All posts tagged with: Sun Run

As participants of Canada’s largest 10km road running race lined up this morning at the start line for the Vancouver Sun Run, the skies may have been blue and grey, but most participants wore blue and yellow in honour of the Boston Marathon. The 29^th annual run, celebrating community spirit, health, and fitness saw 48,196 registered participants, slightly below the previous year.

Finishing first place was Paul Kimugul of Kenya, winning the Men’s Overall division with a time of 29:04. Second place finisher, Ian Burrell of Tuscon, Arizona, finished in 29:17, and third place finisher, Edwin Kaitany of Kenya crossed the finish line at 29:36. The first Canadian male to cross the finish line was Victoria’s Clifford Childs at 30:09.

For the second year in a row, Natasha Fraser from Port Moody, BC, finished first place in the Women’s Overall division and the Canadian Female, with a time of 32:42. The second place finisher was Lindsey Scherf at 33:01, and Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Toronto finished third overall female at 33:25.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2013 Vancouver Sun Run!

Personal Results:

• Overall: 1545
• Chip Time: 44:59
• Pace: 4:30
• Male 30-34: 232/2,777 (top 8%)
• Male Overall: 1,307/20,377 (top 6%)

International elite athletes, recreational runners, joggers, walkers, wheelchair races, corporate teams, schools and kids are all getting ready for one of the largest 10km road races in Canada, The Vancouver Sun Run.

The Vancouver Sun Run has become one of the biggest spring traditions in Vancouver. Close to 50,000 participants will come together to celebrate healthy living, fitness, and community spirit.

The 2013 Sun Run is Sunday, April 21, getting underway at 9 a.m. in downtown Vancouver.  Individual registrations are being accepted until the final registration deadline, Saturday, April 20. Participants can save by registering online by midnight, Tuesday, April 16 ($48.37), or register at the Sun Run Fair ($60.00). There are currently over 43,000 registered participants.

Race package pick-up and the Sun Run Fair will be held a BC Place. Race packages include race bib, timing chip, and a souvenir 100% cotton t-shirt featuring artwork by Vancouver artist, Tiko Kerr.

• Thursday, April 18: 4:00pm – 8:00pm
• Friday, April 19: 10:00am – 7:00pm
• Saturday, April 20: 10:00am – 5:00pm

In 2012, the first place finisher was Kelly Weibe of Regina, Saskatchewan, with a time of 29:12, winning the Men’s Overall Division and Top Male Canadian. Second place finisher was Kip Kangogo of Kenya, in at 29:14.

The Vancouver Sun Run starts at 9:00am on Sunday, April 21 on West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver. It is the third largest 10km race in North America.

As the days slowly start getting a bit longer Vancouver’s seawall starts to see more visitors from runners as thousands of people begin training for Canada’s biggest 10k road race, The Vancouver Sun Run.

If you haven’t already registered to participate, it’s important to do it right away. There is a limit of 50,000 participants for the 2013 race, including individuals and corporate teams.

The Sun Run InTraining clinics kicked off on January 19 at over 65 centres across the lower mainland. Training leaders are providing expert advice, coaching tips, and motivational support to walkers, novices, and experienced runners.

The clinics are $139 and include a New Balance long sleeve technical training shirt, PowerBar performance training package, training log book, 2013 race entry, and souvenir event t-shirt.

Virtual training programs are also available through Sport Med BC.

Volunteers are also needed to help put on the massive event. Volunteer registration is now open. Volunteers are required for a minimum of six hours and will receive a commemorative crew t-shirt.

The Vancouver Sun Run will take place on Sunday, April 21, at 9:00am. The annual race started in 1985 with just 3,900 participants. 2011 was a record year with over 60,000 participants, becoming the largest 10km road race in the world that year. The race is primary targeted to promote health, fitness, community spirit and to support amateur athletics. Over $1.1 million has been raised for charities to date.

Photo Credit: The Vancouver Sun

On Sunday, April 15, an incredible 48,904 people registered to participate in the 2012 Vancouver Sun Run, Canada’s largest 10km road race!  Runners, walkers and wheelchair participants celebrated healthy living, fitness and community spirit along the course through Vancouver.

With a time of 29:12, Kelly Wiebe of Regina, Saskatchewan won the Men’s Overall Division and Top Male Canadian. Second place finisher was Kip Kangogo of Kenya, in at 29:14. Finishing third overall and second Canadian male was Matt Loisell of Toronto, Ontario, at 29:18.

Natasha Fraser from Port Moody, BC, won first place in the Women’s Overall division and Top Canadian Female with a finish time of 34:13. Melissa Todd of Timnath, United States finished second at 34:39 and Kate Bazeley from St. John’s Newfoundland finished third female overall and second Canadian Female with her time of 34:52.

The 2013 Vancouver Sun Run will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013.

