LOGISTICS AND DETAILS

Finisher’s certificate

At the end of the race, be proud of your accomplishment and commemorate your participation with your own finisher’s official certificate. Simply visit The Sun Run website ( www.sunrun.com) on April 21 to download your souvenir certificate and print off your very own copy.

An easy ride to the run

If you must drive, you’re advised to arrive by 7 a. m. Street parking in the area of the run is limited ( and remember, there is a 30- minute to two- hour limit to metered parking). A number of streets, both at the start line and along the route, will be closed to traffic during the morning; see the road closures advisory on page E11 for details. There’s some paid parking adjacent to BC Place Stadium, near the finish line. Seasoned Sun Runners park near the finish zone and jog back to the start zone. All major TransLink bus services run Sunday morning. 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/ Millennium Lines half an hour earlier than normal, with the first train leaving King George at 6: 38 a. m., Lougheed at 6: 45 a. m., and Waterfront at 7: 20 a. m. SkyTrain will operate “rush hour” level service during the time before the start 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 6: 30 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 2nd Avenue in Kitsilano. Buses that normally use Georgia will travel along Pender between Cardero and Richards. Full details on the reroutes may be found online at www.translink.ca. West Vancouver Blue Bus will also operate the usual Sunday schedule, but add service in the morning from 25th and Marine and have extra buses available after the run. Those travelling on SkyTrain will be able to pre- purchase tickets for the return trip at selected stations, so that they may avoid long lineups at ticket vending machines after the run. Return tickets can be pre- purchased at King George when leaving Surrey and at Burrard, Granville, Yaletown- Roundhouse and Vancouver City Centre as they arrive in downtown Vancouver. Tickets also will be available at Bridgeport Station for those heading downtown from Richmond. Those tickets will be valid until late afternoon. Portable fare boxes accepting exact fare will be set up at Stadium- Chinatown for up to an hour after the event to help ease lineups at ticket vending machines, please remember to have the exact coin fare for these tickets. Please move down the aisle to make more room for your fellow Sun Runners if the bus or train is crowded. Further information on service changes can be found online at www.translink.ca or by calling Customer Service at 604.953.3333. Transit customers will have to pay only a single- zone fare of $ 2.75 for an adult fare and $ 1.75 for a concession fare to travel throughout the entire bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus network. ( Concession fares apply to children 5 to 13 years, secondary school students 14 to 19 years with a valid GoCard, seniors 65 and older with proof of age, and Handy Card holders riding conventional transit.) False Creek Ferries and Aquabus Ferries also will be running extra ferries on Sun Run morning. Visit www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca and www.theaquabus.com for schedules and fares. Coming in by bike? BEST’s Bicycle Valet ( sponsored by Travel Smart) will watch over your wheels for free at its secure valet location at Gate F at BC Place Stadium. Cyclists should remember that SkyTrain attendants reserve the right to prevent bikes from being taken on trains until crowds diminish.

Clothing tips, gear check

Layer your clothing. If you overheat, peel off the layers. Don’t forget to bring a change of dry, warm clothes for the wrap party. You may use the $ 5 Gear Check service to transport your clothes from the start area to the finish zone. Drop your gear until 8: 50 a. m. at the trucks, which are parked on all access streets in the start zone. The truck for the red zone will be parked on Howe, not Granville, and will be open until 9: 20 a. m. Buses still run on Seymour & Richards on Sun Run morning. The gear check tag on your bib will identify your gear; submit the tag with your gear. Collect your gear across from Rogers Arena at the corner of Abbott and Pacific Boulevard in the Concord Pacific Lot by 1 p. m. Show your race number to claim your gear. Please do not check valuables and note that Gear Check can accommodate only as much as you can cram in the shoppingsized plastic bag. Items left on the street at the start area will be collected by, and donated to, The Salvation Army.

Comfort and safety

Watch for washrooms, first- aid stations and Canadian Springs water stations along the course. There will be 200 medical volunteers, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and paramedics. Paramedics will travel the course on bicycles and first- aid attendants with expertise in sports injuries will follow the waves of runners. Medical facilities will be located at English Bay, Fir and Fourth and at the finish area with an easy- to- spot medical banner. There will also be a big water station just past the finish line with plenty of water and the Milk2Go Recovery Zone. Plenty of organic oranges and bananas from Sustainable Produce Urban Deliveries ( Spud. ca) will be served at the post- race party inside BC Place Stadium.

Lost kids

Tell your children that if they become separated from you during the run to look for a police officer or for one of the communications crew ( situated along the route with radios), the volunteer crew ( bright yellow Sun Run T- shirts) or medical crew ( red T- shirts). They will bring your child to BC Place Stadium, Event Information Booth. Lost children will be cared for in this secured area until they can be reunited with their families.

Etiquette

The Sun Run is a fun- filled community event and in order for everyone to have an enjoyable and safe experience, consideration of fellow runners, volunteers and race officials is a must. Here are a few etiquette guidelines for runners to keep in mind and to follow as they participate in this world- class event.

• Read the website, entry form or other race information. All of the race details you need are probably there. Pay particular attention to deadlines — these help race officials and volunteers to better prepare for race day.

