Even though it was a Sunday and even though I didn’t get enough sleep the night before (When will I ever learn?!), we did get up fairly early, and a little after 9:15 I went down to the edge the nearby park that’s just above 4th Avenue. Sure enough, the steel band was playing and a few runners had already run by. The Vancouver 2007 Sun Run was under way!
While I’m sure there are many here who can offer comments and/or criticism of this annual event, I have a somewhat unique perspective as someone who has had a lot history — as a spectator — at another annual run, The Boston Marathon (which takes place, today, back in the city that I left when we moved here).
I think it might be good to lay out my comparisons on the table, or rather, in a table:
| Boston Marathon | Vancouver Sun Run |
|---|---|
| Professional, World-Famous & Serious Athletic Event, started in 1897, based on the Olympic Marathon of the previous year | Amateur, Community Event but one of the largest Community Runs in North America, last recorded one was 1985 |
| 26.2 miles (just over 40K) — From Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Downtown Boston | 10K (or 6.21 miles) — From West Georgia between Thurlow Street and Seymour Street to Pacific Boulevard near the BC Place Stadium |
| Entry Fee: $95 USD | Entry Fee: $35 CAD (Regular, $30 for Early Bird) |
| Prize: $575,000 (distributed amongst the winners) | Prize: Well, none for the winners, but every entrant does get a nice T‑Shirt by local artist, Tiko Kerr. |
| Number of Participants: 22,500 (qualified, and some others just run with them) | Number of Participants: 54,000 (a new record this year) |
As you can see, there are a lot of differences. In the end, I like both events, and have even given thought (because 10k is a lot more reasonable sounding than 40k) to perhaps running in the Sun Run next year. Or maybe, walking (or as it’s called ‘striding’). But don’t hold me to it.
Update: I fear that this year’s Marathon will be overshadowed in the news by the terrible shootings at Virginia Tech. I’m just too shocked to comment now, other than to express my horror, and sympathy for so many people who have lost so many loved-ones to senseless violence this April morning.
And it was a perfect day for the Sun Run, wasn’t it, David?
There was a bagpipe band playing at Davie @ Beach Ave. — Quite a festive morning .…
Oh, that’s right, Bob. Despite some clouds in the morning, as the race went on it got sunnier and sunnier (athletic karma, I guess). Unfortunately, my camera’s batteries gave out before the race did. The shots up on Flickr are a small fraction of the many shots I took (and most, I threw out; it’s hard to shoot people running! The one that accompanies this post was nearly the last one (and I seemed to get better shots as the day went by). Gee, if I’d brought a spare set of batteries and more memory, I could have really gotten some good shots!