Runners from Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and beyond are readying themselves for the Comox Valley Half Marathon race weekend.
It all starts Saturday morning, March 21 when the Comox Valley Road Runners (CVRR) host the graduation 5K Fun Run at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.
This race is open to all who wish to try out their 5K run or walk skills, but it officially concludes the 10-week 5K Running Clinic currently underway.
The atmosphere will be casual and the emphasis, as always, will be on fun and completing the distance.
On Sunday, March 22 over 500 racers will gather in downtown Courtenay for the half marathon. They will toe the line at 11 a.m. to test their mettle over the 21.1 kilometre course that meanders its way from the Filberg Centre to the top of Burns Road and back again.
This event is the longest race in the Frontrunners Vancouver Island Race Series and is unofficially regarded as “the best.” Many running tourists will be visiting the Valley for the whole weekend; staying in our hotels, enjoying our amazing restaurants and shopping at our stores.
In order to fill out the weekend of festivities, the CVRR will be hosting a pre-race evening of dinner and entertainment at the Westerly Hotel on Saturday, March 21.
This event is designed with everyone in mind from elite athletes to weekend warriors. Come and gather to experience a fun, relaxed evening of inspiration and entertainment.
Keynote speaker Lindsay Elms will capture the essence of the weekend by sharing his life stories. He is no stranger to challenge and his “Just do it” attitude is contagious.
This mountaineer has climbed summits on seven continents and lived in several of them. He holds credit for many first ascents both locally and internationally.
He is a runner with podium results in marathons, ultras and track events. He has expanded his running prowess to include a number of endurance races and combined his sports to add many mountain speed ascents to his list of accomplishments.
He is an author with two published works: Beyond Nootka and Above The Bush. These volumes chronicle the discovery, surveying, prospecting and climbing of the Vancouver Island mountains.
Musical entertainment will be the fabulous Tammy assaert. Tammy has three internationally acclaimed studio recordings to her credit.
She will be accompanied by friend and fellow musician Blaine Dunaway.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now: $25 at Extreme Runners in Courtenay or online at cvrr.ca/cv-half-marathon/ banquet. – Comox Valley
Road Runners
