About cycling & running in NanaimoNanaimo Training Notes
Running: Locals run Bowen, Buttertubs, the E&N, Parkway Trail, and the Waterfront Loop when they want steady base miles without overthinking it. Frontrunners Nanaimo sits at 1825 Bowen Road, so a lot of routes feel like they naturally start from there. Westwood Lake works for easy Z2 laps on paved and hard-packed trail. The 61 km Rural Forest route gains +512m, so locals use it when they want a proper long grind. Run for Recovery 2026 around Westwood Lake is the clean anchor event for runners, and the Nanaimo Open Water Swim and SwimRun Challenge gives the multisport crowd a target.
Cycling: Locals ride the Parkway Trail, Trans Canada Trail, and E&N Rail Trail when they want paved, separated miles. Coal City Cycles keeps the mountain bike side moving with Tuesday night rides at 6:30pm, and Mid Island Velo Association covers road and gravel with Sunday Road Rides, Wednesday Night Int/Adv Road Ride, and Saturday MIVA gravel. Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club keeps the trail culture rooted. Blackjack and Okay Lap, MIVA Unpaved A Course, River Road Run, and Shelton/Healey Lake keep gravel interesting. Mount Benson and the hills west of town hold the climbs, the singletrack, and Murderhorn Maiden.
Season: Warm, dry summers give Nanaimo its best training block, with long rides, waterfront spins, lake loops, and weekday intervals all feeling easy to schedule. Locals use summer for gran fondo prep, gravel days, and faster trail sessions because the dirt and pavement both cooperate. Mild, rainy winters change the mood more than the plan. Runners keep working Bowen, E Wellington, Parkway North Diver Lake, and Westwood Lake, while riders lean harder on separated trails, gravel routes, and mountain bike laps when the roads feel less inviting.
