October run calendar offers lots of options, tough decisions for peep
Credit to Author: Gord Kurenoff| Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2019 16:33:05 +0000
Marty Wanless, a regular reader and longtime observer of the Lower Mainland road racing scene, left this scribe a short voice message a couple weeks ago that basically said, fasten your chinstraps folks, the next couple months are going to get pretty crazy around here.
The durable Lions Gate Road Runners member, who often mistakes me for a race-day recycling bin to unload his used magazine collection, said he’s aware of 180-plus running-related events from now until the end of the year. That’s a lot of Body Glide.
If you do the math, count the limited number of weekends remaining until we ring in 2020, you deduce there’s going to be overlap, conflict and plenty of choices.
Along with turkey, rubber duck, butterfly and Halloween runs in October, there are signature events like the 49th annual James Cunningham Seawall Race, Granville Island Turkey Trot and MEC’S Campbell Valley Speedway Run.
Olympic race walker Evan Dunfee of Richmond, who opted to run instead of walk last November in the Fall Classic at UBC, cools off after winning the half marathon title in a time of 1:09:55, almost three minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
And, to make an already month even busier, RUNVAN has rescheduled its popular Fall Classic, plus there are new and returning events to raise awareness for autism and cancer. And, even if we list all the ones we know about here, there are other “startups” printing bibs as you read this. Like Baskin-Robbins ice cream, there are many extra flavours available for ya’ll!
I asked former Olympian Paul Williams during Sunday’s sold-out Campbell Valley Wine Run in Langley if we’ve maybe reached the point where there’s not enough runners to fill all the regular or niche events. Or enough weekends to handle all the events.
“The cream will always rise to the top,” smiled the astute owner of PEN RUN and two-time Vancouver Sun Run winner. “Runners expect a certain standard, for a certain price. Some races have a solid reputation and they’re tough to go up against, so that leaves a lot of events battling for the other available weekends and not all of them will survive, or be as successful as they want or need to be.”
Williams pointed out, for example, that after 12 years of hosting a Great Pumpkin 5K and 1K run/walk in White Rock, the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation has left the running fundraising game even though they enjoyed huge turnouts, made some money and provided memorable race-day vibes and excellent Halloween-themed costumes.
The Peace Arch Hospital Foundation’s Great Pumpkin Run — a fun 1K and 5K exercise in White Rock for the past dozen years — is no more. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
And let’s not forget that groups such as West Van Run, Forever Young Club, Mile2Marathon, Parkrun (Richmond and Burnaby), RUNVAN and Karen McCullough’s awesome Ice Cream and Donut Club are already meeting for regular weekly runs. And some don’t travel well.
It will be interesting, next month, to see how the James Cunningham Seawall Race, an iconic 10K staple set for Sunday, Oct. 27, will fare this year with the always popular Fall Classic and its full, half, 10K and 5K races at UBC that’s been bumped up to Saturday, Oct. 26.
A race organizer, who didn’t want his name revealed, said there are a lot of “lesser quality” events on the run calendar, but believes the Cunningham and Fall Classic are “two of the very best” and calls the same weekend scheduling “unfortunate” and “worrisome.”
“Did they not talk about this? If you value tradition and good value for your dollar, and most Vancouver runners do, these events need to survive. But they’re basically going after the same demographic and sometimes the same sponsors and media attention. They need to be on different weekends. They should be bookends for the month, not held on back-to-back days.
“… Also, while all of these running events are obviously important to organizers, my money is on the smaller ones dying off because it can be a lot of work for very little return, especially if fundraising is the end goal.”
Marty Wanless, a loyal supporter of the James Cunning Seawall Race, points out the obvious: there’s no shortage of running events in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
From where I sit, you could cleary see the “overcrowding issue” coming a few years ago. Runs have popped up to replace raffles, car washes and bake sales. Many new events are organized by people with no running or promotions background, but this has still forced established clubs into promoting their events six months in advance, offering more swag, medals and shirts as incentives to get your entry signature.
