Running a 50 km Trail Run as a Non-Runner

• Posted on 4 September 2026
• By Jeff
• Posted in Jeff, Mount Robson, Run, Trail Running, Trips
• 0

My experience running a 50 km trail run to Mount Robson as a non-runner.

I DID IT!

Hi, my name is Jeff Currie. I’m the owner of Outtabounds, an avid mountain biker and snowboarder—and definitely not a runner.

However, I’ve been surrounded by amazing ultra-trail runners for well over 10 years. I’ve crewed my wife, Mandy Currie, on countless ultra-distance races and adventures across Utah, B.C., France, and beyond. I’ve always been inspired by her commitment, grit, and determination to conquer some of the hardest courses while somehow balancing training schedules, being a partner, a mother, a daughter, and everything else life throws at her.

So when I recently found out that Mandy and a group of her amazing running friends were planning a trip to Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia to do a day trip out and back to Berg Lake, I got the invite.

“You should come!” they all said.

My first response was absolutely not.

I don’t run. These people were all accomplished ultra-distance runners. My actual response was a little more R-rated, so I’ll leave that part out.

After a few days of thinking about it, I had a conversation with Mandy.

Could I do it?

Would my body be able to handle that kind of distance with virtually no running training?

According to Strava, I had gone on five runs prior to this adventure that summer, so it’s safe to say I’m not really a runner. I’m someone who will lace up the runners every once in a while and head out for a run.

The furthest I had run that summer was 15 km, with most of my runs being around 7–8 km. The longest run I had ever completed was a random 21-ish km run about eight years ago with Mandy along the Meewasin Trail here in Saskatoon.

According to Mandy, she thought I could do it.

Still, I didn’t want to be the weak link.

Shortly after committing to the run with Mandy, I got on the phone with Tarrant Crosschild, a local running legend here in Saskatoon. I explained that I had committed to this run, but I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to finish.

He reassured me.

He thought I could complete it—and, most importantly, he told me that no one would be left behind.

One Week Before

A week before the run, we headed down to Saskatchewan Landing to help prep the trails for the 10th Anniversary Beaver Flat 50 Ultra Marathon.

The course is FAR FROM FLAT.

I got put on a crew, and we headed out. According to one of the other volunteers, who had completed the gruelling course many times, we were working on some of the biggest elevation changes in the shortest distance on the course.

It was 36°C that day.

The terrain was gruelling. We nearly ran out of water during the maintenance day. 

We completed 7 km of trail maintenance, and I was exhausted.

At that point, I was thinking:

How in the world am I going to complete a 45 km trail run in the mountains when I’m this beat after 7 km in the prairies?

It’s Go Time

Mandy and I loaded up the truck and truck-bed camper, picked up Celeste and Rilla, and hit the road.

It was 5:45 a.m., and we had a long drive ahead of us to Mount Robson.

We met Tarrant just outside Edmonton, and Celeste jumped in with him for the remainder of the drive. Tarrant had been in Calgary for a public-speaking event talking about running, youth in running, his own personal journey, and what running has done for him.

Again—local running legend.

We arrived at the Mount Robson Provincial Park campground that evening, set up camp, and had a barbecue while staring up at the LARGEST mountain in the Canadian Rockies.

Mount Robson looked so close because it was so massive.

But I knew it was going to take a lot to get this out-and-back accomplished the next day.

We all crawled into bed.

Overnight, the rain came.

The chairs were soaked, the skies were overcast, and the ceiling was fairly low. We were nervous that the clouds wouldn’t break and that we wouldn’t get to see the iconic mountains we were about to head into.

I had said, “Guys, it’s going to be an inversion. We are going to get above the clouds.”

I was hoping I was right.

The Start

Mandy and Tarrant headed off from the campground, which was 2.5 km from the trailhead. They wanted to get 50 km that day.

This was to be Tarrant’s final long run before a 100 km race he was attending in a couple of weeks.

