The 2020 edition of the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k will be taking place on Sunday, March 8 at 11am. This will be the fifth event that is part of the VIRA Island Race Series. Since I’ve done this race a couple of times before, please keep reading for my tips on how to run it.
The Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k is hosted by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce. The event takes place at the Cherry Creek Community Hall located at: 3720 Moore Road. There is limited parking near the Community Hall so best to try and arrive early. However, street parking is also available.
The course is a pretty rural route starting from the Cherry Creek Community Centre and running through the trails through the McLean Mill Historic Site. When we did the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k last year, we couldn’t go through the McLean Mill because of the snow.
Above: Pic from Port Alberni 15k 2018. Photo by Ken & Lois DeEll.
If you have never done this one before, then you are in for a treat. The route is very peaceful and scenic.
From my experience, Port Alberni is a very friendly town that I don’t feel gets the credit that it deserves. I know that Port Alberni has been through some tough times lately but it truly is a beautiful town.
Once again, runners of all levels are welcome to take part in the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k. If you believe that you will take longer than 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the race, then it is recommended that you do the early start, which is at 10:30am.
Above: Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k course map
Tips for running the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k & some course notes:
1.Start conservatively because 15k is a relatively long way to go, especially for newer runners. The first 2k are relatively easy which will make you want to start faster. The long and relatively straight stretch of road is very tempting. However, keep in mind that you don’t want to tire yourself out in the first two km.
2. If you are not a trail runner, don’t be nervous that we run through the trails for part of this race. The vast majority of this race is on the roads. The only time that we run on the trail is when we turn off of Smith Road to go through the McLean Mill. We will run approximately 1km (maybe even slightly less) of the whole race on the trail. The rest of it will be on the roads (which I really like).
Please note that you may experience some muddy and/or wet areas within the Historic site so please be aware of that. The site has many turns, all of which will be marked with signage and/or be supported with volunteer course marshalls. This is where I go slow.
3. For me, the most challenging part of the whole course was when we went through the McLean Mill (back in 2018). That part is not hilly, but I’m just not very good at trail running, as I mentioned before. I know people who absolutely love the trails but I’m definitely not one of them (even though I should work on it). However, the trails around that area are very well taken care of so you shoudn’t have a problem.
4. There are some undulations that are somewhat similar to the the Cedar 12k. In my opinion, the undulations should not be that noticeable if you don’t start too fast. I do not recall there being any super challenging hills that you should be aware of before you start the race. If you are nervous about there being hills-don’t be. There are a few small inclines and I am confident that you can do it.
Above: Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k 2018 homestretch. Photo by Ken & Lois DeEll.
5. The last 5k are my favorite. The last 5k have quite a few long straight stretches of road where you can pick up the pace if you want to and are able to. My absolute favorite part of the course is the 2km between the 10k and 12k mark on Batty Rd. I like it because it’s relatively straight and I don’t recall there being any significantly large inclines (I would remember those for sure). If you want to go fast, then the last 5k is where you can really give it all you got. There are also not as many turns within the last 5k, making it even easier to pick up your speed and have a strong finish.
6. Focus on enjoying the run and don’t worry about your pace. The Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k is one of the longer events in the VIRA Island Race Series. If you are a newer runner, you may not have done too many events that are longer than 10k and that is OK. There is no need to apologize for your pace nor feel bad about having to go slower. Take it as an opportunity to try a new distance on your way towards bigger running goals ahead of you.
Most importantly, have fun!
7. Safety first. During the race, the roads will remain open. Therefore, it’s very important to pay attention to the traffic.
8. Do not forget DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. It starts at 2:00am on Sunday, March 8th. Our clocks will spring forward and take away one hour of sleep from us the night before race day.
Therefore, I’d recommend going to bed an hour earlier than you normally would before a race so that you can be fresh for the drive (for some of us) and the run on Sunday.
Lastly, I wanted to give a shout out to a very inspirational young runner, Mackenzie Loyer, who bravely challenged our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take part in the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k. Just like Mackenzie, I also hope that he will show up to draw attention to Port Alberni…and if he does (and you’ve read this far) do you think I can finish ahead of him? 😉
I hope to see you there!
P.S. I won’t be wearing my watch for this one either!