Health, Fitness, Sport Our Local 2011 Vancouver Sun Run Team
The Sun Run Walkers of Lions Bay formed as a team with the tenacious guidance of Team Leader Rose Dudley. Under great pressure Rose made it all happen. She pulled all the strings to make the deadline for team registrations.
The team's name " Lions Bay Rain Forest Ramblers" was a great choice and appropriate name for the very wet Spring season.
2011 is the first year a Lions Bay Team has participated in the Vancouver Sun Run. The first Vancouver Sun Run was held in 1985 with 3200 participants. It prides itself as one of the largest 10K races in the world.
Phone calls ~ voice messages ~ e-mails ~ filling out forms ~ getting forms signed ~ t-shirts (2011 design by Tiko Kerr) ~ team start numbers ~ sensor buttons ~ these were the things that the Dudley's delivered up and down them hills of Lions Bay. Rose (the teacher) and John (the messenger) never think about what it takes to get any job done. The Dudley's "Just Do It !!!!"
On the rather cool but dry and sunny morning of Sunday, April 17 team members met @ 7.00am at the Lions Bay Park & Ride. From there we carpooled to the parking lot at the Gleneagles Community Centre.
With great anticipation we waited for the bus to take us into the heart of the city. With each stop along the scenic route more Sun Runners/Walkers boarded the bus. Once we got off the bus the feeling of high energy was swirling all around us. Seeing it on television, reading it in a newspaper can never, ever come close to what it feels like being there.
The one stop we needed at this junction of the adventure was standing in line for the "Porta Potty." Looking for other team members that were joining and meeting us in front of the Vancouver Gallery proved to be a bit of a challenge. How do you find each other in the troughs of tens of thousands of people? (2011Run Run numbers 49,365) That is where cell phones come in handy, if you can hear yourself think or speak!
According to our estimated walking time the Lions Bay team was in the Red Zone. After a few private photo ops and the historic group picture (with the Lions Bay flag) they set off on their 10K Sun Walk. The cool temperatures stayed the same. I swear I noticed goose bumps on "Rambling Rose's " bare legs. The sky was the type of blue that makes our West Coast city the envy of visitors who come to our spectacular shores.
The team was in position and ready to move along with the rest of the Red Zone crowd. As I waved goodbye and wished them good luck I reflected on my ankle injury that kept me out of the team. Rudy my husband (who avoids crowds at all costs) did me proud in finishing the10K walk in 1.47.13. Rudy and his walking partner Tony Cox never once got off track. If this race would have been held in Europe I can almost see them enjoying a few pints of Guinness along the way. A friend of mine said to me; " Rudy must really love you in walking for you with such a huge crowd!" And that he has done since 1963. That in itself is a Marathon of great measure of the man. I felt lucky to be a part of the team as their support person who captured the pictures and shared in the spirit of their experience.
Congratulations to our 2011 "Lions Bay Rain Forest Ramblers" for setting their personal best. The high standard of commitment, camaraderie, enthusiasm and the enjoyment of walking was evident from start to finish. Our hills and the fabulous trail network of Lions Bay are a great inspiration and training ground for keeping in shape. The Famous Sun Run might get you started. What keeps me motivated in walking/hiking are the many benefits towards a healthy lifestyle.......
Find more pictures of the Lions Bay 2011 Sun Run/Walk team in the Photo Gallery on lionsbay.net.
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