• Respect entry restrictions. Any means of self- propulsion ( rollerblades, skateboards, bicycles, etc.) are not permitted. Running with dogs or other animals is also not allowed. If in doubt, check with the race organizers first.

• Pay attention to packet pickup hours. Race packets/ numbers are not available outside these guidelines. • Carefully check your personal information at packet pickup as it is printed on your number. Before the race is the only time to correct any errors such as age, gender, or misspelling of your name. Do so, by visiting the race solutions desk before you leave the Sun Run Fair.

• Pin your number on the FRONT of your shirt or outermost clothing and keep it visible at all times, and especially at the finish. DO NOT COVER YOUR RACE NUMBER WITH ANY CLOTHING or you will not receive a race time, as the number contains your timing tag. Announcers, photographers, timers and medics use it to help identify you.

• Do not run without a number or run if you did not register. Doing so can cause errors in the recording of times and positions of those legitimately entered. People who do so are called ‘ bandits’ or ‘ turkeys’, and may be refused entry into other races.

• Do not allow another runner to use your number. A person running in your place who is of a different gender or a different age group can lead to errors in the results, and deny legitimate winners in the event of their of an prizes. accident Also, or medical condition, wrong information may have serious consequences. Respect the events’ policy on transferring entries.

• Stick to the colour zone and wave start time that you have been assigned. Do not start the race before your assigned wave start time so as not to impede quicker participants.

• Visually impaired runners accompanied by a guide should start either at the back of the field.

• If you need to walk or slow abruptly during the race, move to the side of the road first. If you must leave the course, be sure to return to it at the same point as you left it.

• Don’t block other runners at any time. Slower runners must remain on the right side of the road to allow quicker runners to pass on the left. At aid stations, move to the side if you slow down or stop.

• The use of portable headphone devices ( iPods, MP3 players, CD players, etc.) is discouraged — for your safety and the safety of others. You MUST be aware of your surroundings at all times and this includes being able to hear any verbal warnings/ instructions from police/ course officials or the sound of any vehicles and other participants on the course. If you choose to wear a portable headphone device during a race, you do so at your own risk and on your own responsibility.

• Pacing by a non- participant is not permitted. This includes cyclists riding alongside participants.

• Aid from any person not involved in the race is not allowed except in emergencies. If you see a person in distress, give aid, or quickly advise a race volunteer.

• Remember, there are other people in the race: be courteous and allow them to have the same experience that you expect. Think of others.

• Respect private property. Use toilets provided by race organizers.

• Do not stop right at the finish line. Keep moving through the finish area so that others can finish behind you.

• Exit the finish area as soon as possible, to reduce congestion in the area.

• Only cross the finish line once. And do not cross the finish if you did not complete the full course. Doing otherwise will lead to errors in the results.

• Be courteous to the volunteers: smile and give them a big thank you as you run by. You have an event to run because of them.

• Stay for the awards. Celebrate the winners. You may have won a prize yourself, and it is courteous to the organizers and sponsors to be present to receive it. Smile! .... and have fun!

Meet me under the Q

If you’re meeting someone before the race, pick a site several blocks away, such as the library, post office or Waterfront station. Avoid the art gallery, Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Hotel Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral and other landmarks near the start zone as they will be awash with Sun Runners. Meeting after the race? Go to the A to Z meeting area inside BC Place Stadium. Determine under which letter you will meet. Team Ziggy might meet under the Z, for example, or the Albatross family under the A.

That’s entertainment

There will be 18 bands performing along the route, with The Neurotics performing at the start area, and Ten Souljers taking the main stage at BC Place.

Fun loves company

You don’t need to be a runner, a jogger or a walker to have fun. Bring along the family or a friend to watch the race from the sidelines, and join in the fun and festivities on the course and at the finish line. The party starts at BC Place Stadium at 8: 30 a. m., just in time to entertain the Shaw Mini Sun Runners and the first of the elite runners crossing the finish line at about 9 : 30 a. m. There will be snacks and entertainment for everyone. Walkers can stop en route at the Walkers’ Pit Stop for water, fruit and entertainment. Just follow the signs to the stand. At 10: 45 a. m., presentations will be made to the top finishers and the top Canadians, both male and female, and to the winners of the masters and wheelchair divisions.

Generous supporters

A big thank you to The Vancouver Sun Run 2013 sponsors: Major sponsors: Sun Run Stores Global BC Hyatt Regency Vancouver BC Place Stadium Dairyland Other sponsors: Concord Place B. C. Athletics New Balance Shaw Canadian Springs Water Company Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery ( Spud. ca) Quick Mobile Toshiba Active Network Power Bar Oasis Juice Purolator Encana Good Life Fitness Media Sponsors: CHMB AM 1320 CKNW AM 9 80 9 6.9 JACK FM News 1130 Sonic 104.9 FM. The Beat 9 4.5 FM QMFM 103.5 FM CFOX 9 9 .3 Virgin 9 5.3 FM Rock 101 FM Thanks also to the Encana volunteer crew: More than 3,000 people from the volunteer crew give their time, talents and energy to make this event a success. Thanks to all of you for helping make the Sun Run possible.