I had no internet access for a few days before the event, and convinced myself it wasn’t happening and that, though I was staying nearby (at the Whistler RV park, which is situated among huge trees and has fabulous views), I was fine with it. I knew the event director had been awaiting a baby, and they had had a stand-in from Richmond the week before. It seemed unlikely they could do that a second week in a row. But BC liquor stores offer free wifi, I logged on while standing around waiting, and to my great and unbounded joy, the parkrun’s Facebook page had a simple “don’t forget parkrun tomorrow!” message.

The sun came out in celebration, too, so I had a Friday beer in the sun at Pemberton’s legion club to mark it properly.

I chatted before the start, then dashed off for a quick warm-up at 8.45, so missed most of the run briefing. The course is simple enough, though. Out and back on the left side, bottom to top, then on the way back there’s a left turn to take the loop round the lost lake. No marshals needed, but plenty of cones set out for peace of mind.

It is a glorious run, through wide paths with huge trees stretching up to point at the sky. Not an easy one, though. Undulating is a good word for it. In fact, it felt like it was mostly uphill on the way out, but then that left turn made it not a simple downhill on the way back, introducing more undulations. I was still able to chase down the front runner, a youngster there with his family, but he ran away from me at 4k. We would have had company, but two front runners became one, thanks to an errant shoe lace.

Other runners along with dog walkers and cyclists were out using the paths, giving it a festive and friendly feel. Visitors from Sacramento were enjoying the cool, even drizzly, weather as much as the running, though our conversation ended naturally at the comment “I’d like to move to Squim, Washington; California’s too liberal for my tastes”. The course was good enough that I ran it again, taking in the smells and sights once more.

Wonderful, no matter what the weather is doing, though the lake and surrounds would look more beautiful with the sun and 30 degrees they had a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t see such weather in Whistler, more cool (cold) and overcast with occasional rain and more occasional sun. It is still a chocolate-box town, though, with new developments scattered up and down the mountain, and spending for the winter olympics obvious. Well worth a visit; and if you bring a tent, it needn’t be ruinously expensive.