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Whistler Half Marathon 2025

Sḵwiḵw (Whistler)

In partnership with
indigenous women outdoors partner whistler half marathon whistler x
indigenous women outdoors partner salomon
indigenous women outdoors coast mountain trail running logo salomon black x

IWO invites you to join us for the Whistler Half Marathon. Don’t be intimidated by the name. This event includes a variety of distances for you to choose from: 5km, 10km, 21.2km, or 32km.

In partnership with Salomon and Coast Mountain Trail Running, IWO invites you to join us by participating in the WHM on June 7, 2025 in Whistler, BC. This will be our third year attending this event, and this year we are kitting up and celebrating in a big way.

We extend the invite to bring bring Indigenous cis and trans women, gender diverse, and non-binary folks together to take part in the WHM with the goals of:

  • Breaking down barriers to running and participating in running events and races
  • Facilitating culturally safe, supportive, and inclusive spaces on the land
  • Nurturing healthy, balanced relationships with movement by dissembling colonial and societal pressures around why and how to move
  • Nurturing holistic health and wellness
  • Building connections and relationships

Your participation will include the following:

  • Whistler Half Marathon registration in either the 5km, 10km, 21.2km, or 32km distances
  • Accommodation on Friday, June 6th
  • Salomon Gravel Shoes
  • Aprés social gathering to connect with each other and share a meal together.

Registration and Participation Details

If this is something you are interested in, we invite you to fill out a mini application form before confirming your spot.

This event is open to all Indigenous cis and trans women, gender diverse, and non-binary folks. With a variety of distance options starting at 5km, all levels of runners (and walkers!) are encouraged to attend.

Because of the high interest in the WHM, as well as the investments made by IWO and our partners, we are asking folks who are interested in participating in this event with us to fill out an application. This process provides community members with:

  • the opportunity to share with IWO why they are interested in participating in the event, and
  • demonstrates their commitment to being there with us on the event day.

IWO will review the applications and will invite 10 individuals to complete their registration. We will aim to notify everyone 7-10 days after the application window closes.

Refundable Deposit

IWO is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization and we are dedicated to providing barrier-free access to community members for our events. We work hard to build relationships with partners who support our programming and work with organizations who help us with grant applications.

To ensure that we can continue to provide barrier-free access to our events, we will be asking the confirmed participants to provide a refundable $50 deposit. For those participants who show up and participate in the event, they will be refunded the $50 deposit.

While we understand that unexpected circumstances arise, organizing this event requires significant investment—approximately $550 per participant. In the event of a no-show, the $50 deposit helps offset a portion of these costs. Requiring a deposit ensures that those who sign up are fully committed to participating, allowing us to create the best experience for everyone involved.

Support

If you have any questions about the event (e.g., what distance is right for you?), the application, or the deposit, please reach out—we are here to support you! [email protected] and/or [email protected]

If you are unable to join the WHM for any reason, don’t worry – there will be lots of opportunities for connection on the land this coming season. IWO will also be offering beginner friendly social runs once a month starting in April where we can run, walk, and connect on the land outside of the race environment!

Application

Program Leaders

Melissa Hoffart

Program Lead

Trail Running, Hiking & Special Events

Melissa is Anishinaabe Kwe from the Ojibway Nation with unknown European ancestry. Her family is from the community of Batchewana, located within the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. She is proud to be Indigenous and is on a journey to reclaim her culture. She has taught herself how to bead and is actively learning Anishinaabemowin; she hopes that her children will grow up with these cultural teachings and can pass it on to future generations.
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Eryn Braley

Program Lead

Trail Running

Eryn Braley is a nehiyaw (Cree) woman and a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory from her Father's side, and British and Irish occupier from her Mother's side. Eryn was raised by her mom on unceded, stolen, and occupied Coast Salish territory. Growing up away from her home community and territories, Eryn is on a journey of reclaiming her identity as a nehiyaw woman by connecting with her territories, family, community, and culture.
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