Runs

ON THE RUN IN… VICTORIA

June 25, 2010
By Rich Lehman

It’s difficult to go anywhere in Victoria without finding a running trail. Downtown, beautiful Beacon Hill attracts many runners, as does the inner harbour. One of the first things you’ll notice as a visitor is the number of people out running and cycling - there’s an athletic environment that’s contagious. Victoria also boasts a near-ideal climate for running - it’s rarely too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.

Here are a just a few of the great running routes in the area:

SHORT - 4-7K

UVic Alumni Trail

This route takes you along the stomping grounds of the University of Victoria Vikes (and my alma mater). Starting at the Commonwealth Stadium, this relatively flat and mostly gravel trail winds around one of the most beautiful university campuses in Canada. Sticking to the trail brings you around the campus and back to the track in about 4K, but continuing straight along Cedar Hill X Road adds a few kilometres. If you choose to go this way, you’ll enter the “dog field” on your left -a large open field with an old orchard in the middle. Looping around the field, keeping the orchard on your left, take the turn into Mystic Vale - the treasure of the Vikes varsity cross-country and track teams. It looks like a scene from Jurassic Park. The trail only runs in one direction and will take you up the only hill on the route, past the UVic residences and connect back with the Alumni Trail. This picturesque route is one of UVic’s greatest recruiting tools.

MEDIUM - 10K

Elk and Beaver Lake Regional Park

This is one of the simplest running routes you will ever find. Beaver Lake Regional Park offers easy access; just drive north along the Pat Bay Highway (Hwy 17) and turn left at the Haliburton Road traffic lights. The park is a few hundred metres down Elk Lake drive. Simply referred to as “the lakes,” this loop is 10K around and each kilometre is marked. The trail is clearly marked and there will almost certainly be other runners, cyclists and horseback riders around. The route is almost completely flat, and other than a short paved section, it’s on gravel and dirt trails. Go on a Sunday morning and you might spot Olympians Gary Reed, Jon Brown or Simon Whitfield out for a run.

LONG - 29K

Lochside Regional Trail

A 29K trail that works best as an out and back, the entrance to the best running sections of the Lochside can be found by going east on Cedar Hill X Road to Lochside Drive. Meet up with the trail there. The route will take you through the Blenkinsop Trestle, where the trail turns into a wooden bridge that crosses over Blenkinsop Lake. Say hi to Roy, the bronze statue in the middle of the bridge. If your run is long enough, the trail will eventually take you through Cordova Bay, one of the most picturesque areas in Victoria. Here you’ll get a view of the ocean with the San Juan Islands in the background. Make sure you keep an eye on the watch, as the trail stretches all the way out to Swartz Bay, where you can get a ferry to Vancouver. You’ll want to keep going, but unless you’ve got a ride waiting for you on the other side, you have to come back the same way.

To Stay:

Although these running routes are spread out around the greater Victoria area, if you’re visiting, you’ll want to stay in the downtown core. Aside from the Empress and Grand Pacific hotels, there are a number of reasonably priced places to stay. The Harbour Towers (345 Quebec Street), and Royal Scot Suites (425 Quebec Street) are tourist favourites right in the heart of the city.

To Drink:

While you’re in the area, make sure you check out Swan’s (506 Pandora Ave.) and the Sticky Wicket (919 Douglas St.). Swan’s is a great brewpub with a selection of its own delicious beers. Sticky Wicket is likely the most popular spot in the city with its rooftop patio and beach volleyball courts. If you like your pubs with a little more character, try Big Bad John’s, which is attached to Sticky Wicket.

Nightlife:

If you’re looking for a fun hangout at night, the Black Stilt Coffee Lounge (1633 Hillside Ave.) is a local favourite.

Running Stores:

Victoria has two locally owned running stores: Frontrunners, at 1200 Vancouver St., is the most well known store. Run by Rob Reid, the 2008 mayoral candidate and fixture in the Victoria running scene, Frontrunners is a fast-growing franchise that also has locations in Nanaimo and Langford. Two former UVic Vikes, Nick Walker and Mark Nelson, operate the Langford location.

The second is Peninsula Runners at 3659 Shelbourne Street. A relatively new store Managed by former national steeplechase champion Dave Milne, Peninsula Runners is staffed by many former and current competitive athletes.

The Running Room has three locations in the Victoria area: the downtown location at 1008 Douglas St., Broadmead Village at 777 Royal Oak Drive and in Langford at 2401G Millstream Road.

Rich Lehman ran track and cross-country for the Vic Vikes and is now a coach at Dartmouth Athletics in Nova Scotia.