Ultrarunner Gary Robbins directs Squamish B.C. race

Survival of The Fittest, run by Gary Robbins and Geoff Langford, held its 13K and 18K races in Squamish B.C. this past Sunday, June 16. The event is the third of The Coast Mountain Trail Series — a series of four events new to the B.C. running scene this year.

Robbins, ultrarunner and well-known Canadian trail running record holder, has lived in B.C.’s Lower Mainland for several years and used to live close to Squamish and Whistler. On training runs he often hoped for trail races highlighting the regions spectacular terrain. The new series has set out with a target to develop quality trail running events in lower B.C.— what series coordinators say are the best running destinations in the country.

When Robbins set out to map the new race routes, he envisioned tougher trail runs designed to push the boundaries of practiced runners. The 13K and 18K routes are shorter than typical trail races, but as Robbins explained in an interview with Outdoor Vancouver, they are designed to be more difficult short races geared towards experienced trail runners who are looking for a challenging terrain. This type of race differs from ultra races in which veteran runners register in to cover generous distances or trail races that aim to accommodate first-time trail runners to encourage them into the sport.

Both of Sunday’s races started off in the Quest University lands with an uphill trek to the waterfall in the first few kilometres. The 13K has a 700m ascent and descent while the 18K route has a climb of 1050m. Kristopher Swanson won the 18K event running 1:29:20. Kathy McKay was the first woman finishing in 2:00:58.

Robbins ran his first ultramarathon in 2004 and since then has gone on to break records and become a well-known figure in the running scene. His first record was the 130K West Coast Double in 2007 when he finished in 23:40. He also holds records for the East and West Coast Trails which he set in 2010 when he finished the 80K West trail in just over ten hours and the 215K East loop in slightly over thirty-five hours. A broken foot injury in 2011 set his running career back for a short while, but he had a successful start to 2013 when he raced 100 miles at HURT in Hawaii and not only won, but set yet another record finishing in 19:35.

As for The Coast Mountain Trail Series, there is one event left this year. The Squamish 23K race runs on August 10. Next year’s routes are being planned and the series hopes to host about six per year in the future.