The 29th annual Vancouver Sun Run was a sea of blue and yellow for Boston on Sunday.
More than 48-thousand runners took part in the 10-kilometre race through the streets of Vancouver, after a surge of late registrations this week.
Many of the runners were dressed in blue and yellow to pay tribute to the victims of Monday’s terror attack at the Boston marathon. Two bombs exploded at the finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 170.
Sun Run organizers heightened security today, but the race went off without a hitch. Several noticeable faces laced up to join the crowd, too.
Lord of the Rings actor and long distance runner Sean Astin joined the race, wearing a Boston jersey.
“I’m running with 50-thousand Canadians as we all honour everyone who was affected by the incident in Boston,” said Astin. “It affected runners around the world, for us to come out and put on the official colours of that race… that’s an amazing privilege to be a part of.”
BC Liberals leader Christy Clark put on a pair of sneakers and a yellow jacket to take part as well, on hitting the pavement for the sixth day of the official provincial elections campaign period.
“All of us here today, we are standing up to say we will not live in fear of that kind of attack,” said Clark. “We will not let them scare us off the streets.”
The surge of late registrants meant 4,000 more participants in this year’s Sun Run than last year. Sun Run organizers pledged to donate $10 of each late registration fee to Boston bombing victims and their families.
Despite the increase in registrations, security numbers weren’t increased, according to Sun Run spokesman Jamie Pitblado, but security was “more vigilant.”
Crossing the finish line first in the men’s elite division was Paul Kimugul of Kenya with a time of 29 minutes and four seconds.
Female winner Natasha Fraser of Port Moody won for a second year in a row with a time of 32 minutes and 42 seconds.
With files by CTV British Columbia’s Lisa Rossington
