If your big goal this year is to tackle a 50 K trail race, you’re in the right place. In and around Victoria, BC, there’s an excellent sequence of races that will build your fitness, trail experience and confidence. Here’s how to map out your season:
1. Start with the Vancouver Island Race Series
Kick off your year by racing some events in the Vancouver Island Race Series (link: islandseries.org
These road races—ranging from 5K up to the half marathon—are spread across Vancouver Island (many very close to Victoria, BC). They’re perfect for sharpening your speed, building your aerobic base, and getting consistent race habit in the first part of the year. The 2026 season pass covers eight races across communities from Sooke to Sidney, Colwood to Courtenay.
2. Transition to the Vancouver Island Trail Running Series
Once the trails dry out and you’ve built your road-speed and fitness from the earlier races, it’s time to move into trail-specific work. Register for the Trail Running Series islandtrailseries.ca This series typically starts in April and offers both short and long course options. If you’re headed toward a 50K later in the summer, pick the long course at each event. The long course will challenge your endurance, technical trail strength and race-smarts.
The series opener at Royal Roads University near Victoria, BC is scheduled for April.
3. Use These Races as Stepping Stones for Your 50K Later in the Summer
By racing regularly through the winter (roads) and spring (trail long courses) around the Victoria, BC area, you’ll arrive at your chosen 50 K with:
- Good endurance and aerobic base
- Trail experience and technical confidence
- Race-day familiarity
Best of all: Most of these events are within about 90 minutes of Victoria, BC, and many are right in our backyard — making logistics easier and race stress lower.
A Few Additional Tips for Your Victoria, BC-Based Season
- Treat the road races in the Vancouver Island Race Series as fitness builders rather than key targets. Focus on consistency, speed, and running economy.
- When switching into the trail series, start dialing in your trail shoes, hydration/pack setup, and trail nutrition early.
- Plan one or two “long training days” between events (especially before your 50K) where you simulate race effort on local Victoria, BC area trails.
- Choose one 50K target later in the summer (ideally after the trail series) and use the series events as build-toward rather than your main goal.
- Because you’re in Victoria, BC, use your local terrain to your advantage: run the same climbs, trails and conditions you’ll face on race day.
