Up Chuck Challenge

Race - Jul 14, 2019

Dogs Leashed

Features Wildflowers

Race to the Top of Beacon Hill! 4.3 Miles, 1,000 feet up, as fast as you can!

Pick up your Up Chuck Challenge finishers bandana and stick around to enjoy a day of trying different outdoor sports like rock climbing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding; bike demos; a mountain bike jump jam; entertainment and outdoor exhibitors. Please note that there will be no parking at the race start at Camp Sekani Park (see below). Race parking and shuttles will be available 1-mile to the east at Pasadena Elementary.

A fast, fun race to the top of Beacon Hill above the Spokane River. $20 registration before July 8 ($25 late registration), includes an Up Chuck Challenge finishers bandana and aid stations at the top of Beacon and at the bottom at Sekani Meadows. Youre on your own for the rest of the race, so plan accordingly for the summer heat.

The race starts at Camp Sekani Park (aka Beacon Hill), on the Spokane River between Spokane Valley and downtown Spokane on Upriver Drive. Directions here. However, parking for the race will be at Pasadena Elementary 1-mile east on Upriver Drive. Park and walk/run along the Centennial Trail to the race start at Camp Sekani or catch a shuttle van running every 15 minutes between the Pasadena parking lot and Camp Sekani. No parking will be available at Sekani so plan ahead!

From camp Sekani, start on trail #30 (Up Chuck Trail) and slowly climb to the first summit. From here take trail #36 (Bastard Son). Now you get a little break from the climb and even a slight downhill on trail #24 (Disorderly Conduct), but remember youre supposed to be running as fast as you can! From this point, the route zigzags from trail to trail a bit before finishing that last bit of climbing using trail #29 (Yo-Yo). Once you reach the top, pat yourself on the back. You just ran over 4 miles with around 1000' of elevation gain!

The first annual Up Chuck Challenge trail run starts at Camp Sekani Park on the Up Chuck Trail for a fun, winding, nearly all singletrack climb to the top of Beacon Hill. The 4.3 mile-long course gains nearly 1,000 feet of total elevation, with a few dips, grunts, twists and turns to keep the mostly mellow and meandering racecourse interesting. The race is timed on the up only, with another 2.3 mile run or walk back to the start at Sekani Meadows where the 1st annual Spokatopia Outdoor Adventure Festival will be underway (beer garden opens at 10:30 a.m.).