Vancouver Sun Run celebrates 40th anniversary under blue skies ...
The 45,517 runners marks the biggest Sun Run field since the 30th anniversary in 2014
Published Apr 21, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read
When the SeaBus and SkyTrain are packed first thing on an April Sunday morning, you don’t even need the sea of baby-blue T-shirts and racing bibs to know it’s Vancouver Sun Run day.
Sunday marked the run’s 40th anniversary, attracting 45,517 participants for the Sun Run, which was held virtually for two years because of COVID-19 and had 35,000 take part last year.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.or
Article content
Article content
Despite forecasts of rain, runners woke to a brilliantly sunny if chilly morning, perfect for running, walking or wheeling 10 kilometres.
“I’m a happy person, I like to have fun,” said Vandad Pourbahrami after finishing his run in a giraffe suit.
“If I can exercise and bring a smile to other people faces, that great.”
Little Liam Nasr, six years old, and his mom Jasmine arrived in Canada from Iran five months ago and thought the run was great.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I like to run around.”
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
On the eve of Game 1 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks playing the Nashville Predators two hometown fans compete in the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Group 3 starts off at Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG
Glynis Sim of Vancouver is the first woman to cross the finish line in the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run with a time of 32 min , 17 sec in Vancouver, B.C., on April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Thomas Fafard from Repentigny, QC crosses the finish line to win the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run with a time of 28 min, 45 sec in Vancouver, B.C., on April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Runners gather at the starting line of the 2024 Sun Run. Photo by Harold Munro /sun
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim speaks to the crowd gathered for the start of the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run.Photo by Harold Munro /sun
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Leo Sammarelli, the first wheelchair competitor to cross finish line with a time of 31:08 at the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, B.C., on April 21, 2024. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG)Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, BC, April 21, 2024. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Thomas Fafard (63) chats with Thomas Nobbs (70) at the finish line at the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run in Vancouver, B.C., on April 21, 2024. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG)Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
Thomas Broatch finishes second at the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run with a time of 28:56 in Vancouver, B.C., on April 21, 2024. (NICK PROCAYLO/PNG)Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /10104384A1
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
Article content
Patricia Kearney has lost count, but she’s taken part in more than 20 Sun Runs, she said.
Including the inaugural Sun Run, which was around Stanley Park.
“It was a good run, I wish I’d been faster” Kearney, a distance runner since junior high, said. “I don’t have a lot left in my legs, the music (along the run route) was really nice and kept me going.
“It’s nice that it’s downhill at the end,” she said. “The biggest difference between today and the first Sun Run is just the numbers, it’s so big now.”
Myles Mertle had hoped the 40th anniversary Sun Run would be his first, but a knee replacement forced him to be a cheerleader for his friends, instead.
“Great atmosphere, and what a day, I can’t wait for next year,” he said.
Ian Ertzinger, meanwhile, completed his first Sun Run with a personal best time of 41:38, knocking off more than a minute from his previous best.
“Compared to other 10k I run, normally I’d expect more cheering from the crowd,” he said.
“You’re just too fast, people weren’t lined up yet,” one of his Simon Fraser University MBA teammates chirped.
While it was Ertzinger’s first Sun Run, it definitely won’t be his last, he said.
