Thank you for supporting Fletcher’s Challenge 2025!
Since 2003, Runners of Compassion-Nanaimo Chapter has donated over $256,000 back into the community to help young people overcome financial barriers so that they can participate in sports activities. Thanks to you!
With the weather looking the way it does we anticipate a good turnout for the Trail Race, The Family Cookie Walk/Run and the Easter Egg Hunt.
This year, we are returning to our roots, with the 17km trail race starting and finishing at Westwood Lake Park. As always, you can expect some of Nanaimo's best running trails, many of which will be new to most, if not all, participants. The course will remain a mystery until you're out there on the trail! We have shared the elevation profile with you farther down the document.
When & Where: Friday, April 18th, 2025 at Westwood Lake
Parking: In years past, we have had over 600 people attend Fletcher’s Challenge. Volunteers will help with parking but demands will be high. For Nanaimo residents, it is highly recommended to carpool if possible and try to find a spot outside of the park if you can. Arrive early!
Family Run/Walk – 6K around Westwood Lake
- Day-of Registration: 8:30-9:45 AM. If you are pre-registered, arrive by 9:45 AM and there is no need to go to the registration desk.
- Start Time is 10:00 AM
Trail Race 17km – Spots still available with race capping out at 200 participants
- Bib Pickup: 8:30-9:45AM
- This year the trail race will start and finish at Westwood Lake.
- Start Time is 10:00 AM
Course Length: This year’s course is approximately 17km in length (Depending on your GPS accuracy)
Course Profile: In the tradition of Fletcher’s Challenge the course has remained as much of a mystery as we can make it. Be sure to get yourself into your pace position very early as you will be hitting a tight single track once you hit the first section of trails. You won’t have many opportunities to pass for quite some time. If you want to pass, call it out to the person in front of you….“On Your Left, etc.” If you hear this pull over and let faster runners through.
As is always our goal, the route will be a “Challenge”; a traditional cross-country trail race that contains lots of the old-school twisty single track we all love with the required amount of elevation gain and descent included.
No runs up to the summit of Mount Benson this year, but we are going to throw a couple of hills at you so be forewarned and pace yourself accordingly. There may be water and mud on the route.
This will be a great training run the Hillbilly Hustle 50km taking place in May.
There are a few bumps and climbs primarily in the front half of the course so again remember to pace yourself accordingly. The main elevation gain of the race is between the 5km and the 7km. The course does have another sustained climb between the 8km & 10km section of the route. Then it is time to drop the hammer and enjoy some great downhill. Lots of trails that are new to the Fletcher’s Challenge plus a few trails that we used back in the days of the original Nanaimo GutBuster. We think you will love the course.
This course will be a challenge for all runners so please make sure that you are prepared.
- Water is mandatory or you cannot start the race. The Water Refill Station is at the 10 km mark.
- NO EARBUDS OR HEADPHONES OF ANY TYPE, FORMAT, OR DESIGN. THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THE RULES FOR THE SAFETY OF YOU, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND YOUR FELLOW RACERS. You will be disqualified and pulled from the course if you are caught using them.
- Run the MARKED COURSE as laid out, flagged, and signed by our crews. Stay on the ESTABLISHED trails.
- If you don’t see pink flagging, then stop and backtrack until you see pink flagging again.
Time Cut off:
- PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE CUT-OFF TIME FOR REACHING THE 10KM MARK (Aid Station) IS 11:30 AM
The time cut-offs are enforced so that we do not have volunteer marshals out of the course for an undo length of time.
Trail Race Rules: Our trails are a precious resource. Please do your best to minimize the impact on the trail.
Rules will be strictly enforced by our volunteers, and we will be forced to DQ any runner who does not follow them:
- No dropping of garbage of any kind is permitted.
- Absolutely no course cutting or shortcutting.
- No switchback cutting
- No corner-cutting
- No braiding of the marked route
Trail Running Safety: If you encounter someone injured or in distress, the first person on the scene stays with the injured person. The second person goes forward or backward on the course to contact a course marshal and look for help. The next 2-3 people should check and make sure everything is OK and if any more help is needed before proceeding. We all must take care of each other.
Water: All runners must carry water on this challenging course. We do have a water station this year BUT there will be long stretches with no water access. Some fuel (gels etc) is also strongly recommended. This is a self-supported race.
Recommended water:
- Front of the packers: 500-1000ml
- Mid packers: 1000-1500ml
- Back of the packers: 1500-2000ml
Bathrooms: Please use the bathrooms at Westwood Lake. There will be a Porta-Potty at the 10km Aid Station
If you have a great time, please tell your friends for next year! If you find something that can be improved upon, please tell us. Above all else, HAVE FUN and good luck!
We hope you find this information helpful but if you have any questions, please email Greg Scott at gscott73@shaw.ca
Runners of Compassion
