RIDE 542 TO ARTIST POINT

It's probably too late to start training for this Sunday's Ski to Sea race (prolly), but you've still got three-and-a-half months if the 10th Annual Mount Baker Hill Climb (Festival 542) is your goal. And with the D.O.T. announcing that this summer they'll plow the road all the way to Artist Point, R.D. Charlie Heggem and the hundreds of riders who make this their Bellingham World Championships have got to be stoked.

This year's race--24.5 miles from Glacier to Artist Point with some 4,200 feet of elevation gain; 3,000 of that in the last 10.5 miles--takes place Sept. 9. But as the name implies, Festival 542 is more than just one race. There're cyclocross races out at Silver Lake Park the day before (Sept. 8), as well as an 8.5-mile running race (mostly uphill) later that same afternoon.

Sunday's offerings are myriad too. Along with various divisions: recreation, competitive, etc., there's also the 100-mile U-DUMB (Up Down and Up Mount Baker)--Glacier to Artist Point and back. Twice. (Yikes!) Check the website for schedules and registration fees. Then, get training!