My name is Austin Koevoets, and I’m the founder of PAACE Magazine, a leader with Sunday Social Run Club in Nanaimo, and, as many friends would say, an “all-around vibes guy.” My passion sits at the intersection of sport, wellness, and human connection, and I try to carry that energy into every space I’m part of — whether it’s on […]
Originally from Nova Scotia, I began running marathons in 2024 with my friend Brett Pfliger. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion, leading him to log thousands of kilometres across B.C., including the 2025 Island Race Series. Motivated by the strength of the running community – where personal goals and peer support go […]
Hello, I am Sarah Georgica. My running journey didn’t start until 2021, at the age of 27. I didn’t grow up an athlete, and for most of my life, I truly never thought of myself as a runner. During a really hard time, I started running longer distances as a way to clear my mind […]
The Vancouver Island Race Series and Run Van Isle committee have search and now selected four ambassadors for the 2026 racing season. Meet the first of four in Morgen Lindsay I moved to Victoria in 2021 and found my community through running. In early 2022, I joined the Fernwood Social Run Club, where I was […]
Why apply Run Van Isle, the association that manages the Vancouver Island Race Series, is seeking ambassadors for the 2026 Vancouver Island Race Series and beyond. Deadline is September 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM. We are seeking ambassadors who like to connect with fellow runners, volunteer at events and attend each of the eight races […]
Run Van Isle, formerly known as the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association, held its annual general meeting (AGM) in Nanaimo on Saturday, May 24. There were changes to the board of directors, and there are some minor adjustments to be implemented to continue to try to improve the post-race experience. The election of the board The […]
PARTY PACE Party Pace is a term I recently stumbled upon. Essentially, you are picking a pace that is comfortable and fun for yourself. Simple. Right? The truth is, I have no idea what anyone is talking about. Splits, watches, training loads, heart rate, shoes, and for the love of running: STRAVA! It’s a lot. […]
There are a few common misconceptions that I often hear online about running and racing. Oneof them being that running needs to be a challenging, all-out effort, even when you’re startingout. Another is that if you’re a slow runner, you’re “not really a runner.” Based on these two messages, it’s no wonder that some people […]
Brandon Vail and Zoe Hamel of Greater Victoria won the *39th annual Comox Valley RV Half Marathon on Sunday. Vail finished in a personal best time of one hour, eight minutes and 32 seconds. Hamel clocked in at 1:18:47 and 20th overall. Men’s race Vail with Speedfarm Running Club, ran a near two-minute personal best […]
The 2025 Vancouver Island Race Series has surpassed the halfway mark with the running of the Bastion 12K on Sunday, March 16. There are three key races remaining in the series. The sold-out Comox Valley RV Half Marathon is the next race on tap, happening Sunday, March 23, in Courtney from the Florence Filberg Centre. […]