Vancouver Sun Run returns after a 2-year pandemic hiatus | The Canadian News

Tens of thousands of runners packed downtown Vancouver on Sunday for the first Vancouver Sun Run since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

More than 20,000 people signed up for the full 10km loop and the shorter mini Sun Run, with another 3,000 signing up for a virtual race.

Vancouver native and Olympian Lucas Bruchet took first place overall for men with a time of 28:29, while Leslie Sexton of Markham, Ontario, posted the best time for women with 32:37. Paralympic athlete Nathan Dewitt from Surrey set the fastest time in the wheelchair 10km.

Race director Tim Hopkins said the event was on track to become Canada’s biggest racing event this year.

“(The numbers have gone down) a little bit, obviously after the pandemic, we expected that. Normally we would be over 40,000 people, but this is a huge hit,” she said.

Last year’s event was virtual only, and while the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, Hopkins said organizers had taken steps to ensure safety.

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“We’re going to do our wave of starts here, spread people out, lots of space at the starting line, lots of space at the finish line, lots of space at BC Place,” he said.

“Virtual is a great option for people who aren’t quite ready to go into large crowds yet.”

Along with pandemic precautions, the most obvious change to this year’s race is a new route.

Installing separate bike lanes in Stanley Park and along Beach Avenue created a safety issue for runners, Hopkins said.

Instead of running through Stanley Park, participants cross the Burrard Street Bridge and then head east across False Creek.

“We’re going to take a little detour through Mount Pleasant, run around Science World, and then end up going the other way toward BC Place Stadium,” Hopkins said.

“It’s a fast course, our leading athletes can have good times this year.”

Sunday’s event comes with multiple major road closures, with some downtown routes reopening at 11:30 a.m., but others further inland lasting until 1:30 p.m.

You can see a full list of closures here.