October 26, 2024
The 2024 Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial was a fantastic day for runners and supporters alike! The event welcomed a vibrant crowd, showcasing the best of our local running community. Runners hit the scenic route at UBC for a jaunt through Musqueam territory, making it one of the highlights of the year.
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Race Highlights:
The Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial featured multiple race options: the Half Marathon, 10KM, 5KM, plus Hat-trick and Relay with races throughout the day.
Over 4,200 participants registered and the energy was contagious as runners tackled the stunning route, winding through the heart of UBC’s vibrant campus, past lush green spaces, iconic university landmarks, and along the scenic bluffs of Southwest Marine Drive, offering breathtaking views of the ocean and coastal mountains.
The Half Marathon saw Jaden Heidarian-Sato taking first place with an impressive finish of 1:15:41, remaining first in his M15-19 Age Category also winning that last year.
“I really liked the open ocean view from there, that’s my favorite part of the course,” adds Jaden. “I loved all the people cheering me on along the sidelines.” A Langara student, he added with a laugh, “I did apply to UBC, so please accept me!”
Meg Lewis-Schneider was the top female finisher clocking in at 1:19:04. “I felt really good through the first loop,” adds Meg. “And then the second loop, I was like, ‘Wow! I’m still in the lead, this is amazing!’” Even more remarkable is that her impressive time places her as the top all-time female finisher!
In the 10KM race, Christopher Chan finished strong at 32:31, earning him back-to-back championship titles in different distances— having won the Half Marathon last year. ”I went out with a group and then gave a push after 4KM.”
Emily Andrews crossed in 36:21, securing her spot as a Top 12 all-time female finisher at the event. “I love the first part in the first half,” she says, “where you go down a hill and then the trees open up and you can see the ocean…right before you go up a big hill. You get to take a moment to think, ‘This is so nice!’ before you die on the hill.”
In the 5KM, Danielle Rowlinson made her mark with a finish time of 17:54, placing her in the Top 12 all-time. Recently moving to Canada from the U.S., she reflected, “I’ll be training with the Thunderbirds here at UBC, I’m quite excited to have some girls to train with again. That last [kilometre] hurt, and it’s always fun to challenge yourself mentally.”
Mark Browne put on an impressive show on the men’s side, finishing with a time of 15:48. His feat marks the second time he’s ran a top 10 course record. Reflecting on his race and his days as a UBC student, he says “Going up and down the Main Mall was a really good time. It brought back memories of walking up and down it almost every day.”
New this year, event organizers promised a prize for champions able to break the Event Records dating back to 1997, across any of the event’s individual race distances.
Meg Lewis-Schneider was the top female finisher
A Community Effort:
“As always, this event wouldn’t have been the same without our incredible volunteers. Their hard work and enthusiasm helped keep everything running smoothly. Race Director Eric Chéné expressed his gratitude for the team’s dedication and a bit of luck with the forecast:
“Thankfully the skies cleared and we got that perfect cool, overcast day that’s ideal for running. It’s always inspiring to see the energy and spirit of the local runners and volunteers who bring their best, rain or shine. Vancouver’s weather may keep us on our toes, but that just adds to the excitement of race day.”
All along the route, runners were met with an incredible mix of music, and support from UBC student groups and RUNVAN’s cheer squads, who brought the campus alive and gave runners that extra boost, kilometre after kilometre.
The UBC marching band kept the beat with lively tunes, while the choir group added some uplifting vocals to keep runners motivated. The cheer stations, packed with enthusiastic RUNVAN volunteers, were impossible to miss, with cheers, claps, and plenty of encouragement.
Each participant received a t-shirt or toque if opted-in, along with beautiful medals designed by Musqueam artist Darryl Blyth, plus new medal art featuring iconic landmarks seen around the race.
Thank You!
As we wrap up the Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial, it marks the final event of the RUNVAN race series for 2024. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported us this year. Looking ahead, we’re already excited for the First Half, happening in February 2025. It’s set to kick off our new year of running with a bang, and we can’t wait to see familiar faces and new runners hitting the course!
An additional thanks goes out to Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial partners including:
RUNVAN® is the non-profit organizer of the First Half, BMO Vancouver Marathon, Jerome Classic, Granville Island Turkey Trot, and Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial. To learn more about all RUNVAN events, please visit runvan.org.
