You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to take part and it takes one to say it’s so.
The Richmond Olympic Parkrun 5K along the Middle Arm Dyke on New Year’s Day is a perfect way to kick off 2018, according to Richmond’s very own Olympian, race-walker Evan Dunfee.
Dunfee joined in his first local, weekly, Olympic parkrun in October by chance, while out on a 30K training stint with his Race Walk West team.
And, after witnessing for years, similar, free, regular, non-competitive events across the globe, Dunfee is excited to see it becoming more popular in his home town.
“In Australia, they get hundreds and hundreds out for their parkruns; I see so much success with this across the world, so it’s great to see it finally happening here,” Dunfee told the Richmond News.
“The thing I love about the parkrun is that you’re out there with 10-year-olds and 80-year-olds and everyone celebrates everyone else’s achievements.
“So, whether you’re the top guy or you’re the 70-year-old who’s just run their best time, there’s a collective sense of accomplishment.”
The New Year’s Day walk/jog/run event — which goes from 10-11 a.m. near the Waterdrop public art installation on the Middle Arm Dyke Trail at Cambie and River roads — is absolutely free.
And if you want to receive a time for your run or walk, all you need to do to register for your parkrun barcode is go online at ParkRun.ca/RichmondOlympic. The runs also happen every Saturday morning.
“Not everyone needs the T-shirt and medals; it’s free and it’s the same course every week,” added Dunfee.
“If you have a reason to get out and get more fit for 2018, this is a perfect opportunity to put down a base line on the very first day and 5K is a great starting point.
“It’s long enough for a proper work-out, but short enough that you can get to within sight of the finish line.”
Dunfee will be there on New Year’s Day and, with no plans yet for the big night before, there’s a good chance he’ll be relatively fresh.
“I have a flight out to Australia on the 2nd, so I’ve no plans just yet for New Year’s Eve,” he said.
“At this time of the year, there’s not much serious training going on and I’ve seen many athletes in my field really having a good time.
“But I’m flying to Australia for three and a half months of training for the 20K in the Commonwealth Games in April in the Gold Coast.”
Dunfee said he’s been in training for the last six weeks or so and is hoping to improve on his sixth place in the same Games in 2010 in Deli — there was no event at the 2014 Games.
“I’m hoping to medal but I’m up against some of the best 20K athletes in the world; my specialty is the 50K,” Dunfee added.
According to the parkrun organizers, “whether you’re old or young, male or female, an Olympian or you’ve never walked five kilometres before, you’ll be made to feel very welcome.
“Each week, we have a tail-walker so no-one is ever left behind. Come down and make it a part of your weekly routine.”
