2025 Summer Parks Challenge

2025 Summer Parks Challenge

The Harriers Running Club is pleased to announce the 2025 Summer Parks Challenge.

The Challenge is to run (or travel on foot) in as many parks as you can during the 126-day Challenge period.

With many accessible local urban parks as well as plenty of rural and wilderness parks, the opportunities will seem endless.

This summer-long event caters to all. Travelling for holidays? No worries, as non-local parks count too.

So, get out there, explore the wealth and variety of our parks, discover some new ones, and have fun.

The Challenge is open to everyone - Harriers and non-Harriers alike! You are welcome to join the club, which will qualify you for the discounted price, but membership is completely optional.

Details

There will be weekly prizes announced over social media and directly to winners by email.

For the summer-long event, there are two primary challenges:

Challenge number one: Turn up the volume.

Enter the most parks as you can. No limits and no limit on repeating same parks. Do you take your dog for a walk daily? Have a favourite run route? Live right next to a park? What about wanting to run more volume over the summer, here is a great excuse.

Challenge number two: Be the most unique.

Enter the greatest variety of unique parks. Do you like to explore? Go on random walks, hikes or runs? This Challenge is for you.

You can Challenge both contests, volume, and uniqueness. Or just focus on one. Your choice.

Starting soon In progress ...

The 2025 Summer Parks Challenge begins on Victoria Day, May 19, 2025 (12:00 AM - midnight) and ends on the final day of summer 2025, September 22nd (11:59 PM).

Eligible activities ("runs") must be completed on foot, for example, “run,” “hike,” "walk," or a combination thereof. No other form of movement will be considered.

Qualifying runs must be at least 3km in distance or 30 minutes of moving time, whichever comes first. To claim a park you must traverse at least 50 metres within it, which for a very tiny park (and these do exist) may mean some zig-zags or loops.

Qualifying parks are as per the following, but not limited to: Community, Municipal, Regional, Provincial, National, State, UNESCO or National Historic Sites. Other park-like lands may be included. Institutional grounds (eg. schools) are generally not allowed, unless they also have a special park status. Organizers will consider all submissions and appeals with the governing principle to include as many parks as possible.

Many parks can be counted in a single run, but each only once for that run. There must be at least one hour between two different (separate) runs.

Registration

You will need to register for the 2025 Summer Parks Challenge on its website (URL and registration code to be shared soon). You will also need to register and pay here at Race Roster.

Your dashboard and the leaderboard will be shared with you by email after you register. interactive maps of each run will illustrate where you went and the website will automatically "grab" each park you entered on your run, walk or hike.

The price is $40 all-in. No tax, no admin fees. Harrier Club members in good standing will receive a $30 discount.

Prizes

Weekly prizes will be awarded over social media for such things as uniqueness of "Parking," volume, length, best photo of a park, and other mystery prizes.

Prize packages will be awarded to the two summer-long Challenges noted above.

Other draw prizes may be awarded randomly.

Charity

As this is a not-for-profit event, all of the proceeds will be donated to The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) https://conservancy.bc.ca/

TLC The Land Conservancy of British Columbia is a non-profit, charitable Land Trust working throughout B.C. TLC protects important habitat for plants, animals and natural communities as well as properties with historical, cultural, scientific, scenic or compatible recreational value.