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The importance of the bib

During the 1890s, Oscar Wilde wrote a frivolous comedic play about people putting on a fake persona to avoid social interactions. He titled it, The Importance of Being Earnest. The play is as important to the culture as anything Shakespeare wrote. Three Hollywood movies were titled The Importance of Being Earnest from 1952, 1992 and 2002. Why all the twos? Well, numbers are important, especially bib numbers in running.

The importance of being a bib wearer (this is serious bibness)

During any race, runners (and when we write runners, we mean runners and walkers) need to wear a race bib. In part, the purpose is so to identify the runner in photos or video, to record start and finish times and to record splits in between the start and finish (when in longer races).

For example, if you run a marathon, perhaps the timing company is taking split times at 10K, 21.1K and 32K.

Or a 10K is taking half splits at 5K. Sometimes there is a prim, like at the St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Vancouver. The first person who crosses the one-mile timing mat male or female, who also finishes the race top 10, wins money — a prim! The idea here is to avoid giving someone money who ran the final 3.4K in 20 minutes but ran 4:10 to the one-mile timing mat. 

Also, for security, safety, and dispute resolution reasons.

There is a lot of stuff about wearing a bib. So, as you can see, runners do not wear a bib just to show that they are racing. 

What about elite bibs?

There is yet another reason that runners need to wear a bib. Let’s say you are super fast. Let’s say that you are super fast and seeded in the top 10 males or top 10 females. Well, identifying who the runners are at the front is important for several reasons:

1. Breaking a record. For example, a provincial, national or world open or age-group or master or junior record. There is a ratification process that follows before a record is certified.

2. Qualifying for provincial, national, or international competition. Governing bodies need to make sure the athlete is the athlete, not an imposter. And just to simply identify them. 

3. To help identify who finished ahead in a dead heat. 

4. The announcer needs to be able to see the number so as to call out their names to the spectators, volunteers and media who are on site.

Where to wear your bib

Simple: Wear your bib so it is visible from the front. With three or four pins, affix the bib to the front of your shirt over your stomach, or chest.

Do not wear your bib on your back, side, hip, inside a jacket or in any way that it is not visible from the front. Also, if the chip is covered up, the runner will not get a time or could be disqualified.

Some races deem this so important, that they reserve the right to disqualify someone who does not wear the bib properly.

For the Vancouver Island Race Series season pass holders, do not throw your two bibs away. Also, do not wear both bibs at the same time. One bib should last the entire eight races; however, you are given a second one just in case you destroy the first one or something happens to it. For example, you are at a bonfire and marshmallow roast and you were still wearing your bib from the race earlier that day. So, you bend over the fire and were set alight by a rogue flame — don’t do that.

The benefit of having a season pass bib is that you no longer need to line up at each race to pick one up. This saves you time and saves you from arriving as early as you normally would. It saves the race from having to have as many volunteers as they had in the past. This is also good for the environment, with two bibs per person rather than 5 to 8.

If you are worried about being earnest at a race or not, you do not have to socialize. Furrow your brows, look down and angry and grit your teeth. No one will come near you.

Where does a bib come from?

2024 series ambassador Sander Nederveen getting the bib-wearing down exactly right.

Well, the race director or organizing committee member tasked with this job, seeks quotes from bib suppliers. There are many. Once the price, ETA, and quantities are agreed upon, the timing company needs to be informed. Also, marketing comes into play, here. Do we want colours? Sponsor branding for extra visibility? Size, seeded numbers and which type of fibre product? All these things come into play.

The timing company will take your list of runners and their:

Age
DOB
Gender
And name and correlate with bibs.

Will coordinate all the registrants with the series of numbers that you have worked out with the bib company. What if we want personalized bibs? “Susan” or how about a specific number like “420” or a special personal number?

There is shipping. Where to? How much? How fast?

Once all the hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of bibs have arrived and the long lists of runners are included, we need to find a way for each person to get the right bib number associated with the right person. This takes time, then volunteer coordination and events to be publicized to get people to show up (not at the last minute).

So, for the first race of the 2023 and 2024 Vancouver Island Race Series, we had a Friday night social event with beverages, food, draw prizes, and speeches. We had separate volunteer crews for season pass pickup as well as Pioneer 8K pickup.

That was Friday….

Saturday, we had race and season pass pick up at Frontrunners Shelbourne. We had the social at Frontrunners downtown.

So, the numbers, pins, and lists needed to safely go from back east, to the interior of BC, then to the Island and then to Frontrunners downtown. Then the packages needed to get to Frontrunners Shelbourne for the next morning. More volunteers, more sorting and wading through lists.

Then Sunday, all the numbers that are remaining, for Pioneer and season passes go to North Saanich Middle School for final race package pick up. After Pioneer, the remaining season pass bibs go to the next race, to join the next race’s volunteer crew for disbursement. When 541 finishers at Pioneer and then 596 finishers at Cobble Hill all crossed the line as planned — all but a small handful had issues.

Almost all issues were runner-caused.

