Hundreds wing it, show support for bereaved families in Butterfly Run
Credit to Author: Gord Kurenoff| Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2019 19:07:40 +0000
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres once quipped: “Life is short. If you doubt me, ask a butterfly. Their average life span is a mere five to 14 days.”
With that in mind, the name of Vancouver’s newest run/walk to raise awareness of pregnancy loss, stillbirths, mental health and other complex health issues makes more sense. As did the tears and hugs Saturday morning outside Creekside Community Centre in False Creek where 500 runners and walkers — and many bereaved parents — took part in the inaugural Butterfly Run Vancouver.
When I previewed this event a few months back with upbeat event organizer Kimberly Lockhart, she felt really confident about the cause but was worried about the turnout because, as she pointed out, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Run for the Cure was slated for the morning after and her new, untried event was included in one of the busiest October run calenders ever seen in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
Kids loved their new Butterfly Run T-shirts, and some will eventually grow into them! (Gord Kurenoff photo)
On Saturday, at her emotionally-fuelled, sold-out event all she could say was “wow.” She said it a lot, and she wasn’t alone.
Rick Hansen, the Man in Motion icon who understands going all out for a cause, took part in the 5K and was impressed. As were the wonderful women with butterfly wings and painted faces, the kids in their new white T-shirts, the groups running for lost or grieving loved ones. The families with strollers and cool butterfly sticks. And one awesome volunteer, looking after boxes of chocolate chip cookies, was impressed I said “no thanks” when offered one. Speaking of firsts!
The women were happy to be wearing their wings to help give the inaugural Butterfly Run Vancouver a successful liftoff Saturday in False Creek. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
This event had the feel of a Run for Women or Moustache Miler event in that messaging was just as important as the actual physical exercise. There was music, balloons, butterflies, bubbles and glitter, but more importantly there was compassion and lots of shoulders and resources to lean on.
The “you are not alone” message was everywhere — except on the race course where some of the gifted runners were “alone” and way ahead of the weekend warriors.
As Lockhart told the Vancouver Courier a few days before the debut: “The loss community is so much bigger than we realize, I think most people don’t know how common infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss are. And I think the majority of people struggle with how to act, talk and support loved ones through these issues.”
Vancouver Sun/Province editor and blogger Gord Kurenoff heads for the 5K finish line and 60-and-over division championship title in the inaugural Butterfly Run Vancouver. (Debra Kato photo)
While her fine crew will eventually go over the ways it can improve this important event for next year — running and walking and pushing strollers on the busy False Creek Seawall on a sunny morning has its logistical issues — they have to be pleased with the volunteers who not only stepped up, but added a fun factor desperately needed to recover from the emotional pre-race speeches.
• FOR MY PHOTOS FROM THE BUTTERFLY RUN, click HERE
Added Lockhart: “We could all benefit from learning more about compassion and empathy as well as finding ways to support our friends and familes with grief. Death and loss is complex and we often shy away from it. We need to talk about it and we need to keep talking about it.”
A volunteer pointed out she loved the wings attached to my runners and figured everyone at the Butterfly Run needed them. I explained that the good promotional folks at Clif Bar sent them my way after reading about my younger brother’s suicide two years ago. She gave me a big hug and we both agreed with Lockhart that “death and loss is very complex.”
A few other notes from a memorable morning in False Creek:
The inaugural Butterfly Run Vancouver attracted 500-plus entries for its 5K and 2K memorial runs/walks on Saturday. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Aydin Smith of Vancouver was the top finisher in Saturday’s 5K in a time of 21:31. The top woman was Bethany Pitcher of Hamilton in 22:24.
There were 268 finishers in the 5K — including folks from the U.K., Ontario, Washington State and Vancouver Island — and this scribe who won the 60-plus age division despite stopping three or four times to take pictures and share jokes — like did you know the caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity?
• FOR STARTLINE TIMING’S RESULTS, click HERE
A small girl at the finish line handed me a cool paper butterfly on a stick and said: “Congratulations for making it to the finish, sir.” Her sweet friend chipped in: “Boy, are you ever sweating!” Kids, eh?
Hundreds more, ranging in age from toddler to senior, also took part in the 2K.
Debra Kato, a running and photography buff, added some extra colour Saturday in False Creek. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
If you run and Debra Kato has never taken your photo, consider yourself a minority!
