FAQs

2027 Event Details:

• Date: Sunday 25 April (the last Sunday in April)
• Start Time: 09:00
• Finish Time: 17:00 (5:00 PM)

The course is open for 8 hours.

In the Upper Sunshine Coast area in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Our district is called qathet. The event finishes in the city of Powell River.

We acknowledge that the Marathon Shuffle’s course passes through Tla’amin Nation Treaty Settlement Lands, and we are thankful for being able to share these lands for this event.

The event is held on the world-famous Sunshine Coast Trail. The point-to-point route starts where the Sunshine Coast Trail crosses Malaspina Road (north) and ends in the upper parking lot of the Shingle Mill Bistro (south).

The section of the Sunshine Coast Trail used by the Marathon Shuffle is well-marked. We do not provide special flagging for the event.

Here are some resources you might consider to help with navigation:

• GPX. Download a GPS Exchange Format (.gpx) file of the Marathon Shuffle route.
• RunGo. The RunGo app provides turn-by-turn voice instructions. We’ve set up the Marathon Shuffle course on RunGo and you can use it for free. Click here to use the RunGo app.
• Maps and Guidebooks. Consider a map (Sunshine Coast Outdoor Recreation Map) or, especially if you intend to someday hike or run the whole trail, a trail guide (Sunshine Coast Trail by Eagle Walz). Both are available at Tourism Powell River, 4257 Joyce Avenue in Powell River.

The Shuffle is a challenging event with many hills and uneven ground. The best advice we can offer is to do lots of hiking and/or running in the months leading up to the Marathon Shuffle. To prepare:

• Terrain: Try to train on trails with roots and rocks, not just flat pavement.
• Train regularly: Spend time on trails with hills to build your leg strength.
• Distance: Slowly increase your walking or running distance until you can comfortably move for 4 to 5 hours.
• Gear: Train in the shoes and clothes you plan to wear on event day.

Training events. For 2026, local hikers and runners are hosting free training events. These fun, low-key get-togethers begin in early January with five (5) beginner-oriented meetups with distances starting at 3-km. Beginning in February, there are eleven (11) Saturday morning training events leading up to the Marathon Shuffle. Distances range from 11K through 27K and are open to hikers and runners of all abilities.

Check out training events to learn about what’s coming up. Are you on Facebook? Connect with fellow Shufflers on the 2026 Shuffle event page and locals on qathet Trail Running.

The Marathon Shuffle has been organized by qPAWS (qathet Parks And Wilderness Society) since 1993. The Director of the event is Ean Jackson. The event is made possible by many volunteers and community sponsors.

For 2027, we will be accepting 400 registrations. (370 open and 30 VIP.) Considering withdrawals and no-shows, we expect that about 300 registered participants will actually start the event.

Registration is free. We want the Marathon Shuffle to be open to everyone.

There is a CDN$10 cost to register. The registration fee covers fees from the registration services provider, credit card fees, website, and other hard costs associated with hosting a free event. After expenses are covered, any remaining funds will go to qPAWS for trail maintenance. This registration fee is not refundable.

We humbly ask that you consider making a modest donation to qPAWS (qathet Parks and Wilderness Society). Your contribution will be used to maintain and improve the trail throughout the year. We continue to build new huts, kiosks, benches, picnic tables, swimming docks, camp sites, and outhouses along the entire 180 km of the Sunshine Coast Trail, Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail.

Thank you!

You must register online through our website using a credit card.

• Registration opens: 1 February
• Time: 06:00
• Marathon Shuffle website registration page.

Registration is first-come, first-served. We do not take sign-ups by phone or email.

We use a professional registration service (Karelo). If this is your first Marathon Shuffle, you will need to create a free account in Karelo. If you participated in the Shuffle since 2023 (or any other event that uses Karelo), just log in to your account and confirm that your profile is up to date.

We need complete contact information, emergency contact and waiver for each participant. Please make sure your entry is complete and accurate.

‘Forgot your login information? Please contact Karelo. You can find answers to questions about the Karelo service here.

If you can’t attend, please let us know as soon as possible. This allows someone on the waitlist to take your spot.

If you have to withdraw or change what you entered when you registered, our registration system makes it easy!

