BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – To many people, running is simply a form of exercise. 

Whether on a treadmill, through their neighborhood or on a trail in the woods, people are running regularly now more than ever. According to Krissy Moehl, people have been running ultras as long as they have put one foot in front of the other. It is a huge part of indigenous cultures, and the sport has strong roots all over the world. 

Ultrarunning is the sport of running long distances like ultramarathons, defined as a race longer than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers). 

Here in Bellingham, the Chuckanut 50k race is a 50-kilometer (31-mile) ultramarathon that pushes runners through a 5,000-foot elevation gain through the Chuckanut Mountains.  

For 23 years, former professional ultramarathon runner Krissy Moehl has spent her time as race director of the esteemed race. 

Moehl celebrates her first year as Race Director of the Chuckanut 50k in March 2003. Courtesy of Krissy Moehl, photo by Glenn Tachiyama.

Originally from Skagit County, Moehl spent her early years after graduating from the University of Washington (UW) trying to prove to herself that the Pacific Northwest was not her home. But after traveling around the world and running countless races along the way, she quickly realized that Bellingham was her one true home. 

“I make the joke that I love the B’s like Bozeman, Bishop, Bend, Boulder and Bellingham,” said Moehl. “And they kind of all have a similar vibe.” 

Moehl ran cross-country for UW, but decided not to run her senior year as she found a new, up-and-coming community of runners who called themselves “ultrarunners”. This group of athletes ran distances longer than Moehl had ever raced before and quickly realized that she needed to transition to this new side of racing. 

In 2000, Moehl ran the Chuckanut 50k for the first time and won the female division. 

An eye-opening experience, she then spent over 20 years as a professional ultrarunner. In 2005, Moehl was the youngest woman to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning. Consisting of the four oldest 100-mile races over 11 weeks, she completed the feat and still holds the record for the second-fastest woman to ever do it. 

Throughout her career, Moehl ran and won races internationally in China (Gaoligong by UTMB), France (UTMB in Chamonix), Japan (Mount Fuji) and more.

After all of her success in the ultrarunning world, Moehl consistently came home to Bellingham and fulfilled her duty to ensure that the Chuckanut 50k was the best it could be. 

Courtesy of Krissy Moehl, photo by Glenn Tachiyama.

Moehl discovered quickly that this race was not just another ultramarathon, but a community-based event that was held close by runners in the area. 

“There was such ownership by the community of the race, it was one more reason I fell in love with living in Bellingham.” Moehl said.

For this year’s race, 900 people have signed up to see if they can complete the 50k course. For comparison, Moehl’s first years running and directing the race hosted anywhere between 80 to 120 racers. 

Moehl says that around 50% of all racers are from anywhere between Seattle and British Columbia, with the rest of the racers traveling to Bellingham from the east coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado and other parts of the U.S. 

“[The] Chuckanut is a local race, but it’s populated by people from all over the world,” said Moehl. “I love that those two, like the ultra running community and the international community I’ve experienced through all my racing are represented in this little town that I live in.”

Moehl with her dog, PD. Courtesy of Krissy Moehl, photo by Ben Groenhoet, Page Street Publishing

As the Chuckanut 50k nears, Moehl and her team are looking to fill volunteer positions all around the race course. Anyone interested in volunteering at this year’s race on March 15 can sign up at the Chuckanut 50k website.

We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.