Best Cheering Places
Click map to enlarge:
- Near the start: Park Road, Brothers Park. The start line is on Park Road so you can get a good view from many spots.
- Gibsons Park Plaza. Park in the mall parking lot and watch from Payne Road in front of IGA. The runners will be coming down Payne Road just after 9am. This is just past the 1km mark. Time runners pass by: 9:03 to 9:09am.
- 5km: Highway at Veterans Rd. You can park on the small frontage road here, on the Gibsons side, and watch the runners come through the 5km point. The first relay exchange point is also here. Time runners pass by: 9:18 to 9:52am.
- Just past halfway (11km): Joe Rd at Lower Road. Drive along the highway and turn left at Joe Road, then park on Joe near the bottom (do not drive or park on Lower Road). This is also the second relay exchange point. Turn around and drive back up Joe to the highway when finished. Time runners pass by: 9:33 to 10:40am.
- Roberts Creek Village: drive along the highway to Roberts Creek Road (traffic light), turn left and head down to the village area. Park well BEFORE you get to Lower Road and walk to the intersection to cheer the runners on. There is usually a good gathering of local residents here. Time runners pass by: 9:40 to 11:03am.
- Cedar Grove Road and Beach Ave: when coming down Roberts Creek Road, turn right onto Cedar Grove Road and you will get to Beach Avenue very quickly. Park on Cedar Grove (no parking on Beach, it's the race route). Turn around and head back the way you came when finished. Time runners pass by: 9:43 to 11:10am.
- Marlene Road hill: near 15k mark. From the highway, carefully turn left onto Marlene and then left again onto Spruce to park. Cheer the runners as they tackle the uphill on Marlene — they'll need the encouragement! This is also the 3rd relay exchange point (top of Marlene). Time runners pass by: 9:45 to 11:20am.
- Wilson Creek/Field Road: park at Wilson Creek Plaza or up Field Road, then walk across at the crosswalk/lights, watching for runners coming along the far side. Time runners pass by: 10:00 to 12:05am.
- Finish line: in Mission Point Park in Davis Bay (just before the beach parking area). Park at the beach parking lot or on side streets on the inland side, and walk a short distance back to the park. Time runners arrive: 10:04am to 12:30pm.
Make some noise!
Do you play a musical instrument? Set up on your driveway (if you live en route) or any safe spot along the course and play for the runners! Use a ghetto blaster or car stereo and play some upbeat tunes to get them going. Or, bring out bells, pots and pans, and make some percussion noise... it all helps!
Finish Line Food/Coffee
Around a couple of corners of the highway past the finish area you'll find Pier 17 Market for snacks and coffee. For more hearty fare, there's the Beach Buoy restaurant, or Sirens by the Sea Steakhouse. (The finish line race food is just for the registered runners and volunteers.)