Second Wild Horse Traverse ultra marathon between Kelowna and Naramata takes place Saturday

The insanely difficult and challenging sport of ultra marathon or “trail running” is coming to the Penticton area for the second time on Saturday.

The Pace Trail Series is holding its second annual Wild Horse Traverse, which will take competitors 50 kilometres over tough, but incredibly beautiful terrain from Kelowna to the finish line in Naramata.

The Wild Horse Traverse will begin at the crack of dawn at 7 a.m. Saturday on Bertram Beach in Kelowna and proceed over 50 kilometres of destination trail running to the finish line at Naramata Beach, said Steve Taylor, communications specialist for the Pace Trail Series.

Taylor, who will be competing in Saturday’s event, acknowledged ultra marathoners “are a different breed” and most don’t have any interest in traditional marathon running.

“Personally, I have very little interest in traditional road marathons,” he said. “Ultras are just so much more challenging and so different from road running. The terrain we cover is so unpredictable.

“In Saturday’s race, for instance, there will be more than 2,000 metres of elevation change over the course of the race. There will be a lot of trees and rock formations we have to run around and a lot of single trail running through some very difficult terrain in the mountains.

“When you combine the natural beauty with the difficulty of the course, it makes for a very unique experience.”

The Pace Trail Series is owned and operated by race director Rene Unser and includes three other long-distance ultra marathons in B.C., said Taylor.

Last year's inaugural race was successful as participants raved about the incredible beauty and challenging conditions, said Taylor.

Unser was out marking trails in preparation for Saturday’s race and wasn’t available for comment Friday.

Saturday’s race will take roughly 150 participants from Kelowna, through Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR), past numerous vineyards and parks on the Naramata Bench and towards the finish line on Naramata Beach, said Taylor,

This event is unique from others in the Pace Trail Series in that it only offers once distance - the full 50 kilometres - and runners must feel comfortable in remote terrains, said Taylor.

"We don’t have our first aid station until almost halfway through the race at 22 kilometres,” he said. “That’s very unusual … it’s going to be a real challenge for a lot of our runners.”

While runners can expect the same quality of trail selection as other events in the series, the Wild Horse Traverse will be more challenging due to the more than 2,000 metres of ascents and descents throughout the course, he said.

Some very exhausted competitors will be treated to a special celebration at the finish line in Naramata with local wineries and craft beer companies and food vendors on hand, said Taylor.

Wine from Elephant Island Orchard Wine and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards will be available, as will craft beer from Red Bird Brewing. Brodo Kitchen from Penticton will be offering a gourmet lunch showcasing local organic and sustaintable produce, including gluten free and vegan options.

Many of the participants have been staying in and around Naramata, including many in Penticton, and they will be picked up in a shuttle bus at 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning to head to the start line in Kelowna.

“Those staying in Naramata and Penticton will be able to enjoy the finish line party once the race is finished and not have to head back to Kelowna,” he said.

A quick check of the list of participants shows ultra marathoners from all across B.C. and many points abroad will be racing in Saturday’s event.

About half the field is from the Kelowna area, but there are more than a dozen from Alberta, many from Vancouver and other parts of the Lower Mainland, one from Squamish, another from Winnipeg, a few from Edmonton, a couple from Ponoka and a few from the Penticton and Summerland area.

“There’s no doubt that this is a destination race,” said Taylor. “The Okanagan is a very popular tourist destination spot and a lot of our competitors will either be staying for a few days before or after the race.”

Unser, who grew up in the Okanagan Valley, is thrilled to add the Wild Horse Traverse to the Pace Trail Series as this course will showcase everything that makes the this region so beautiful and spectacular, said Taylor.

There will be a few “elite” ultra marathoners competing in the Wild Horse Traverse, but the majority of competitors head into each race simply to finish as quickly as possible, said Taylor.

“The race starts at 7 a.m. and I expect the top guys will be landing in Naramata around 11:30 or so,” he said. “As in road racing, there will be a significant gap between the elite runners and the next pack. We expect the majority of runners to finish somewhere between six to eight hours.”

The “cut off” for those who might be struggling to finish the race is 10 hours, he said.

Volunteers will be scattered throughout the course to ensure that everyone is safe and that those who don’t make the cut off time can be picked up and brought safely to the finish area, he said.

There are three other events in the Pace Trail Series.

The season kicked off with a sold out event called The Nimble Bear, formerly called Spring Rush, that took place April 21 in and around West Kelowna.

The Broken Goat, which takes place in Rossland in the West Kootenays, is also sold out. That event is scheduled for July 21.

The final event is called the Wandering Moose, which takes place in Myra Bellevue Provincial Park near Kelowna. This race is set for Oct. 6.

Anyone wanting more information, can go online and visit www.pacetrailseries.com.