The first weekend of May brings many things. Out on the west coast in Vancouver it’s the weekend everyone laces up for BMO Vancouver Marathon. Race season is in full swing. There is another race that happens this weekend, perhaps a lesser known one that starts on the waters edge of Okanagan Lake. The Wildhorse Traverse 50k. A trail race that starts on the edge of town in Kelowna and traverses through the Wildhorse Canyon in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park all the way down into Naramata. Some 50 kilometers away. A unique, rugged, and quite remote route, this race offers stunning lakeside views, canyon climbs, and combines a section of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail before descending past the iconic Naramata Falls, and down to the finish line. An absolute firecracker of a race that promises not to disappoint.

Our friend Tristan (Adventure partner, Vancouver ex-pat, and now Kelowna local) had raved about this race since completing it a few seasons prior. It has all the selling points, and the icing on the cake was the opportunity to visit Tristan in his hometown, which I haven’t had a chance to do yet. I was sold, bought an entry and then began to nudge a few other runners about the prospect of a Kelowna racing weekend. My brother Isaac and Cousin Ryan were on board, and with that there were 3 of us heading out for our inaugural Wildhorse Experience.

Given the short turnaround time we elected to fly out instead of driving, cutting off multiple hours there and back, and caught a 130pm flight out to Kelowna. A short hour long flight landed us at the regional airport where Tristan picked us up and we got busy working some pre race day logistics.

With the race being a point to point race, we had to drop a car at the finish line. So we piled into 2 cars and made the drive around the lake to Naramata. This year’s race ended at Manitou Park. We found a spot, left the car (and the keys…at the last second) and drove back racing to make it to package pick up before it closed. Mild stress. We arrived about 10 minutes past closing but the amazing folks from PACE running stuck around to ensure we got everything we needed and knew what race day would look like. Amazing.

We settled back at Tristan’s, had a great dinner and caught up with Tristan, and his family before taking a light evening hike to walk the dog and stretch the legs.

RACE DAY

We awoke. Regular race day jitters. Get calories in, get your race kit organized. Don’t forget anything, or at least anything important. We all piled into a cab for the 30 minute drive to the starting line at Bertram Creek Regional Park. The weather held beautifully for us. 16 degrees and a light drizzle. Race weather perfection.

The race is broken into 3 different sections (or at least how I broke it down) the first part was a 20km section that provided a mix of hill climbing, rolling trails and a steep descent to the lake for the first of the 3 aid stations (and the first cut off sweep). We started out in a big pack, no waves just a mad rush from the horn. There was approximately 300 racers making their way along the forest service road before we began climbing onto the single track. A bit chaotic for the first hour or so as there was one continuous pace with little room to pass, and stepping to the side meant losing the opportunity to stay in the pack. By 10km in the race pack broke up a bit and you could find nice pockets between larger groups of racers. Still more climbing before running along the ridge towards our first check point. We descended quickly down to the aid station and refueled. Tristan had pushed ahead, with his goal of breaking his race time from his previous finish. Isaac Ryan and I stuck together throughout the race, with the intent of getting us all past the finish line together.

We made it out of the first check point in plenty of time before the cut off, but the huge climb gave us the opportunity to see a number of racers that were getting ever closer to not making it and DNFing. The second section was a lot more generous with a lot of flowy sections after the monster climb out of the lakeside. By now the racers were spreading out across the course. We continued on pushing our pace where we could. Now at 25k, 30k the race was starting to set in a bit. Anything that felt uncomfortable before was now reminding you in a major way.

At 35k we had now the second aid station, and cut off point. All that was left was complete the course in 10hrs. We were ahead of where we thought we would be. A quick fuel up and grabbed a few rations for the trail we pushed on, descending down a fairly steep graded FSR before reaching the KVR. An old rail line that had been converted to trail. The section we were traveling was about 10km before rounding into Naramata Falls and the finish line shortly after. We were a bit gassed, but being from the flatlands back home, this section provided us a much more familiar terrain to work with. Soon we began a rhythm of sprint a km, walk 30 seconds. We are through the KVR quick and we’re off that trail, passing right through the final aid station only stopping to give our bib numbers to check in. Adrenaline pumping now, we skirted down the steep trail past Naramata Falls and blasted out to the road heading down towards the park and finish line. One final goat trail down off the high ridge and we could see the end. Smiles ear to ear we ran 3 a breast with Tristan already on the sidelines cheering us in. We did it! Wildhorse Traverse 50k in the books!

I have to say an amazing race route, spectacular views, amazing racers and volunteers. The whole Wildhorse Experience gives us something to want to come back to and explore some of PACE’s other seasonal races. Tristan, Gill, and Nat, the hospitality was second to none. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.