With a nudge from the running gods, spring officially sprung last weekend, bestowing a glorious day on Vancouver to enhance one of its biggest celebrations of the year.
We speak of the 34th Annual Vancouver Sun Run, which had 41,645 participants soaking up the Sunday morning sun.
The atmosphere created by themselves, hundreds of volunteers, bands, and buskers – was infectious.
As for those helpful running gods, everyone must have been thinking TGINF – ‘Thank God it’s Not Friday,’ which offered up the type of monsoon that Vancouverites tend to endure at this time of year.
Instead, Vancouver was the place to be for every level of runner and fitness enthusiast. Part of its charm and uniqueness is people get to see their names in print the next day in the Vancouver Sun newspaper.
The event promotes the celebration of health, fitness and lifestyle, and is the third-largest timed 10km race in North America.
For many walkers and joggers comprising the majority, the Vancouver Sun Run is their only venture to a race start line that they are likely to see this year.
Many will return every year because it has become a social happening that no other event can match.
For the regional elites and Olympic class mid-distance runners from across Canada and around the world, they are moving too quickly to notice the entertainment or even the water stations along the route.
They will notice the scenic beauty from start to finish though, while the elites chase after thousands of dollars in prize money.
Still, the recreational participants are the beating heart of the event.
The 9am start time allowed most participants to get downtown via public transportation.
Then under the direction of volunteers, the runners queued in their color-coded wave on West Georgia and Thurlow Streets, in anticipation of the starting horn.
The course, regarded by many as one of the world’s most scenic, makes its way down West Georgia Street through the West End, over the Burrard and Cambie Street bridges to the finish line at BC Place Stadium, where iconic race commentator Steve King announces the runner’s names as they cross the finish line.
They will have run past 18 bands and buskers, and many smiling spectators along the route.
In an interview, race director, Tim Hopkins said, “The event is for the everyday athlete. It is different from other events because it encourages people who are learning to run – have never run an event. It is for all abilities. For some, it is about training together and finishing the event with a sense of accomplishment.”
The first Sun Run started in 1985 with approximately 3,700 participants.
Having trained so hard and for so long for the Vancouver Sun Run, there are many other events you can sign up for to help you stay motivated with your running.
Register for your next race right away before your hard-earned fitness begins to fade.
Next month, May 6th to be precise the Vancouver Marathon also offers a half marathon and an 8km race and race information can be found at bmovanmarathon.ca so be sure to sign up with an early registration.
In Quebec City, the Oasis International Half Marathon takes place on May 6.
By Christine Blanchette and by John Moe
Twitter Christine Blanchette
