Name: Harriers Pioneer 8K — Sunday, January 12, 2025
SKU: 923
Price: 35.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

“This was such a great way to start the new year. It was the first time I entered this race and I was so inspired running with (ok, behind), so many elite athletes. This helped push me to one of my best 8K finishes. The route was awesome and flat and the light rain didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.”

— Margot.

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Harriers Pioneer 8K

Sunday, January 12 2025 at 11:30 am

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Register for any single race (starting Tuesday, November 12, 2024 to Friday, January 10, 2025). Race date: Sunday, January 12, 2025

Harriers Pioneer 8K map

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Harriers Pioneer 8K race sponsors and supporters

Early registration dates
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 — December 10, 2024
Location
Entry: Online or at Frontrunners on Shelbourne
Race: Tourist information centre on Pat Bay Highway
Post-race: North Saanich Middle School

Remember to register your team
Minimum of five team members
Price
$35 early
$40 late

The Harriers Pioneer 8K offers a fast course in a rural, low-traffic area. This popular race often acts as the provincial 8K championships. The race is the first race in Canada each year and is part of both the Vancouver Island Race Series and the BC Super Series.

Fast course

The route does gently roll, however, is fast and often acts as the provincial 8K championships. The Harriers Pioneer 8K is the first road race of the year in Canada.

Great post-race food

Race director Jeff Beddoes doesn’t scrimp on the pizza, dairy, cookies, and beverages. Although the race is popular, you may want to get in line early.

All abilities welcome

Absolute beginners and Olympic athletes are welcome and plenty of both typically take in the race and much of the series — mark your calendar and come on out.

Register	Package pick-up	Early start	Main start	Post race
Online	Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 at Frontrunners Yates and Vancouver St. 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Saturday, January 11 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Frontrunners Shelbourne Sunday, January 12 10:00 am to 11:15 am	NO EARLY START	11:30 am	1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
	North Saanich Middle School	Tourist Information Centre	Tourist Information Centre	North Saanich Middle School

Prairie Inn Harriers

The Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club was established in 1978. PIH is Vancouver Island’s largest running club. The club is active year round. Visitors are welcome to join in a training session, attend a race, or become a member and enjoy all the benefits that go with being a member.

PIH is proud to present the 44th annual Harriers Pioneer 8K, part of the Vancouver Island Race Series and the BC Athletics Super Series. Pioneer was the BC 8K Road Race Championship for 2022 and 2023. The event has a rich history of outstanding performances attracting many Olympians and world record-setting age category athletes. Several Canadian records have been set at Pioneer.

Initiated in 1980 by the club, and staged in Central Saanich for 38 years, the race relocated to nearby North Saanich in 2018. The new certified 8K course, is of similar profile to the old one and features an out-and-back route through rural farmlands just north of the Victoria International Airport along mainly quiet country roads.

Other Harrier-organized races

The Prairie Inn Harriers running club organize several races each year. The flagship road race is the Harriers Pioneer 8K, however, the flagship trail race is the Thetis Lake Relays as well as the Gunner Shaw Cross Country Classic. Additionally, there is the Stewart Mountain 10-mile. All three start and end at Thetis Lake and are part of the Thetis Lake Triple series.

The club also organizes the Elk-Beaver Lakes ultramarathons, which take place in May each year and include 50K, 80K and 100K distances.

In addition to these races, the club also offers, hikes, social runs, an annual memorial run (best guessed finish time wins), Boxing Day 10-mile and others.

The club makes available equipment for hosting races.

See more at www.pih.bc.ca

About North Saanich

North Saanich, adjacent to Sidney, (and ever-so-slightly north) is a perfect location for Greater Victoria and Greater Vancouver athletes to make the trek. A warm-up run from the ferries or the airport is very doable. A cycle upon Lochside Trail will make the morning commute to the race venue a great warm up.

From Saanich and Victoria, the drive up the Pat Bay highway (17) is just 10-20 minutes. For post-race things to do, visit Beautiful Brentwood Bay, which is close by as is the quaint city of Sidney by the Sea.

North Saanich is primarily rural, pastoral and scenic.