PORT ANGELES — The Big Hurt multi-sport race is celebrating its 10th year of the “revived” event, and organizers and athletes alike are reflecting on the enduring spirit of this iconic Pacific Northwest event.
The Big Hurt is composed of a mountain bike race that begins in the mountains above Port Angeles, a kayaking leg through Port Angeles Harbor, a 30-mile road cycling leg to the Elwha River and back and a 10K run.
The Big Hurt originally began in 1997, conceived by the North Olympic Peninsula Convention and Visitor Bureau as a way to attract new tourists to the area. The director of tourism and marketing at the time, Kristi Agren, was, and still is, an endurance athlete herself, so knew a thing or two about what gets people excited to travel to a race.
Designing and starting a race from scratch is a huge undertaking, but Agren had help from the community. Bill Rowland, Sue Taylor, the late Mike Van Doran and Wayne Fitzwater are just some of the local athletes who worked with Agren to help come up with the courses.
“When we first organized the Big Hurt, we wanted to create something that truly captured the spirit of adventure on the Olympic Peninsula. It was tough, scenic and a little wild, just like the place itself.” Agren said. “I still laugh thinking about how Bill initially said it would never work. He kept listing all the things that could go wrong. But somehow, we pulled it off, and it worked better than we ever imagined.”
The race was unique in the multi-sport world, drawing competitors from across the region and earning a devoted following. For several years, the Big Hurt served as a signature event for the Olympic Peninsula’s outdoor and athletic communities. However, in 2004, the race went on hiatus, and for a time, it seemed the Big Hurt might become just a footnote in multi-sport history.
That changed in 2015, when local athletes and organizers Tim Tucker, Scott Tucker and Lorrie Mittmann revived the race in a reboot that honored its origins while modernizing the course and operations. Since then, the Big Hurt has roared back to life, drawing hundreds of solo and relay participants each year and once again becoming a premier athletic event in the region.
“The Big Hurt is more than a race — it’s a tradition that’s woven into the outdoor identity of Port Angeles,” Mittmann, the current race director, said. “From its original launch in the ’90s to the current-day revival, it’s been about challenge, community and connection to this beautiful place.”
Community effort
Besides Mittmann, the race committee is made up of local people who believe in the event and what it provides for athletes and the community. The committee includes Tom Michowski of Bike Garage, who manages the race transition area, Tucker from the NW Cup downhill race, who manages the mountain bike leg of the race, and Kirsty Massingham of Performance Care Massage, who manages the road bike leg. Also on the committee are Vicki Heckman and Bruce Munro who manage the kayak leg, and Steve Bentley, owner of Norpoint Medical, who manages safety and security for the event.
This race is also supported by more than 50 community volunteers, and the committee is grateful for additional assistance from many groups, such as the Port Angeles High School NJROTC, the Community Boating Program, the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Angeles Police Department, Clallam County Sheriiff’s Office, Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association and the Olympic Peninsula Paddlers, who work to take care of the athletes during the race and watch over their enjoyment and safety.
The race also wouldn’t be possible without sponsorship from local businesses and tourism grants from the Visitor Bureau and local jurisdictions, Mittmann said.
“Our volunteers, racers and sponsors return year after year. All of this community support means that these people feel that investing time and money into Big Hurt benefits our quality of life, health and economy here on the peninsula,” she said.
“To see it still going strong for the 10-year anniversary, with the same energy and passion, is incredibly rewarding. If you’re looking for a multisport challenge with jaw-dropping views and a fun, welcoming vibe, this is the one,” Agren said.
This year’s Big Hurt will be held Sept. 27. To register, people can visit www.BigHurtPA.com.