Login to Your Account

First, find the email you received from us confirming your entry. If you printed it off, it’s likely in your sock drawer. If you can’t find the hard copy, try searching your email inbox for ‘Marathon Shuffle 2027: Registration confirmed’. You’ll likely find it dated 1 February 2027.

With your account information in hand, go to the Karelo Login page. Enter your Karelo Login Name and Password:

If you see ‘My Account’ in the upper-right corner of your screen, you’re in the right place.

Making Changes

MY PROFILE. To make changes to your contact information, such as your phone number or address, click here. You can also delete a Karelo profile here if you somehow have more than one.

MY REGISTRATIONS. This is where you update information specific to the Marathon Shuffle. Click here if you get injured or otherwise need to withdraw, you changed your mind about driving to the start and would prefer to take a bus or would like to change the number of Shuffles you have completed. Don’t forget to press ‘Save’!

To withdraw. Click on your registration number (e.g. 879398). Scroll down to just past your credit card information at the bottom of the page and click ‘Cancel This Registration’. A reminder that your registration fee is not refunded.

Note: If you must withdraw, please do so by the Wednesday before the event. Withdrawing after this time does not allow people on the waitlist a reasonable chance to take your place. Withdrawing late also causes hardship to the event, as bib numbers are created and buses rented based on registration numbers. Anyone who withdraws after the Wednesday before the event will be considered a DNS.

Sadly, we have needed to implement penalties for behavior that puts the event at risk.

DNS. It is considered very bad form to sign up and not show up. Your seat on the bus will go empty. Our volunteers will be looking for you at aid stations. Food will be wasted. Your bib number will go to the recycling. Folks on the waitlist will be disappointed. Your name will forever appear on the starter list as DNS (Did Not Start). Worst of all, your chances of getting into future Marathon Shuffles will be restricted. If you can’t make it, withdraw by at the latest by the Wednesday before the event so you’re not considered a DNS.

Banditos. This is the name given to non-registered participants. They take up seats on the bus. They confuse our aid station volunteers, who go to a lot of trouble to make sure we know that all registered participants are safe while out on the trail. They consume aid intended for those who followed the rules for signing up. They mess up our record-keeping. They commit what lawyers call ‘theft of services”. Please… if you missed getting in the Shuffle, earn VIP status by helping the event in some way this year… you will go to the front of the line next year!

Desaparecidos (the disappeared). This is the name given to folks who start the event and disappear somewhere before the finish. They don’t check out at an aid station or otherwise communicate with an event official. They cause our volunteers extreme grief, as we will send out a search party, contact Search and Rescue and the police. This scenario is very embarrassing to the desaparecido and totally avoidable. If you have to abandon the course, please tell an official!

Wall of Shame. This is what we affectionately call the list of names at the bottom of the results list with a “DNS”, “Bandito”, or “Desaparecido” designation. These folks cause the types of problems that put the event at risk and can potentially spoil the fun for everyone.

Starting in 2026, anyone who has earned a DNS, Bandito or Desaparecido designation will need to make a special application to participate in the event and won’t be allowed to register until 1 April.

This is where we acknowledge exceptional participants and exceptional accomplishments.

Here is a summary of top finishers over the years. Here are the folks who have completed ten (10) or more Marathon Shuffles.

Find your exceptional accomplishment in the event results by using the search function (the little magnifying glass).

Yes. Once the available spots are full, you can join an online waitlist. If someone withdraws, the next person on the list will get an email invitation. You will have a limited time to accept the spot before it goes to the next person. There is no cost to join the waitlist.

We accept more entries than we can accommodate (400) because we know some people will withdraw. Most people withdraw in April, with the majority of the withdrawals being in the 2 weeks before the Shuffle.

If it is possible to invite more participants, we will invite those on the waitlist in the order that they signed up (e.g. first to sign onto the waitlist is first to be invited.)

We reconcile the waitlist roughly as follows:

• 1 March
• 1 April
• 15 April

After the final waitlist reconciliation, registration closes. The good news is that despite having 88 people on the waitlist in early February, everyone was offered the opportunity to participate by 15 April.