And let’s not forget about all the neighbouring events in run-happy Washington State, including this weekend’s popular Bellingham Bay Marathon, half, 10K, 5K and relay. Vancouver Island and B.C.’s Interior always have great events going on, too.
“There are only so many entry fee dollars out there, and for the most part it’s the same willing-to-travel pool they’re drawing from,” says the organizer. “And some events are getting pretty expensive, which means people are becoming more picky about what they enter.”
The North Van Run 10K and 5K is a fast, fun and scenic race. Vancouver Sun Fun on the Run blogger Gord Kurenoff, right, set a 5K PB last year with a 29:55 clocking. (North Van Run photo)
This Sunday is a great example of too many great events on the same day as the inaugural 5K Rainforest Trail Run goes at Central Park in Burnaby, the North Van Run 10K, 5K and 1K is on in the North Shore and MEC’s Good Times Outside marathon, half, 10K and 5K is set for Garry Point Park in Richmond.
Here’s a look at some of the fun October events that should generate interest and entries:
5K, 2K Run/Walk | Saturday, Oct. 5 | 10:15 a.m.
The inaugural Butterfly Run Vancouver on the South False Creek seawall will be a welcome addition for a lot of women and families in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
The sold-out event — which starts at 10:15 a.m. with the 5K run, followed by the 2K run/walk 15 minutes later — also features a memorable wrap-up celebration at Creekside Community Centre at 11:30 a.m.
“The reason we’re organizing the Butterfly Run in Vancouver is because as a group of mothers who have experienced loss, we know the importance of supporting one another,” says upbeat event chair Kimberly Lockhart.
“No one should feel alone regardless of where they are in their journey through parenthood. The Butterfly Run is a memorial run/walk so we can remember our babies who have died, and is also our way of raising awareness about infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss.”
This event supports the many fine programs at B.C. Women’s Hospital, plus its supporting programs.
For more info click HERE.
The Granville Island Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving tradition in this city as the popular RUNVAN event draws all kinds of “peeps” for the 10K race. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
10K | Monday, Oct. 14 | 8:30 a.m.
The third leg (drumstick?) of the 2019 RUNVAN race series, this Thanksgiving tradition is truly one of my favourites as runners of all ages and skill levels flock to Granville Island. Some fun peeps even dress up in turkey-themed attire.
After completing RUNVAN’s First Half Half in February and the Vancouver BMO Marathon 8K in May, I was looking forward to snagging their coveted shirt for doing all four races, but the wife is packing our suitcases for a Vietnam vacation so I’ll miss this Thanksgiving gathering of gobblers, plus the moved-up Fall Classic. Bummer for sure, but I’ve always wanted to say Good Morning, Vietnam!
A Turkey Trot kids’ 1K run will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13 (11 a.m.) and both events have sweet finishers’ medals. The event charity is the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
For more info, or to enter, click HERE.
Starting and finishing the MEC Campbell Valley Park race at the historic Langley Speedway has proved popular for the five-race trail series. (Gord Kurenoff)
Half, 10K, 5K | Sunday, Oct. 20 | 9 a.m.
Kathie Schellenberg, one of the best race directors MEC ever had, came up with the brilliant idea of holding a race at Campbell Valley Park in Langley that incorporated the historic speedway. She even hunted down checkered flags to make the finish line extra special.
Now, MEC regional community connector Kaitlyn Rowson is taking over at the wheel and is excited about the morning event, which is the fifth and final leg of the company’s 2019 trail race series.
The half marathon starts at 9 a.m., followed by the 10K at 9:15 p.m. and the 5K at 9:30 p.m. The scenic park and area trails, along with the start and finish at the Speedway, makes for a memorable morning. Ms. Rowson and her pit crew pull out all the stops to make their events fun and very affordable.
For more info, or to enter, click HERE.
