In less than a week the 25th Annual Chuckanut 50k will traverse the lush foliage, slush, snow and mud of the 5,000 ft. in elevation gaining Chuckanut Mountain trails. Put on by the incredibly talented & decorated Krissy Mohl, with assistant RD, Kevin Douglas, the Chuckanut 50k promises to be an epic year, the race having sold out immediately, and the elite field stacked. Several BDP athletes and their friends will take part, namely, Maria Dalzot, Corrine Malcolm and Nikki VanderWiele, who have spent many hours in the ‘Nuts together over the past several months.
We’re geeking out over the talented gams of the elite field, and would love to share a little about them with you. For the full list of entrants check HERE.
MEN
Sage Canaday – Having debuted at the ultra distance with a 2nd place finish at the Chuckanut 50k in 2012 and thereafter racking up a bunch of top finishes in ultra distance races in 2012, Canaday, who was stacked in accomplishments before then at various other distances, enters this weekend’s race on his path towards UTMB in late August/early September. Canaday’s most recent achievements include Black Canyon Ultra 100k (1st, 2016), Western States 100 Miler (11th, 2016), Transvulcania 77k (3rd, 2016), Hell of the NW Trail 1/2 (1st, 2016), Moab Trail Marathon (2nd, 2016), North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler (7th, 2016), Hong Kong Ultra 100k (3rd, 2017). Canaday, who is sponsored by Hoka One One, has an informative youtube channel, called VO2 Max Productions, accompanying podcast, and along with girlfriend, Sandi Nypaver, coaches athletes through his business, Sage Running. Kick some ass Canaday!
Max King – Winner of the 2014 IAU 100 km World Championships and the 2011 World Mountain Running Championships; bronze medalist at the 2016 NACAC Cross Country Championships / Pan American Cross Country Cup, and multi-national title holder at distances from the 1/2 to ultras, King is a powerhouse to say the least. From Running’s Renaissance Man: An Interview with Max King, Robbie Lawless writes, “Mountains, track, trails, road ultramarathons, and obstacle courses: Max is truly running’s renaissance man.” Umm agreed…just look at the photograph of him…
Hayden Hawks – From Hoka One One’s blog, “Meet Hayden Hawks through a Game of Would You Rather,” “There is more to Hayden Hawks than just a cool name. This former Southern Utah University track athlete is quickly making a name for himself in the ultra running community. Hawks, 25, has recently signed with HOKA ONE ONE after winning his first attempt at Speedgoat 50k. When we asked Hayden about his win at Speedgoat, we were shocked to learn that signing up for Speedgoat was a last minute decision.” Hawks’ recent performances include Siskiyou Out Back 15k (1st, 2016), Capstone 50k (1st, 2016), North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler (2nd, 2016), Moab’s Red Hott 55k (1st, 2017), Red Mountain 55k (1st, 2017). 
Tyler Sigl – From Ultra Running Magazine’s, “Quick & Dirty: Tyler Sigl,” Matt Flaherty writes, “Tyler Sigl has been a dominant force in Midwest running for nearly a decade. The Wisconsin native won multiple DIII National Championships running for Wisconsin–Platteville, including the prestigious Cross Country title in 2007. Post-collegiately, he ran a 2:17:28 marathon and competed at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Team Trials before quietly entering the ultrarunning world. Sigl’s first two ultramarathon races were at The North Face Endurance Challenge – Wisconsin 50 Mile (TNF ECS – WI) in 2013 and 2014—both dominant wins in 5:38:49 and 5:27:55 respectively. Sigl is fresh off his third consecutive win at the southern Wisconsin race, and he has big goals for the rest of 2015 and beyond.” Sigl’s most recent race performance was the Mad City 50k (2nd, 2016).
Michael Borst – The young Borst won every race he entered last year: Superior Spring Trail Race 50k (1st, 2016), Minnesota Voyageur 50 Miler (1st, 2016), Superior Fall Trail Race 50 Miler (1st, 2016), all of which took place in MN – it will be fun to see how he fares on a PNW course.
