The 2022 edition of the Hatley Castle 8k, which is part of the VIRA Island Race Series, will take place on February 13th at 11am. You can pickup your race package on race morning between 9am and 10:30am at Royal Roads prior to starting the race. Once again, there is no race day registration and you have until February 11 at 6pm to register through RaceRoster.
This race will take you through Royal Roads, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of this popular National Historic Site. If you’ve never been to Royal Roads, then your eyes are in for a treat! The stunning views are definitely worth slowing down for!
I’ve done the Hatley Castle 8k a number of times. The first time I ran it, I was definitely not expecting the hills nor the trail and gravel parts of the course. The biggest mistake I ever made during this race was running the first km in 3:25, which is way too fast for me (and I should have known better). If I knew what the rest of the course was like, I would not have done that.
Hatley Castle 8k 2013. Shot by Ian Simpson. This pic is from my first ever Hatley Castle 8k
This is a beautiful, technical, a bit challenging, but at the same time very fun course. The Hatley Castle 8k is not a flat course. Additionally, a small part of the race is run on a crushed gravel and trail surface, so you should pay attention to your footing when you run.
I’m taking this one easy for a couple of reasons. First, I want to save some energy for upcoming longer races later in the year where I want to really test myself. Second, I want to save my legs for my wild and crazy idea that I have planned in 2022.
TIPS FOR RUNNING THE HATLEY CASTLE 8K IF YOU WANT TO FEEL AWESOME AT THE FINISH LINE:
1.Don’t bust out of the gate at top speed on the first km. I think the first km is the easiest of the whole race so it’s natural to get carried away. However, it’s almost always easier to speed up later than it is to maintain a pace that is too fast from the start.
When I didn’t know the course, I took off way too fast and paid for it towards the end of the race when my feet suddenly turned into big chunks of lead.
2.There will be some hills. There is one particular hill that I will always remember, which is between km 3 and 4. The climb will be challenging but very rewarding.
Worrying about the length and slope of the hill that you are approaching won’t make it go away.
However, changing your perspective about how you view hills will make the experience you get from running up them both rewarding and enjoyable.
When you are running up the hill, use your glutes, quads and hamstrings. You will need to push from the hip and use your entire leg to get up that hill.
As you go up the hill, imagine yourself reaching the top and the feelings of accomplishment that you will get as you conquer the challenging climb. As you go up the hill, try to focus on 30-60m in front of you. While you are ascending, try to keep a shorter, steady stride without overstriding.
Keep your breathing even and deep, while at the same time resist the urge to hold tension in your upper body. When you go uphill, try to maintain an even effort during the entire ascent.
After you get up the biggest hill on the route, the rest of the event will be easier.
3.Take advantage of the downhills. On the way down, you can relax and keep focusing on your form while watching your footing. Try not to land too hard on your feet.
You can lengthen your stride a little bit on the way down but you should still aim to hit the ground with your feet under your hips.
4.Note that the Hatley Castle 8k is a mix of road, trail and crushed gravel. Although most of it is on the road, be mindful of where you’re landing during the trail and crushed gravel portions. There may be some pine cones that you could trip over as you go through the forested section of the route. I definitely always slow down on the trails because I’m not much of a trail runner.
5.It is a little bit turny, therefore don’t beat yourself up if your time is slower than you expected.
As you can see from the map below, there are quite a number of turns that will most likely cause us to slow down as we approach them.
Hatley Castle 8k 2022 Course Map
6.Focus on having fun. If you find the Hatley Castle 8k a bit challenging, then you must recognize that you are building strength and character for the future races. Focus on embracing the challenging climbs and enjoying this race.
When you finish the race, you should be proud of yourself for participating and for being out there.
I look forward to seeing you there and I can’t wait to hear about your experiences at the event. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your running friends. 🙂