Article content
April 21, 1985: The very first Vancouver Sun Run.Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
5000 runners at the start of the first Sun Run in April 1985. Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1985: Runners reach out for the water during the 1985 Sun Run.Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
Photo of April 1985 Sun Run T-Shirt belonging to runner Victor Kirkman. Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1985: Vancouver Sun reporter Wendy Long, also an impetus behind the creation of the Sun Run, hands out prizes to an unnamed runner as Sun Editor Bruce Larsen (wearing sunglasses) looks on.Photo by Steve Bosch /Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1985: A green and yellow "centipede" at the first Vancouver Sun Run. Photo by Bill Keay /Vancouver Sun
April 22, 1985: Page from The Vancouver Sun for the first Vancouver Sun Run. Vancouver Sun
April 10, 1985: Vancouver city alderman Gordon Campbell jogs through the False Creek complex with his Sun Run t-shirt. The photo was used for a Leisure feature on "How our celebs keep fit." Photo by Ian Lindsay /PNG
April 21, 1985: No caption information on the Vancouver Sun Run photo. Photo by Steve Bosch /Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1985: Rob Lonergan was first male runner to finish the first Sun Run in Vancouver. for Shelley Fralic. Photo: Steve Bosch / Vancouver Sun files. [PNG Merlin Archive]Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1985: Winners of the first Sun Run, Rob Lonergan and Sue French-Lee. For Shelley Fralic story. Photo by Steve Bosch /Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1986: Runners stream through the starting line on Hornby Street at the beginning of the 2nd Sun Run in 1986. Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
April 21, 1986: Graham Fell runs in the 1986 Vancouver Sun Run.Photo by Craig Hodge /Vancouver Sun
April 1986: Sun Run T-shirts. Photo by Glenn Baglo /VANCOUVER SUN
1987: Sun Run T-shirts. Photo by Glenn Baglo /VANCOUVER SUN
1987: Sun reporter Jeff Lee learning the hard way, how not to run. Photo by Peter Battistoni /PNG
1987: Bedtime is fun time for Jenna Breau, 3, and sister Alicia, 6, as they are wheeled along the Sun Run course by Vancouver General Hospital runners. Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
1988: Sharon Inkster and Craig Sherbey were "world champion aerobics types" that were involved with the 1988 Sun Run. Photo by Ian Smith /PNG
1988: Sun Run T-shirts. Photo by Glenn Baglo /VANCOUVER SUN
1988: Starting line crowds at the Sun Run. Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
1989: Sun Run T-shirts. Photo by Glenn Baglo /VANCOUVER SUN
1989: The Centipedes, who earned first prize in the best costume category, chug along the Sun Run course. Photo by Craig Hodge /Vancouver Sun
Sun Run 1990: Sun Run T-shirtPhoto by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
Sun Run 1990: Sun Run Race Director, Jack Taunton.Photo by Steve Bosch /VANCOUVER SUN
Sun Run 1990: Pounding the pavement: runners begin to look weary, but bravely continue on. Photo by Peter Battistoni /Vancouver Sun
1991: Sun Run T-shirt.Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
1991: Hang In There: Nigel Lindsay, left, with Mary Lindsey and fellow runners. Photo by Denise Howard /Vancouver Sun
1991: Sun Run volunteer Jas Dale cools off.Photo by Mark van Manen /Vancouver Sun
1991: That's regular Sun Run training expert and former Olympic runner Lynn Kanuka on the far right. Photo by Nick Didlick /Vancouver Sun
1992: Sun Run T-shirts. Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
1992: Vancouver Sun reporter Bart Jackson trains for 1992 Sun Run. Photo by Ian Smith /Vancouver Sun
1993: Sun Run T-shirt.Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
1993: Hundreds of runners converge onto a narrow bridge as they run through Stanley Park.Photo by Jeff Vinnick /VANCOUVER SUN
1993: Junior Jog-A-Long.Photo by Stuart Davis /Vancouver Sun
1994: Sun Run T-shirt.Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
1994: The City of Vancouver's Corporate Sun Run Team in the 10th Anniversary run. Photo by Handout /Vancouver Sun
1994: Premier Mike Harcourt trains on the Stanley Park seawall for the 1994 Sun Run with his family, son Justin and wife Beckie (on bike). Photo by Craig Hodge /Vancouver Sun
1995: Sun Run T-shirt.Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
1995: Vancouver Sun Run.VANCOUVER SUN
1995: Ken Elmer, a Sun Run founder, running in the 1995 Sun Run. Photo by Handout /Vancouver Sun
1996: Sun Run T-shirt.Photo by GLENN BAGLO /VANCOUVER SUN
