Salomon’s 50 Mile Trail Ultra and Relay combines the beauty of Whistler’s high alpine, it’s vibrant village life, and a mid-race Peak2Peak crossing making it one of the most unique trail running races in the world. 

WHISTLER, BC – September 2, 2012 – The first ever Salomon Meet Your Maker 50 Mile Ultra and Relay hosted by renowned 5 Peak Adventures and timing/data presented by Suunto was met with perfect weather, highly motivated athletes, and the joy, pain, sweat, and victory dealt out by a grueling 50 mile course.

With a 6am start from Whistler’s beautiful Olympic Plaza solo runners and relay teams began the awe-inspiring marathon and relay race into Whistler’s alpine and through some of the most pristine trail-running routes in the world. With 90% of the course winding and climbing its way through single-track trails, it navigated the giant trees of BC’s West Coast rainforest and took in the stunning vista’s from Whistler’s Coast Mountain alpine.

“I couldn’t be happier with how things ran today,” comments course manager Chris Kennedy of 5 Peaks Adventures who spent hours mapping and flagging the Meet Your Maker course. “It was a difficult course over challenging terrain but it was well marked, our team of volunteer course marshals came through for us, no racer lost their way, and everything went according to plan.”

Greeting athletes to this inaugural event were perfect trail and weather conditions, fully stocked aid stations throughout the course, and a race/event experience rivaling the best. The fastest time of the day went to British Columbian Mike Murphy with a blistering time of 8:31.10 followed by Phil Villeneuve (AB) and Mark Bennett (BC) who were only minutes behind.

Vancouverites swept the women’s podium with the fastest woman being Kathy McKay with a time of 9:52.26. Next up was Marieve Legrand who clocked in at 10:52.54 followed by Chloe Gendron with a time of 11:19.21.

Winner Mike Murphy commenting on the race, “I’m really, really proud of how I ran the Meet Your Maker. The course was a lot tougher than I expected, it was really tough – especially legs five, six, and seven. I worked really hard but Mike and Phil pushed the pace the whole race and we came in within ten minutes of each other. It was a real race, a super contest.”

With seven distinct legs to the Meet Your Maker course, a relay served as a popular addition for race participants not wanting to run solo. Athletes formed teams of up to seven to compete in what would prove to be a race ripe with strategic moves as different team-members covered ground most suited to them. The fastest team of the day, Witness the Fitness, clocked in with a time of 9:04.09 and were all smiles as they recounted their winning race-day.

With the inaugural Meet Your Maker 50 out of the way, organizer Chris Colpitts is already looking forward to next season’s event. Focused on ensuring tight logistics and a well run event this year, next year’s Meet Your Maker 50 is all about attracting more high caliber athletes and relay teams to what is sure to be another successful and elite event. Salomon’s Mark Van Beek who also competed as part of a relay team was very pleased with the event. “The event was amazing. The staff who put the event on were incredible, it ran smoothly, and it was one of the best events I’ve ever been to,” says Van Beek.

If you haven’t already, mark your calendars and free your weekend to be at next season’s Meet Your Maker 50 in beautiful Whistler, BC. Next year’s race-date is September 1, 2013 and race entry’s are limited to 1300 participants. For more information please visit www.meetyourmaker50.com

Follow Salomon Meet Your Maker 50 Mile Ultra & Relay on Facebook and Twitter