Mandy wanted to get 50 km because, well...

She’s Mandy.

Celeste, Rilla, and I jumped into the truck and drove up to the trailhead, passing the others on the way.

We got out, grabbed our running vests, and started walking from the packed parking lot toward the trail.

A few photos were taken at the beginning of the adventure.

Proof I was there. ;)

The first 7 km is a pretty mellow double track with a moderate incline—just enough to get the breathing really going.

We passed a few people pulled over to the side who appeared to be doing some bike maintenance. You can actually skip the first 7 km of the run or hike by riding your bike up to an area where there are bike racks to lock them up.

Winding along a fast-flowing river, the double track continued, crossing over a bridge before turning into more of a single-track trail.

On we went.

We passed the first campground, where people were cooking breakfast and enjoying the beautiful views.

And this was just the beginning.

Shortly after this point, my body was feeling pretty good. My heart rate wasn’t high, and I actually felt like running.

So I set my own pace and continued on.

Another campground.

More bridges.

Then a huge, beautiful waterfall.

At this point, I had separated from our group. They were enjoying conversation and simply being in the mountains together. I had gotten ahead—not because of my fitness, but because I wanted to move when I could.

I had no idea what the rest of the day was going to bring, so I wanted to keep moving while I felt good.

I waited for them at the next bridge.

We regrouped and continued.

The next section of trail wasn’t overly technical, and there wasn’t a huge amount of elevation change, so we pushed on.

A few switchbacks started to appear.

Then the trail became more technical.

At this point, it was becoming more hike than run.

But we kept moving.

Another waterfall.

The trail became rocky, technical, and slow-moving for the next while.

Then we reached Emperor Falls.

It was a raging waterfall that you could feel the moment you turned the corner. Our group was able to approach it and experience the true power of Mother Nature.

The mist was an incredible little cool-off.

Berg Lake

By this point, we had gained most of the elevation we would gain on the way to Berg Lake.

We were still about 8 km from our destination, but the trail became a little less technical and very runnable again.

We had arrived at the riverbed in the valley where Berg Lake is situated.

The trail became a designated crushed-rock path, with the trail builders using small boulders to create bridges across the many creeks and streams flowing through the riverbed.

The bridges felt like lily pads.

We were hopping and skipping across them like we were playing a video game.

Once through this section, we had a little more single track to go.

Then we turned the corner.

There it was.

A cabin owned and operated by the Alpine Club of Canada, picnic tables sitting on the rockbed, and countless backpackers enjoying the view.

And when you looked up, you saw Mount Robson.

This monster of a mountain was still covered in snow, with two large glaciers hanging down toward the lake.

We stopped.

Took off our packs.

Enjoyed a little break.

Ate lunch.

And had more than a few laughs.

Celeste, you are one of a kind!

The conversation turned to what the rest of the day was going to look like.

Before heading up, this had been my end objective. If I made it to Berg Lake, I would be happy.

But I was feeling good.

So I said:

“I want to hit 45 km today.”

We weren’t even halfway there.

But I figured a few extra “exploration” kilometres would probably get me to that goal.

Toboggan Falls

We decided to head up a trail called Toboggan Falls.

It was a low-angle waterfall—something that looked like you could actually ride a toboggan down.

This section of trail was extremely technical.

And STEEP.

It took us 25 minutes to cover our first kilometre.

Oh.

Wait.

Did I bite off more than I could chew?

We continued on and eventually reached a trail junction.

We pulled up the map and decided that if we went this way, we could loop around and come back toward the start of the lake, giving us a different view and a different trail.

So we continued.

This trail was far from buffed out like the others. It was grown in and clearly didn’t see nearly as much traffic.

At the top of this section, we overlooked Berg Lake.

It was a completely different view and perspective from what we had seen earlier.

You could hear the glacier sounding moody.

Loud cracks echoed across the valley.

