Sun Peaks Resort hosted the second annual Run Like a Girl Top of the World Ultra June 27, raising over $1,500 for the Sun Peaks Mountain Rescue Society. Folks from all over travelled up to the village to participate in the race with 17, 28 and 50 kilometre routes around the mountain. 

The shortest route took runners from the bottom to the top of the Sunburst Express Chair Lift with a 673 metre ascent and back down to the village through the Valley View Trail. 

With a 1,164 metre ascent, the 28 kilometre route led runners from the bottom of the lift up Mount Tod with a summit of 2,130 metres, and back down to the bottom of the lift via the Valley View Trail.

The vigorous 50 kilometre route took runners across all three mountains in Sun Peaks. Starting in the Main Village, the route went to the summit of Mount Tod, Orient Hill, Little McGillivray and Mount Morrisey ending back at the base of the lift. 

For some, the event was planned, but for others the thrill of the run came spontaneously. 

Sun Peaks liftie Gabi Dinn signed up the night before the event and this race was her first time completing a 50 kilometre run. 

“I haven’t done this distance before, so it’s just kind of like convincing myself that I could do it,” she said. “On the trail I was like ‘I can do this, I can do this.’”

The support of friends and the community is what inspired Dinn to take on the challenge. 

“I was like, ‘well, it’s a race and people are supporting you, so do the distance while you have support,’ you know?” she said.

Throughout the trail, there were water and first aid stations for runners to have a quick stop, hydrate and cool down. At the end of the race, Sun Peaks Resort had a tent with drinks and snacks for the runners with a Run Like a Girl tent for folks to purchase merchandise after the event. 

The Run Like a Girl Top of the World Ultra has five other events in the lower mainland with Sun Peaks the highest elevation of all the trails. 

“[Sun Peaks] is just a spectacular venue, like the top you’re getting a great view,” Diana Walters, Run Like a Girl event coordinator said.

Folks from Sun Peaks came out to volunteer with some of them starting at 5:30 a.m. and staying until take-down.

Taking home gold

Osmin Zelaya Alvarado took home the top prize in the 50 kilometre race, noting the elevation as a key hurdle. 

“I think the challenge is always going uphill, uphill,” he said.

Finishing was a win in itself for Alvarado, but to come in first with a time of five hours and 51 minutes was an even bigger one. 

“I feel good, I’m tired, but I feel proud of myself.”