Steveston's ready to break the ice in 2020 Lifestages road race series
Credit to Author: Gord Kurenoff| Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:11:24 +0000
Jared Hulme had his chocolate-stained fingerprints connected to two “news” messages that made the social media rounds on Tuesday — both were worth noting, only one worth celebrating.
Hulme, the amiable race director of the popular Steveston Icebreaker 8K and New Balance 1K Kidsrun, reminded “undecided” runners there will be another entry price increase on Wednesday, Jan. 15, ahead of his Sunday, Jan. 19 opening event in the 10-leg Lifestages Lower Mainland Road Race Series.
“Need some extra motivation to get moving after the holidays?” Hulme penned in the latest Icebreaker update. Sure, there were numerous New Year’s Day runs held in B.C.’s Lower Mainland but Hulme was likely oblivious of that while “pre-testing” the treats, pizza and chocolate chip cookies that will await finishers (and one excited blogger) in the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club-hosted Icebreaker.
It was three years ago at the Lions Gate Road Runners-hosted Shaughnessy 8K when this scribe and Hulme both won huge bags of fresh Subway chocolate chip cookies as a post-race draw prize. We admitted two years later, while dragging our tongues at an MEC 5K fall race in Richmond’s Garry Park, that both bags never made it home to “Sharesville” from Shaughnessy, albeit a trail of crumbs did!
Just Dough It: Icebreaker race director Jared Hulme, right, presented Fun On the Run blogger Gord Kurenoff with a pizza after he completed the 8K race in Steveston two years ago.
So it is bitter sweet on a day when Hulme is pumping up food, donuts, prizes, massages and awards at the always-awesome Icebreaker that a second news release announced the cancellation of the Shaughnessy 8K due, in part, to lower participation numbers and rising city costs to host the 38-year-old event.
The iconic Shaughnessy 8K, which often flirted with the May long weekend or often conflicted with the established Abbotsford’s Run for Water and Vistas Run at Kanaka Creek Regional Park near Maple Ridge, is a tough loss for the LGRR crew, which is now left with two annual races, including the popular James Cunningham Seawall Race, which will be held Sunday, Nov. 1 this year, and represents the final event in the Lifestages Lower Mainland series.
The annual Steveston Icebreaker 8K, hosted by the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club, attracts runners of all ages and skills for its flat-and-fast event every January. (Icebreaker photo)
By the way, according to Lindsey Willis of Ridge Meadows Hospice Society, the 23rd annual Vistas Run will change its May date this year to avoid conflict with the Run for Water, which means both races could see increased entries.
Back to Hulme and the Icebreaker — the flat-and-fast 8K race starts at 9 a.m. on Jan. 19, 30 minutes after the kids’ 1K. There will be a post-race party starting at 9 a.m. inside the Steveston Community Centre.
For more information and to enter click HERE.
More than 250 runners laced up for the annual Resolution Race on New Year’s Day in Surrey. The next race in the PEN RUN trail series goes in Aldergrove on Jan. 26. (PEN RUN photo)
After a successful Resolution Race in Surrey on New Year’s Day, PEN RUN is moving its Fraser Valley Trail Run Series starting gates to Aldergrove for the 4.8K and 8K Rambles on Sunday, Jan. 26.
More than 250 runners laced up for the superb 4K and 8K morning races in sunny Crescent Park to launch the new decade. The second event in the three-race series starts in the main parking lot in Aldergrove Regional Park off 8th Avenue between 272nd and 280th Street at 9 a.m.
According to organizers Paul Williams and Phil Ellis, there are “lots of rolling hills and great scenery to get you tuned up for the Vancouver Sun Run 10K,” which is scheduled for Sunday, April 19.
The third and final race of the PEN RUN series, the Fort-2-Fort Trail Run 5- and 10-Mile race is set for Sunday, Feb. 23 in Fort Langley.
For more information on the races or to enter, click HERE.
The 2020 TRY EVENTS race series, which consists of 10 races this year including one next month in Fort Langley, starts with the LS Chilly Chase on Jan. 26 in Vancouver. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
TRY EVENTS will launch its 10-race 2020 season on Sunday, Jan. 26 with the popular Lookout Society Chilly Chase starting behind Creekside Community Centre in False Creek.
There will be a half marathon, 15K, 10K and 5K races, with the half starting at 9 a.m., followed by the other three events.
Runners will receive finisher’s medals, souvenir socks and post-race snacks.
The second event in the series is the popular Langley Hospice Society Fort Langley Historic Half, set for Sunday, Feb. 16. Events offered include a kids’ run, half marathon, 10K and 5K.
For more information on the series and to enter events click HERE.
The Hypo Half in Abbotsford always draws a fun crowd no matter what Mother Nature serves up for race-day weather. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Four cities in B.C. will be holding the popular Running Room Hypothermic Half Marathon, with Abbotsford first up on Sunday, Jan. 26.
In Abby there will be the signature half, 10K and 5K runs/walks, plus a post-race brunch. All participants receive some cool swag and a fun finisher’s medal.
Vancouver will hold its Hypo Half on Saturday, Feb. 1, while Victoria goes Feb. 16, followed by Kelowna on Feb. 22.
For more information and to enter, click HERE.
The Cypress Grinches were named winners of the Best Elf Team Spirit Award following the Dec. 14 event at Stanley Park. (iPOLPO photo)
One of the better entries in the 2019 Big Elf Run in Stanley Park is now officially a winner.
The Cypress Grinches, who turned heads by decorating their heads, ran off with the Best Elf Team Spirit Award in the Dec. 14 event that attracted 750-plus entries.
Next up in the Big Fun Run Series is the annual Big Easter Run on April 11 at Jericho Beach, with 1K, 5K and 10K events scheduled.
For more information and to enter, click HERE.
Gotta run …