Whistler UTMB 100 km 56th Birthday Race September 27-28 2025

**UTMB Whistler 100 km Race Report**

**September 27-28, 2025**

**Running into my 56th year**

The UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) is not only the name of the original race but also the global running series of which it is a part. The Whistler 100 km event had 193 starters, with 55 runners not finishing and 142 crossing the finish line.

I chose to participate in this race again for several reasons: I love Whistler, the 100 km distance wasn’t offered last year (2024 featured a 70 km race on Saturday and a 25 km option on Sunday), I needed a reason to return to the Scandinavian Spa, and it was my birthday weekend.

In the six weeks between the Squamish 50/50 and the Whistler 100 km, I didn’t do much training—two weeks of recovery, two weeks of building, and two weeks of tapering. Key runs included a 13 km night sweep at the Finlayson Arm course and a 5-hour, 26 km run two weeks prior with Claire, who was training for her first 50 km at Whistler UTMB. I also mixed in a couple of Peak Endurance Wednesday run workouts and some cross-training.

I booked a Harbour Air flight from Victoria to Vancouver to Whistler on Thursday, September 25. Last year, I flew but had limited views due to low visibility. This year, the skies were clear, offering amazing views of the mountains. Driving takes about six hours, while flying only takes two. You can’t get those views from a car, so it’s worth the extra expense.

Harbor Air Whistler landing on Green lake.

Arriving a day early gave me peace of mind. If my Friday flight had been canceled, I would have been in a bind. I also planned to see Vallea Lumina, a multimedia night walk in the forest surrounding Cougar Mountain on Thursday evening, which I highly recommend—it was an unforgettable adventure!

Polaroid shot courtesy of the Adventure Group.

Vallea Lumina Cougar Mountain Magical Forest .

I booked a dorm room at the Whistler Athletes Centre in Function Junction. I love staying there because it’s clean, comfortable, affordable, and the staff are amazing and welcoming. There's a bus stop right outside and all the amenities one needs in Function Junction, such as Pure Bread, Forecast Coffee, The Green Moustache, Home Hardware, and Functional Pizza (my pre-race dinner). It’s a bit out of the village, offering a quiet and cozy atmosphere. The cost for four nights was equivalent to one night in Whistler Village.

My favorite affordable accommodation in Whistler !

I listened to the pre-race webinar a week before and started packing while they listed the mandatory cold kit. It’s better to be prepared for cold weather than to buy expensive gear in Whistler. I packed two of everything I had: two rain jackets, emergency rain pants, three pairs of gloves (including winter Arc'teryx riding gloves), two toques, two running vests, four buffs, a puffy jacket, a waist light belt, a headlamp, poles, a Salomon run vest, Brooks Cascadia trail running shoes, a travel yoga mat, and a Hypervolt massage gun, all fitting into one carry-on. My gear barely made the weight restrictions for the comfort fare, which charges extra for weight.

**Friday, September 27**

Pre race 5 km Shake out run lead by Zach from Hoka .

At 9 am, I participated in the UTMB 5 km shakeout run from the start line in Creekside Village, followed by the pre-race meeting and package pickup. The run was a fun adventure on a mix of

paved and single-track trails, led by Zach from Hoka. I met many cool people doing either the 100 km or 50 km race. I felt the intensity as my breathing became heavy. I tested out my new purple Arc'teryx Atomic vest, but it felt too warm to race in, so I stuck with my reliable Smartwool vest, which has a patch from a mouse incident during backcountry camping.

Contemplating retail therapy at Whistler Arc ‘Teryx .

The pre-race meeting covered the mandatory cold weather kit. They mentioned that they would check our packs to ensure we had everything on the list, including a cell phone, a minimum of 1 liter of water, and an 800-calorie food source. I also carried Arc'teryx winter biking gloves, a merino wool t-shirt, Lululemon arm warmers, a toque, a buff, extra gloves, a battery for my light, a bag of peanut butter pretzels, Base Salts, Glide and Seek, and multiple servings of Tailwind powder. I also packed AirPods in case of an emergency, as well as cash and ID for a cab ride home, and the cut-offs on a piece of paper in a ziplock bag.

The GPX course map was updated that day with a few new reroutes. When I inquired, I was told, “When in doubt, follow the course markings, not the course downloaded on your watch or phone.”

The 100 km race allowed drop bags at various aid stations. During the pre-race meeting, we were informed that they had to be dropped off before 4 am on race day, which meant I needed to drop mine off on Friday evening. Better safe than sorry; I wanted to have a drop bag with extra dry clothes at the 50 km Big Burn 2 aid station .For pre-race dinner, I had three slices of gluten-free vegetarian pizza from Functional Pie and a kombucha. For dessert, I had a scone from Pure Bread that I planned to eat for breakfast.

I was in bed by 9 pm after a shower, stretching, and using the massage gun. I never sleep well the night before a race.

