Victoria: Sneakers and Snitches

When it comes to boasting a truly eclectic range of events to keep sports-fans happy, Victoria BC is head and shoulders above the rest.
 
Take this spring, for example. Taking place on April 30, the iconic TC10K is one of Canada’s largest – and most scenic - 10K-runs.
 
Now in its 28th year, this massive event is a big hit not only with spectators and elite runners, but also with the thousands of participants who register to run as a team or as an individual just for the fun of it.
 
All the action all kicks off at the BC Legislature before the route winds its way through the centre of Victoria and circles its way onto Dallas Road, where it then hugs the breathtaking shoreline for the final four kilometres of the race. Runners then hit the finish line back at the stunning Legislative Buildings.
 
Organized by the Victoria International Running Society, this quintessential West Coast event is certified by BC Athletics. Race start times are as follows: Visually impaired athletes and competitive wheelchair athletes (7:55am), other TC10K participants (8am), and family run participants (11am).
 
So what are you waiting for? Grab your sneakers and get running!
 
If you’re looking for a sport that’s a little more – shall we say – unusual, consider making your way to Victoria this April for the 2017 National Quidditch Championships.
 
This is no April Fool’s Day prank! Quidditch isn’t just a fictional game created by JK Rowling for Harry Potter and his friends, it’s now a growing, internationally-played mixed-gender contact sport. Yes, it may be based on Rowling’s flights of fancy, but there really is no sign of a flying broomstick in the modern day sport…
 
And this year’s championship is set to take place at the University of Victoria on April 1 and 2, which will see ‘muggles’ from across Canada squeezing PVC pipes (instead of flying broomsticks) between their legs and chasing human ‘snitches’ around the University of Victoria’s playing fields. After all, the university is the home of western Canada’s original quidditch team, the UVic Valkyries.
 
Ideally located in the Upper Harbour District, Days Inn Victoria Uptown  will be hosting all of the quidditch teams during the tournament. Offering breathtaking views of the Gorge Waterway by day and the sparkling lights of the BC Legislature Building by night, the hotel is a fantastic accommodation option for a sporty weekend getaway.
 

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