Moving from the waitlist to being registered starts with an email invitation. You need to respond to the invitation by completing your registration and paying the registration fee. To be fair to those farther down the waitlist, those who have been invited to register have two (2) days to accept. If they don’t accept the invitation, it will expire and will be passed to the next person.

Someone who has or could make an exceptional contribution to the event. These people include: past male/female first-place finishers, exceptional athletes, accredited media, sponsors of the event/people who contribute $500 or more toward our costs, land owners, and people who have invested considerable sweat equity (e.g., work on the Sunshine Coast Trail or huts).

VIPs get special consideration for registration. If you feel you should be considered for one of these entries, please send us a request for special consideration.

No. Spots are not transferable. We maintain a waitlist. Allowing your friend to take your place would be unfair to folks on the waitlist. If you cannot attend, please withdraw so we can give the spot to the next person on the waitlist. This is the only fair way to manage the high demand for the event.

We keep a record of all official finishers. You can check your history on our Results page.

• Search by name: Use the search feature (magnifying glass) on the Results page to find your past finish times.
• Missing info? If you think our records are missing a year you finished, please let us know.

There is no day of event registration. You must register online in advance. If you are not on the official list, you cannot participate. We do not have “drop-in” spots available at the start line.

• 06:45 – Check-in opens at the Shinglemill Bistro
• 07:25 – Ferry from Vancouver Island arrives at Westview terminal
• 07:45 – Bus leaves Westview ferry terminal for Shinglemill
• 08:10 – Last bus leaves Shinglemill for the start
• 09:00 – Start (Malaspina Road)
• 10:45 – Finish line opens
• 15:00 – Award ceremony at Shinglemill
• 16:00 – Last aid station (Sutherland Road) closes
• 16:30 – Bus leaves Shinglemill for Westview terminal
• 17:00 – Finish line closes
• 17:15 – Ferry departs Westview terminal for Vancouver Island
• 18:00 – Last connecting ferry departs Saltery Bay for the Lower Mainland
• 20:45 – Last ferry departs Westview terminal for Vancouver Island

No. A standard road marathon is 42.2km. The Marathon Shuffle is 27km.

The Marathon Shuffle is named after Marathon Hill, a feature of the course. Back in 1993 when the Marathon Shuffle was born, there was no GPS. The ‘advertised’ distance for the Marathon Shuffle was 29 kilometers for many years. Nowadays, most smartwatches or phones put the distance closer to 27 km (+/- 200m depending on the device). The precise distance of the Shuffle is what it is.

Most participants who are healthy and have done some training finish in 4 to 7 hours.

• Fast runners: May finish in under 3 hours.
• Steady hikers: Usually take 5 to 7 hours.

Maximum time: You have 8 hours to finish (by 17:00/5:00 PM).

For your safety and for the benefit of our volunteers and emergency workers, we need you to pass through the aid stations before they close.

Here are the cutoff times:

• 12:15 – Branch 10 (+10k from the start)
• 13:45 (1:45 pm) – Appleton Canyon (+5.5k from Branch 10 aid station)
• 16:00 (4:00 pm) – Sutherland Road (+7.7k from Appleton Canyon aid station)
• 17:00 (5:00 pm) – Finish line closes. (+4k from Sutherland aid station)

If you arrive at an aid station close to the cutoff, please consider the conditions and how you feel before continuing. If you arrive at an aid station after the cutoff, you will be required to abandon the event for your own safety. You will earn ‘Bandito’ designation if you continue. Please speak to the aid station manager, and they will help you get to the finish area.

An event volunteer will ‘sweep’ the event. That means they will accompany the slowest participant.

Worried about making the cutoff times? Consider coming out to one of the free training events to test your ability.

There is one “official” 27-kilometer Marathon Shuffle course.

Longer: Some folks have started at Sarah Point and run 50 kilometers. Some have started in the middle of the night at the finish, ran to the start, started with everyone else, then run to the finish. We will recognize those who attempt an “Ultra Shuffle” with a note in the results.

Shorter: In past years, the family-friendly 12-kilometer “Half” Shuffle was almost as popular as the full Shuffle. Given the traffic chaos and logistics of getting people to various starting points along the trail, however, we had to abandon the shorter distance. We will record as a DNF (Did Not Finish) if you started, but don’t complete the 27K distance.

