Fast facts about Canada’s largest 10K
The Vancouver Sun Run is the third-largest timed 10-kilometre road race in North America. It was founded 33 years ago by Olympians Dr. Doug and Diane Clement, and Dr. Jack Taunton.
Since the first Vancouver Sun Run in 1985 — which attracted 3,200 participants — 1.1 million runners have taken part in what is Canada’s biggest 10K road race.
“Even that first year, it was destined to be one of Canada’s greatest events,” race director Tim Hopkins said. “It’s in the top-three 10K road races in North America and probably in the top-10 in the world, numbers-wise.”
The 2017 race is sponsored by Ford Canada.
As of Monday, 39,421 had entered to run or walk this Sunday, compared with the 43,000-plus who participated last year.
In 2008, 59,179 took part in the run, even though it was a nippy 3 C at start time. That record was broken in 2011, when more than 60,000 took part. The fastest time ever posted was by Joseph Kimani of Kenya, when he ran the 1996 race in 27:31.
The women’s record is 30:58, set 10 years later by Isabella Ochichi, also of Kenya.
Canadians have won both the men’s and women’s races in the same year only three times in the last 24 years, mostly recently last year (Eric Gillis, Guelph, 28:52; Lanni Marchant, London, 32:15).
The competitive wheelchair athletes and racewalkers kick things off at 8:40 a.m., followed by the elite women at 8:50 a.m., and the elite men at 9 a.m.
Next is the group of elite B.C. runners, followed by everyone else in wave starts.
The names and times of all finishers will be published in The Vancouver Sun on Monday (April 24). Online results will be posted shortly after the race’s completion. Roads begin closing at 5:30 a.m. More than 2,500 volunteers help things go smoothly.