McLean Mill 10K Archives - Vancouver Island Race Series

The Fernwood Social Run Club entered a few photos into the social media photo contest. In a random draw, the one below was the winner.

The prize? Ten pairs of Vancouver Island Race Series socks.

Pictured here are a few members of the Fernwood Social Run Club positioned at the front of the startline to the McLean Mill 10K in Port Alberni.

The race took place at the National Historic Site McLean Mill. It was the first year of the new race course, name and location.

Follow the intrepid Fernwood club on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fernwoodsocialrunclub/

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A post shared by Fernwood Social Run Club 👟☕️❤️ (@fernwoodsocialrunclub)

See other awesome submissions from Badass Chicks Run Trails (BCRT), Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club, Capital City Run Crew among others. Below is a montage from BCRT.

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The next race on the schedule is the Westcoast Sooke 10K.

The event includes a 1K kid’s run with chocolate for every finisher. Entry is just $5. Runners must be U12, however, we will not being checking ID.

The club competition is getting exciting.

VIRA Cup standings, heating up

The VIRA Cup is turning into a race. The defending champion Ceevacs Road Runners, have made big ground over the recent two races. The Prairie Inn Harriers who lead, will need to be on full force to hold off the Ceevacs during the final two races coming up.

Big first place age-group wins by Ceevacs Jill Ramstead, Angela Maclean, Teresa Lewis-Schneider, Colleen Vanderheide, and second place finishes by Gary Vermette, Kelly Shellenberg and Diana Persson helped the powerhouse Ceevacs make good ground on the Harriers at the McLean Mill 10K.

However, Keith Mills second overall, first master, had a great race, David Hoskins with an age-group win and Mark Ritchie with a second place run in the 55-59 age-group was a good counter.

Both teams will be showing down at Sooke, for sure, because the grand finale, the Bazan Bay 5K will see all toe the line. It’s a two-horse race for first, but wait! There’s more.

There is a five-horse race for fifth place between the GCE South Island Runners who currently have 764 points and Speedfarm with 606. In between are the Badass Chicks Run Trails, Capital City Run Crew, and Salt Spring Sneakers.

Potential civil war to break out in the Comox Valley for third place. The battle isn’t over yet between the Comox Valley Road Runners and Run to Beer Comox Valley.

Get yer ya ya’s out — this is going to be fun to watch. All hands on deck for Sooke and Bazan.

Prairie Inn Harriers – 2272

Ceevacs Road Runners – 2102

Run to Beer Comox Valley – 1536

Comox Valley Road Runners – 1086

GCE South Island Runners – 764

Bastion Run Club – 727

Salt Spring Sneakers – 722

Badass Chicks Run Trails – 620

Speedfarm – 606

Esprit RC – 515

Port Alberni, BC – April 2, 2023 – Sunday saw a triumphant return of the Port Alberni edition of the Vancouver Island Race Series. Previously known as the Paper Chase 10K and then 15K, the race not only has a new name, but a new course too: the McLean Mill 10K.

The race starts and finishes in the National Historic Site McLean Mill — a picturesque setting to be sure.

Keith Mills finishing second overall and first master (Prairie Inn Harriers). Photo credit: Joseph Camilleri.

The 2022 series champion Jonathan Walker (Esprit RC) won in the time of 33:36. Emily Bugoy (Mettle Heart Endurance) took her first race win in the time of 37:41, a two-minute and six second personal best. Both performances set course records, being the first time that the new course has been used.

“It was a good race, hillier than I thought, with a tough second half, but I am happy with the win.,” shared Walker. “I will be looking to improve my personal best which is 32:56 at the TC10K April 30 and running well at the Bazan Bay 5K on April 23.”

Asked how the race went, Bugoy, who cycled 45K from Coombs said, “My feet were numb from the ride. I hadn’t raced off the bike before. It took awhile to get comfortable. I am happy with the new pb.”

There was snow falling after the race — she rode back home to Coombs. Asked if she will be cycling to the next race, the Sooke 10K, she said, “yes, from Victoria though, not from Coombs.”

Finishing in second place was also the first 40-plus master Keith Mills (Prairie Inn Harriers). He clocked a 34:56 performance. Taking third was Chris Walsh (GCE South Island Runners) in 35:09.

The second female was Natasha Parsons in 38:05 (Badass Chicks Run Trails). Jill Ramstead (Ceevacs Road Runners) took third in 39:48, she was also the first master.

There was a record 404 finishers. The previous Port Alberni series’ record was 364 in 2010 when it was the Paper Chase 10K. The race had a successful return after taking a two-year pandemic pause.

The next race in the series takes place Sunday, April 9 in Sooke at the Westcoast Sooke 10K. As it happens on Easter Sunday, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids and a 1K kid’s run, which includes chocolate for every finisher.

Information about the race series is available at www.islandseries.org.

Triumphant return and record run at McLean Mill 10K in Port Alberni

Photos from each race