But all is forgiven. The (Startline) timing company hits the ball out of the park solving the issues related to lost times, incorrect bibs, lost bibs, and incorrect numbers.

So, next time that you pick up a race bib, take care of it (them), do not trade it with a fellow runner, and do not throw it away in case you were not informed that the bib is for the whole season. (sometimes we err and you forgive, thank you).

Have at least three pins, if not four.

And do not panic. We are here to help. But the more results that are correct and without issue, the better off the universe will be.

Happy racing.

To vandalize a famous Wilde quote from the aforementioned play, “I have never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am so afraid he will look just like everyone else not wearing the right race bib.”

Weather updates for 2024 Harriers Pioneer 8K

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Get your commemorative series-branded arm warmers and polar fleece gloves while you can

You can now purchase series-branded commemorative arm warmers or polar fleece gloves, or both for a discount.

We ordered limited numbers, so get them while they last.

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Individual race registration now open for the Vancouver Island Race Series’ 2024 season

The 2024 Vancouver Island Race Series single-race registration is now open. Each race’s early bird fee is $30.00. The price goes up to $35, within 30 days of each respective event.

Click here to register for the series or any individual race within the series.

The series begins Sunday, January 14 with the Pioneer 8K and ends Sunday, April 14 with the Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5K.

There are six other races in Colwood, Sooke, Sydney, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, and the Comox Valley in Courtenay. Race distances include 5K, 8K, 10K, 12K, and the 21.1K half marathon.

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Teams competitions: A high level overview

Christopher Kelsall gives a basic overview of how the points work in the two teams competitions of the Vancouver Island Race Series.

For a full explanation visit this page: https://www.islandseries.org/series-scoring-and-awards/

Vancouver Island Runners’ Association elects treasurer Kathleen Quast, two new board members in Mariah Kelly and Gary Duncan

The Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA) was seeking a new treasurer during the spring of 2023 to replace Bob Reid. Bob held the position many times, off and on over the 44-year history of the series.

The search came to an end with the election of board members during the VIRA annual general meeting in July 2023. VIRA chose Kathleen Quast of Westcoast Running. The club manages the Westcoast Sooke 10K as part of the Vancouver Island Race Series.

Kathleen comes to the board armed with years of experience working in the non-profit sector in finance and is the co-director of the Westcoast Sooke 10K along with partner Jason Ball.

Kathleen Quast finishing the 2023 Royal Victoria 8K

Bob Reid remains the vice president of VIRA and continues to be involved with the Prairie Inn Harriers 8K, the first event of the Vancouver Island Race Series.

The board would like to thank Bob for his years of service and dedication to the board and his contribution to the role of interim treasurer.

Bob Reid was one of the earliest members to join the Prairie Inn Harriers, a club that started in 1978 and was founded by Bruce Gunner Shaw, Robin Pearson and Alex Marshall. He remains club treasurer, a position he has held for decades.

The race series is a Vancouver Island tradition dating back to the late 1970s.

Founded by John Crouch, president of the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association, the series was patterned after the Lower Mainland Grand Prix Series of five races.

Since its inception, more than 110,000 runners have participated in the series, which has varied between six and 10 races.

Also joining the board is Gary Duncan and Mariah Kelly. Gary is a World Athletics B-certified course measurer and president of the Victoria International Cross Country Association and Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club. Mariah is a partner with The Track Club out of PISE, and is assistant race director of the Royal Victoria Marathon and training manager for the TC10K.

The current board of directors may be viewed here>>

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2024 season pass registration now open

Registration for the 2024 season is now open.

Early bird race fees are just $175 for all eight races including the BC 10K Championships as part of the Cobble Hill 10K.

Schedule

January 14 — Harriers Pioneer 8K

January 28 – Ceevacs Cobble Hill 10K — BC 10K Championships

February 11 – Bastion Cedar 12K

February 25 – Hatley Castle 8K

March 10 – Westcoast Running Sooke 10K

March 24 – Comox Valley RV Half Marathon

April 7 – McLean Mill 10K

April 14 – Synergy Health Centre Bazan Bay 5K

Teams

A full explanation of how our two teams’ competitions work is here.

When registering for the Vancouver Island Race Series season pass you do not have to belong to a team or club, however:

If you do not belong to a club either: join one or if you would rather not, when registering, choose “unattached” as your team. This one extra step is there to remind people who are in a club to indicate so. The team or club competitions are fun and coaches and club admins want to make sure everyone is earning points for their team.

Please remember these are road running races and are open to runners, racewalkers, walkers, and wheelchair athletes only:

  • No roller blades/inline skates
  • No strollers
  • No cycling or other forms of transportation are permitted except for designated official cyclists
  • No headphones permitted. If you impede a participant, emergency response vehicle or race officials and cannot hear instructions, and are wearing headphones at the time, you are subject to disqualification

Vancouver Island Runners’ Association seeks treasurer

An opportunity has opened up for the right individual to assist the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA) with the organizing and management of the 42-year-running Vancouver Island Race Series (VIRS).

VIRA seeks a special someone to fill the treasurer role which will become available starting July 1, 2023.