David Laney – From his coaching platform, Trails & Tarmac, reads, “David Laney and his mustache make a powerful pair. A multiple-time-all-American at Southern Oregon University, he joined the Hanson’s Distance Project after serving as SOU’s assistant coach in 2011. In 2013 he was signed to the Nike Trail Team, and has worked with Nike product development and testing on trail and road footwear. David works at Steens Mountain Running Camp every summer sharing a wilderness experience with high school cross country runners.” In what we consider one of the best trail running instagram accounts, Laney captures the beauty of life on the run with his incredible photography. Recent performances include UTMB 166k (4th, 2016), Lithia Loop Trail Marathon (2nd, 2016), North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler (3rd, 2016), Fragrance Lake 1/2 Marathon (1st, 2017). A favorite of ours, we’re excited to see how Laney & his stache do.
WOMEN
Camille Herron – A 3-time OTQ’er, 20-time Marathon winner, Guinness World Record holder for racing in a superhero costume, and on track towards becoming the first woman to win a marathon in all 50 states, Herron is very active in the running community. It wasn’t until 2016 that the Nike sponsored Herron transitioned to trail running, debuting last April. Recent performances include White River 50 Miler (1st Woman, 4th Overall, 2016), Ultra Race of Champions 100k (1st Woman, 3rd Overall, 2016), Bandera 100k (2nd Woman, 4th Overall, 2017), Tarawera Ultras 102k (1st Woman, 9th Overall, 2017).
YiOu Wang – From SportMe’s, “Get to Know Elite Runner YiOu Wang,” Matt Forsman writes, “YiOu is a double threat elite having achieved success on the road and on the trail. YiOu punched her ticket to the women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in 2012 with a qualifying time of 2:38:46 (6:03/mile). As if this wasn’t enough of an accomplishment, YiOu’s made her mark on the trail as well. YiOu was the 2nd overall female at the Way Too Cool 50K in March. Even more impressive, Yiou notched a victory at the uber-competitive and uber-tough Lake Sonoma 50 (miler)…” These accomplishments took place in 2016, and were shortly followed by Quicksilver 50k (1st Woman, 2nd Overall, 2016), Western States 100 Miler (13th, 2016), FOURmidable 50k (1st Woman, 7th Overall, 2017). YiOu is also a favorite of ours and we can’t wait to see how she crushes Chuckanut.
Stephanie Howe Violett – Dr. Howe Violett lives in Bend, OR, and works as a coach and sports nutritionist. She was the 2014 Western States 100 champion, the 2015 Lake Sonoma 50 Mile champion and course record holder, and holds many other admirable decorations. Recent performances include Elk Kings 50k (1st Woman, 5th Overall, 2016), North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler (9th, 2016).
Maria Dalzot – Sponsored by La Sportiva, and member of Bellingham Distance Project, Dalzot’s in pursuit of finding out what she’s capable of physically and mentally. A registered dietitian (RD) and a Washington State certified dietitian-nutritionist (CDN) with a Master of Science degree in human nutrition and food science, Dalzot has balanced her training leading up to the Chuckanut 50k with her work. Recent performances include Fragrance Lake 1/2 Marathon (1st, 2015, 2016, 2017), Marin Ultra Challenge 25k (2nd, 2016), Yakima Skyline 25k (1st, 2016). It’s a given we’re in love with her, and cannot wait to see her strengths in action come race day.
Corrine Malcolm – A woman in great balance, of work, play, school, skiing, eating donuts and on, this babe has been training for the Chuckanut 50k with her teammates not as an end-all, but as the first race in what will be an epic summer of racing and training. In last year’s 50k Malcolm placed 5th Woman, and her recent performances include Gorge Waterfalls 100k (4th, 2016), Cayuga Trails 50 Miler (1st, 2016), Crystal Mountain Sky Marathon (1st, 2016). Good luck dear one, we’re routing for you.
Nikki Vander Wiele – Vander Wiele balances training with her work as a DPT and go-to PT for BDP. Recently acquiring a coach, Vander Wiele will put her new strengths to use at the Chuckanut 50k, which is not just the culmination of a major training block for her, but the start to a racing season full in trail and road races across the PNW. Nikki plans to leave it all on the course and have fun doing it, and we are incredibly excited to see the evolution in her training play out on race day – good luck love.
Some of our athletes will be racing at the St. Pat’s 5k in Vancouver BC the same day (March 18th), and will book it back to celebrate their teammates’ accomplishments at the Chuckanut 50k. For those of you interested in cheering, please see the Chuckanut 50k race website for details on parking, and areas on the course that you might access. Good luck to all those racing!
