
Article content
Vancouver Sun Run organizers carefully watch weather forecasts in the weeks leading up to the annual event. Rain, and more than 55,000 walkers and runners, require extra safety planning, and too much sun requires extra water.
Article content
“Weather is the one thing we can’t control,” said race director Tim Hopkins.
Article content
Article content
This year, organizers didn’t have to worry. The weather complied beautifully — a balanced 12 degrees Celsius made race-day conditions close to perfect for the 57,519 registered participants, as well as the thousands of spectators, who showed up for the 42nd Sun Run on April 19.
Article content
“We had beautiful weather,” said Hopkins. “The areas around the seawall, Olympic Village and Science World were lined with people cheering participants on,” said Hopkins.
Article content
The most important thing? “They were cheering for the every-day athletes.”
Article content
Those every-day athletes are what makes the Sun Run such a special community event, said Hopkins.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Article content
This year, a 95-year-old completed the course, alongside walkers and runners of all ages. “That’s truly what the story is about. It’s the opportunity to train and complete something from start to finish.
Article content
Article content
“It’s not the time it takes you to finish, it’s the opportunity to complete that goal. Every athlete finishes the same race,” said Hopkins.
Article content
There were 145 people registered to run in the elite division, most of whom were Canadian.
Article content
Although the Vancouver Sun Run is not an Olympic team qualifier, in part because of its size and topography, it is a signature event that many elite athletes use to train with the Olympics in mind, said Hopkins. A number of elite Canadian runners who have participated in the Sun Run have gone on to become Olympians.
Article content
This year, B.C. runners won in male and female divisions, with Burnaby’s Justin Kent taking first in the race overall, with a time of 28:40. The top women’s finisher, Makenna Fitzgerald of Kamloops, was a surprise winner on Sunday. Fitzgerald won the 10-kilometre women’s road race with a time of 32:24 in her Sun Run debut, beating her personal best of 34:10.
Article content
Story continues below






























































































