Royal Victoria Marathon

After completing 16 marathons, Kate knows firsthand how demanding the training blocks that come with preparing for 42.2K can be.

As an elite masters runner, she’s learned that strong training is about more than simply hitting every session on the plan. It’s also about knowing when to adjust, prioritizing recovery, and paying attention to what your body is telling you.

That lesson applies at every level. No matter the goal, marathon training is a balance between doing the work and knowing what you can handle.

With some strong long runs behind her, Kate is feeling confident about where she’s at as race day is just 6 weeks away.

For Julia, running has always been rooted in enjoying the experience.

She first got into the sport through a run club two years ago, and what started as stepping a little outside her comfort zone quickly became something she looked forward to. Last year, that journey brought her to the RVM Half Marathon finish line for the first time.

Since then, she’s developed an even greater appreciation for the distances that feel best for her. This year, she’ll line up for the Westland Insurance 8K, with a focus on getting faster, enjoying the experience, and continuing to build a relationship with running that feels good.

Julia is working toward a PR in the 8K, but still keeping the same focus that has shaped her running from the start: enjoying the process and having fun on race day.

We’ll be following along as she continues training, building confidence, and working toward that goal this October.

This week, we headed out to Sidney to join Small Gods Brewing Run Club! 🏃🍻

Every Tuesday at 6 PM, runners meet at Small Gods Brewing before heading out for an easy, social run around Sidney. The format is simple: run out in a preselected direction for 20 minutes, turn around, and make your way back to the brewery, with all paces and experience levels welcome.

And there’s a pretty good reason to make it back to the taproom. Small Gods releases a new beer every Tuesday, so run club members get the chance to try that week’s release after the run.

We loved getting out for a run along Sidney’s gorgeous waterfront and finishing back at the brewery with a chance to try their Passion Fruit Kiwi Sour.

Thanks to the Small Gods crew for having us out!

Meet Jayden, one of the athletes we’re following on the Road to RVM.

After already completing a full marathon this year, he’s taking a different approach to the OUTWAY Half Marathon. Jayden has been using strength and other forms of exercise to complement his running, build endurance, and help prevent future injuries.

For him, it’s also about discipline, learning to show up even when the motivation isn’t there while still finding a balance that keeps training sustainable.

Now, he’s working toward a sub-1:30 half, and seeing where that consistency takes him on race day. We’ll be following along as he continues to put the pieces together between now and October.

The road to your first marathon is filled with firsts, starting with the decision to try something new.

Meet Marshall, an Island Savings team member who’s taking on his first ever marathon in 2026.

We caught up with him to hear why he decided to take on 42.2K, what’s motivating him through the training and what he’s looking forward to most about the journey ahead.

Over the next two months, we’ll be following Marshall as he increases his mileage and gets ready to take on his biggest running challenge yet this October.