First 5K Rainforest Trail Run through Burnaby's Central Park gears up for Sept. 29
Credit to Author: Susan Lazaruk| Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2019 21:55:19 +0000
The first Rainforest Trail Run — a 5K fun run through the shaded trees of Burnaby’s Central Park — is scheduled to go Sept. 29.
“It’s five kilometres because we really want to make it inclusive for families, so kids and elders can join in,” said organizer and UBC kinesiologist Rosalin Miles, executive-director of the Indigenous Physical Activity and Cultural Circle at UBC.
The event will allow runners to experience what it’s like to run or walk under a cool canopy of trees and through Swangard Stadium and to take part in an Indigenous cultural show, including traditional dancers, at the end.
There will be a traditional bannock treat — deep-fried non-leavened dough — waiting for participants.
Miles said it’s a wonderful way for Indigenous and non-Indigenous to celebrate their love of fitness together.
Rainforest Run organizer and UBC kinesiologist Rosalin Miles. Photo: Gerry Kahrmann/Postmedia
The run was the idea of Vancouver Sun Run founder Doug Clement, who said he chose the date — the first Sunday after the fall equinox — because it’s a celestial date that has significance in Indigenous cultures. He said he came up with the run idea to honour B.C.’s First Nations groups.
Clement, who with his wife, Diane, also founded the Harry Jerome International Track and Field Meet, the Richmond-based Kajaks Track and Field Club and their current club, the Achilles International Track Society, said fall is the perfect time to hold an athletic event with a festival atmosphere.
“We intend to create a festival component to increase awareness of the public to the Indigenous art and culture,” said Clement.
Dr. Doug Clement and his wife Diane.
He said he hopes the festival component of the event will grow each year and will eventually attract Indigenous groups from around the Pacific Rim.
“It is hoped be an event that would attract tourists from afar because of the rich experience,” he said.
Miles said the event would definitely fill the mandate of one of the calls to action laid out in Canada’s 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.
Under the heading Sport and Reconciliation, the report says: “We call upon the federal government to amend the Physical Activity and Sport Act to support reconciliation by ensuring that policies to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, reduce barriers to sports participation, increase the pursuit of excellence in sport, and build capacity in the Canadian sport system, are inclusive of Aboriginal peoples.”
“On reserves or in cities where there is proportionately large numbers of Indigenous, we don’t have the same opportunities, or the pools or rec centres or coaches,” said Miles.
And she said encouraging physical among First Nation families would help improve their health.
A report by the provincial health officer about a year ago found Indigenous health tracked over 10 years found improvements but also found the gap between the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people widened in some areas.
To register, go to rainforesttrailrun.com.