The start date is flexible. 

Key qualities include accounting skills, critical thinking skills, excellent organizational abilities, a clear communication style, and an interest in strategic planning. We welcome both new and experienced accountants to apply. This position offers opportunities to contribute to the governance and financial management of our vibrant and welcoming race series and to collaborate with an engaged community of volunteers, including our Board of Directors. 

Although the treasurer does not have to be a runner or endurance athlete and is not a requirement, the position may be of greater interest to an athlete or former athlete. Additionally, while the series raises funds through our online race registration system for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, each member club may and often does contribute to local charities. 

Responsibilities (may or may not include all):

  • Preparing monthly and year-end financial reports and statements; 
  • Providing financial information and budgets as needed for grant applications; 
  • Preparing and submitting other forms and reports as required (e.g. HST refund report/tax prep) [Registered Charity Information Return and financial statements]);
  • Receiving, banking, and accounting for all funds payable to VIRA;
  • Paying all accounts approved by the Board in a timely manner, including paying contractors, and honorariums/expenses as required;
  • Keeping financial records, including books of account as necessary to comply with the BC
  • Societies Act and Canada Revenue Agency requirements, and preparing and providing financial
    statements to the board, the membership, and others when required;
  • Participating in four to six Board meetings and our Annual General Meeting;
  • Providing financial advice to the Board and VIRA Committees as needed;
  • Regular email communication regarding VIRA business; and
  • Other duties as mutually agreed.
    Resources needed:
  • Handling EFT, e-transfer, and online banking duties
  • The outgoing Treasurer will provide support, including background on our mission and programs, as well as Board
    orientation.

    Time Commitment:
    Board meetings are scheduled every other month (approx) from 7-9 pm via Zoom, with occasional additional
    meetings as needed; 
    Ongoing communication via phone, email, or other.

    Please email a cover letter with your expression of interest, along with your resume, to BOTH Christopher Kelsall (info@islandseries.org), and current vice-president and treasurer Bob Reid (bobreid04@gmail.com). 


    Value-add benefits: Satisfaction and joy from giving back to the running community, an honorarium, season pass to the series, and various other benefits ad-hoc. 

Note: Applications will be sent to info@islandseries.org.

Prairie Inn Harriers recapture VIRA Cup Championship trophy from Ceevacs Road Runners

The Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club recaptured the Vancouver Island Runners’ Association (VIRA) Cup from the 2022 winning Ceevacs Road Runners of the Cowichan Valley. It was the 30th win since records have been kept starting in 1985.

While the Harriers battled hard against the upstart Speedfarm club for the new Island Series Cup throughout the 2023 eight-race season, it was the powerful and growing Speedfarm who prevailed at the 11th hour during the Synergy Health Centre Bazan Bay 5K.

However, the Harriers also had their eyes on the VIRA Cup. The team had strong representation at the Sidney waterfront race and in so doing firmly cemented their victory in the VIRA Cup race. Ceevacs battled hard and finished second. Run to Beer Comox Valley finished third.

A few Prairie Inn Harriers at Cedar Hill Rec Centre, celebrating the win

The final point standings were 3209 to 2802, respectively. Run to Beer collected 1724. Seven teams earned at least 1000 points during the series. Capital City Run Crew (4th), Comox Valley Road Runners (5th), Speedfarm (6th) and Saltspring Sneakers earned 1028 points for seventh position.

It was at the club’s own race, the Harriers Pioneer 8K and the TWC-hosted Bazan Bay 5K where the Harriers gained the most points with 582 and 552, respectively — bookending the season tidily. Ceevacs’ big performances happened at their run, the Cobble Hill 10K, with its superfast new route where they collected 433 points. In the next event, the Cedar 12K the team in yellow collected 380 points for their two best showings. Consistency was key with 300 points or more earned in every race except the Pioneer 8K where they earned 299 — close enough!

Although some teams were not really clubs or teams, a total of 114 are indicated in the results — the biggest year in the series’ history.

The Prairie Inn Harriers have been a BC Athletics-associated and registered athletics club since 1978. BC Athletics is the provincial authority of the sport under the national governing body, Athletics Canada. The Harriers also have the Prairie Inn Harriers Racing Team and the Prairie Inn Harriers Youth Team.

Each time the Harriers were unseated, the club bounced back the following year to win again, except where the Ceevacs won twice in a row in 2020 and 2022. There was no series championship in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interestingly, each time that a club moved up in the standings to second place, they would then unseat the Harriers, the following year. Bastion Run Club in 1996 won, after finishing second in 1995. Team West Coast won in 2002 after finishing second in 2001. Comox Valley Road Runners did the deed in 2015 and 2016, as did Ceevacs in 2018, then again in 2020.

Frontrunners Westshore, which became Frontrunners Athletic Club emerged as a contender in 2009 and 2010, taking second in both years.

The trophy (shown in both pictures) was donated to VIRA from the Victoria International Cross Country Association (VICCA), which held the Pan Am Cross Country Cup at Bear Mountain in 2020.