Brief Description

The inaugural Whistler Spirit Run and Festival was a two day cross-country and trail running event that was completed the weekend of September 27 and 28, 2008 at Whistler Olympic Park. Saturday’s cross-country events include age groups from children to masters competing at distances ranging from 1km to 8km while Sunday’s 10km fun trail run was open to participants of all ages and abilities. Also scheduled for Sunday was a 10km relay event consisting of teams of four. The events were run on mixed surface trails, including gravel and bark mulch, at the cross-country ski site of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Course Information

Saturday’s cross country events and Sunday’s 10km Trail Run and Relay both take advantage of the beautiful cross-country ski and biathlon trails at Whistler Olympic Park. While the cross country races on Saturday will consist of multiple loops on mixed terrain (Spikes not permitted), Sunday’s Trail Run and Relay will follow a single loop featuring the spectacular scenery of the Callaghan Valley and the facilities of the Whistler Olympic Park.

Maps

10Km Trail Map
10Km Course Description

Cross Country Map
Cross Country Description

Event Schedule
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
Whistler Olympic Park

Event Schedule
Sunday, September 28th, 2008
Whistler Olympic Park

Prizing

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

Top three finishers in all cross country events will be awarded Whistler Spirit Run ribbons

All elementary aged participants will receive a special Run Jump Throw souvenir

Participation Spirit Prizes will be awarded to the school or club teams with the most registrants in Saturday’s Elementary and High School aged races. The elementary aged school or club team with the most participants will receive a Run Jump Throw clinic. The high school-aged school or club team with the most participants will receive a cash award to support training and competition costs.

Top three finishers in the University and Open category will receive gift awards courtesy of the Running Room running stores

Top three finishers in the Masters category will receive a special Whistler Spirit Run gift courtesy of California Cult Classics

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Outstanding draw prizes will be handed out during Sunday’s events

Top three finishers overall in the 10km Trail Run will receive gift awards courtesy of the Running Room running stores

Top three finishers in each age and gender category will receive special Whistler Spirit Run gift awards and ribbons

Top finishing team in the 10km Relay Challenge will receive special Whistler Spirit Run gift awards

Run Jump Throw

Run Jump Throw (RJT) Instructors will be on-site at Whistler Olympic Park for both days of the Whistler Spirit Run to offer free activities for elementary aged race participants and spectators. RJT is developed by Athletics Canada and presented by BC Athletics as the grassroots development program for our sport. This FUNdamentals program teaches the skills of running, jumping and throwing and the technical skill progressions for track and field events to boys and girls ages 6-12.

BC Athletics / Run Jump Throw is proud to sponsor a participation based prize – a RJT workshop (value $185) - awarded to the elementary school or club with the most under 12 registrants in Saturday’s cross country events. The winning school or club will be provided with: Half day Instruction from a certified Run, Jump, Throw Instructor and RJT Equipment bag for the 3hrs.

For more information about Run Jump Throw visit http://www.bcathletics.org/main/rjt.htmor call 604 333 3554 and make sure to drop by at the Whistler Spirit Festival and see what we’re all about!

Whistler Olympic Park Venue

Whistler Olympic Park
Whistler Olympic Park is located in the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia, just minutes south of Whistler, Canada’s premier, year-round destination. This very special world-class location was carefully chosen and developed as one of the competition venues for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We are very fortunate to have access to Whistler Olympic Park, its spectacular scenery, infrastructure, trails, and believe that this site will be a permanent “must participate” destination on the cross-country and trail running schedules of people around the globe.

Directions
The Whistler Olympic Park is located 18 kilometres southwest of Whistler, 50 kilometres north of Squamish and 115 kilometres north of Vancouver, BC. From Highway 99, the centre of Whistler Olympic Park is located 10 kilometres up the new Callaghan Valley access road.

Whistler
Consistently ranked the number one resort in North America; Whistler features two spectacular mountains, epic skiing (in-season), four championship golf courses, more than 200 shops, 90 restaurants and bars, accommodations galore, hiking trails, spas, and arguably the best mountain bike park in the world. In short, Whistler has everything you could possibly need for the time of your life – and so much more.

Whistler Village Map
Whistler Valley Map
Visitwhistler.comfor more information about the community and surrounding area

Parking
Whistler Olympic Park has a maximum parking capacity of 750 vehicles, distributed among eight designated lots. Two lots are situated adjacent to the ski jump facility, two at the biathlon stadium, and four nearest the cross-country stadium which will serve as the event centre for the Whistler Spirit Run. Parking attendants will provide guidance on-site during the two day event.

FAQ

Admission
Entry to the site will be free for all officials, volunteers, spectators, and participants. Access to specially designated areas, such as the finish chute, will be limited to those officials, volunteers, and coaches with special access permits.

Meeting Area
A specified area at Whistler Olympic Park, the Athlete’s Village, will be designated for participants, clubs, and teams to congregate and set up tents. A map of the event site, with the designated meeting area, will be available soon.

Volunteers
Get involved with the Whistler Spirit Run and bring your enthusiasm and energy along. Numerous positions are available both on and off the course. Being a volunteer is a great way to lend support to your community and help fellow Runners get the most out of the Whistler Spirit Run. If you are interested in supporting the event as a volunteer please contact whistlerspiritrun@gmail.com for more information.

Course Practice Times
Course will be open for viewing and running on Friday, September 26th. The course will be open for warm-up on both Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th up to two hours prior to the start of the first event with a designated course walk through scheduled for 10:00 AM prior to the cross-country events on the first day of competition.

Deadlines

September 20		Register before this date and you will be entered in a draw to win free accommodation for the weekend of the Whistler Spirit Run
September 26		Online registration for events on Saturday will close at 9:00 PM
September 27		Day of race registration for events on Saturday will close at 9:30 AM
September 27		Online registration for events on Sunday will close at 9:00 PM
September 28		Day of race registration for events on Saturday will close at 9:00 AM

Important dates associated with the event, such as a registration deadline, will be made public on the website and through periodic marketing emails.

Medical
A first aid tent with designated medical personal will be located in the main event stadium to respond to any medical situations.

Ashley Weber
Meet Director
604 733 6651/778 773 6431
whistlerspiritrun@gmail.com

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