**Saturday, September 27 - 3:00 am**

I didn’t need an alarm to wake up. After a disappointing Starbucks coffee and a superhero muffin I brought for breakfast, I got a ride to the start line with Jason and his girlfriend Shannon, who were also staying at the Athletes Centre. It was Jason’s first 100 km race (good choice, Jason!), and Shannon was registered for the 25 km the following day. It was raining steadily at 4:20 am when we left for the 5 am start. I had my rain gear on, mentally preparing for a long day ahead.

Five minutes before the start, I uploaded the GPX route to my Garmin Fenix 7. In hindsight, my race brain may have caused me to forget to select “trail run” before uploading the course. Oh well, shit happens! The race started, and the pace felt quick for a 100 km race, especially starting uphill with my poles, which I used throughout the race.

The trails were treacherous and steep, and I was grateful for my poles. I slipped backward a few times due to the slick conditions from the rain. I felt like I was pushing harder than I should have so early in the race. My legs were fatigued, and my breathing was heavy, but I felt okay—at least I was warm. It had stopped raining, but I kept my rain jacket on as the temperature dropped while we ascended to the exposed Here’s your race report with the additional details included:

As we approached the summit, the temperature dropped quickly, and the wind made it feel even colder. I spotted a volunteer standing on the side of the course and asked if he could retrieve my Arc'teryx merino wool toque from my running pack. He kindly helped me, and as soon as I put it on over my buff and vest hood, I felt warmer. I also had buffs wrapped around my wrists to keep warm, which helped. I was trying to stay positive and not dwell on the reality of the situation.

Upon reaching the first aid station, I decided to refill my flask with Tailwind, aiming for 209 calories per hour. My hands were freezing, even with my soaked Lululemon gloves. A volunteer assisted me, sharing, “Yeah, my hands don’t work in this cold either; I have Raynaud’s,” referring to a medical condition that causes spasms in small arteries, leading to reduced blood flow, typically in the fingers.

I noticed a washroom nearby, so I went inside to warm up. I put on my winter Arc'teryx biking gloves, which I had packed after listening to a pep talk on the UTMB recap podcast. Instantly, I felt warm. I was reluctant to leave the bathroom since it was so cozy!

The Roundhouse aid station, which we hit twice, was my favourite on the course. The volunteer who helped me was a pro; she refilled my flasks with Tailwind and topped off my 2-litre water bladder. I grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and continued on my way. This loop felt familiar, my hands were warm, and I was feeling good. I ran a bit with Katrina, a woman doing her first 100 km race. We chatted for a while, but she gradually pulled ahead at a steady pace. I tried to keep up, but once we hit the downhill, she was gone. Downhills are not my strength—some young runners flew down the mountain like goats, as if it were a 10 km race. It was impressive!

Running into Max Seeley was a surprise . “ Am I on course or am I lost lol “ ?

Entering the unfamiliar territory of Big Burn One aid station, I was looking forward to my drop bag with dry clothes at Big Burn 2, located 52.1 km into the race. It was a steady single-track switchback climb with stairs. The course markings were sparse, and by this point, my GPS map on the Garmin wasn’t working. I saw a hiker ahead and asked if he was in the race. He was from Utah, hiking but not participating. Panic set in! I was sure I was off course, especially when I saw another guy behind me who also wasn’t in the race. I almost turned around when I spotted a familiar face coming toward me—it was Max Seeley, a local Vancouver Island ultra runner. I asked him if I was on the right course; he seemed just as frustrated and informed me that a group of runners had gone off course due to poor marking. (Insert selfie here.) Later, I learned that Max had also taken a wrong turn and had to backtrack. He still finished well, but it was an unfortunate situation. I enjoyed this section, but the anxiety nearly overwhelmed me.

Then it was up Heart Burn to Rendezvous Trail, descending back into Blackburn 2. I experienced three episodes of dizziness, feeling as though my body wanted to lean to the left—something new for me during a race. I attributed it to the altitude, hydration, or sodium intake. It was a bit unsettling, but I reassured myself I was okay, and it didn’t happen again.

At Blackburn 2, I grabbed my drop bag and changed out of my wet gear into a dry sports bra, merino wool t-shirt, arm warmers, buff, toque, merino wool gloves, and my Salomon rain jacket. My legs felt fine, and instantly, I felt warm, preparing for the colder night section. I decided to put in my AirPods to listen to my UTMB playlist for some uplifting motivation. After grabbing some Coke and pretzels, I headed back onto the course, which was again poorly flagged, down a logging road into the village, where a course marshal directed me into Whistler Village.

Running through the village was the highlight of the race. A woman ran alongside me, filming me, while the crowds cheered—it was exhilarating! I felt a bit envious of those wining and dining, knowing I still had a long way to go before I could enjoy a warm meal. During the race meeting, they joked about letting them know if a runner decided to veer off course for a burger and beer or a bed in a hotel.

I started to feel too warm in my rain jacket, so I stopped to take it off, only for the rain to start shortly after. I continued running along the nice paved Whistler trails toward Function Junction. Oh, how tempting it was to be so close to my accommodation at the Whistler Athletes Centre…almost home.

