As you know, or if you don’t read about it here, I’m doing a 2012 calendar featuring local runners at great Vancouver Island running spots. In addition, I’ll be listing as many local races as I can. In doing the research for this, I came to find that there are tons of local races all over the Island, just about every month of the year.
This year, I was lucky enough to be able to travel for a couple of cool races, one in Vancouver and one in Seattle. I’m also going to Las Vegas at the end of this year. But I think next year, since I’ll be promoting all these great local races in the calendar, that I’m going to focus on doing those. There are a few I’ve done before, and I’m happy to do them again, but I’m also excited about doing some races that I’ve never even heard of before.
You’ll have to wait until the calendar comes out to really see the variety of races out here, but here is a highlight of the ones I’m making a point of doing:
The Island Race Series: this is a series of 8 races every two weeks, from January to April. They range from a 5k to half-marathon distance, and they take place all over the South and Central Island. I only managed to do one (the Cobble Hill 10k) in 2010, and one (the Prairie Inn 8k) earlier this year but I’m going to make a point of doing them all next year. This should be somewhat interesting since I don’t even know where one of them (Merville) is.
The Times-Colonist 10k: this is probably the biggest race in Victoria, taking place at the end of April. I didn’t do it last year because it was the same day as the BMO Vancouver Marathon, but I did finish it in 2010 with my best 10k time ever. The organizers changed the course last year, and most of the reports were that it was for the better.
BMO Vancouver Marathon: I know, I know it’s in Vancouver, but I really liked this race and I hope to do it again next year. The course was challenging, but I didn’t find it that bad until the last hill at the Burrard St. Bridge. The organizers are changing the course this year and have hinted that part of it will involve the Seawall (“hitting the wall”), although they aren’t revealing the course map until October 5.
The Oak Bay Kool 1/2 Marathon: this race takes place throughout Oak Bay in mid-May. I did this race in 2010, and although the hill at the end is a doozy, I look forward to tackling it again. This was actually my first half, so it has a special place in my heart. Last year it poured rain but hopefully this year the weather holds.
The Gutbuster Trail Run Series: this is a series of 4 trail runs, running from June through August. I have never done any of these before, but they look challenging and fun. I definitely wouldn’t be going for any PR’s with these runs; I get the feeling that finishing them will be accomplishment enough.
McNeill Bay 1/2 Marathon: this was the first year of this race, and the couple of people I know who did it seemed to like it. I admit I didn’t even know about it until the week before and I was working so I couldn’t go. I hope it happens again next year so I can give it a try.
Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon: this will be the second year that I thought about doing the full marathon, but dropped down to the half because I wasn’t training enough. I’m the opposite of a fair-weather runner; I would rather run when it’s cool or even raining that run when it’s hot and sunny. Maybe next year’s third time will be the charm and I’ll suck it up in the summer and train properly. Even if I don’t, this half marathon is fun and challenging, with great views of Beacon Hill Park and Dallas Road, if you’re paying attention.
Bear Mountain 10k and Half Marathon: this year is the first year the organizers are holding a half marathon, and I hope they get enough interest to do it next year. I’m running the Rock n’Roll Las Vegas the following week this year, so I’m sticking with the 10k. According to the Facebook page, the half route is so hard the team couldn’t finish it to get a course map up. I must be a glutton for punishment, because that seems like fun!
We really are lucky here that we have the kind of weather that allows for running, and racing, year-round. I hope you all take advantage of that and try out a few of the great races on the Island. Maybe you’ll even find a new favourite!
Do you have any local races I should know about? Which races are your favourite?
About Skye