We’re here for the amazing stories you write on this mountain!
You’re all amazing to us. The smiling faces of the folks at the front of the pack and in the back. No matter if you climb this mountain in 2 or 5hrs. We love celebrating this achievement with you and are honored you join us on this crazy adventure on Mount Ellinor each year.
We had a record number of runners racing the Skyrace (summit race) this year and had no DNF’s! We had double the number of runners running the forest loop and every runner who signed up, showed up to race it. Amazing!
We witnessed some incredible performances this weekend and here are highlights: (The historical data we compare these achievements against can be found here. One caveat to consider is that the summit race course has considerably changed over the years.)
So, with all this said we’re confident to declare we have new course records for the men’s and women’s Skyrace.
Please read it. Lots of important stuff in it.
This Saturday, August 5th will be the 13th running of the Beast of Big Creek. It’s quite a history this race has and we’re honored and proud to carry on the tradition.
Let’s start off by acknowledging that the Beast of Big Creek race up to Mount Ellinor is on the traditional territories of the Twana/Skokomish, Coast Salish and S’Klallam people. Rock Candy Running is acknowledging the tribal governments and their roles today in taking care of these lands.
We also want to emphasize that our events are for everyone, but we are 100% intolerant to intolerance. Rock Candy Running recognizes a lack of inclusion and equity in the trail running community and while we are not perfect we are constantly working to improve.
We want to thank the Olympic National Forest for granting us a special use permit for this event.
We’re super, mega, over-the-top excited to announce that our Beast of Big Creek summit race is now an official Skyrace. With 5,200ft of vert in 14miles to the summit of Mt. Elinor and back down we feel this incredible race has earned this official ‘certified course’ designation from the Sky Running Federation.
Skyrunners can now earn points toward the ISF Championships.
For questions, please reach out to race director Mathias Eichler.
Thanks for the support:
Heritage Bank
Tailwind Nutrition
REI Olympia
Kevin Hayward State Farm
Naked Sports Innovation
Rock Candy Running is insanely excited to bring the 2023 Trail Running Film Festival to the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia.
The Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour and coming to your city for a great night of films, inspiration, and community. You’re invited to celebrate with us running as a universal practice. Come explore our collective and individual potential, and let’s pursue our wildest dreams.
We’re excited to bring you stories from around the world by filmmakers sharing their work of adventure, inclusivity, wilderness, art, and diversity across the trail and ultra community.
Event: March 12th, 6pm at the Capitol Theater.
Thanks to you,
amazing Rock Candy Runners, we just planted 200 trees.
For every one of our bibs we’re handing to you on race day we donate $1 to plant a tree to help with forest fire recovery here and around the world.
You changed the world! Thank you.
Yes, Saturnalia is here!
We can’t wait to host y’all this Saturday at Squaxin Park (formerly called Priest Point Park) and the Reeves Middle School track. It will be awesome – and festive, and a bit cold!
Below are all the important info you will need:
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
Our website has all the info on how to get to Reeves Middle School. 2200 Quince Street NE, Olympia,WA 98506 is the address. Use the school parking lot to park, there will be plenty of space. The race headquarters (orange tent!) are by the track next to the gym.
BIB PICKUP
Day of racing registration ($30 – bring your friends!) and bib pickup will be available starting at 7:30am at our race headquarters.
PRE-RACING BRIEFING
We’ll have a brief pre-race briefing at 8:45 at the track.
RACE STARTS: 9am.
THE ROUTE
The 10ishK (6.2ish mile route) begins and ends at the Reeves Middle School track. The route winds its way through the school ground before heading down to Eastbay Drive and into Squaxin Park. There, we take advantage of most of the awesome trails on the upper and lower loop (Ellis Cove trail) in the park before heading back up to the Reeves track for the finish.
The race route will be marked with bright signage and ribbons.
The trails are twisty, so be careful to not lose sight of where you’re at. There are a few sections were you’ll run on a sidewalk next to a road – watch for cars. Also be careful when running through the parking lots at Squaxin Park.
There’s no cutoff, but please do not leave the course without telling us, otherwise we’ll have to send a search party.
AID STATION
At the finish line aid station we’ll have water, Tailwind and some festival holiday fair – cider, cookies! First aid is available at the aid station too, if you need it.
WEATHER
The forecast for Saturday is cloudy and chilly. This is a winter race! Prepare for the weather and be careful when running along the wooden boardwalks and over bridges, they might be slippery.
RESTROOMS AND RECYCLING
Restrooms are available for the day of the race at Reeves gym. We ask that you do your best to keep it clean and to throw all trash in the garbage cans.