Kato, who has appeared in a number of made-in-B.C. movies and TV shows as an extra (including as a “mom runner” in A MIllion Little Things) and in this blog as a prime-time star, wanted to run in the Butterfly Run after reading about it in this space, but it was sold-out in a New York second. So she showed up anyway Saturday, in costume and with her camera.
Asked about the event, she stated: “… There were some who wore T-shirts with pictures of their babies and some who wrote the name of their babies on the back of their shirts. It was hard for me not to tear up.
“… For an inaugural race, this event was extremely successful. I’m sure that they will do well in fundraising for the B.C. Women’s Health Foundation and supporting programs! I’m sure that it will grow in subsequent races.”
To see Debra’s great photos from Saturday, click HERE.
Delia Visscher, who has crushed the Forever Young 8K, Under Armour Eastside 10K and 5K Rainforest Trail Run in the past two months, will be a special guest of the Big Elf Run in December. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Andre De Grasse would have been proud.
As walker Delia Visscher headed for the Swangard Stadium finish line in last week’s inaugural 5K Rainforest Trail Run, she sprinted the final 100 metres on the Burnaby track 13 seconds before Startline Timing’s clock flashed 53 minutes.
Did we mention Delia is 88?
The former New York City ballet dancer, who lost her husband two years ago to Alzheimer’s disease, has been on a roll, crushing the Forever Young 8K in Richmond, Under Armour Eastside 10K in East Vancouver and the Rainforest run, where she finished 227th out of 277 competitors.
“At least I wasn’t last,” smiled Delia. “But how come they have a 70-plus division, but not a 80-plus division? It’s hard competing against those younger seniors!”
Baxter Bayer, the main dude with Running Tours Inc. in Vancouver, was inspired to hear Delia Visscher’s story and has invited the 88-year-old walker to take part in The Big Elf Run this December. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Still competitive and motivated to train, the Vancouver senior says it’s “kind of sad” that some races don’t have coffee or snacks left at the finish line for the slower participants, and wonders why some races don’t include divisions for walkers.
Did we mention she’s competitive?
At the Forever Young 8K, for example, she had to compete for a division title with running legend Gwen McFarlan, who set an unofficial 8K world record in the women’s 85-89 division at 53:47. Delia, who finished 121st out of 165 entrants in 1:23:43, walked the entire distance.
“I think if you want older people to enter events, there should be walking and running divisions, and maybe medals for older walkers! A lot of older people need extra motivation to go walking because a lot of them didn’t have a sports background growing up.”
Delia, who wanted to take part in November’s 5K Moustache Miler — Saturday, Nov. 23 around Coal Harbour — but will be out of town, asked if there’s a fun run she can tackle before Christmas.
When this scribe suggested the annual Big Elf Run — Saturday, Dec. 14, 5K and 10K — at Stanley Park, where you receive a personalized bib, cool finisher’s medal, elf toque and Baxter Bayer’s soon-to-go-viral warmup moves, Delia’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She likes the idea the event will have a big toy drive to help the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, too.
“Sounds really neat. Do they have a division for seniors? I don’t have to wear a silly costume, right?”
Over to you Baxter, who never objected to silly costumes: “First of all, we’d not only be thrilled to have Delia take part in our fun run, but a group of elves have actually decided to make her a special guest.
“Her fun and competitive spirit is inspiration to all of us and we’d be honoured to have her help us pump up the festive spirit on the seawall! We will have the Delia Division for walkers 85 and over. And we’ll have hot chocolate for her waiting at the finish line!”
Blogger Gord Kurenoff, having some fun with the signs at Saturday’s Butterfly Run in False Creek, will head to Vietnam next week to “train” for the Moustache Miler and Big Elf Run, and return for a busy November race schedule. (Butterfly Run Vancouver photo)
FINISH LINES: The great Granville Island Turkey Trot, one of RUNVAN’s finest gems in their four-race series, goes Thanksgiving Monday starting at 8:30 a.m. A day earlier they’ll host the popular Kids’ Run. I did RUNVAN’s First Half Half in February and the BMO Vancouver Marathon 8K in May, but due to vacation will miss the Turkey Trot and Fall Classic and my shot to score their epic series race shirt. … There will be a Bear Creek Turkey Trot in Surrey on Thanksgiving Monday, and a Whistler Turkey Trot on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Gotta run …