What started as a half marathon through the streets of Oak Bay lopes into its second year as a 10K community run this weekend.
“It’s what runs used to be, community-driven,” said organizer Phil Nicholls, owner of sponsor business, Island Runner in Victoria.
Its the fourth year of the now-called Zoot 10k that started as a half marathon to pick up off the Lands End half marathon in North Saanich – for the first two years the Zoot too, was a half marathon.
“I thought it was starting to conflict with the half marathon that was already in place in Victoria,” Nicholls explained.
Runners in the second annual Zoot 10k in Oak Bay will zip through the community starting at 8 a.m.
“Sometimes it can get misconstrued as a serious runners only event,” he added. “I would hope it would always attract any casual fun-run walker. It’s meant for all people, to be a participation event.”
He expects fewer than 100 runners on what he describes as “a really neat route” that starts at Theatre Lane, goes to Hampshire Road, to Midland Road, then onto Beach Drive with a turnaround just before Cattle Point for the return trip.
“It’s a cool route,” Nicholls said.
The certified 10k sanctioned by BC Athletics passes Uplands Park and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.
Participants can register by submitting a completed form to Island Runner, 1576 Fairfield Rd. by Sept. 7, online at islandrunner.ca/zoot-10k-in-oak-bay/ or on race day between 7 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. at the start line.