World Class Event, Personal Challenges and An Amazing Community
That title seems pretty big, but it all relates to one thing, the BMO Vancouver Marathon. It is so nice when it all comes together like that!
So, let’s break it down. The World Class Event is pretty obvious, especially since it was already voted Top 10 by Forbes. And, the event is now the largest Canadian Marathon event. The organizers, the City of Vancouver and all the sponsors, supporters and volunteers outdid themselves to make 15,000 runners welcome to the full (5,000) and half (10,000) marathon events. And, seemingly in a spirit of support befitting such a major undertaking (including two brand spanking new courses) the weatherman contributed near perfect conditions with sunshine, moderate temperatures and virtually no wind.
As anyone who has been following this blog will know, I ran the Half Marathon. I can therefore attest to the amazing beauty of that route. Because I am from the Vancouver area and know most of the Marathon route pretty well, I can say with certainty that it would have been twice as beautiful – well, more like it had twice as much beauty because it was twice as long as the Half. As for the organizers’ promortional statement: “A marathon so beautiful you’ll wish it was longer.”, I think that may have been written by a non-runner. I do get what they mean, though. And, I think on this past Sunday, some 5,000 others did too.
I was privileged to be a member of Team Run for Change. Some of us were supporting members to the five participant runners who took on the half marathon as what may have been a true life (and life-changing) challenge. Run for Change is a free program of which I have written previously, whereby individuals from shelters, recovery programs and low-income circumstances are encouraged to use running to improve health and fitness and create positive personal challenges. Heartiest congratulations to all those who have made use of the program including the 31 who trained for and took on the Sun Run 10K in April, and particularly the FIVE who tackled the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon. Much credit should also go to the volunteers who, under the leadership of the group founder, Benji Chu, have been helping to make this possible.
I had my own personal challenge going as well. I was facing a comeback from a terrible injury filled 2011, so was a little tentative about what I might really do out there on this enticing new course. Not only that but worse than usual Spring allergies were making things more challenging than usual. Of course, I tried not to let on about any of this to my two fellow competitors in the Reggae Runners Half Marathon Challenge. What a fabulous and fun thing the RRHMC turned out to be. Although it might be difficult to perceive this through the haze of smoking trash talk that went on almost daily for the last few months, the three of us (who have actually only met once in Negril, Jamaica, at the Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K) have become real friends. That includes supporters from the Reggae Marathon team and a few others who have supported us on our Facebook page and commentary. The whole thing came out of the total coincidence that Larry Savitch, Chris Morales and I were running three different half marathons in New Jersey, Toronto and Vancouver, respectively and on the same day. Age Grading was the key to three guys 46, 54 and 67 even thinking they could somehow race. A yeoman effort was put in by all three, because friendly as it was, and fun-loving as we apparently all are, we ALL wanted to win! In the end, the young guy – Larry, came out the winner. He needed a PB to do it, but that is what he got. He wins the PUMA FAAS 500 shoes put up courtesy of PUMA and the Reggae Marathon and the unique First Place medal offered by Red Line Laser Engraving (2nd and 3rd medals to me and Chris for three amazing podium finishes). Larry also wins two 6-packs of Red Stripe once Chris and I figure out how we are going to deliver. Best way will be in Jamaica, at the Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K on December 1, 2012.
So that takes care of the first two items in the title. It is the third item that has most moved me. I have long known that the running community is special. I have met very few runners who are not supportive of other runners regardless of ability. We love our sport so universally that I guess we want others to feel the same. Over the years, I have been personally supported and encouraged by people who rank with the best in the world – because I have had the good fortune to have come to know them one way or another. In saying this I am not talking about me, but rather how the top athletes are ready to respect and help lesser lights to achieve their best.
That is not to say that while racing runners aren’t single minded and competitive, but outside of that the generosity of spirit is unrivaled. Furthermore, in serious situations you will see runners give up their race to assist an injured comrade. Just ask the aforementioned Benji Chu about what happened on the top of Mount Frosty when he gashed his leg on a jagged rock, more than 10K from any form of official assistance.
This past weekend I saw so many great efforts by people from one end of the spectrum of running to the other and then through various communication mechanisms including face to face as well as FaceBOOK, the congratulations flowing from the lowliest of us to the best and back knocked my socks off. It wasn’t that I didn’t already know this, just that it was so profoundly obvious. Sunday afternoon and evening, I could hardly keep up with the Facebook traffic of people recognizing the results of so many others, as well as expressing thanks to the event organizers and volunteers for giving us this fabulous event.
I write this blog to share thoughts and insights and sometimes get into discussions via social media re specific posts. However, this is one posting upon which I would love to have some commentary right here, just to be sure that everyone, not just those directly connected to me are involved in the conversation. I would particularly like to hear feedback on the nature of the running community and how YOU see it.



Oh, and if you insist, the Full Marathon, which by the way, has sold out. However, I have restricted myself to the half for this time around. This will be my seventh appearance. I have done the full marathon on two distinctly different courses (1988, then 2004, 2006 and 2008). As for the Half, this new 2012 route will at least be two courses, but maybe three.



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