Squamish 50/50 - 50 miles + 50 km August 16/17 2025 13th edition - No Poles , No Pacers

My goal was simple: finish and enjoy a new challenge.

Why I Signed Up
Three reasons:
1. I’d never done a Gary Robbins race.
2. I’d never raced in Squamish.
3. I’d never done this race before — it’s always been on my bucket list, and it sells out fast. Now I understand why.

Sara Li ( middle ) after crushing Fat Dog 120 miler . Pacer (left) Sabrina Meng

I’ve run back-to-back races before (cue evil laugh). I’d run 50 miles before, but never followed it with a 50 km the very next day. Training was consistent: weekends stacked with long back-to-back trail runs to prepare for “running on tired legs.”

The weekend before, I paced my friend Sara Li at Fat Dog. She was running the 120 miler (which she crushed in 46 hours), and I joined her for the last 17 km — Strawberry Flats to the finish, cresting Skyline at sunrise. It gave me a chance to test my new Brooks Cascadias 18s and Petzl IKO headlamp. I was still recovering from a bad head cold, but we got the job done. Congrats, Sara!

Friday – Arrival

David Marlor volunteering on the 50 mile Intergalactic section of the course .

I drove up with my friend David Marlor, who was volunteering for the race. The weather was rainy and grey. We needed the rain, but I was anxious about the idea of being soaked all day. Still, you can’t control the weather, only how you respond. I packed every piece of rain gear I had — rain or shine, I was doing this. I even skipped my usual shakeout run since it was pouring, and I only had enough running clothes for two days.

We camped in David’s Westfalia at Klahanie Campground. After a short walk to Shannon Falls and pizza at Joe’s Pesto Woodfire, I browsed a second-hand bookstore next door, picked up a book, and settled in.

Alarm set: 3 a.m
Saturday – 50 Miles
3:00 a.m. – Coffee, gear, and a scone from Pure Bread (not my usual race breakfast, but tasty). David dropped me at the runner bus before heading to his volunteer shift at Alice Lake.

On the packed 4:30 a.m. bus, I felt a bit lonely until I spotted Jed and his daughter Chloe, also doing the 50/50. Always nice to see familiar faces.

Gary Robbins, buzzing with Energizer-bunny energy, gave the pre-race briefing, and at 5:30 a.m. sharp we were off, headlamps bobbing into the darkness.

Early Miles
The race started on flat roads and easy trails weaving through Squamish. It felt almost like a road race, a nice way to warm up. I fell in step with a woman named Cory, a past 50/50 finisher. Her advice stuck with me: “Be conservative. Don’t burn all your matches on Day 1. Focus on today, not tomorrow.”

At Alice Lake we hit the technical singletrack with cheeky trail names like Midlife Crisis and Man Boobs. I hiked the climbs, ran the flats and descents, and found myself leapfrogging with Patrick Wheatley (also doing the 50/50). He flew past me on downhills while I caught him on climbs — the classic trail runner dance.

The weather shifted between warm, humid rain showers and dry spells. Aid stations were fantastic, stocked with Naak hydration, waffles, and all the usual fare. I stuck mostly to caffeinated raspberry Tailwind, my tried-and-true. The Far Side aid station was my favorite for its energy.

The Climb: Galactic Scheisse
The highlight — and beast — of the day was Galactic Scheisse: 1,000 meters of climbing over 4 km, topping out at 3,300 feet. It was muddy and brutal — at points I was literally sliding backward on hands and feet. Almost comical, if it hadn’t been so exhausting.

Later I hiked alongside Daniel, an RMT nursing ankle issues. We debated whether it’s ever wise to “run through the pain.” His conclusion: “The runner in me says yes. The therapist in me says… maybe not.”

Almost there ! Really 83 km not 80 km lol.

Finish – Day 1
The last 3 km rolled into town on pavement. I finished in daylight, crossing in 14:45. Gary greeted me at the line with a medal and a grin: “See you tomorrow?”

“Yes,” I laughed. “If my body agrees.”

At the finish, my left knee throbbed, swollen and stiff. After forcing down a veggie burger and icing it, I hobbled back to camp. A hot shower was heaven.