Note: qPAWS plans to host a shorter, more child, senior, and family-friendly event on National Trails Day (first Saturday in June.) Please see https://sunshinecoasttrail.com/.

You must contact an Event Official if you can’t complete the whole course! If you are tired or injured and cannot finish:

• Exit points: Try to get to an aid station. The aid station manager will arrange to get you a ride back to the finish area.
• Stay on the trail: Do not go off-trail to find a shortcut. Another participant, or the “sweep” (a volunteer following the last participant), will not be far away.

Note: Please see “Wall of Shame” for the consequences of not checking out with an official

If you feel you are lost, stay where you are. If you are on the correct trail, another participant or event official will come by soon. If you are off-trail, try to call 911.

For navigational aids to help you not get lost in the first place, please see “What is the route of the Shuffle?”

The Sunshine Coast Trail, the trail used by the Shuffle, is well-established and well-marked. Expect to see orange squares on trees, frequent Sunshine Coast Trail kilometer markers (roughly every kilometer), wooden directional markers, and other trail indicators. To minimize the impact of the event on the environment, we provide minimal additional trail marking specifically for the Shuffle.

For navigational aids, please see “What is the route of the Shuffle?”

If you’d like to suggest improvements to the signage, please contact qPAWS.

The qathet Regional District (the upper Sunshine Coast area) and the City of Powell River have many great options for visitors:

• Do: Visit the historic Townsite district, explore other parts of the Sunshine Coast Trail or walk around Willingdon Beach and Millenium Park
• Stay: There are several hotels, motels, and B&Bs in town. Willingdon Beach Campsite is popular for campers.
• Eat: The Shinglemill Pub (the finish line) is a local favorite. There are many other cafes and restaurants in the area.

Check out the Tourism Powell River website for ideas.  

There are five (5) formal aid stations on the Shuffle route:

• Start (0 km).  Two (2) portable toilets
• Branch 10 (10 km). Water. Oranges. Basic first aid.
• Appleton Canyon (15 km). Water. Oranges. Basic first aid.
• Sutherland Road (24 km). Water. Oranges. Basic first aid.
• Finish (27 km). Two (2) portable toilets. Water. Oranges.

Note: Kind-hearted locals have been known to hand out homemade cookies along the course, and aid station sponsors may provide little surprises. Expect the unexpected!

Several pit toilets (outhouses) are available on or near the course:

• Rievely Pond hut
• at the top of the canyon, just after you cross the bridge over Appleton Creek
• near Sliammon Lake

Be sure to bring a refillable water bottle or hydration pack with you. To minimize the potential impact on the environment, we will not be offering single-use plastic or paper cups at the aid stations.

If you are tired or have a minor injury, please let an aid station volunteer know. They will help you get to the finish area. If you or someone you come across on the course has a serious injury, please call 911. Powell River Search and Rescue is aware of the event and will be on standby.

We check participants off the starter list at every aid station. Please be sure to show your bib number. A volunteer (sweep) will accompany the last participant.

Vehicle parking has been provided by the Shinglemill Bistro (the finish of the Marathon Shuffle.) Free parking is available in the middle lot. The upper lot is being used for the finish line. Tents, toilets, and other finish line structures may not yet be set up when you arrive. Please don’t park in the upper lot! The lower lot (near the restaurant) is paid parking, so if you park there, be sure to pay at the restaurant.

We’d like to help you save some money and help the environment. Consider walking onto the ferry at Little River (Comox).

We provide a free bus to get you from Westview Terminal in Powell River to the Shuffle start, and from the finish back to the ferry. The bus will wait for the morning ferry at the “A” frame Chamber of Commerce building at the corner of Wharf and Willingdon Streets in Powell River until 07:45. It will go to the Shinglemill where you will check in and get your bib number. There will be an opportunity to drop off a finish line bag when you check in and/or at the start on Malaspina Road. Please be sure to note your name and mobile number on your drop bag.

After you have finished the Shuffle, a bus will be available to get you from the Shinglemill back to the ferry. The bus will leave the Shinglemill around 16:30 so there is time to get on the 17:15 ferry. If that doesn’t work for you, try Powell River Taxi at (604) 483-3666.

