2010 Tzouhalem Gutbuster Race

Earlier this year, I took part in the Gutbuster trail run race at Mount Tzouhalem in Duncan. The first of the Gutbuster series on Vancouver Island for 2010, it was a grueling race. After a winter severely lacking in trail running, the track the Gutbuster crew put together quickly showed me I had some training work to do.

The race starts at Providence Farm and winds it’s way up Mount Tzouhalem. It lulls you into a false sense of accomplishment at the beginning and then knocks you on your ass within the first 2 km of the 13. Nearly on all fours “running” up a section of the trail I overheard called “The Wall”, you eventually hit a couple of beautiful viewpoints and then the summit. Or what you thought was the summit. The trail heads down for a little bit more and then back up to the real summit. Almost completely drained from the hard climb, you start the descent at the summit and relish the break from the grind up. But wait, there’s one more ascent to do before the final downhill.

The descent will take you back to Providence Farm as fast as you, or your body and joints, will let it. The fast double and single track winds it’s way through the lush area. Almost done, the track winds into a beautiful meadow with views of the farm and then on to the finish. There’s one small uphill lurking just before the finish though so save some energy for it or you’ll be crawling to the finish!

I had on my GoPro camera for the race and put together some pieces into a video below.