With more climbing and descending, it was getting dark. I kept my waist belt and headlamp on from the morning. I was running with a fellow participant from Minnesota, who mentioned he would try to stick with me on the climbs. He said he mainly trained on flat terrain and wasn’t used to much elevation. Later, I was joined by Walter (Walt Disney) Park from Kelowna, quite a character doing his first 100 km. He was hike/running with a stick, a strong runner and good descender, and I found it challenging to keep up on the downhills. Oscar (as in Sesame Street, but not grouchy), a younger runner, joined our group; he was struggling when I passed him, saying, “Only a marathon to go,” spoken like a true ultra runner.

It was comforting to have company through the night, power hiking through technical trails. We ran the flats, descended on the downhills, and hiked the hills. At the second-to-last aid station at Garibaldi, I filled up on warm broth, Coke, and pickle juice for my fatigued quads. I set off on my own, glancing back for their headlights but seeing nothing. Alone in the dark, rain, cold, and loneliness, my AirPods were low on battery. I kept reminding myself about my 9 am massage booking and a full day of thermal journey to reward myself on my birthday, just a few hours away.

Meanwhile, I was passed by another lanky European runner who was talking on his phone. I felt a pang of envy; he obviously had someone waiting for him while I was on this solo journey. I tried to keep up with him, but he dropped me like a hot potato. My Garmin clicked off at 101 km, indicating we must be getting close to the finish line.

In the dark, I was all alone, so I turned up my music as a bear deterrent—after all, they are out there. Moments later, a headlight emerged, approaching me. It was the European. I asked him where he was going and if I was off course. He had forgotten his trail running pack at the last aid station and was now running back to retrieve it—poor guy.

The last couple of kilometer’s were treacherous, with a muddy, slippery slope leading to the Creekside finish line where we started. I took a few wrong turns before I could finally see the flagging. A runner just ahead of me crossed the finish line before I did. It was the most anticlimactic finish I’ve ever experienced in a race. I received my finisher’s mug along with congratulations and a “Happy Birthday!” as I officially turned 56. What a way to celebrate! My finishing time was 21:17:46 for 101.4 km / 5703 m, and I placed 1st in my age group. There were only two of us, but we earned that finish line.

I grabbed my dry clothes bag and went into the bar to change before thinking of post-race food. It was a struggle to get out of my wet clothes in a bathroom stall. I couldn’t get my runners off to remove my wet tights, so I instead put my emergency pants on over top and wrapped an emergency blanket around my waist like a skirt.

As I walked out of the bathroom, one of the male staff members looked at me and asked, “Are you okay?” What I was thinking was, “No! Do I look okay to you? My lips are blue; I’ve been outside in the elements for 21 hours, ran 100 km, and I’m wearing an emergency blanket as a skirt!” Instead, I replied, “I’m good. Any free beer? It’s my birthday!”

I was happy to see Walter in the bar, eating chili while still in his wet clothes. I feared sitting down, worried I wouldn’t be able to get back up. After some food, Walter offered to drive me and the runner from Minnesota back to our accommodation. It was about 2:30 am, and I was very grateful for the ride back to the Athletes Village, where I could take a warm shower. I went to bed with throbbing legs, struggling to sleep due to the discomfort.

After a couple of hours of sleep, I woke up and booked a cab to the Scandinavian Spa for my 9 am massage booking and thermal journey. FYI - there is a 20 % discount at the spa during your birthday month . The massage by Martina was incredible, applying the perfect amount of pressure on my tired, achy legs. I then enjoyed an eight-hour thermal energy journey, alternating between the sauna, cold plunge, eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge, hot tub, rest, and repeat. I hydrated with fruit water and delicious spa tea—it was heavenly.

My birthday present and reward for finishing 100 km .

Photo credit : Airport insider. Scandinavian Spa Whistler, B.C.

For my birthday dinner, I dined at the highly recommended five-star Red Door Bistro. I had made a reservation weeks in advance. The meal was delicious and worth every penny, and the service was outstanding!

Red Door Bistro was amazing !!! 5 star dining experience .

This was the perfect way to celebrate a memorable 56th birthday, running into a new year with new beginnings! I feel grateful that my body is still capable of these crazy adventures at my age, and I hope to have a few more years left in the sport. Every year and every finish line is a gift.

Thank you to my coach, Matt Cecil, for guiding me to the finish line over the years.

Thanks also to Patricia Rooney, my physiotherapist and running phenomenon, for helping me get to the start line.

To Claire Watson, who placed 4th female in the 50-55 age group in her first 50 km, thank you for picking up my luggage from the spa.

Lastly, kudos to Guillaume Girard-Lachapelle for crushing the 50 km in 8 hours—boom!

A special thanks to Guilliaume , who drove me to the restaurant and gave me a ride home the next day due to a weather alert that prevented my Harbour Air flight. I got a ride back to Victoria with him and his fiancé.

To all the new friends I met along the way who helped me reach the finish line, thank you!

Thank you to Whistler UTMB and all the volunteers that stood out in the cold and rain and made this event a memorable experience ! I plan to enter the lottery for UTMB Chamonix ( fingers crossed ) . If not, I’ll be back!