Every year, a group of eight runners and their amazing support team relay the 800 kilometres from Port Hardy to Victoria in just eight days, raising awareness for the importance of supporting trauma exposed Vancouver Island military personnel, first responders and their families. The 2026 campaign started on February 22, and the team is working their way down the island. The guys had a chance to talk to Simon Brown, one of this year’s runners before the team headed out. He shared some of their history, inspiring stories, and details on how people can support their mission. Every dollar raised by this tremendous group stays on the island, and you can find out more or donate here: https://woundedwarriors.ca/run-bc/.

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

March 8 – Westcoast Sooke 10K - https://www.islandseries.org/product/westcoast-sooke-10k-2/

March 29 – McLean Mill 10K – Port Alberni - https://www.islandseries.org/product/mclean-mill-10k/

April 2 – Trail Running Film Festival – Vic Theatre - https://bit.ly/4qWmNMN

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

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It’s time to nerd out on shoe technology! Super shoes have continued to dominate the conversation in most running circles, including the elites. Records continue to fall, qualifying times continue to get harder, and footwear is a main reason. Darren takes us to “shoe school” with a good history lesson and technical explanation of what the latest and great technology does. But are these shoes right…for you? We also catch up with local Burrito League legend Arianna Rumenovich to talk about her tremendous accomplishment while questioning her sanity.

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Feb 22 - Bastion 12K - https://www.islandseries.org/product/bastion-12k/

March 8 – Westcoast Sooke 10K - https://www.islandseries.org/product/westcoast-sooke-10k-2/

March 14 – Hornby Island 25K & 50K - https://www.coastlineendurancerunning.com/hornbyisland/ (sold out)

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

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Everyone has considerations in their running - from footwear, to mileage, to hydration and nutrition…but what if you have a chronic health challenge? How do you manage that additional, sometimes debilitating hurdle in your training? On this episode host Dan Deane talks about living and running with Type 1 Diabetes, and his running Coach Jim Finlayson (elite Victoria runner, coach, and former Beer Mile world record holder!) shares his journey with Multiple Sclerosis. We also recap the Cobble Hill 10K and talk about the awesome weirdness of Burrito League!

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Feb 8 - Hatley Castle 8K – https://www.islandseries.org/

Feb 22 - Bastion 12K - https://www.islandseries.org/product/bastion-12k/

Feb 28 – Seymour Bloom Trail Race - https://bit.ly/3ZjESc7 (waitlist)

April 26 – TC10K - https://www.runsport.ca/tc10k

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you registered for a big race in 2026? Maybe it’s a new distance for you, and you’re wondering how best to attack it so you’re ready to be your best on race day and hit that goal? With a Physiotherapist and run leader as hosts, we’ve got you covered! We talk everything from load management to injury management to strength training and shoes. Plus a recap of the Pioneer 8K, Rory Linkletter and…a Costco ultra marathoner?

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Jan 25 - Cobble Hill 10K – https://www.islandseries.org/

Jan 26 – registration opens – Lululemon Seawheeze Half – https://www.seawheeze.com/

Feb 1 registration opens – The Cumby (25K/16K/8.5K/4.5K) - thecumby.ca

Feb 8 - Hatley Castle 8K – https://www.islandseries.org/

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the season finale, we share our thoughts on the first 10 episodes, reflecting on our favourite moments and guests. It was really hard to choose! We talked about planning out your 2026 race calendar and what kind of things to consider, and talk about some of the best holiday gifts runners can get. And just wait until you hear the way our South African host says the word “toque”!

Books referenced:

Born To Run – Christopher McDougall

Once A Runner – John L. Parker, Jr.

Outsider – Brett Popplewell

The Rise of the Ultra Runners - Adharanand Finn

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve been to any races on the Vancouver Island in recent years, you’ve probably seen a really fun, energized run club called Badass Chicks Run Trails. It was founded by a group of first responders who discovered a shared love of trail running to help manage the personal strains caused by challenging work lives. From humble and almost accidental beginnings, the group has grown into a strong and positive running community. Founder Nikki Jomha joined the show to share the club’s philosophy and her own incredible story!

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Dec 7 – 22nd annual Prairie Inn Harriers Stewart Mountain Challenge - https://pih.bc.ca/race/12-stewart-mountain-10-mile-5-mile-cross-country-challenge

Devil’s Ladder - registration opens Dec 5 - https://devilsladderultra.com/

Island Trail Series – full series registration opens Dec 5 - https://www.islandtrailseries.ca/

Island Race series registration - https://www.islandseries.org/

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On our third episode, we talked to Chris Sundby just before he set out in mid-September to run the length of Vancouver Island in 14 days, with his mom acting as his lone support crew. More than 700 kilometres and three pairs of shoes later, Chris completed his epic journey right on schedule, and now that he’s back from the wilderness and (mostly) recovered, he rejoined the show to tell us all about it. And he brought his mom Sylvia to talk about her experience too!

His epic adventure raised more than $24,000 for Jacob’s Well on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and you can still donate here: https://www.jacobswell.ca/chrisruns

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Nov 11 – 29th annual Prairie Inn Harriers Thetis Lake Cross Country 20K relay - https://pih.bc.ca/race

Nov 22 – 41st annual Gunner Shaw Classic - https://pih.bc.ca/race/3-gunner-shaw-memorial-10k-cross-country-classic

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us: islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram: @islandmilespodcast

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Two years ago, Julia Loglisci decided to make some major lifestyle changes. Along with a new dietary approach, she started weight training, practicing yoga, and walking. Those walks started to include some light jogging, and eventually the walking intervals disappeared as she found a love of running. Julia recently completed her first half marathon and joined the show to talk about her health journey, what running has meant to both her physical and mental health, and how it has positively impacted many facets of her busy life as a small business owner. You can find her photography work at www.julialoglisci.com/.

The Rundown - upcoming races and events:

Nov 9 – Partridge Fall Classic 8K - raceroster.com/events/2025/111240/partridge-fall-classic

Nov 11 – 29th annual Prairie Inn Harriers Thetis Lake Cross Country 20K relay - https://pih.bc.ca/race

Nov 22 – 41st annual Gunner Shaw Classic - https://pih.bc.ca/race/3-gunner-shaw-memorial-10k-cross-country-classic

The Island Miles Podcast wants to hear from YOU! Got a topic idea? Know someone doing something cool that should be celebrated? Email us at islandmilespodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Instagram at @islandmilespodcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.