2024 Island Race Series
A Primer on the Island Race Series
The Vancouver Island Race Series is a long-running tradition on the Canadian west coast. In its 43rd iteration, the series continues to draw a diverse crowd, from first-timers to seasoned athletes aiming to break personal and provincial records.
Managed by the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA), the series comprises eight distinct races, each set against the picturesque backdrop of Vancouver Island’s varied landscapes.
Spanning from January to April each year, the series offers a variety of distances, starting with the always brisk Harriers Pioneer 8K and concluding with the Bazan Bay 5K with challenging 10Ks and a half marathon in between.
The unique structure of the series allows runners to accumulate points across races, with final standings reflecting the average of their top four performances, encouraging consistent participation and performance.
This is my second year participating in the whole series. Last year, I only managed to compete in three races due to other commitments. This year, I plan to document my experience in this series as an addition to my overall training log, rather than writing separate reports for each race.
Harriers Pioneer 8K — Island Race Series Opener
Sunday, January 14 2024
Several days before the race an arctic inflow dropped temperatures to -10°C, raising concerns about potential snow or ice on the course. Fortunately, a last-minute check cleared the course of ice, and the race was confirmed the night before.
This event marks the start of the Island Race Series. Nutrition-wise, I took a Roctane gel 30 minutes before and another just before the start. My running has been less frequent lately, so it was a bit of a push from the beginning, my quads were feeling it in the last 2km. I struggled to find a consistent group to run with, which made pacing challenging.
At about 6K I realized I wouldn’t hit my sub-30 goal which was a bit disheartening, but I still managed a course PB, which is a positive takeaway. I ended up in 9th place in my division, and attending the awards was worthwhile, offering a chance to socialize and see some familiar faces.
Post-race, I’m feeling good, though I’m curious about potential muscle soreness tomorrow. The lack of a pacing strategy and the inability to keep up with a group towards the end were lessons learned.
Chip Time: 30:33 (Strava) (Startline Timing)
Comox 10K — A Misty Morning
Sunday, January 28 2024
The Comox 10K start line was covered in dense fog, making for a peaceful start to the race. After learning a few things from the last race, the Pioneer 8K, I focused on getting my fuel right this time. I started my day with F2C 5:1 and then, at the race, I got in a quick warm-up with some sprints, finishing with a GU Roctane gel.
My start was faster than I wanted, hitting 3:32 in the first kilometre. I slowed down a bit after that, and the foggy morning helped me concentrate. I decided not to take another gel during the race and just used the energy from the caffeine and the race itself.
I tried to keep up with a few groups ahead of me, using them to keep my pace up. They stayed just a bit too far ahead, but this helped me push myself. Because I’ve been running more consistently lately, I ended up setting a personal record for the 10K, finishing in 38:47 and placing 11th out of 33 in my division.
Chip Time: 38:47 (Strava) (Startline Timing)
Cedar 12K — A Fresh Challenge
Sunday, Febuary 11 2024
The Cedar 12K marked the third race of the Island Race Series in 2024. It’s located just south of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
I reluctantly took a rest day on Saturday, which proved beneficial; my legs felt fresh despite the journey up from Victoria. A productive 20-minute course warm-up, including four 30-second sets of effort, set a good tone for the race.
I almost had a near miss with my GPS watch, which connected just 15 seconds before the start, providing an early spike of adrenaline. Everyone knows if it’s not on Strava, it never really happened, so this was a relief.
Off the start, I found myself nearly leading with the front pack. However, reality set in as I drifted from their brisk 3:15/km pace. Despite this, my legs were responsive, turning over smoothly.
I realized I had an oversight in my ritual — I forgot my starting gel — which led to an abandoned attempt at consumption 1K in, following a fumble. Perhaps it was fate.
By the 3K marker, my internal monologue kicked in, simplifying the race into manageable chunks (“already 1/4 done — so almost halfway, which means I’m almost done”) a mental trick to keep the momentum. I enjoyed the course’s rolling hills, they played to my strengths, particularly the ascents, while the descents not so much.
I dismissed my planned gel at the halfway point, a decision influenced by the earlier fumble and a surprising lack of need. This choice remained unregretted until the race’s final stages, though my adrenaline persevered without it.
The return leg felt speedy, with a consistent 3:50/km effort catching me off guard. As the race neared the end, I attempted to increase my pace in response to some runners closing in behind me. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t sustain the push and had to ease off slightly.
I finished 28th overall out of 421 runners, and 6th in the M40–44 division, with a time of 45:51 (an average pace of 3:49/km). This being my first 12K race, it offers a new benchmark, comparing favourably against my 12km split from a half marathon in 2021.
A 10-minute cooldown brought a mix of relief and the onset of a metallic taste accompanied by shortness of breath, likely indicators of the effort from today.
Chip Time: 45:51 (Strava) (Startline Timing)
Hatley 8K — Muddy Race Recap
Sunday, Febuary 25 2024
Heavy rain made this course into a wet and muddy adventure, setting the stage for a race that was more about puddle jumping than PRs.
Learning from the Cedar 12K, I ensured my watch was GPS-ready well in advance and consumed my gel before heading to the start line. Opting for my waterproof Pegasus this time — to keep my feet dry — seemed like a wise choice initially.
To avoid the bottleneck experienced in 2023, (IKYMI: Pushing Limits at Hatley Castle) I positioned myself near the front. This strategy paid off until an unexpected obstacle — a large box truck — halted about 500 meters from the start, causing a minor scramble to the sides.
By the 2K mark, doubts about my pace began to creep in, particularly with the elevation coming up. However, I maintained until the main hill leading up to the Royal Roads entrance, on which I struggled.
Transitioning from road to trail at about 4K, the race took a turn. The trails, filled with puddles and mud, initially seemed manageable. However, as the race progressed, the very feature that was meant to keep my feet dry became a disadvantage. The splashing from the puddles began seeping into my shoes from the top, and, due to their waterproof nature, trapped the water inside with no way to drain.
I managed to stay upright the entire race, however I learned many did not. Nearing the finish line, the puddles became more frequent, but I managed a final sprint, narrowly keeping competition at bay.
I finished 40th out of 505 runners and 5th in my age group adding a 38-second lag from last year — a minor discrepancy given the challenging conditions.
Chip Time: 32:09 (Strava) (Startline Timing)
Sooke 10K — Sick
Sunday, March 10 2024
Comox Valley RV Half Marathon —
Sunday, March 24 2024
Race Report to come. Bright blue and sunny skies greeted the record numbers of runners for this year’s race. Some Olympians were in attendance to add to the fanfare of this spectacular event on this countryside course with it’s rolling hills.
Chip Time: 1:24:50 (Strava) (Startline Timing)
McLean Mill 10K — Skipped
Sunday, April 7 2024
Next Up….. Synergy Health Centre Bazan Bay 5K
About Dan: I’m an entrepreneur with experience in various industries, including fintech, real estate, and performance marketing. Most recently, Co-Founder and COO at Billi Labs (exit), and VP Operations at Pretio Interactive (exit).
I am passionate about endurance sport and exploring the intersection between technology, health, and performance.
