Chasing Trails: My First 23

A few weeks ago, I ran my first-ever half marathon race: the 23 kilometre distance of the Squamish 50 series, an annual trail running event that celebrates the incredible landscapes and challenges of Squamish mountain bikes trails and other terrain. Until then, I’d never covered that kind of distance, and lining up at the start felt like stepping into completely new territory. It was nervewracking, but mostly I was excited to find out what it would feel like to push myself in a way I never had before.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day. The weather was cool and clear, with just enough breeze to keep things comfortable. The course itself was everything I love about this new trail running sport I've picked up in Squamish: steady climbs, flowing singletrack, and those stretches of trail where the forest seems to wrap around you in silence. There were definitely tough moments lost in the ever-winding, always somehow different no-man's land between Crumpit Woods and Smoke Bluffs, but the energy of the race and the people around me kept me moving forward.

Crossing the finish line was a huge a personal milestone and proof to myself that I could do something I once thought was out of reach. My longest run ever, my first big trail race, and an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time.

More than anything, I feel grateful. Grateful for the friends who made training such a highlight, for the volunteers who cheered us on, for the runners who shared the trail and made it feel like we were all in it together, and for the chance to live in a place like Squamish where events like this are possible. It’s more than a race. It’s a gathering of people who love the outdoors, push each other to grow, and remind each of us why this place and this community are so special.