The first time I saw Bob Wall, he was in the middle of a forest run to who knows where. It was winter, one of those days where my running group had geared up for foul weather, but were rewarded for our commitment by the clouds opening to golden sunshine. Having recognized one of our organizers, Wall was happy to pause and provide some words of encouragement.
I tracked him down again months later, my intrigue piqued. Stories had surfaced: rumblings of “the original (ultra) trail runner” with spectacular yet fuss-free achievements; a free spirit in no-name shoes; so joyfully in a flow state on one gnarly mountain outing he didn’t clock the disintegration of his footwear; a broken back; and a FKT (fastest known time) on the notoriously challenging North Coast Trail.
Early days of Campbell River’s trail running scene
Wall landed in Campbell River in the late ’90s when few trails had been developed; it was rare to bump into anyone else even in areas close to town, and many of today’s trails weren’t yet built. “It was a lot of discovery,” he says, “I’d head out for a 45-minute run and be [gone for] three hours. It was primal. I felt like a kid figuring out something new. I do miss that part of it—now, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll see other people and be on a well-established trail.”
To replicate those early experiences, today he goes further—and further—afield. Rather than a destination, or a finish line, the journey is the goal. Committed to never living a “normal life” (his biggest fear), he abides by the mentality of “if I dream it, I’ll go do it.” For him, adventure running is a vessel to connection, whether with a trail partner, the Self, or the natural world. It’s a time to get “in tune with all the little biologies going on; a really cool process. Which you’ll never figure out unless you push yourself beyond what you know or are comfortable with.”
The philosophy of discovery through running
Any given day can be an invitation to return to basic human discovery: “how resilient and resourceful are you, really? … What does it feel like physically and mentally in each situation? Get out there really early, or be there really late, see the differences.”
Wall’s accidental transition from road to trail came through what was considered North America’s toughest fundraising walk. A 63.5-km distance event called The Great Walk/Burning Boot, between Gold River and Tahsis, starting in the dark at 4 a.m. He participated on a whim, finished first, and never returned to the tarmac.
The rise of organized trail events
As Wall saw Campbell River’s forests develop with maintained trails, so too began several popular races, accompanied by clinics and multiple run groups.
The Kusam Klimb began in 2004, organized by Coastline Endurance Running. Snowden’s fantastic singletrack was celebrated through events that no longer exist: the Snowden Challenge (formerly the Campbell River 50K), several 10Ks that departed from Lost Frog, and the Loveland Bay Trail Race, last held in 2022. Clinics, while largely led by elite long-distance road runners, boosted stamina and technique for the trails.
The challenge of sustaining a running community
Many of these events relied on volunteers. Steve Spiers, who introduced me to Wall, volunteered as Director of River Runners for about ten years. His perspective is that clinics, races, and groups began to phase out due to a lack of fresh faces: “It was always the same people over and over, no new people coming up who wanted to get involved by volunteering for roles.” Today, while Spiers notes that he’s gone from knowing every runner in town to frequently seeing folks he doesn’t know on the trails, organized groups, racing, and clinics seem few and far between. Yet a Campbell River Trail Running Facebook group has over 500 members.
A resurgence of trail running culture
In the last year or two, I believe, this digital resurgence of enthusiasm has caused a slow and steady revitalization of local run groups to begin. People are seeking real-life connections to share motivation in action and try new routes with. With consistent participation, these burgeoning groups may lay the groundwork for a whole new era of running in Campbell River.
The launch of the Snowden Trail Race on May 24, 2025, is almost certain to buoy the return of local run culture. This grassroots initiative is led by Derek Kaufman, the owner of Foveō Running in Courtenay, informed by insights from former Loveland Bay Trail Race directors. Enthusiastic newcomers and longtime racers are stoked for this race (there’s an 11K and a 26K, described as “speedy and flattish”) with a post-race DJ, food, and drinks.
If you’ve been seeking motivation to pursue the singletrack, Wall parts with some final wisdom: “Find the joy in being out there. That’s the spark, the life, the energy…that’s the only thing that’s going to keep you going”.
