weekend, away from the drama. This is a brand new event for UTMB/Ironman and first year events have lots of possibilities for things going sideways and rough patches needing to be ironed out. That, combined with the watchful eyes of the ‘haters’ who hope for a big stumble makes this event quite delicate for the organizers. To top this all off the team just sent out a weather advisory for the area with an incoming storm possibly bringing snow to the high country. If that storm lingers, and snow accumulates it could result in last minute race course changes. Never fun. UPDATE: Snowing on Whistler mountain right now.

The full starting list for all three races just posted last night with 948 runners signed up for one of the three distances:

• 70km – 249 runners
• 50km – 292 runners
• 25km – 407 runners

David NORRIS, 23rd at OCC 2024 is running the 50km race with bib 1001. I’m bib 242 in the 70km race if you want to follow along.

I also will be reporting from race weekend in Whistler. I’m wanting to capture the event beyond the drama and hopefully will be able to share a real and measured picture of how UTMB deals with creating a brand new event (rather than taking over an established event and keeping the RD on board to run the day to day operations). Also: Whistler is cool and I will be having some great poutine!