5 Peaks Trail Running Series

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet with two very talented and driven people from the 5 Peaks Trail Running Series.  These two individuals, Amy and Jake, are owners and operators of a trail running series that spans Canada.  Below I have included a brief blurb directly from their website.  The goal of the meeting was to deepen the knowledge, training and athletic opportunities that are available to all Thermopyletes. 

The great people from 5 Peaks have a race coming up this Saturday and have provided us at the Thermopylae OCR with a code for a discounted youth rate.  Please follow the link at the bottom of the post for details.

Spend some time in nature with us.  5 Peaks events are more than just trail races, they are special celebrations of nature, of the hard work we put into our training, of strength, and of family and community.

Don’t be intimidated. These runs are for everyone. We welcome all competitors, whether you’re gunning to become a backcountry running champion or simply want to take on a new physical challenge, 5 Peaks is for you.

With trail running races across Canada, 5 Peaks delivers some of the best trail this country has to offer. Our events are hosted at some of the most spectacular natural spaces in the country.  Each race takes place on pre-marked natural surface trails with participants running over rocks, roots, tree stumps and logs, through mud puddles, snow and so much more.

Founded in 1998, the 5 race series originated in the Vancouver area, and attracted 600 participants over one summer.  Today, under new management, the series spread across Canada and offers participants an option of 4 course lengths, has developed an intricate network of supporting sponsors, and has realized a participation of over 12,000 racers per year.

Following true to 5 Peaks tag line, people are increasingly motivated to GET OFF THE ROAD and onto the trails. The series runs from May to September each year with each region hosting one race per month.  Each event consists of a free Children’s Challenge (50m – 1km), a Kidspeaks Timed Kids Challenge (about 3k), a Sport (5-8 km) entry-level course, and an Enduro (10-15 km) intermediate to advanced course.  Certain races will also have a half marathon distance.

Taking approximately 400 – 800 participants per race over some of the country’s most spectacular terrain, all competitors gain a new appreciation for the ease and beauty of enjoying their Region’s backcountry. The series is open to novice through expert athletes with winners in different age categories receiving points & prizing.

For anyone interested in participating in the race on Saturday, you can send out the code YOUTHRUNCLUB to get a $10 entry to the kids 3k races, which is 50% off.  All 1k races are free and registration is day of.

Here is a link to the race page:  http://www.5peaks.com/shop/sikome-lake-fish-creek-race-1

Registration closes at 11:59pm on Thursday May 12