For specific times and links to BC Ferries, see “What is the agenda for the day?” above.

All participants must sign in. You will sign in at the Shinglemill Bistro (near the actual finish line). We will check you off the starter list, and you will be given a number bib and a coupon for a free drink at the finish, compliments of the Shinglemill.

There will be NO check-in at the start on Malaspina Road. If you live near the start and plan to be dropped off, you will need to have a friend check in for you at the Shinglemill, get your bib number, and get that bib number to you.

There will be an opportunity to leave drop bags at the Shinglemill (finish) and at Malaspina Road (start). Please be sure to put your stuff in a recognizable bag that you can tie up… this so your stuff doesn’t fall out when we move it. Best to not drop off anything of great value, that’s fragile, or has liquids in it (e.g. a full water bottle.)

Drop bags and any personal items that are turned in during the event (Lost and Found) will be taken to the finish line. You can pick them up until the finish line closes. After that, contact us to arrange pickup. We will hold items for a week before donating them to charity.

We pay for buses. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to offer all registered participants a free bus ride from the finish area at the Shinglemill to the start. If you’re coming from Vancouver Island, we’ll also pick you up and drop you off at the BC Ferries Westview terminal.

Please see “What is the agenda for the day?” above for bus and ferry times.

Buses will likely be packed, so expect to stand. The trip to the start area is less than 30 minutes. If you miss the bus you are on your own, so best to arrive early.

We highly discourage you from driving to the start! There are no places to park and what limited space there is will be for buses, event volunteers and emergency vehicles. As well, there will be up to 350 starters and event officials milling about the area. Do your part to keep everyone safe by taking a bus.

If you live near Malaspina Road and plan to get a ride with a friend, be sure to have someone pick up your bib and sign you in at the Shinglemill. Ask your driver to drop you off at the mailboxes on Malaspina Road at the corner of Highway 101 (~1km from the start) so they don’t drive through the crowd.

You may not bring your friends, family or pets to the start to see you off. They are welcome to cheer you on at the aid stations (Sutherland recommended as it’s easy to access) and the finish.

Note: Any Shuffle participant found to be driven past the corner of Hwy 1 and Malispina Road will be added to the Wall of Shame and potentially restricted from participating in future Shuffles.

The start is on Malaspina Road where the Sunshine Coast Trail crosses. It’s in the middle of nowhere on a narrow stretch of road. Buses will be coming and going. Excited Shufflers will be milling about or waiting their turn for the outhouse.

Bring whatever food and fluids you need to get you to at least the first aid station at about 10 km. There will be two (2) portable toilets and a table where you can leave your drop bag. There may be a tent where you can find shelter.

Starting around 08:45, a few VIPs will say a few words. We’re aiming to fire the starter pistol at 09:00 sharp.

Up to 325 people will need to get onto a narrow, single-track trail in the first 200 meters. The entrance is a feature of the Shuffle, so anticipate shuffling for the first 20-30 minutes. You will reduce your stress level if you seed yourself properly. That means if you have a reasonable chance of winning, start at the front. If you’re hoping to make the 8-hour cutoff, start at the back. Assume you will share the trail with 300-odd friends-to-be. Strike up a friendly conversation as you wait. Remember, the Marathon Shuffle is not a race.

There are two (2) options at the start:

• Runners, we recommend you take the road. Turn right onto the narrow, uphill trail after about 200m of pavement.
• Hikers, we recommend you take the trail. Take the trail entrance to your right close to the start line.

Either way, it’s the same distance. Either way, the routes merge in about 200m. Either way, you’re going to wait. Seed yourself according to your ability and enjoy the time you spend standing and shuffling as the bottleneck clears.

Our friends at 460 Realty are managing the finish line area.

As you exit the trail and enter the upper parking lot of the Shinglemill, you’ll see some tents and some enthusiastic volunteers who will check your bib number and record your finish time. Please make sure your bib number is visible when you cross the finish line.

We record time to the closest minute. Take a moment to confirm that your bib number is recorded and your finish time is accurate. Let us know if you’d like to finish as a team (e.g. family, work) with the same finish time in the results. To be fair to all, please let us know if you took an early (unofficial) start.

