FAQs

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 here.

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 some day 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 best advice we can offer is to do lots of hiking and/or running in the months leading up to the Marathon Shuffle.

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. Starting 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.

Are you on Facebook? Connect with fellow Shufflers on the 2026 Shuffle event page and locals on qathet Trail Running.

Since 1993, the Marathon Shuffle has been organized by qPAWS (qathet Parks And Wilderness Society). Our small team couldn’t host the Marathon Shuffle, however, without the help of many volunteers, partners and community supporters.

For 2026, we will accept up to 400 registrations (325 open, 75 VIP). Considering withdraws and no-shows, we expect that about 300 registered participants will actually start the event… and we hope everyone finishes!

There is no cost to participate in Shuffle (It’s free!).

There is a CDN$10 cost to register, however. The registration fee covers fees from the registration services provider, credit card fees, website integration 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) and/or buy a qPAWS membership. 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.

qPAWS can accept donations by any of the following ways:

• E-transfer. Address to sunshinecoasttrail.info@gmail.com. We’re set up for auto-deposit, so there’s no need for a secret word.
• Credit card or Visa debit card. Please use our PayPal link below.
• Cheque. Please make it out to qPAWS and mail it to: Box 345, Powell River, BC, V8A 5C2.

Note: If you make a donation for more than $20 we can give you a tax receipt. If you’d like a receipt, please be sure to let us know your contact information in the eTransfer notes/PayPal contact info so we can get one to you.  🙂

Thank you!

Registration for the Marathon Shuffle opens 1 February at 06:00. All registration is online. To register, go the Marathon Shuffle website registration page.

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.

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

Work. Family priorities. Injuries. There are many reasons why you might not be able to make it to the Shuffle start line. What if you move, change your email or telephone number or otherwise need to update your application?

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

Just log in to your account with your Karelo User Name and Password.  Look for “My Registrations” on the right side of the screen and click to see your registration.  Click on your registration number (e.g. 879398) then ‘Update Registration’.  Don’t forget to press ‘Save’!

Note: If you must withdraw, please do so at least three (3) days before the event.

DNS. It is considered 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. Folks on the waitlist will be disappointed. Your name will forever appear on the starter list as DNS (Did Not Start). Please, if you can’t make it, withdraw at least three (3) days 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 registered. They mess up our recordkeeping. 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… you will go to the front of the line next year.

Wall of Shame. The names at the bottom of the results list labeled “DNS” or “Bandito”.

Yes. If all available spots are taken, you will be invited to join a waitlist. No registration fee applies to the waitlist.

We accept more entries than we can accommodate because we know some people will withdraw. 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.) So that waitlisted people have a reasonable time to prepare, we will keep the waitlist open until five (5) days before the event.

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 or 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. We maintain a waitlist. Allowing your friend to take your place would be unfair to folks on the waitlist.

There is no day of event registration. Registration closes at midnight on the Thursday before the event or when all available spaces have been taken, whichever comes first. Registered participants will check in at the Shinglemill and receive a number bib before taking a bus to the start.

• 07:00 – Check-in opens at the Shinglemill Bistro
• 07:45 – Ferry from Vancouver Island arrives at Westview terminal
• 08:00 – Bus leaves Westview ferry terminal and goes to Shinglemill
• 07:15 – Busses begin to leave Shinglemill.
• 08:10 – Last bus leaves Shinglemill
• 08:45 – Official welcome
• 09:00 – Start
• 10:45 – Finish line opens
• 11:00 – First finisher is getting close!
• 15:00 – Award ceremony at Shinglemill
• 15:30 – Last aid station (Sutherland Road) closes
• 16:30 – Bus leaves Shinglemill for Westview terminal (Comox ferry @ 17:15)
• 17:00 – Finish line closes
• 18:00 – Last connecting ferry of day leaves Saltery Bay (to lower mainland)
• 20:45 – Last ferry leaves Westview terminal (to Vancouver Island)

No. By definition, a marathon is 42.2 kilometers. The Marathon Shuffle is 27 kilometers.