David worked on my legs with the Hypervolt (best investment ever), while I rubbed prescription-strength Voltaren into my knees and ankles. Crawling into my sleeping bag, I was buzzing with caffeine and sugar, making sleep elusive.

The mystery of my blurry vision was solved: turns out I’d only put in one contact lens that morning.

Sunday – 50 km

50 km start . The 50/50 competitors were at the back .

David was up at 3 a.m. to move the Westfalia to Alice Lake for parking duty. My alarm didn’t go off until 5. Rock star parking meant all I had to do was pull on my shoes and get ready. Coffee in hand, I felt surprisingly relaxed. I even took two Advil (not my usual routine) just to take the edge off my sore knee.

I’d considered switching to lighter Brooks Catamounts, but stuck with the Cascadias for their grippy lugs — a better choice for mud.

Patrick - start of the 50 km of the 50/50

The sun was out at Alice Lake. At the start line, I chatted with other 50/50 runners — including Patrick, who seemed in good spirits. The 50 km cutoff was 10.5 hours, so I knew I’d have to move well.

On the Trail
The course opened on a road section before diving into familiar singletrack. My body felt shockingly good — knees solid, energy high, and mood bright.

I’d dreaded climbing Galactic Scheisse again, but the race was rerouted (the 50 miler had torn it up). Instead, we got a gentler singletrack climb. Relief!

I power-hiked with Tanner, a runner from Fat Dog 120 in 2023. He reminded me we’d shared miles on the Heather section (I didn’t recall — ultra brain!). Eventually, he and his friend flew past on the descent and were gone.

Patrick and I leapfrogged again until I lost him near Cap U. (I later learned he had issues at that aid station but finished strong.)

I felt confident on the technical descents I’d run the day before — picking good lines, cautious but steady.

Drama on Course
At one steep descent, I saw Kevin (also doing the 50/50) trip hard and launch Superman-style into the rocks. My heart stopped. Thankfully, he was okay, and we ran together to Far Side, where the volunteers cheered so loud I almost cried.

Not long after, chaos. I heard shouting ahead — a runner warned: “There’s a bear!” A mom with two cubs blocked the trail. Bushes rustled, adrenaline surged. A runner with a GoPro was filming a documentary and caught it all. I never saw the bears directly, but the fear was real. We stuck together, then bolted up the climb until clear.

Nicole, another 50 km runner, tucked in behind me after that. She told me I was setting a good pace, so we stuck together. My legs started to wobble on descents, but the camaraderie helped.

We laughed at the endless wooden staircases on the trail: “Who put these here?”

Finish – Day 2
Finally, the road appeared — 3 km to the finish. I was running on fumes but knew I’d make it.

I spotted David before the line, then Gary again with his trademark enthusiasm: “You did it! You didn’t think you could, but you did!”

Tears welled up as I crossed. Gratitude. Relief. Pride. Mostly gratitude that my body carried me through this beast of a weekend. I promised myself I’d rest, nourish, and recover.

Final time: 25:03:21 – good enough for 3rd place in my age group (50–59). That podium spot was the cherry on top of an unforgettable weekend.

50/50 done ! Love the finishers hat Gary Robbins !

Reflections
The Squamish 50/50 did not disappoint. For me, it’s one of my all-time favorite races. The course, the aid stations, the volunteers, and of course Gary Robbins — 10/10. He truly knows how to put on an unforgettable event.

To top it off, I finished in 25:03:21, which landed me 3rd place in my age group (50–59). That podium spot made an already incredible experience even sweeter. If this race isn’t already on your bucket list, add it.

Thank Yous
- David Marlor – for your support and volunteering
- Coach Matt Cecil – for guiding me to countless finish lines
- Peak Endurance crew – for those Wednesday morning workouts
- Nicole Ballard – for the great pre-race haircut and color

Patricia Rooney- Physiotherapist and Trail runner extraordinaire-thank you for your help getting me to the start line .

Photo credits: Jelmer Shoeck and Scott Robarts for the great race day photos !

What’s Next
UTMB Whistler 100 km – September 27. My 56th birthday weekend race. Not sure what to expect, but I’m looking forward to it.