Sun Run: What to know before you go
RACE DAY: From how to get there, to what to expect from the weather, to what comes after the main event
It looks like Sunday will be a gorgeous day for the annual Vancouver Sun Run, with Environment Canada forecasting clear skies and 13 C. So why not come out and run or cheer on the sidelines at Canada’s largest 10-kilometre race? There’s still time to register Friday and Saturday, but there will be no last-minute entries on Sunday. With that in mind, here are five key things to know before the big day:
1 Transit
TransLink will have extra SeaBus and SkyTrain service on Sunday, which is good news because tens of thousands of people will be cramming into the downtown core. You may prefer to take transit, as parking may be difficult to find.
The SeaBus will sail from Lonsdale Quay at 7:02 a.m., an hour earlier than normal, and provide a 15-minute service through the morning and early afternoon. SkyTrain will start service on the Expo and Millennium lines half an hour earlier, with the first train leaving King George Station at 6:38 a.m., Lafarge Lake-Douglas at 6.26 am and Waterfront at 7:20 a.m. SkyTrain will operate“rush hour”level service during the time before the start of the race and also in the afternoon, as crowds are heading home. Once again, Canada Line will launch at its usual time of 5:02 a.m., leaving Richmond-Brighouse to Waterfront Station, with extra service for incoming crowds starting at 7 a.m.
Coast Mountain Bus will have a number of reroutes in effect, taking the buses away from Georgia between Pender and Richards, the West End, Burrard Bridge and Second Avenue in Kitsilano. Buses that normally use Georgia will travel along Pender between Cardero and Richards. Full details on the reroutes can be found online at translink.ca
2 Can I still sign up?
Yes! There’s no more online registration, but you can still register in person on Friday and Saturday at The Vancouver Sun Run Fair at B.C. Place Stadium. The registration fee to enter is $70 per person inclusive of all taxes and fees.
3 What to wear
Environment Canada is forecasting sunshine and highs of 13 C. But the morning will likely be chilly, so Sun Run organizers recommend buying a cheap sweatshirt at a second-hand shop or wearing one you want to donate. You can wear it at the start and then throw it to the side of the road when you warm up. Volunteers will collect the clothing, and it will be washed and donated to charity.
Sun Runners love to dress up in costumes, and it really adds to the festive spirit of the race. From funny hats to super heroes and animals, there’s no limit to what some sprinters will don for a good time. If you’re one of the many awesome spectators, you may want to consider holding up a funny sign.
4 Where to start
When you registered, you were asked for an estimated time. Where you start depends on that time. The race begins at 8:15 a.m. with most runners starting at around 9 a.m., so it’s best to get there early and find your division, which is colour-coded. If you forget which street you are on after looking at this handy map below, don’t worry. There are balloons arching over Georgia Street that are colour matched to your time zone. You can check your bags and coats before the race at any one of the many gear checks on each street at the start. The Shaw 2.5-kilometre Mini Sun Run starts at 8 a.m. at 777 Pacific Boulevard.
5 What happens after the race?
You party! Head into B.C. Place Stadium for some free snacks and entertainment. There’s an area for kids and music. The seating in the stadium is grouped by letters, so pick one to meet your mates at after the race. It gets pretty busy, so it’s unlikely you will just run into them after the run. If you want to avoid the mad rush back to the burbs on the roads and SkyTrain, plan to eat lunch downtown. Eateries and pubs do fill up, so it’s probably best to make a reservation.