On a spectacular sunny spring day, record numbers of runners and walkers took over downtown Vancouver in the Sun Run 10k.
This was the first time in its 22-year history that the race has surpassed 50,000. Organizers recorded a total of 50,746 registered participants, including a whole ferry load of Sunshine Coast residents from Port Mellon to Egmont and everywhere in between.
Leading the elite field in Sunday's race was Kenya's Gilbert Okari in a blazing 28:25 - a little over four and a half minutes per mile. The women's course record was broken by another Kenyan, Isabella Ochichi, in an incredible 30:55, that placed her 12th overall. Both were clear of their nearest competitors by a minute or more.
Breaking into the top 100 this year was Creeker Shaun Stephens-Whale. Though not a personal best for Shaun, his 35:15 was one minute, 35 seconds faster than last year's Sun Run time and good enough for 70th place overall and first in the male 16 to 18 age division. As was the case in both the Sun Run and the April Fool's Run for the past two years, Shaun was the fastest local finisher.
Second fastest local finisher was Thomas Harder, another Creeker, clocking 39:05 in the male 35 to 39 division.
Halfmoon Bay's mountain bike star Katherine Short was the third fastest Sunshine Coaster, taking three minutes off her 2005 Sun Run result. Her 42:06 earned her a silver medal in the female U16 category, a mere eight seconds behind the division winner.
Besides these experienced racers, many locals were participating for the first time in the Sun Run or any other organized run. This year's Sun Run Training Clinic was highly successful, with 34 out of 39 registrants completing the 10k on Sunday. According to clinic leader Phil Sera, a personal trainer who has recently moved to Gibsons from Vancouver, everyone was really pleased with their results.
"Many of them found the distance easier than they expected," Sera said. "They got to the 7 km mark easily, then realized they had only three km to go - no problem."
The clinic included participants from as young as 15 all the way to age 74.
Denise Dunn, in her second year as a clinic participant, achieved her goal of taking two minutes off her 2005 time, despite being overdressed for the suddenly warm day.
"It was a really nice run and I thoroughly enjoyed myself," Dunn said. "I just wish I had worn shorts."
Another clinic participant, Kat, was doing the Sun Run for a special reason: her friend Andrew who died last April. Andrew, an ex-drug addict who started a running club in downtown Vancouver to help other addicts move towards a healthier lifestyle, "was the person who got me into running," said Kat.
For others it was their first run of any kind.
"It's an over-50 thing," said Ingrid, who admitted that she and several fellow novice runners hadn't run since high school.
Sera feels the biggest successes came from the Learn to Run group - those who went from zero to one hour of running in just three months.
"They gained such a sense of pride and confidence from that achievement," said Sera. "Everyone was successful."
Many of these first-timers plan to keep running and enjoying the health benefits it brings. Sera is organizing a continuation clinic for those who are still keen. The Sun Run clinic will always be special for Sera: he met his fiancee in the 2005 clinic in Vancouver. This year she completed the 10k again - seven months pregnant.
Due to space and deadlines, final results for all local runners were not available at press time. Check out the Sports Ticker in the May 5 edition of Coast Reporter for the results.
