Times Colonist 10k and Vancouver Sun Run (10k)

April 28, 2009

The 20th annual Times Colonist 10k (TC10k) took place Sunday, April 26 under sunny skies, mild temperatures with nearly no wind. The race conditions were perfect. The 25th annual Vancouver Sun Run (also 10k) happened the Sunday before on April 19th.

The TC 10k race

Kenyan Willy Kimosop training in Lethbridge, Alberta won both the Vancouver Sun Run and the Victoria Times Colonist 10k in back-to-back efforts. The latter in 29:29 taking down countryman and fellow Lethbridge Kodiak, Kip Kangogo by 44 seconds and local, Vancouver Island (Victoria, BC) athlete Ryan McKenzie by a further 8 seconds with his finishing time of 30:21. Local Victoria athletes, Scott Simpson and Kris Swanson - Kris a University of Victoria alumni, followed finishing in 30:38 and 31:09 respectively. Willy won The Vancouver Sun Run in 29:04, which took place Sunday, April 19.

From TC10k press release, April 26, 2009

Kimosop said the race conditions were perfect. “It is a great course and I was very confident after Vancouver.” He hopes to make it three in a row as he goes into the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon Sunday, May 3.

Victoria athlete Lucy Smith, six time winner finished third with a 34:35 time behind Olympian, Kathy Butler, 34:01 and Lisa Harvey in 34:28.

More on the masters (from the TC 10k press release)

Smith also won the female masters division with Nancy Baxendale (nearby Shawnigan Lake) coming in second in 37:17 and Meghan Stothers from Victoria third in 39:52. In the men’s masters, the favourite Steve Boyd (Kingston) was first in 32:04, Vancouver’s Norm Tinkham was second in 32.52, and third was Paddy McCluskey from Victoria in 33:14. Boyd also set a record time for the M45-49 age group.

Here are the the official results

On the course - A blogesque review

As I took in both races, I can tell readers that if you are looking to run a 10k road personal best and happen to find yourself fit during mid-to-late April 2010, you should definitely consider a trip to British Columbia to take in both events, the Vancouver Sun Run and the Victoria Times Colonist 10k. Mark both of these races on your calendar for next year.

The TC10k is a relatively fast course however, it is honest in respect to the start being located near the finish (a criteria for certification) and the over-all net loss of elevation is not drastic and certainly not accomplished all in one precarious drop, like you experience at the Vancouver Sun Run. Saying that, I highly recommend you race the Sun Run in 2010. The event operation is seamless, the route is very picturesque and you can guarantee yourself the best possible 10k on the day. The Sun Run course is very fast!

The TC 10k provides a small net loss in elevation from start to finish and from 6.5k to about the 8k marker there is a straight stretch and gradual downhill that sets the tone for fit runners to consider dropping any use of tactics and finish fast on the downhill and flat 2k finish. It is suggested you be ‘on pace’ at the Mile 0 marker (not mile 0 of the race, but mile 0 of Canada – near 6.5k into the race) and you should finish with a favourable result.

The TC 10k’s first 2 kilometres are gently uphill, but if you notice the grade, perhaps you went out too fast, as it is nearly flat. At approximately the 2km marker you do reach the highest point on the course, where the following 2kms are downhill to the 180 degree turn around, where, if you are not right up front, you get an excellent view of the top athletes coming back along the course.

As you make your way along Dallas Road towards the finish, the streaming crowd of runners and walkers spill out over the centre line, making for a very motivating 3km section of the race, as they cheer the faster runners on. The scenery here is as good as in Vancouver and if you prefer ocean and mountain vistas right beside you, almost all the way, Victoria provides it. The aptly names Olympic Mountains (range) are snow-capped and loom large over the water - a straight, which seperates Washington State from Vancouver Island.

At the mile 0 commemorative marker, there is a Terry Fox statue to inspire all athletes on, while to your left is Fonyo Beach named after Steve Fonyo, who finished the Marathon of Hope for Terry Fox after Terry succumed to cancer. Fonyo also has one prosthetic leg and continued the Marathon of Hope from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Victoria, British Columbia, some 3200kms (2100 miles) to this particular beach.

This is where the gentle downhill begins and carries runners to possibly the two fastest km splits of the entire course. The final 400 metres are lined with cheering spectators, while legendary race announcer, Steve King brings you across the line. Chances are he may know something about you and will announce it to the crowd from his vast memory.

On the course – Vancouver Sun Run

The Vancouver Sun Run provides a net elevation loss, which is achieved primarily within the first kilometre. Your first kilometre and first mile splits will be well ahead of your average split times. From approximately this point, the course gently rolls with the biggest hills being a ramp (of a road) onto the Burrard Street Bridge at 5k and again when on the first half of the Cambie Street Bridge at 9k.

Running a negative split is difficult in this race, look for a very fast first few kilometres.

The Vancouver Sun Run's competitive field should be deep enough to provide all runners looking for a time down to as low as sub 30:00 plenty of company to satisfy pacing and race competition needs. A circuitous route is provided with cheering spectators and enough scenery to make visitors jaded, upon their return home.

The finish of the Vancouver Sun Run happens between the Vancouver Canuck's GM place and BC Lion's (CFL team) BC Place stadium. Post race awards are handed out in BC Place Stadium because there are as many runners and walkers as there are seats in the building, well over 40, 000 finishers for 2009 and nearly 50, 000 from 2008.

Chris is a member of the Lydiard Foundation

Contact: chriskelsall@flocasts.org

Post a Comment

#3	Garfield November 12 at 10:09pm Sun Run 2010 May 9 reply
#2	Christopher Kelsall November 4 at 10:37pm First Sunday in May 2010, this time.... reply
#1	Natasha September 28 at 3:03pm Is there a date set for the Vancouver Sun Run 2010? reply