Ƶapp

Skip to content

Elson wins third annual 50 miler

Ƶappresident sets new course record at 50-mile trail race
Winners
Men's top finishers Nick Elson (left) and Mike Murphy take a breather after crossing the finish line.

Just call him the king of the Ƶapptrails.

Ƶappresident Nick Elson might want to get himself fitted for some sort of crown after capturing top prize in the third annual Ƶapp50 race on Saturday, Aug 16.

Elson completed the 50-mile trail run in 7:30:14, shattering the course record by over seven minutes.

He also set a course record in the 21 km race at the Loop the Lakes event back in May, proving he can excel in both long and shorter distance races.

“It feels mostly great to be done at this point,” Elson joked to race director Gary Robbins at the finish line. “I just wanted to slow down less than anyone else. But this was a great course and great organization on the trails and thanks to all the volunteers.”

Elson explained that he made a push after Quest University and didn’t relinquish his lead. He told Andy Sulak from Ultra Sports Live that he fought through leg cramps early on and that the overcast weather was a big positive.

Maple Ridge’s Mike Murphy placed second with a time of 7:40:24. He said Elson was the better man, and the 2014 Knee Knacker winner said it was a fun, but tough race.

“It was everything I’d hoped for and a real challenge out there,” he said at the finish line. “I was fighting some demons going up some of the climbs, but that’s what running a 50 miler is all about – it’s not all puppies and roses.”

Murphy said a group of five runners broke away just after Alice Lake and the top three eventually peeled away from the pack after Quest University.

“It’s a really challenging course,” he said during an Ultra Sports Live interview at the finish line. “I think everyone who runs a race like this is looking to suffer and they want the satisfaction of working their way through those low points.I knew Nick would be strong and he just killed it today.”

Elson

Vancouver’s Ed McCarthy placed third (for the third straight year at the Ƶapp50) with a time of 7:55:28.

Kim Magnus from Vancouver was tops for the women with a time of 9:14:00. The Ƶapp50 was the first 50-mile race for Magnus, who said it was a difficult race.

“This is a huge deal for me, but it’s a very, very hard race,” she said at the finish line. “I had no plans to be where I am right now.”

Magnus said Cassie Scallon had the early lead for the women, but she eventually grabbed the lead after Quest University.

“It was really, really hard,” she said to Ultra Sports Live. “It’s a totally different challenge and I definitely had to pace myself a lot more. I had a good friend running with me who knew the course, so he knew what was up and he was a big help.”

North Vancouver’s Samantha Drove placed second (9:21:52), while Scallon completed the course in 9:36:42.

For complete results from the 50-mile race, visit www.squamish50.com.

Kim

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks