From sister publication: Victoria Sports News 

2017 Pioneer Start. Photo by Lois DeEll

The Prairie Inn Harriers Pioneer 8K road race that takes place every year on the first Sunday of January, has a brand new course that will start and finish near the Tourist Information Centre off Hwy 17 (Pat Bay Hwy).

The Pioneer 8K is the first race of both the Vancouver Island Race Series and the British Columbia Super Series.

The route will start on John Road, which runs parallel to the highway, head north for 180-metres before turning left or west and continue on John Road for 1.4-kilometres of straight and flat asphalt surface to Wilson Road. Runners will turn left on Wilson (south) for 1.2-kilometres to Mills Road.

Runners will turn left (head east) on Mills to Littlewood Road, 300-metres eastward and then turn left (north) on Littlewood. Runners will follow Littlewood for 400-metres before turning right (east) onto Glamorgan Road to the 180-degree turn-a-round and the 4K marker and will re-trace their steps back to the start.

The route will be virtually traffic-free. The environment is rural, farmland and fairly flat.

There are a total of 10 turns not including the one turnaround on Glamorgan Road.

Read on, see maps and elevation profile: Click here>>