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Course Description

Start- Twin Bridges Connector Trailhead (LSCR)

Twin Bridges Connector Trailhead. This is Aid Station #3 of the Iron Knee. Turn right and follow the Twin Bridges Connector trail downhill for approx. 2km until Twin Bridges. Cross the bridge and follow Fisherman’s Trail for approx. half a mile until you reach the first left. This is the Mystery Creek Trail. Take the left and head straight up (very steep) for another half mile until the trail empties out onto the Powerline Trail.

The trail is wide open and the grade is less severe for the next 600 meters until the bridge at Mystery Creek. Cross the bridge and head straight up the debris chute. This begins a long climb through switchbacks that last for approx. 3 km. Where the trail eventually flattens out, runners will reach the intersection of Powerline and the Historic Mushroom Parking Lot trail (also takes you to Ned’s Atomic Dustbin). Aid Station #1 will be at this junction.

Take the right turn and head south-east on this trail until it merges with the Baden Powell. From here the race is almost all downhill. The path is very rocky and can be somewhat treacherous to runners with tired minds and tired bodies. Focus is key here. After a mile the trail flattens somewhat and takes you onto a smoother (“wheelchair accessible”), gently rolling trail that spits runners out onto Mount Seymour Road. Look left, then right, then left again. Cross road and enter Aid Station #2.

The next 2 kilometres descend gradually and easily to Indian River Road where runners will run a 500 metre stretch of paved road. The last forest segment is just over 2km long, but somehow manages to feel like 4 due to its technical nature. After a few hundred metres this section meets a fairly confusing intersection. Stay focussed on finding the orange triangular BP markers. Turn left here, run about 20 metres up the trail and head right back onto the trail. After passing under a high powerline, you begin the last trail segment.

This is a series of very draining sharp ups and downs that can be frustrating when you know the end is so close. At this point you can hear the crowd gathered in Deep Cove. The last half-mile of the trail is a sharp, technical downhill that spits runners onto Panorama Road, 300 metres from the finish. Turn right, dig deep and sprint the last 300 metres to the finish at Panorama Park.