A group of Powell River trail runners has successfully run the Sunshine Coast Trail.
Last weekend, Pat Walsh, Steve Gould, Joseph McLean, Joel Nordman and Craig Dunbar ran the 180-kilometre trail in relay-style. The trail was divided into six segments of approximately 30 kilometres, with three segments being completed for each day of the weekend.
Runners ran the segments in twos, and most only ran one segment during the weekend. Segments took anywhere from three to eight hours to complete. The entire route had a total elevation change of over 12,000 metres.
“That’s the tough part,” said Walsh. “Anyone can run 100 kilometres. It’s the terrain that you’re travelling and the conditions that you’re travelling in.”
Only one runner, Gould, completed more than one segment. After would-be participant Kevin Sigouin had to drop out due to an ankle injury earlier in the week, Gould, who is currently training for an ironman marathon, decided to run both of the final two segments. He ran the distance over 12 hours.
One of the most challenging segments was between the 64-kilometre marker at Inland Lake and the 94.5-kilometre marker. The segment, which took over eight hours, traversed both Confederation Lake and Tin Hat Mountain.
The entire run was completed unsupported. Participants carried all the supplies that they would need on their backs. This is the first time an unsupported run of the Sunshine Coast Trail has been completed.
The aim of the run was to see if a future event held on the trail was a possibility. “The idea was to make a kind of trial to see from a logistical standpoint how feasible it would be to offer this as an open run or race in the future,” explained Walsh. He added that the group concluded it would be possible, “but the logistics of putting on an event like that are going to be very complicated.”
For now, the team is revelling in its victory. “It’s just the sense of pride of being able to do something,” said Walsh. “It was a great accomplishment.”