It’s the weekend that everyone has been waiting for. This Sunday, April 15, close to 50,000 runners and walkers will partake in Canada’s largest 10km road race, the Vancouver Sun Run. The 28^th annual event is a celebration of healthy living, fitness and community spirit. Final registrations are being accepted until the deadline of Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Registration fees are now $50 per person (late registration), and include a 100% cotton t-shirt featuring artwork by Vancouver artist, Tiko Kerr.

• Online until midnight on Tuesday, April 10
• In-person registration at the Sun Run Fair at BC Place on April 12 – 14.
• There is no race day registration

Race package pick-up for individuals is located at the Sun Run Fair at BC Place. Hours of operation are:

• Thursday, April 12 – 4:00pm – 8:00pm
• Friday, April 13 – 10:00am – 7:00pm
• Saturday, April 14 – 10:00am – 5:00pm

The 2012 Sun Run gets underway at 9:00am at Burrard Street at West Georgia in downtown Vancouver.

The Vancouver Sun Run is also the 2^nd largest timed 10km race in the world.

The 27th Annual Vancouver Sun Run took place under sunny skies in downtown Vancouver on Sunday, April 17, 2011. An incredible 49,365 people registered for the 10km community race, embracing the tradition of health and fitness.

Eric Gillis from Guelph, Ontario claimed the victory in both the Men’s Overall Division and Top Male Canadian with a time of 29:06. Finishing second overall and second Canadian Male was Dylan Wykes of Vancouver, BC with his time of 29:15.

In the Women’s Overall Division, Lucy Njeri of Kenya took first place with a time of 33:41 beating Paula Findlay of Edmonton, AB who finished second with a time of 33:47. Findlay also claimed the Top Canadian Female title. Natasha Wodak from Port Moody, BC placed third female overall and second Canadian Female with her time of 34:01.

Although registration was down by about 2,000 people in 2011, The Vancouver Sun Run is the largest 10K in Canada and the 2nd largest timed 10K in the world.

In just over three weeks, on Sunday, April 17, over 60,000 runners and walkers will descend on downtown Vancouver for Canada’s largest 10km race, the Vancouver Sun Run. The Vancouver seawall has been packed every weekend and evening as people are preparing for their big day. It’s incredibly important that you register by Thursday, March 31, 2011, to receive the early registration and save $5 on an individual entry fee. After March 31, registration fees go to full price of $50 per person.

If you’re coming into Vancouver from out of town, the Hyatt Regency Hotel is offering rooms from $159 for single or double occupancy, but you must book by Friday, March 25, 2011.

Maybe you’re not a runner, but you still want to take part in the excitement and energy – there’s still time to register to volunteer on race day. Volunteers and an important part of making the Vancouver Sun Run a success, and a race this size counts on an incredible amount of volunteers. All you have to do is volunteer for six hours on race day and you will receive hundreds of smiles and thank you’s from this year’s participants plus a special Volunteer Crew t-shirt! Register to become a volunteers today.

Keep up the training, eat healthy, drink lots of water, and get a good night sleep.

Photo Credit: The Vancouver Sun Run

Like many people in Vancouver, you probably had a New Year’s resolution to lead a healthier life. By signing up for the Vancouver Sun Run, you will improve your wellness and get inspired by others.

Although the Sun Run InTraining Clinics started in January, but there’s still time to register and train for this year’s 10km Sun Run, held at 9:00am on Sunday, April 17, 2011.

To get your training started today, join the SportMedBC virtual training clinic.

Some helpful things to keep in mind as you train and prepare for the Vancouver Sun Run:

• Consult a trained professional for the appropriate shoes and running gear
• Adjust your diet to maximize your training
• Drink more water
• Gradually increase your fitness activity to prevent injury
• Seek a running coach to help train and motivate you, or join a running group or clinic
• Consult your doctor if you have health risks

With over 60,000 participants, the Sun Run is Canada’s biggest 10K road race, and ranked as the second largest 10K in North America. The Sun Run is also proud to be the first Canadian road race to include Nordic Walking.

Photo Credit: Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Sun Run

This spring and summer there are a number of excellent and well organized running events taking place in Vancouver. These are fun, high-energy races that will get your adrenalin pumping.

If you haven’t already, register now for these races and get into full training mode.

• Vancouver Sun Run
  • Sunday, April 17
  • 10km run
  • 65,000 participants
• BMO Vancouver Marathon
  • Sunday, May 1
  • Full (42.2km), Half (21.1km), 8km run, Wheel Chair Marathon, Nordic walk, and Kids Fun Run
  • 14,000 participants
• Scotia Bank Half Marathon
  • Sunday, June 26
  • Half (21.1km), 5km run
  • 15,000 participants
• Underwear Affair
  • July 9
  • 10km run, 5km walk
  • 1,000 participants

If you’re a beginner, if you start now, you can still be ready to run your first 10km race this spring!