Aim to clear the finish chute as soon as possible so you don’t get run over by the next person. There will be 2 portable toilets near the finish line. (Two permanent toilets are located a bit farther away, opposite the Shinglemill restaurant) and of course, there are washrooms at the Shinglemill. We’ll have some chairs so you can sit down. Powell River Search and Rescue is planning to be around should you need their help or would like to chat with them about the awesome volunteer work they do.

There will be water and maybe some other goodies in the finish area thanks to 460 Realty and Nancy’s Bakery. If you don’t need the pins on your bib, drop them off and we’ll reuse them next year. You can also pick up your drop bag or check the lost and found if you lost something.

At the Shinglemill, use the ticket (attached to your bib) for a free drink, and maybe treat yourself to a celebratory lunch. The Award ceremony will be at the Shinglemill at 15:00 (3:00 pm).

There is some cellular reception on the course, but it is spotty.

No. While the Sunshine Coast Trail is free for anyone to use all year, we have to limit participation in the Marathon Shuffle to those who are registered and display their bib number on Shuffle day. For the safety of dogs and participants, please invite your canine best friend another day. We appreciate your understanding.

We’re working on it.

To avoid storing t-shirts in odd sizes in someone’s garage for decades and tying up funds intended for trail and hut maintenance, we do not maintain an inventory of Marathon Shuffle t-shirts. We’re investigating the possibility of a mass order or on-demand services. qPAWS may have some Sunshine Coast Trail t-shirts available for purchase at the finish line.

Here are some of the t-shirts we’ve offered for the Shuffle in past years.

Guidebooks, maps and other souvenirs can be purchased at Tourism Powell River, 4257 Joyce Avenue in Powell River.

Yes. If you find an item on the trail, please hand it to a volunteer at an aid station or the finish line. Anything we find or is turned in before 17:00 will be sent to the lost and found table at the finish line. It’s a lot easier to get your stuff back at the finish line. Before you get into your car, ask yourself, “Is anything missing?” If you and your lucky ball cap or water bottle are still not reunited, contact us to pick up in Powell River. Items not picked up within seven (7) days will be donated to a local charity.

Hug a volunteer. Write the Mayor. Thank our sponsors by doing business with them. Donate to qPAWS. Stick around town for a while and enjoy the lovely upper Sunshine Coast. Voice your opinion when it comes to protecting the Sunshine Coast Trail from logging. Come back and hike or run the whole trail.

Help with the event in some way!  Be a VIP. Respond to the post-Shuffle online survey or contact us with your suggestions for how we might improve the Marathon Shuffle.

No. Our goal is to put on a fun, free event that showcases a section of the Sunshine Coast Trail. The Shuffle is a non-profit event. Any money raised through donations or T-shirt sales goes directly to qPAWS. This money is used to buy tools, lumber for huts, and supplies to keep the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail safe and beautiful for everyone. If you feel you’d like to support the efforts of qPAWS , consider making a modest donation. 

Absolutely! Here is a document we created that will help you organize a successful fundraiser for the cause you care most about. 

• Founded in 1993 by Eagle Walz, Scott Glaspey and friends in what was then known as PRPAWS (Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society)
• The founding fathers did not expect that the event would grow much beyond a few local hikers
• For the first four years, until 1997, the event was called the Marathon Hike. The name was changed to be more inclusive when it started to attract runners
• For many years, participants could start at different places along the course at different times.
• Record keeping during the early years was not very rigorous. Please contact us if you are able to fill in the blanks!
• The “Half Shuffle” (starting at what is now the Appleton Aid Station) was more popular than the “Full Shuffle” for a while. The success of the Half Shuffle was ultimately the reason for its demise, however, given the logistics of moving people and vehicles. It was last offered in 2018.
• The event was not held for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020, 2021)
• The Tom Mills Marathon Shuffle trophy was introduced in 2004. It was either lost or stolen while on display at the Powell River Recreation Complex in 2014 and was replaced with the current trophy in 2024.

Chances are, someone else has the same question so please ask it on the 2026 Marathon Shuffle Facebook event page.  Alternatively, contact us directly using our contact form.