A-Life BC Travel Blog

Have you visited Water's Edge Resort in Ucluelet, BC yet?

Ideally located for exploring impressive natural landscapes, discovering wild and rugged coastal trails and walking miles of sandy beaches, Water's Edge is the perfect West Coast getaway!

On Sunday, June 13, 2010, over 500 runners from all over tested their physical and mental limits by running on forest trail, sand and pavement at the Edge to Edge Marathon and Half Marathon in Ucluelet and Tofino, BC.

Water's Edge Resort in Ucluelet was a sponsor of the event, and was booked full of runners on race weekend - the resort is close to the starting line of the half marathon event in Ucluelet and close to the shuttle bus that takes the marathon runners up to the starting line in Tofino.

Both courses have spectacular views; a portion of the race crosses Chesterman Beach on the hard-packed sand and another portion follows the stunning Wild Pacific Trail. Read Rumon Carter's course preview report for an excellent description of the the race course.

So what was it like to run a marathon from Tofino to Ucluelet?

"Chesterman Beach was, by far, the prettiest part of the course. The tide was out a fair bit, leaving hard-packed beach to run on; it was nicer on the knees than pavement, but it was hard enough that you didn't sink," wrote marathon runner Skye Overall on her blog. 

"The view was spectacular! The ocean waves, and nothing else on the horizon but ocean until it met the sky. I should have stopped to take a picture, but I didn't, and Lil had checked her camera. We both commented on how great the view was, and how it was worth doing the race just to run on the beach."

To read more about Skye's experience running the Edge to Edge Marathon, check out her full race report on her blog. 

Want to run it next year? Check the Edge to Edge website for more information about next year's event as it become available. 

Let the summer cycling fun begin! Join the Aviawest Cycling Society this weekend for the 2010 Robert W. Cameron Law Corporation Cycling Series, running from May 28 to 30.

The series will start on Friday with the Pro City Racing Bear Mountain Hill Climb, a grueling 3-kilometre time-trial that takes riders to the top of Bear Mountain. 

On Saturday, riders will test their endurance and battle for the title of the BC Road Race Champion at the Russ Hay's Sooke Classic Road Race, a 45-, 95- or 140-kilometre journey along West Coast Road towards Port Renfrew. 

Feel like cheering with a large, rowdy crowd just inches from the action? Then come down to watch the La-Z-y Boy Bastion Square Grand Prix on Sunday, an adrenaline-pumping race that has been a staple in BC's cycling history for 17 years.

Be sure to stick around after the main event to watch the Tim Hortons Timbits Challenge and the Intact Insurance High School Races, a kid- and teen-sized version of the Bastion Square Grand Prix!

Start times and locations:

• Bear Mountain Hill Climb - 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Friday, May 28, 2010
• Sooke Classic Road Race - Start/finish at John Muir Elementary School. The first race starts at 9 am on Saturday, May 29, 2010
• Bastion Square Grand Prix - Start/finish at Fort and Langley Streets. The first of seven races starts 8:30 am on Sunday, May 30, 2010
• Timbits Challenge - Start/finish at Fort and Langley Streets at 11 am on Sunday, May 30, 2010
• High School Races - Start/Finish at Fort and Langley Streets at 11:30 am on Sunday, May 30, 2010

Proceeds from the revenue of the cycling series will go towards the Aviawest Cycling Society, a not-for-profit group of master cycling and fitness enthusiasts who provide coaching support and develop projects and programs for young competitive cyclists.

For more details regarding start times and locations, please visit the event website.