The ASAP Rubber Ducky Half at Burnaby Lake, part of the popular Try Events race series, fits the bill for those looking to run a half, 7-miler or 5K, with or without a costume. (Debra Kato photo)
Half, 7-Miler, 5K | Sunday, Oct. 20 | 9 a.m.
One of the more popular stops in the diverse Try Events series, the half-marathon, 7-miler and 5K races are held on the scenic Burnaby Lake trails and around the wildlife sanctuary where “Drake” might even make an appearance!
The popular race supports the Anxiety Stress and Autism Program (ASAP) and includes special socks and a cool finishers’ medal for all participants. If you’re looking for fun, this fits the bill, so to speak!!
The half and 7-Miler starts at 9 a.m., followed by the 5K three minutes later.
For more info, or to enter, click HERE.
Fun runner Debra Kato, who usually shows up at events in costume and with her camera, fashioned the perfect Fall Classic look last year at UBC. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Half, 10K, 5K | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 8:30 a.m.
Normally a November fixture on the race calendar, RUNVAN’s final event of their four-race series has moved to a new date this year.
The Fall Classic half, 10K and 5K will be held on a Saturday morning, instead of a Sunday, and it will be on the final weekend in October.
The half starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 10K at 10:30 a.m. and the 5K at noon. In the past there have been some pretty good team costumes at this event.
The Fall Classic offers finishers’ medals in each race, a RUNVAN toque, complimentary post-run beer and food!
For more info, or to to enter, click HERE.
There was no shortage of costumes — or stairs and hills! — at the challenging and fun Hallow’s Eve Run last year in Lynn Valley. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Marathon, Half, 10K | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 8:30 a.m.
Race director Cindy Roberts, a super-fun lady dressed up as a witch, informed this scribe last year just moments before my Foretrails Run Series debut on the North Shore that her course was “about 44.6 per cent uphill,” which was about 43.6 per cent more than I had trained for. Who knew, right?
The popular event, which attracted Daniel and Marinette Sedin and 350-plus other fast, fit, mountain goats, was way different than the road racing circuit, but the challenge, costumes and cool people were so incredible. If I wasn’t on vacation this year I’d be back tackling that bad-boy course in a heartbeat. Hope to take part in their equally fun and challenging Phantom Run on Saturday, Nov. 16 — one week before the 2019 Moustache Miler.
This year’s Hallow’s Eve marathon starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the half at 9 a.m. and the 10K at 10 a.m. If you’re a first-timer, you should consider the 10K, then go home after and start a real training program. Just saying!
For more info, and to enter click HERE
The 49th edition of the James Cunningham Seawall Race will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27. The 10K race starts at 10 a.m. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
10K | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.
As far as races around the city’s legendary seawall, this is the longest running one, now entering its 49th year.
Along with special medals, this Lions Gate Road Runners event has hosted some of the country’s top runners over the years.
I ran in this event two years ago and dressed as a pirate in the costume category and was beaten out by a clown — story of my life — in the final vote. Have run this race, which starts and finishes at Second Beach, several times and never regret it.
The Road Runners teamed up with the Rock ‘N’ Roll machine several years ago and drew thousands of people to Vancouver for a fun run-cation. Since the Rock ‘N’ Roll folks left the event has managed to draw respectable numbers from all skill levels. The LGRR holds its OASIS Shaughnessy 8K in May and Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race every December.
The James Cunningham race supports the Great Climate Race charities. For more info, and to enter, click HERE.
The annual Granville Island Turkey Trot, a fun 10K to fly like a bird, is “stuffed” into a busy October race calendar. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
• Sunday, Oct. 6:Autism Speaks Canada Walk, 2K and1K in Richmond
• Sunday, Oct. 6:CIBC Run for the Cure, throughout B.C.
• Sunday, Oct. 13:Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon, half and 8K
• Sunday, Oct. 13:Whistler Turkey Trot, 5K and 10K
• Monday, Oct. 14: 5K Turkey Trot at Bear Creek in Surrey
• Sunday, Oct. 27:Adrian Oliver Memorial Run in Burnaby, 5K and 10K