News
Vancouver, BC – The 2025 Great Trek brought thousands of runners and supporters together for a spectacular day at UBC, celebrating community, competition, and the spirit of running. The event highlighted the beauty of Musqueam territory, with athletes tackling scenic routes through UBC’s vibrant campus, lush trails, and the breathtaking bluffs of Southwest Marine Drive.
Race Highlights
With over 4,700 registered participants, the energy on campus was electric across the Half Marathon, 10KM, 5KM, Hat-trick, and Relay events.
Wheelchair athlete and advocate for accessibility Kyle Gieni took on the RUNVAN Hat-trick challenge and completed the Half Marathon, 10KM, and 5KM events by wheelchair.
Olympic Race Walker Olivia Lundman returned to race walk the Half Marathon.
Half Marathon:
Louis Marmar Maruk of VFAC claimed first place overall with a time of 1:10:20. Maruk, who also secured second in his age category at the 2025 BMO Vancouver Marathon, expressed his appreciation for the crowd, stating, “People cheering at me, that was awesome!”
Jonah Brost secured second place with a time of 1:12:32, while Chengqi Yuan from Shanghai finished third at 1:16:41.
Olympian Dayna Pidhoresky not only set a new women’s course record and achieved a first-place finish in the Half Marathon with a gun time of 1:15:25, but she also completed the Hat-trick Challenge, participating in the Half Marathon, 10KM, and 5KM races. Dayna secured first-place in the 10KM and second for 5KM event. Pidhoresky, the BMO Vancouver Marathon course record holder (2:34:27, 2023) and multiple-time Marathon Champion, continues to be a source of inspiration for the local running community through her remarkable dedication and drive.
“The finish section is fun because it’s pretty flat, there’s a lot of people cheering – and any downhill part I really love!” adds Pidhoresky, reflecting on her experience, also expressing gratitude for the personal support.
“Shout out to my husband, Josh, who is here on his day off on a Saturday while I do all three of these races!”
Ally Baaske, who also completed the Hat-trick challenge, secured second place in the Half Marathon with a time of 1:24:03. This follows her second-place finish last year (1:22:06) and her win in 2023. Mia Bennison finishes in third place with 1:26:49.
10KM:
Ryerson Stockton-Thomas claims first place with a time of 32:56. Ben Partridge is second in 33:29, followed closely by David Morrissey in third with 33:35.
Dayna Pidhoresky claims first place among women with a time of 36:32, securing her spot in the event’s top 12 all-time female finishes. Katrina Lim follows in second with 39:21, and Ally Baaske is third in 39:46.
5KM:
Danielle Rowlinson makes a triumphant return, securing first place in the women’s division with a time of 16:58. This impressive performance marks the third best time ever recorded and surpasses her 2024 time of 17:54.
“I’m happy with my race. I wanted to run sub 17, I’ve done that before on the track but not on the road so it’s exciting to see that my training has been paying off,” says Rowlinson on her return to the event. “I love the event, I train with the Thunderbirds and a lot of the Thunderbirds crew are here in the race.”
Dayna Pidhoresky takes second in the 5KM with a time of 17:39 to complete the Hat-trick challenge followed by Mia Zurkovic, third with a time of 17:44.
Mark Browne delivers an impressive performance, finishing in 15:37 on the men’s side. This marks his third Top 10 course time, and an 11-second improvement on his 2024 time.
Randy Ren is second in 15:39, and James Lamers takes third in 15:48.
A Celebration of Community
The Great Trek brought Vancouver’s running spirit to life at the UBC campus and Musqueam Territory. UBC student groups, the marching band, and cheer squads lined the route. Volunteers kept the day seamless, reflecting the energy and generosity of our running community.
“This year’s RUNVAN events showcase the spirit, energy, and heart of our running community,” says Race Director Eric Chéné “Today’s Great Trek event capped off an incredible year for RUNVAN – celebrating every runner, volunteer, and finish line.”
The Great Trek participants raised nearly $25,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Thank you as well to the following event partners: Musqueam Band, UBC, Alkiss Water, BigSteelBox, Forerunners, Fitness World, Happy Planet Foods, New Balance, Nuun Hydration, Stanley Park Brewing, and XACT Nutrition.
Looking Ahead
The Great Trek marks the finale of the 2025 RUNVAN race series, closing another exciting season of running in Vancouver. RUNVAN now looks forward to kicking off the new year with the First Half in February 2026, followed by the BMO Vancouver Marathon in May.
