I attended Golden Ears Race 2 in May as a spectator and ran it in June when the usual Race 3 venue was not safe to use. Race organizers scrambled and used the Golden Ears venue and routes again so the event won't be cancelled. I thought they did a great job of handling this by letting us know via email and Facebook well ahead of time what the new plans are. They even added extra prizes for most improved time, which was great. The venue is about an hour away from Vancouver so I recommend having access to a car or carpooling to get there. It's not transit-friendly.

As a spectator and runner, the 5 Peaks races don't disappoint. I ran the shorter Sport Course which was around 8 km. The trails are beginner-friendly but still challenging. Lots of single and double track with water crossings. Hope you like to get your feet wet! There's also a steep climb but all that hard work will be paid off by this amazing waterfall at the top. Once you reach that, it's time to descend the mountain but watch out for that final gradual incline heading back to the finish line. It doesn't look like much but on tired legs, it hurts. The volunteers are excellent, the course is well-marked, and there were lots of post-race snacks to refuel. Don't forget to check the prize table, your name could've been drawn. 5 Peaks swag is always good, this time we got a pair of Swiftwick socks. As usual there is a talented photographer there (Rob Shaer) who captured amazing photos and half his net sales this series will be going towards local search and rescue groups. Always happy to support that cause.

Definitely a must-do if you're looking into trail running!

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