Early registration dates
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – January 23, 2025
- LocationEntry: Online or at Frontrunners Westshore, 755 Goldstream Ave
Race: Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd
Post-race: Royal Roads University Recreation Center, 2005 Sooke Rd
- Remember to register your team
Minimum of five team members
- Price
$35 early
$40 late
The Hatley Castle 8K by Frontrunners Athletic Club (FAC) is a character course with an ultra fast start and finish, but a hilly middle, especially the “big one” going up after the 3K mark.
The course offers a mix of asphalt and gravel, ups and downs, and spectacular vistas of Esquimalt Lagoon in the foreground and the Olympic Mountains and downtown Victoria in the distance.
Where else do you get to race on the grounds of a castle? And enjoy the sweeping lawns and heavily forested trails of Royal Roads University?
Beautiful setting
Stunning backdrop no matter where you turn, a castle, snowcapped mountains, and a cityscape, all within the circuitous 8K route that wends its way through the thickly forested property of Royal Roads University.
Sheltered from the weather
In case of wind and or rain or both, most of the race is in the trees and the direction is changing often, so you won’t be buffetted by wind for long.
So much parking...
Parking is available by the lagoon in two large lots. Also, up top near the highway in a large gravel lot and in various other locations — perhaps the best parking out of all of the Island Series Race.
| Register | Package pick-up | Early start | Main start | Post-race |
| Online | Saturday, February 22
Frontrunners Westshore Sunday, February 23 Royal Roads University Recreation Center | No early start. | 11:00 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm |
| Royal Roads University Recreation Center | Royal Roads University Recreation Center | Royal Roads University Recreation Center |
Frontrunners Athletic Club
There are three stores in Greater Victoria and one in Nanaimo.
Frontrunners Athletic Club offers athletes, employees, and clinic participants to run for the Frontrunners club as a team.
Clinics for all abilities are available. Club competition is available for those who want to represent a team and enjoy the competitive and social benefits.
Originally started by Rob Reid and Peter Butler (Forerunners) in 1987, the store has grown to three in Greater Victoria with the help of Mark Nelson and Nick Walker. Mark moved on to timing races and working in real estate, Nick is the face of the company now. In Nanaimo Stefan Jakobsen and Norm Thibault run the show. Frontrunners was started by serious runners and continues to be run by people heavily involved in the sport, recreation and lifestyle.
Other Frontrunners organized races
Other Frontrunners organized races include the Bear Mountain 10K, billed as the toughest road race in Canada. The Bear Mountain 10K takes place in November each year.
The popular Oak Bay Half Marathon in May is a must-do. Start near the Windsor Park Pavillion and run along much of Beach Drive in both directions to the finish at Windsor Park.
Frontrunners Footwear sponsors several events including the Vancouver Island Race Series, Vancouver Island Trail Series, TC10K and Royal Victoria Marathon.
About Colwood
The Westshore of Greater Victoria includes the towns of Langford, Metchosin, and Colwood. Colwood spans the ocean waterfront from the eastern edge of Esquimalt, south of View Royal, west of Langford, and north of Metchosin.
If you want a great deal on a car, go to Colwood. There are great deals on shoes too, next door in — ahem — Langford.
Colwood is where you will find the beautiful Esquimalt Lagoon, Royal Roads University, Triangle Mountain, Royal Colwood Golf Club, and Royal Bay, a brand new development near the water.