'Tis the season for big elfs, shuffling Santas, 2020 running visions
Credit to Author: Gord Kurenoff| Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2019 16:17:03 +0000
Karin Femi, a local mother, runner, track coach and self-appointed moustache critic, flashed two thumbs up Saturday morning at Second Beach for my fake Movember Moustache Miler hairlip and last-minute cowboy costume that rivalled some pro rodeo clowns.
Trust me, she’s seen much worse!
Flashback to last May’s La Gran Fiesta Run at Burnaby Lake — a Cinco de Mayo afternoon of fun trail running organized by the sombrero-clad, bongo-happy Baxter Bayer of Running Tours Inc. — when I approached Femi for a pre-race hug, and apparently shocked her with my very-over-the-top Spanish fashion statement.
“That moustache looks way more porno star than Mexican,” Femi laughed at the time, adding “if you didn’t have your camera and weren’t telling bad jokes, I’d have missed you!” No problems, I get that a lot.
Karin Femi said Gord Kurenoff’s “porno stache” from last year’s La Gran Fiesta Run in Burnaby still makes her laugh!
On Saturday, along with her seawall ‘stache critique came lofty praise for my “Elf Abroad” photo series — last year in Thailand, this year in Vietnam — where I “charm/shock” sun-worshipping locals and tourists by showing up on the street, beach or pool in my newest Big Elf Run costume to spread some cheer around the world.
This year, at the beautiful Pullman Danang Beach Resort, the guests’ daily selfie sessions stopped when I strutted out by the pool and became the focus of amused/shocked guests.
Said one lady from North Korea: “That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen on my holidays. What exactly are you?” A couple from Perth, Australia offered: “Did you have too much to drink last night?” And the lifeguard from the Vietnam resort asked: “Do all people in your country dress this way?” So yeah, maybe something was lost in translation this time.
Femi was right, of course, saying the photos always make people smile, which is kind of the point heading into the festive season in a world where the news isn’t always upbeat or positive. Who doesn’t love Santa, or an elf or a foolish tourist?
Femi says she always looks forward to two December running events, the first the Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race on Saturday, Dec. 7, and the Big Elf Run, set for Saturday, Dec. 14. This year there are a lot of new races to go with the regulars and, before you stop reading and begin worrying about finding parking spaces and last-minute gifts, here is a look at some of them:
Karin Femi always looks forward to making a big splash at the annual Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race. (Shannon Banal photo)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 5K & 10K
This will be the 36th annual running of the Lions Gate Road Runners’ “splashy” event, one that Femi lists as the ultimate in fun and challenging. The start and finish are at Jericho Sailing Centre and everything gets going at 11 a.m.
Participants can either run one or two laps of the challenging course — which includes sections of grass, trail, hills and sandy beach. Depending on weather conditions you can expect varying amounts of mud and water — and a chance to get you and your friends soaked. Oh yeah, there’s hot soup, showers and other snacks at the finish, too!
Special recognition will be given to the winners of the Gunner Shaw trophies (male, female, over 35), the Gunner Shaw Team Challenge and the “Silver Fox” Junior Challenge. The Silver Fox trophy is presented in memory of former LGRR member Jim Conway, who was affectionately known as the Silver Fox.
For more information, and to enter, click HERE.
Gord Kurenoff amused/shocked guests and staff at the picturesque Pullman Danang Beach Resort in Vietnam last month by parading around the five-star establishment in his Big Elf Run costume. (Pullman Resort photo)
Saturday, Dec. 14, 1K, 5K, 10K & 15K
The 2019 Big Elf Run medal will also look good on the tree after.
Hard to believe but this super fun family event at Stanley Park is now in its fifth year and remains one of my favourite Baxter Bayer-hosted events — hence the motivation for Elf Abroad, where Customs agents annually wonder why a grown man would pack an elf suit for vacation to some of the hottest destinations. Not sure why this scribe always gets the full pat-down!
This year’s event — which starts and finishes at Lumbermen’s Arch — features must-have finisher’s medals, elf toques, DJs and a new 15K category (a.k.a. the “triple loop challenge”). The event is already 85 per cent sold out.
The Wee Elf Run goes at 12:45 p.m., followed by the wild and original Big Elf warmup at 1:50 p.m., the 5K, 10K 15K runs and walks at 2 p.m. and awards at 3:30 p.m. and the big unveiling of this year’s honourable Mr. or Mrs. Santa Claus title, which yours truly won in 2017. Pretty sure the beach dude in Vietnam who screamed: “Sir, we don’t really like guys in elf suits climbing on our lifeguard chairs” won’t win, but otherwise there is a huge list of worthy candidates!
