Pride Run and Walk back with new 5K Sunset Beach course

Jul 1 2016, 12:28 am

Pride Run and Walk is back for another year this July – this time with a new location and new course – to mark the first official event of Vancouver Pride Week.

This year, the race, organized by inclusive running club the Vancouver Frontrunners and the Vancouver Pride Society, will take place on Sunday, July 24.

For the first time, the 5K race will start and end at Sunset Beach, with a turn around point just before Cambie Bridge. The entire course is on the sea wall.

Rohan Hare, President of the Vancouver Frontrunners and recent recipient of Vancouver Pride Society’s Pride Legacy Sports Award, told Daily Hive the race is for everyone.

“We strive to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, and the event is catered to people of all abilities,” said Hare. “Pride Run and Walk is about giving back the community.”

Founded in 2004, Pride Run and Walk raised $14,000 last year for deserving community beneficiaries.

This year, all profits and donations from Pride Run and Walk will be donated to two organizations, Out In Schools, and the LOUD Foundation.

Out In Schools curates films that compel youth to step into the challenges and the triumphs of LGBTQ youth.

Meanwhile, the LOUD Foundation is an association of professional and ethical businesses that support the LGBTQ community with products and services.

Hare says the race can be anything you make it – some dress up, others go for a personal best. Prizes are handed out to the best dressed teams and individuals.

An array of costumes at Pride Run and Walk (Vancouver Frontrunners)

An array of costumes at Pride Run and Walk (Vancouver Frontrunners)

Essentially though, Hare says, it’s about enjoying yourself, surrounded by supportive people.

“We hope to beat last year’s record and sign on over 450 participants,” said Hare. “The more that register, the more we will raise.”

Registration is open now, in three gender categories (female – cis/trans, male – cis/trans, and gender variant), priced at $40 per person.

“This is our third year in recognizing our transgender and gender variant participants by offering a third gender category, and we pride ourselves on being one of the first events we know of to have introduced it,” said Hare.

“Hopefully with what Justin Trudeau is doing in Parliament, we’ll see other race events follow our footsteps.”

Some runners meanwhile are aiming for a personal best at Pride Run and Walk (Vancouver Frontrunners)

Some runners meanwhile are aiming for a personal best at Pride Run and Walk (Vancouver Frontrunners)

As well as the scenic run around the seawall, Pride Run and Walk also includes a disco water station, post run nutrition with games and activities for all.

After the race, finishers and supporters are encouraged to stick around for Vancouver Pride Society’s Picnic in the Park and grab a bite to eat from various food vendors.

Note the usual 10K course has been eliminated due to the new location; organizers hope to reinstate it in the future.

Vancouver Frontrunners provides a safe and friendly environment for the LGBT community and their friends to enjoy running and walking at a variety of speeds.

The club meets at 9 am on Saturdays at Brockton Oval and 6:30 pm on Wednesdays at the Roundhouse, before having brunch and invites anyone interested to come along.

Pride Run and Walk 2016

Where: Sunset Beach, Vancouver

When: Sunday, July 24, warm up at 9 am, race start at 9:30 am, awards around 10:30 or 11 am

Register: At vancouverfrontrunners.org/priderun, priced $40 per person

Jenni SheppardJenni Sheppard

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