Walk in the Park
1940 Hillside Drive Kamloops, BC, Canada

It's a strange feeling heading into the September Long Weekend and there being no Walk in the Park. For the past 15 years, my routine has been the same. I set aside the Labour Day weekend to do something that has become a passion of mine. My wife knows I'm generally out of commission for most of the latter part of August and that long weekend plans are out of the question (it's a good thing I started this before we got together or she might be a little less understanding :) )...Continue reading

HELLO FOLLOWERS of the WITP FB Page :) , I trust everyone is making the best of the worst of times... we trail fans are a resilient group... sun, fires, rain, snow, sleet and hail and now Covid. I first want to say that I truly sympathize with those who currently are, or will soon be feeling the effects of the Covid closures and any resulting potential loss of income as a result. ...Continue reading

Feb 11 puts it a little more than 6 months out of the 29th Edition of the Walk in the Park. The 2020 event takes place on Sept 6th (ALWAYS on the Sunday of the Labour Day Weekend :) ). Registration goes live on Ultrasignup on March 6th. ... You can register or check it out here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?eid=272

The 2019 Walk in the Park is officially OVER. and being a Sell Out it's one more for the Record Books Here’s the RACE REPORT. It was a HOT oneI think we went through more Water, Electrolyte and Watermelon this year than the last 3 combined and a few runners suffered quite a bit in the scorching heat.... BUT all-in-all it turned out to be a pretty good day for both the Runners and Race Organization....Continue reading

An exciting & challenging WITP 2019 done. Find attached a snapshot of the day... a full album will be posted later tonight.

HOT HOT HOT.... Don't PANIC!!! YES the forecast for Sunday is for temps above 30C... YES, this will be one of the hottest WITPs in recent memory.... Given the heat in 2019 you might prefer flashing back to 2006 when we pulled and treated two participants with Hypothermia . This is probably redundant advice for Veteran Runners but for you rookies and WITP Virgins, a HOT day is no reason to get flustered... It might put the brakes on a new Personal Best but its not the end of... your race. View the weather as a challenge.... pace yourself according to your abilities and the temperature at the moment... Slow down in the open exposed areas and take advantage of the shady parts to recover. Drink and fuel up at EVERY Aid Station (even if you don't feel like it).... The water at the AID stations will be ICE COLD... so drink up (that is if it doesn't melt through the day :)). Take your race one section at a time and when things start going sideways visualize how you will feel when you finally cross the finish line. The start times are FIRM regardless of the forcasted daily temps so when you think you have it tough remember that there are runners out on course who might have started earlier but have already put in as many km as you have signed up to run.... and still need to run that distance again on tired legs in the same daytime heat that you are starting your run on fresh legs. ABOVE ALL.. listen to your body (& the Aid Station/St. John's Ambulance Attendants) during the run... there is no shame in walking instead of running.. and furthermore no shame in dropping out entirely... especially if the Aid Attendants are seeing something in your run that you aren't seeing yourself. SEE YOU ALL THIS WEEKEND .

Waitlist is up. Check the registration page as there still may be cancellations that open up a spot or two prior to the weekend. :)

The 2019 Walk in the Park is now SOLD OUT. Thanks for the support to those that have registered.... it's much appreciated . There is a waitlist enabled so if you're looking to get in, there is a slim chance someone might drop between now and Saturday at which point you'll be notified to confirm processing of your registration. (Thanks to those who have already let me know that they are unable to make it this year :) ) Apologies to those that wanted to run and are now not able to get in but the 100 cap on participants is firm. Keep tabs on the FB page for 2020 (registration expected to go live March 6).

Here's what's on offer at each of the aid stations this year. MISSING are perishables: Watermelon, Oranges, Bananas and Cooked Potato Pieces (w/ salt dip). :) Hammer Gels and Epic Beef/Protein bars are Gluten Free (as is any of the other familiar food you might see). The post race BBQ will also have a selection of both Gluten Free and Vegetarian/Vegan offerings.