The Big Elf Run is encouraging participants to bring a toy on race day for its efforts to help the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.
My in-laws, who not so long ago mocked runners who wore colourful costumes and now appear incapable of showing up at events without one, have been pestering me about Big Elf Run wardrobe ideas since July. Yes, they’ll be taking part this year wearing who knows what! (We take separate vehicles!)
For more info on the epic event and to register click HERE.
The chance to look like Santa, see Santa and give a child a gift like Santa presents itself this Saturday with the inaugural Santa Run at Stanley Park. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Saturday, Nov. 30, 5K
The inaugural Santa Run goes through scenic Stanley Park this Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Outfitted in Santa suits, participants will spread cheer along the seawall as they dash away in a 5K fun run. All entrants will receive a Santa suit for the race, along with a race-day ride on the Stanley Park Christmas Train, the site of the Little Santa 1K run/walk for kids.
All proceeds from the Santa Run support the B.C. Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund child and youth Burn Camps. Prizes will be awarded for the top fundraising individual and team. Prizes will also be awarded to the top three male and female individual 5K finishers.
For more info and to enter click HERE.
Costumes, Christmas, chances to get the whole family together — it’s all part of the fun at the annual Santa Shuffle in Abbotsford and other cities around B.C. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Saturday, Dec. 7, throughout B.C.
I’ve made a habit over the years of returning to Abbotsford to do the Shuffle, where I cut my teeth in B.C. community newspapers, met and married the woman of my dreams (feel free to gag or add jokes) and spent a dozen great years working and living the Fraser Valley dream!
The Santa Shuffle, which offers sweet finisher’s medals, is the second largest fundraiser the Salvation Army hosts annually as the good folks there tackle poverty, hunger and people caught in tough spots over the Christmas holidays (and year round).
The 5K shuffle in Abbotsford starts at 10 a.m. at Rotary Stadium (click HERE for info). The other cities in B.C. hosting a Shuffle include Chilliwack, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Vancouver and Victoria. You can find that info and registration links HERE.
The Steveston Icebreaker 8K attracts a lot of top local runners, but it’s the popular New Balance 1K Kidsrun that starts the annual Sunday show. (Icebreaker photo)
Race director Jared Hulme is VERY excited about the 2020 Steveston Icebreaker 8K and New Balance 1K Kidsrun, which goes Sunday, Jan. 19.
The Icebreaker 8K is Richmond’s first road race of the year, the opening race in the Lifestages Lower Mainland Road Runners Series, and the second race of the B.C. Athletics B.C. Super Series, which we’ll discuss in a future blog.
Starting at Imperial Landing in Steveston, the Icebreaker course is a quick out-and-back route along the South Dyke Road, perfect for achieving a personal best time.
According to Hulme, this race — which raises funds for the Kajaks Track and Field Club — continues to grow in popularity and numbers each year (that’s because they have pizza and cookies) and anticipates to sell out for 2020. (I’m already entered because I love PBs … pizza and buns).
Last year the 1K Kidsrun was added and it is expected to be a big hit again. A big attraction for this race is the post-race party in Steveston Community Center, featuring a wide spread of food, an award ceremony, draw prizes, a kids zone and a run expo. And we mentioned pizza, right?
To save some money and ensure your entry, click HERE now.
Part of the fun at the annual PEN RUN Resolution Race in Surrey’s Crescent Park is not knowing who you’ll run into after New Year’s Eve! (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 4K & 8K
Paul Williams and Phil Ellis, former Sun Run winners turned PEN RUN gurus, host great races every year starting with New Year’s Day in Surrey. The 19th annual Fraser Valley Trail Run series also includes the Aldergrove Ramble (4.8K & 8K, Jan. 26) and F2F Trail 5- and 10-miler at Fort Langley’s Derby Reach (Feb. 23).
One of the fun things on New Year’s Day at Crescent Park is trying to pick out who went straight from a party to the Resolution Race starting line — the costumes and horns in this non-costume run are usually a dead giveaway, along with those wondering out loud when last call is!
For this year’s event, there will also be a 2K course for those 15 years or under.
It’s a great way to get your running goals off to a fun and scenic start. I’ll be there (without the party hat … I think!).
Registration is now open for the Resolution Race. For more information click HERE.
Gotta run …
Baxter Bayer, right, cheers as Gord Kurenoff finishes the 2018 Big Elf Run in the same outfit he took to Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand. (Running Tours Inc. photo)