VISST Velocity Sun Run Team
The Vancouver Sun Run is Canada’s largest 10 km road race and the third largest timed 10 km in North America. Founded in 1985 with 3,500 participants, this year’s race capped registration at 55,000. The event takes its name from the Vancouver Sun newspaper, which has sponsored and organized the race for over 40 years. It was created by Canadian Olympians Dr. Jack and Diane Clement and Dr. Jack Taunton to promote running and healthy living.
Today, the Sun Run is a major community event welcoming everyone from elite athletes to first-time racers. The course starts at Georgia and Burrard, winds through the West End, past English Bay, across the Burrard Bridge, through Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano, past Science World, and finishes at BC Place.
What we love most: the community spirit, the bands and choirs lining the route, the personal challenge, and the fun energy — where else do you see a giant hotdog racing an inflatable dinosaur?
Despite the name, the Sun Run isn’t always sunny. This year, though, it lived up to its billing — a beautiful morning, one of the first real spring days of the season.
This year was extra special because the VISST community came together to form its first Sun Run Youth Team. The Oasis Youth Team Challenge is a dedicated category encouraging physical activity among young people. To qualify, teams need at least 14 members with more youth than adults. Registration started slowly and the outcome was uncertain right up until the deadline — but the VISST community came through, and we finished with a spirited team of 20 students and parents.
One of the perks: proudly wearing the VISST logo on our race shirts!
In the weeks before the race, student participants met at school for 9 am training runs — a great chance to spend time together outside of class. One session took the group along some abandoned train tracks on Granville Island. As it turned out, the Sun Run course runs right beside those same overgrown tracks — a fun surprise on race day.
Coordinating a meet-up spot on race day was its own adventure. We gathered on a small lawn near Burrard Station for a team photo — then everyone scattered into the crowd to find their place on the start line. We spotted familiar faces throughout the race, though not always for long (two people in our group disappeared around the very first corner).
After the finish, groups of us explored the food tables and vendor booths inside BC Place and enjoyed the live band — including Harlan’s uncle on drums!
The Sun Run organizers generously gifted our team a pair of Skullcandy earbuds. We put all student participants’ names into a draw, and Hannah (Grade 8) was the lucky winner!
We had a fantastic time, and many team members are already looking forward to next year. We’d love to see even more of you out there next year! Congratulations to everyone who ran!
Coming up: Elana has flagged another great event — the Give a Breath 5K, benefitting Lung Cancer Canada, at Pacific Spirit Park on June 6. Find out more at giveabreath.ca.
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Interesting read. Congratulations. BTW, Harlan’s uncle is my son! And I was there watching his band play. Very proud.
What a great piece, Laiken and Nechia! I applaud you for starting this team. As you said, registration was slow at first and yet, with so much effort, you surpassed the requirements to register a team. I loved the shirt with the VISST logo -- and the sunny day of cheering.