The WITP has been privileged to have a SELECT GROUP of SPONSORS and CONTRIBUTORS year after year. As a result there will be LOTS of GREAT SCHWAG, including product, Sponsor GC's and "Liquid Honey" up for grabs as Door Prizes at this year's WITP.... with energy gels/bars/protein bars on course at the well stocked Aid Stations Runners Sole, Red Collar Brewing, True Outdoors, Volkswagen of Kamloops, EPIC bar, Hammer Nutrition Canada

UPDATE: 2 weeks out from the 2019 WITP. There are currently about 25 combined spots left across all distances. START TIMES: Reminder that Start Times are 7:00am; 10:00am and 11:00am and NO EARLY STARTS :) (Special consideration MAY be provided to 50K runners with an expected finish time over 9:00 hours). WEATHER: The weather outlook is HOT and dry for the next 10 days and will likely continue into the long weekend. It would be beneficial to get a few runs in during the late... morning to avoid heat issues on run day. VOLUNTEERS: I am looking really good for volunteers on Run Day (MANY THANKS) but could use a few people to help with flagging (Friday PM), Flouring (Saturday AM) and De-flagging/Sweep (12:00pm Sunday). Pay sucks but you can get a slow easy run in and are WELCOME to attend the post event social and BBQ on Sunday AND have your name thrown in for a door prize... word is that there should be a few bottles of "Liquid Honey" up for grabs :) . Fly me a FB message or email [email protected].

Its been a while since an update to the 2019 WITP so.... Out-of-Towners will be pleased to know that we have had a cool damp start to July and that the fire rating is currently down from where it has been in the previous 3 years at this time. Registration has just recently surpassed the 50% mark of the total 100 cap. Although the 14K event is nearing the interim cap of 25 participants. Once this has been reached any subsequent sign-ups will be wait-listed until August 12th w...hen the combined cap for all events will be lifted. If you have any food allergies or specific requests please send the page a message and we will do our best to accommodate you either at the aid tables or the post-event. BBQ. I can always use a few hands and feet in the days leading up to and following the run to help flag (Fri PM), flour (Sat AM) and sweep flags (Sun PM or Mon). If anyone is available or has a friend who wishes to come out please send the page a message (I almost have most of the volunteers in place for run day... thanks to those who have offered to date :) ).

Registration for the 2019 edition of the WITP opens in 2 weeks on March 1; https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=60150 . Early-bird rates will remain in effect until April 1st. Alternatively, you may wish to wait until March 4th where you can sign up at the Runners Sole Launch Event for the Kamloops Run Series at Iron Road Brewery on Monday March 4th. The online payment fee will be waived for those signing up at the event.

Like many Canadians of my generation, Terry Fox was, and still is a Hero to me. The annual Terry Fox run is coming up this weekend in Kamloops (Riverside Park 10:00am) and I just wanted to put it out there if anyone wishes to come out and join myself and many others in keeping his achievement and memory alive. https://www.facebook.com/Terry-Fox-Run-Kamloops-BC-260962730583224/ Additionally, through the years that I have been the RD of the WITP, I have made it my mandate to... donate any profit made on the run to the Terry Fox Foundation. Although the previous 3 years have pretty lean, this year I am happy to report that the WITP can make a $600 contribution.... BUT please be aware that, it isn't as much a contribution from the WITP but a contribution from all those who attended or sponsored the 2018 WITP... so MUCHOS GRACIAS!. :) SO... with that I just wanted to finish off by saying this is likely one of the last posts on the FB page until things start to pick up with registration in the spring.... Thanks ALL for the support, good luck with the training and hope to see you again in 2019.

After the lead-up to the WITP it's my turn to be on the other side of the Start Line. If you have never been to this trail run before, it's an awesome event in a super location.... The DF crew does a great job and they always have REALLY COOL T-Shirts - 42km 21km, 10km and 5km fun run.

IT’S A WRAP and here’s the REPORT. The 2018 Walk in the Park is officially OVER and in the record books. Weather-wise everything cooperated we didn’t get smoked out, rained out, or blown over to Alberta and no runners suffered in scorching heat essentially a perfect day for both Runners and Race Organization....Continue reading

racers out on the course trails

Yet again...WITP was a memorable event! Find attached a small sampling from out on the course. I will be posting full albums later today. enjoy...