Race organizers are always looking for volunteers too! You can sign-up today!

On Sunday, May 2 I ran the Vancouver Sun Run.

I did this 10k run two years ago for the first time in 54:35. It was my first time ever running in a race of any kind and I was very proud of my time. In fact, I was the fastest running of all the staff at Sport BC who also raced that year.

This year my goal was to beat my previous time and to finish in under 50 minutes. I am pleased to announce that I smashed my record, coming in at 46:55. That’s a full 7:40 faster than my 2008 run! Overall, I was in the top 4% of racers that day.

Overall, this is a good event. Here are the good points:

• It’s positioned well for beginner runners – that’s why it gets over 50,000 people participating every year.
• The seeded and wave start is great – it breaks up the number of people on the course and really helps stagger people out.
• It’s not a difficult event. It’s mostly flat with a two small hills. The hardest part is coming around and up-over the Burrard Bridge.
• People are there having fun! Most people run with friends, family, co-workers.
• The run takes you from Coal Harbour, over to Stanley Park, through the West End, over to the South side of False Creek and back into Yaletown – so you get to see so many different areas of Vancouver!
• This year they did a great job of getting people over the finish line and clearing the end zone. There were not as many people this year crowding to get over the finish matt.
• There’s a fantastic expo and post-run celebration with lots of sponsors, music, and refreshments. They do a top-knotch job ~ especially this year having it at Concord Place!
• Registration packages were not too bad – great, useful information inside.
• I was very pleased at how quickly race results were posted online! They were up by late afternoon the day of the race (Unlike the Vancouver Marathon which took 2 or 3 business days!)

I am not sure if I will run in this event again. There were some key things that really bothered me about this race:

• I was disappointed that they weren’t doing race registration up until Thursday evening online. I registered late (completely my fault), so I had to go down and register manually – not a big deal – it was still very fast and efficient.
• participants were not accurately seeded into their start lanes. The first wave is for elite racers, the second wave for the individuals who would complete in under 48 minutes, the next wave in under 53 minutes and so on. I notice there were literally hundreds of people who were in the second wave that should have been starting in the third and fourth wave. I think this was due to the fact that they arrived late, did not understand how to get into their category because of all the barricades, etc. This could have been alleviated by having more volunteers closely monitoring the entrance gates to each entry point. If I do run again, I’ll be running in the Elite runners category just so I don’t have to run with the masses (that’s my secret, back off people LOL)
• participants along the race course did not follow the standard rules of the road. Running in an event is similar to driving a car on the road – slower traffic keeps to the right! There were far too many participants who were not keeping to the right and were generally blocking the faster runners by walking / running in groups across the road.
• I think having four water stations was complete over-kill. It’s a 10k run – it’s a little excessive.
• The t-shirts were crap. I would have preferred either a medal or a technical shirt like the Vancouver Marathon (not that I would even wear it again, but still!).
• There should have been official photographers on-route and finish line photographers – and posting the photos to the website tagging people by bib number so they can purchase photos.

Over and above that, I thought it was funny just to observe some of things people were doing and wearing:

• Honestly, a full nylon track-suit isn’t required!
• Don’t drink sport drinks before you run! They are for replacing electrolytes after you run! Any honestly, you don’t need to drink a sports drink after a 10k… regular water will do just fine… you haven’t burned that much water and salt from your body ~ seriously.
• Don’t eat a banana as you are about to take off from the start-line! You’re supposed to do that 30 minutes before you run so that it has time for the sugar to enter your blood stream!
• Again, are running pants really necessary? Dress for the weather. It was ideal weather for shorts! Pants are too heavy and will make you over-heat.
• Oh and people stop wearing cotton! It doesn’t absorb… run in a wicking shirt. You can get great athletic shirts at Lululemon! #justsaying

General running etiquette and helpful tips:

• Be courteous to other participants
• Always thank the volunteers
• Try to smile / wave at spectators
• If you accidentally run into someone (or let’s say knock their iPhone off their arm holster), apologize!
• Just like changing lanes when you drive, shoulder check to see if there’s anyone coming up on your side
• Also, just like when you’re driving, slower traffic keeps to the right.
• If you have to tie up your shoe, pull off to the side and do it. No one wants to trip on you
• It’s OK to walk – just stay to the right.
• When you get to the finish line – keep walking ahead – don’t stop… you’ll be blocking the finish line for other runners
• Constantly be aware of what’s going on around you – plan the route ahead of you – who you are going to pass, and give them lots of room.
• It’s ok to use another runner as a pace buddy, just don’t disrupt their journey to the finish line.
• Have fun!

Now I need to figure out what event I’m going to run in next… perhaps the Underwear Affair?