The Hatley Castle 8K takes place each February in Victoria, British Columbia — the 2026 edition is scheduled for February 8. It is presented as one stop in the long-running Vancouver Island Race Series, a circuit of island road races that dates back to the early 1980s and draws club runners, walkers and destination visitors from around Vancouver Island.

​

The Hatley Castle event is an 8-kilometre road race with a late-morning start; the 2026 race is listed to begin at 11:00 am. It is offered both as a single-race entry and as part of the Vancouver Island Race Series season pass, so participants can sign up for this one race or collect points across the multi-race season.

​

What sets Hatley Castle apart is its place inside the island-wide series culture: team and club scoring are encouraged (gather four others to form a five-person team), local running shops support the series, and the event welcomes runners, racewalkers, walkers and wheelchair athletes. The series’ premier sponsor, Frontrunners Footwear, provides a visible local connection, and limited-edition series-branded merch — including the vented trucker hat — is available to purchase.

​

Registration for the 2026 Vancouver Island Race Series launches at the Royal Victoria Marathon Expo; single-race entries and season passes are promoted through that launch. Registrants should note the series’ no-refund, no-transfer policy when signing up.

• Paved road course — the Vancouver Island Race Series describes Hatley Castle as a road running race.
• Start time listed at 11:00 am on race day (February 8, 2026).
• Open to runners, racewalkers, walkers and wheelchair athletes only; no roller blades, baby strollers or personal bicycles permitted (official cyclists only).
• Race-day guidance strongly recommends not wearing headphones; standard series race rules and conduct apply.

• Team competition: Five-person teams are encouraged — gather four others to compete as a club or corporate squad.
• Season pass option: Enter Hatley Castle as a single race or sign up for the Vancouver Island Race Series season pass to score across multiple events.
• Local retail support: Frontrunners Footwear is the series’ premier sponsor with multiple Victoria-area locations for shoe fitting and training resources.
• Road-race accessibility: Open to runners, racewalkers, walkers and wheelchair athletes — this is an inclusive road-running event.
• Series-branded merch: Limited-edition vented trucker hat available for purchase from the series’ official store.