This amazing, staggered start handicap race where anyone can win often attracts an international field competing for fame and fortune.  Ok, it's just people here for the holidays and some locals competing for quirky prizes and socializing at the Prairie Inn after, but it's a club tradition centred at our founding and namesake venue.  Oh, and it's free and almost everyone gets a prize!  This is your chance to beat the fastees!

NEW is a more TRAIL HANDICAP through nearby parks with a significant steep climb to the summit lookout.

Always on December 26, Boxing Day which in 2024 is a Thursday.

Online registration for 2024 is CLOSED

2024 results by placing & time

Read on for more information and the latest assigned start list.

In honour of Harriers who left us too soon. Leave your watch at home and predict your 10K time.  A prize is given to the runner that finishes closest to 0 on the clock.

Jan. 1, 2025 - Run or Walk  

2020 Photo Album Compliments of Joseph Camilleri

Complete List of New Year's Day Race Winners to 2019 and Attendance Record

First runners start around 10:00 am from the Harriers Memorial Bench (~50m north of 0Km Marker) at Beaver Lake Park.

The Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club (PIH) is proud to present the 46th Annual Harriers Pioneer 8K Road Race, part of the Vancouver Island Race Series.  The event has a rich history of outstanding performances attracting many Olympians and world record age category athletes.  Several Canadian Records have been set at Pioneer.  Initiated in 1980 by the Prairie Inn Harriers, and staged in Central Saanich for 38 years, the race relocated to nearby North Saanich in 2018.  This certified 8 kilometre course, is of similar profile to the old and features an out and back route through rural farmlands just north of the Victoria International Airport along mainly quiet country roads.

DATE Sunday, January 12, 2025 – NOTE Start Time is 11:30 am

Online registration for the 2025 Pioneer 8K and 2025 Island Series is OPEN.

• 2025 Pioneer Complimentary Entry Standards and Prize Money
• 2025 Pioneer High Performance Application Form (pdf) or doc
• 2024 Pioneer 8K Race Results

8:00 am Saturdays – Saturday morning group trail runs take place every week throughout the year in Thetis Lake Park and Francis King Park.  We meet at 8:00 am at the main Thetis Lake parking lot at the end of Six Mile Road from October through the end of April.  For the warmer months of May through September we meet at the small parking area at Prior Lake on Highland Road.  2024 Update: due to popular demand we will continue to meet at Prior Lake during October.  Some may drive to the end of Westoby Road to enjoy a different set of trails.

This is the classic Prairie Inn Harriers weekly social run with groups ranging from slow to moderate to fast.  All runners, dogs and walkers are welcome.  You don't have to be a club member to join in as there is no fee to participate.  If you are unfamiliar with the park trails this is a great way to learn the trail network.  Group Leaders are available for all paces.  No one gets lost or left behind.

5:15 pm Tuesdays – Weekly after-work interval workout using various local roads, parks, and trails. Every week is different and everyone is welcome. The faster runners will pick up slower runners on the final lap.

Meet at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre November through April, and at Mount Douglas, Beaver Lake or other locations May through September. Check the schedule for specific workouts.

2025 Schedule

 100K , 50 Mile, 50K  and 40K Ultra Walk

Saturday, May 10, 2025
Registration opens April 1, 2025!

 

The Prairie Inn Harriers Running Club is pleased to present the 38th Annual Harriers 2:18 Run Elk/Beaver Ultras.  The fast and flat 10 kilometer trail circuit around Elk and Beaver Lakes is considered as one of the premiere races of its type in North America.  Runners complete 10 laps for the 100K division, 8+ laps for 50 Miles and 5 laps for 50K while walkers complete 4 laps for 40K.  The venue is all trails, very flat, has good footing, and is in excellent condition. It is definitely a runner-friendly, P.R. type of course!

2025 – preliminary Results ◊ Splits ◊ Report