The Alpenglow 100.
The 38 km is the shortest course at The Alpenglow 100 but no entry-level outing: the counterclockwise loop leaves Whiskey Fill Farm in Valemount for the ridgeline of Mount McKirdy, and nearly two thirds of its ascent sits in a single climb. Those six and a half kilometres are what your preparation has to answer.
The Alpenglow 100 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Valemount sits among the Canadian Rockies, the Cariboos and the Monashees, and the farm at the start, around 800 metres up, sits at the very bottom of this terrain. The first kilometres stay restrained: from km 1.75 the course rises steadily for nearly five kilometres, then holds at a little over 1,050 metres until km 10 with hardly any change in height.
Then McKirdy begins. It gains 1,090 metres in 6.5 km, averaging almost 17 percent, and goes up without a break. At the top the ridgeline rolls on well above 2,000 metres for a while before the long way down sets in at km 19.
That descent drops more than 900 metres in eleven kilometres, and just after km 27 a single kilometre loses over 200 metres on its own. At km 30 you are down but not done: two short ramps lift you back to about 1,060 metres before the last five kilometres fall to the farm, on the slope you climbed at the start.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.8 | 4.7 km | 6.9 % | 13.2 % | +322 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 8.3 | 0.3 km | 7.5 % | 10.4 % | +23 m | — |
| km 10.6 | 6.5 km | 16.8 % | 36.6 % | +1,090 m | HC |
| km 18.4 | 0.5 km | 10.3 % | 21.9 % | +54 m | — |
| km 30.1 | 0.8 km | 8.3 % | 13.8 % | +66 m | — |
| km 31.3 | 1.1 km | 5.6 % | 10.2 % | +60 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace The Alpenglow 100 2027.
Start under control
Plan this course backwards from the big climb, not from the distance. The rise from km 1.75 sits around seven percent and could be run briskly, but every minute taken there is one you will miss on the mountain. Keep it calm and use the level stretch afterwards for eating and drinking, not for speed.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 10.6 and km 17. On ground this steep a strong walk is the fastest way up, and something like an hour and a half for those few kilometres is no bad sign. Hold an effort that lets you start running again once you are on the ridgeline.
Spend what is left
The trap waits at the top. About 20 km remain, nearly all of it downhill, and that feels like a gift. Let go here and your quads pay for it: on the steep drop after km 27 and on the two ramps from km 30, which hit far harder after that much descending than they look. With only three aid stations out there, you also have to work out for yourself how much to carry.
Training plan for The Alpenglow 100 2027: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly five to eight hours. The effort is aerobic throughout but not even: nearly half the course is steep, up or down, and the demand lies less in short spikes than in one long, heavy stretch in the middle of the race.
Train race pace
Your key session is the long sustained climb. Build towards continuous ascents of 45 to 90 minutes on properly steep ground and practise a strong, upright power walk while you do it. If you have no mountain of that height, repeats on the longest hill you can reach or a treadmill at a high incline stand in until you can gather around 1,000 metres in one session.
Rehearse the course
Your quads matter just as much for what follows. Finish long runs with extended descents, then add short rises near the end so you know how switching from downhill to uphill feels on tired legs. That is exactly what the kilometres after the ridgeline ask for.
Arrive fresh
Early July in Valemount can bring anything from fresh snow to daytime highs around 20°C, and mountain-weather equipment is mandatory. Carry it on your long sessions so that vest, jacket and water load hold no surprises on race day. With three aid stations on this distance, it pays to train with your bottles full.
Courses
Download the The Alpenglow 100 2027 course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for The Alpenglow 100 dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about The Alpenglow 100.
How long is The Alpenglow 100 2027?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 is 38 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does The Alpenglow 100 2027 have?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 has around 1,714 m of elevation gain over 38 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of The Alpenglow 100 2027?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 is classified as Mountainous, averaging 45.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 11% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 24% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does The Alpenglow 100 2027 have?
The hardest climb of The Alpenglow 100 2027 starts at kilometre 10.6, runs for 6.5 km at an average of 16.8% and gains 1,090 metres. Cycling-convention rating: HC. 6 climbs are mapped in total.
Is The Alpenglow 100 2027 a loop course?
Yes, The Alpenglow 100 2027 is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the The Alpenglow 100 2027 course?
Yes. The The Alpenglow 100 2027 course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for The Alpenglow 100 2027?
Preparation for The Alpenglow 100 2027 should account for 38 km, 1,714 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for The Alpenglow 100 2027?
The pacing strategy for The Alpenglow 100 2027 should reflect 38 km, 1,714 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does The Alpenglow 100 2027 take place?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 takes place on July 2, 2027.
Where does The Alpenglow 100 2027 take place?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 takes place in Valemount, Canada.
Which distances does The Alpenglow 100 2027 offer?
The Alpenglow 100 2027 offers 3 distances — 38 km: 38 km; 65 km: 65 km; 100 km: 100 km.
How do I register for The Alpenglow 100 2027?
Registration runs through the organiser: trailrunning.ca. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