It only happened a few times, but it was absolutely captivating.

We eventually ended up back on the main trail we had come up on and started our mission back down.

I was still moving.

I had hit a new personal best, so every step felt like an accomplishment.

My watch buzzed every 5 km. I had changed the setting from every 1 km because I thought seeing those kilometre markers might become mentally exhausting when I was so far from my goal.

At the 30 km buzz, we were nearing one of the waterfalls.

I let out a:

“WOOOO! 30 KM!”

At this point, we were into the steep, technical terrain that had us walking on the way up.

I watched Mandy RIP down it like she was a billy goat.

Her arms were out like she was flying through the terrain.

I was moving much slower, conscious of every foot placement, but still trying to “run.”

A couple hiking with their dog passed us and said:

“You need to catch her!”

My honest response was:

“I can’t.”

Mandy held up shortly afterward, and we had a little laugh about it.

WOW.

Watching her run that terrain was incredible.

Just Keep Moving

At this point, my body and legs were getting a little more tired.

We continued moving, filling up our water bottles in creeks whenever they were available.

We used filters to make sure no one got sick.

Mandy tells me she drinks straight from them during races.

She is definitely tougher than I am.

We passed a few more campsites.

A few more bridges.

All things we had already seen earlier in the day.

Keep moving.

I kept telling myself that.

And somehow, my body continued to feel pretty good.

We were now at the bike racks.

ONLY 7 KM TO GO.

Normally, my brain would think:

Seven kilometres? That’s a run for me.

But that day, it felt like we were almost done.

The double track was graded in our favour, with some small climbs along the way. I would power-walk the ups and run the flats and downs.

Eventually, I reached the trailhead parking lot.

Just shy of 45 km.

So I did what all you crazy runners do.

I kept going until I hit that 45 km mark.

I hit it.

I DID IT.

But after a bathroom break at the bottom, I saw Celeste at the truck waving me over. She was sitting in the passenger seat.

I walked over and said:

“I’m going to run to the visitor centre. It’s 2.5 km away!”

So I continued.

200 metres.

500 metres.

Walk for a bit.

Run.

Walk.

Run.

Then I saw Tarrant, Mandy, and Celeste running back toward me.

“You’re doing great! We’re heading to the visitor centre to get Wi-Fi so we can upload our Strava and call the kids.”

I looked at them and said:

“I’m going to run to the campground across the highway.”

Mandy responded:

“You’re not going to get 50 km to the campsite.”

I knew this.

But she didn’t know that I was planning on doing a couple of loops around the campground.

I’M GETTING 50 KM.

I had told myself that.

I reached the campground.

Drank half a can of Coke.

And continued moving.

Run.

Walk.

Run.

Walk.

I came around the corner and saw Mandy and Celeste walking away from me.

So I chased them down.

“I DID IT!”

I explained what I had done.

Mandy responded:

“You got 50 km?”

Celeste laughed.

“He’s just like you. Can’t not hit the target.”

We all laughed.

They continued toward the showers.

I walked back to the campsite, sat down in my chair, and closed my eyes.

I DID IT.

50 kilometres.

Me.

The guy who doesn’t run.

The guy who thought 7 km of prairie trail maintenance was going to break him.

The guy who didn’t think he could keep up with a group of ultra runners.

The guy who just wanted to make sure he wasn’t the weak link.

I DID IT.

Gear Recap:

Salomon Ultra Glide 4 Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Roark Boomer 3.5 Short Roark Boomer 3.5 Short

Mons Royale Ultralight Merino Tee Mons Royale Ultalight Tee

Mons Royale Atlas Sock Mons Royale Atlas Sock

Coal Rambler Tech 5 Panel Hat Coal Rambler Tech 5 Panel Hat

Salomon S/Lab Ultra 12 Vest Salomon S/Lab Ultra 12 Vest

Smith Wildcat Sunglass Smith Wildcat Sunglasses