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 well-trained runners complete the course in 3-5 hours. Accomplished hikers generally need 6-8 hours at a steady pace without much time spent taking breaks.

For your safety and for the benefit of our volunteers and emergency workers, we require that you 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 (+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. If you decide to abandon the event, 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. See “How should I train…” above.

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 and 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 plan to host a shorter, more child, senior and family-friendly event on National Trails Day (first Saturday in June.)

It is very important that you contact a Volunteer or Event Official if you can’t complete the whole course. If you signed in at the start and didn’t sign out at the finish, we will notify Search & Rescue and police… something that would be embarrassing to you and we’d rather avoid. Not signing out will definitely put you on our wall of shame and may exclude you from participating in future Marathon Shuffles.

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?”

Generally speaking, follow the trail that is more used. Keep your head up. Look for markers in the trees. If you don’t see markings, stop, look around and consider going backward to where you last saw a marker. The Sunshine Coast Trail is not the only trail in the area that uses orange squares. If you feel you are lost, stay where you are and call 911.

The qathet Regional District (the upper Sunshine Coast area) and the City of Powell River offer a wide range of places to stay and things to do. Check out the Tourism Powell River website for ideas.  

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

• Start (0 km).  Three (3) portable toilets
• Branch 10 (10 km). Water. Oranges. Basic first aid.
• Appleton (15 km). Water. Oranges. Basic first aid.
• Sutherland (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. Look for signs.

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 using 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 through at every aid station. Please be sure to show your bib number. A person (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 08:00. 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. 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 17:15 ferry. The bus will leave the Shinglemill around 16:30. 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 near the start, you will need to have a friend sign 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 there until the finish line closes. After that, we will hold items for a week before donating them to the Salvation Army.

Buses are costly. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to offer all registered participants with 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 departure times.

Buses will likely be packed, so expect to stand. The trip to the start 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, please ask the person who drives to drop you off 500m before the start area (~1km from Highway 101) 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.

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.

Bring whatever food and fluids you need to get you to at least the first aid station at about 10 km. There will be a table at the start where you can leave your drop bag and three (3) portable toilets.

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 trail in the first 200 meters.

Runners, the first 200m will be on the road then you turn right onto the narrow, uphill trail. Expect jostling and congestion for the first 10 minutes. To avoid frustration, please let faster folks start at the front.

Hikers, there is a trail entrance to your right close to the start line. Please start on the trail and avoid the chaos. Either way, it’s the same distance.

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 take down 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. Make sure your bib number is recorded and your finish time is accurate. Let us know at the finish if you’d like to finish as a team (e.g. family, work) with the same finish time in the results. To be fair, 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 3 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 are 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 and maybe some other goodies in the finish area thanks to 460 Realty. If you don’t want to hold onto 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, qPAWS does not maintain an inventory of t-shirts. We’re investigating the possibility of a mass order or on-demand services.

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. Anything we find or is turned in will be sent to the lost and found table at the finish line. Items not picked up within seven (7) days will be donated to the Salvation Army.

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. If you feel you’d like to support the efforts of qPAWS to maintain the trail and huts, consider making a modest donation to qPAWS (qathet Parks and Wilderness Society) 

Absolutely! Here is a document we created that may help you organize a successful fundraiser for the cause of your choice. 

If it’s an issue, we will take guidance from the provincial health authority. 

• Founded in 1993 by Eagle Walz and friends in what was then known as PRPAWS (Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society)
• The founding fathers had no expectation 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 COVID19 pandemic (2020, 2021)
• The Tom Mills Marathon Shuffle trophy was introduced in 2004. Tom Mills was a regular participant in the Shuffle who figured the event should recognize top finishers. Tom commissioned a local artist to create the trophy from a large slice of a local tree.
• The trophy was either lost or stolen while on display at the Powell River Recreation Complex in 2014. It was replaced with the current trophy in 2024. Here’s some background on the trophy.

Chances are, someone else has the same question so please ask it on the 2026 Marathon Shuffle Facebook event page.  Alternatively, contact us directly at events@sunshinecoasttrail.com.