Bins for recycling & food waste will be available as well. Volunteers on race day can point you in the direction to the proper receptacles.
OPEN TRAILS
The trails of Squaxin Park will be open to other trail users during the race. Please be respectful and kind and be a good ambassador for our trail running community!
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Lots of useful info on our race info page here.
Anything else? Please reach out!
Mathias Eichler
Race Director
Rock Candy Running
& Einmaleins
When we took over Beast of Big Creak we knew we had to move Little Backyard Adventure, eventually. Beast of Big Creek is a summer race, and has to be. We need to snow melted off the summit of Mt. Ellinor. The trails at LBA Park are now in much better shape allowing for winter race without racers drowning in puddles. So, with that, LBA moves to March, giving us a race in every season of the year, which is exciting. LBA will also get its single loop race back. So we’ll be offering a single loop race and the 6hr challenge.
A lot more info in the coming days and weeks as we get the website and UltraSignup ready for registration to open for LBA on December 5th.
YOU! Are. All. Amazing.
I mean… what runs, what performances, what incredible grit. Through the dust and noise, up that gnarly trail to the summit, over and over and over again.. wow! Hats off to you. I stand in awe.
Here’s what you accomplished together:
Wow!
Women took the first and second place overall!
Emily Geyman was the only one finishing 8 loops. And Rachel Craig and Brent Miller both finished 7 loops, but Rachel arrived back at the finish a few minutes before Brent, thus claiming second place!
VERT is calling your name! Let’s chase it.
This Saturday, September 17th will be the very first Rock Candy Mountain Run. And we’re so excited to have you all come out to the Capitol Forest!
First off:
We want to respectfully acknowledge that all our trail races here in the South Sound are on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Nisqually, Cowliz, Chehalis and Squaxin Island peoples
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources granted us a special use permit for the event. Thank you!
DIRECTION AND PARKING:
Our website has all the info on how to get to Rock Candy. 10517 Rock Candy Mountain Rd SW – Olympia, WA is the address. Use the main parking lot to park, there will be plenty of space.
DISCOVER PASS:
To park at the trailhead starting line you need a WA State Discover Pass.
PACKAGE PICKUP:
Day of racing registration and bib pickup will be available starting at 5:00am at race headquarters at the main parking lot at Rock Candy trailhead – orange tent!
PRE-RACING BRIEFING and RACE START:
We’ll have a brief pre-race briefing at 5:45. Race starts: 6am.
That means, headlamp start, folks! 6am is still dark out.
THE ROUTE:
The race route will be marked with bright signage and ribbons. You climb the to the summit at Rock Candy and bomb back down with a couple variation along the trail. Be aware of the runners coming toward you on the trail as you heading uphill and be mindful as you’re bombing down. Hey, give them a high five and cheer them on!
HOW WE’LL TRACK RUNNERS:
This is your race. Run one loop, we’ll cheer. Run all the loops we’ll cheer for you. Yes, there will be a stop watch running, counting down the 12 hours. We’ll have a board tracking each runner’s progress and how many loops they completed. Be sure to check in each loop to get your progress counted and tracked.
At the summit you must mark your bib with the tool provided. We will check you in upon return to the finish line. Only completed loops will count and the male and female runners with the most loops completed will be crowned Legends of Rock Candy.
AID STATION:
We will have an aid station next to the race headquarters by the start/finish of each loop. At the aid station we’ll have water, Tailwind and the usual fair of fruit, salty snacks and ramen, etc. This is a cupless race, so prepare accordingly and bring a cup or flask. Bring a camping chair!
There will be a simple self-serve aid station at the summit with some Tailwind and water, please be mindful of other runners and only use what you need to get back down the mountain.
WEATHER:
The forecast for Saturday calls for perfect racing weather. A high of 64F and no precipitation, for now. Cool, overcast, amazing!
RESTROOMS AND RECYCLING:
Restrooms are available in the parking lot area. We ask that you do your best to keep it clean and to throw all trash in the garbage cans. Please help to keep them as clean as you can.
Bins for recycling & food waste will be available as well. Volunteers on race day can point you in the direction to the proper receptacles.
OPEN TRAILS:
The trails of Rock Candy mountain will be open to other trail users during the race. This can include moto users on some sections of the trail. Be extra careful and please be respectful and kind and be a good ambassador for our trail running community!
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Lots of useful info on our race Info page here.
Anything else? Please reach out!
Yes, it was another incredible day at LBA Park and the new format was really fun and worked very well.
The full results are now uploaded. Collectively you clocked over 600 miles out there this weekend. How incredible is this?
