JR Direct at the Vancouver Sun Run 2009
As usual, JR Direct adds a little ‘cheekiness’ to whatever they do…
While most people were just pulling themselves out of bed on a cool spring morning in April, a handful of dedicated JR Direct staff were already on the streets of Vancouver taking part in the 25th annual Vancouver Sun Run. This event, the 2nd largest of it’s kind in North America, drew over 55,000 participants and amid this sea of people our JR Direct runners and walkers proudly put their best feet forward and attacked the cool morning with vigor and enthusiasm. Some were out to beat their personal best records, some to enjoy the experience with family, and others who were just plain suckered in….though were quick converts in seeing how much fun it was.
JR Direct congratulates all our participants for their dedication and effort:
Dexter MacRae
Malcolm Smillie and wife Helen (pictured above)
Jennifer Cowden, her husband Laurence, and their 6 year old daughter Hannah
Greg Lawton
Kevin Guo
Kris Gibson and his 11 year old daughter Jayden.
Memories and photos:
The team rallies at work
Malcolm:
This was actually the first race that Helen and I have ran together for the entire distance. We have taken part in other events together but previously I have always been focused on ‘racing’ so this was an entirely different experience for me.
Unlike me, Helen is not competitive and is very much a ‘fun’ runner. She runs about 5k two or three times a week and this was her longest run in five years. She had a really positive experience after the long wait to get going at the start (forty-five minutes!). She was thrilled to feel so strong during the last three kilometers and picked up the pace all the way to the finish. Such was her enthusiasm for passing people in the latter stages she did manage to tweak a calf muscle coming across the Cambie Bridge but did not let that slow her down. We did actually cross the line hand in hand so that I think it counts as a date!
A sea of people at the starting line
Dexter:
What a rush! I began a “get fit” program in October 2008 and set a goal of running the complete 10K Vancouver Sun Run. The consequence of that effort saw me losing more weight than I care to acknowledge I was carrying and helped me become an avid runner with the ability of running 5k 4 - 5 times a week sometimes stretching that out to 10K. I don’t consider myself an expert runner but more of a non-competitive “enjoy the experience” type. Not being an admirer of outdoor crowds, I was surprised at my level of interest in the Run which never waned even as I fought for a spot to run by folks pausing for a break. Following the run, a few of us were able to get together at the Beatty Street Starbucks to share the experience and muse over better approaches to preparing for next year’s attempt. So, 2010 it is! From the enthusiasm following this year’s run I do believe there will be a larger JR Direct team next year.
Greg:
For the third time my mom and I ran the Sun Run together.
The three most memorable moments,
- Mom asking me, did you double knot your laces? Within 500 meters of the start line my shoes were untied and I had to stop and tie them - really cool
- Arriving early and being eager to start the race, while waiting the 45 min's or so to start the run I drank almost all of my water. This required stop number 2 at the 7 k - almost worthy of an idiot award
- Finding out that with my two previous blunders we beat our previous time
Hannah is all smiles before the big run
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| Kris and Jayden |
Jen:
The sun run was fun.
The sun run was begun.
And then the sun run was done.
The JR Direct team was not outdone.
Rather, they were number one.
The sun run was fun.
Kris:
I had the pleasure this year of running with our eleven year old daughter Jayden. After I did the run last year she was determined to do it this year with me, and trained very hard. I was extremely proud as her and her friend ran the entire 10 kilometers. I have to admit at times I struggled to keep up with them, but was able to push myself with enough energy left at the end to beat her by 2 seconds! It was a sprint to the finish, and next year I don’t expect to be so lucky.
