It’s that time of the year again when fitness enthusiasts aged 55 and over get their runners on and walk, jog or run eight kilometres.
The Forever Young 8K is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Richmond Olympic Oval and registration is now open.
The 8th annual event - run by the Forever Young Club (FYC) along with the help of Nurse Next Door – attracts hundreds of senior 55+ walkers and runners in the community.
“As well as being specifically for the 55+ crowd, the FY8K is different from other typical weekend running events,” said the club’s founder, John Young.
“For example, most events simply award another medal to the winners - the FY8K awards winners in each age category a bottle of good BC wine.”
Young noted that anyone age 90 and over gets free registration, adding that “we have had many who have taken advantage of this offer.”
“Last year, our eldest finisher was 90-year old Delia Visscher, who finished the 8K distance in 1 hour and 37 minutes.
“Ahead of her was Richmond’s very own 87-year old Gwen McFarlan in an amazing time of 1 hour 2 minutes.”
First place overall was Jean Michel Auzoux, from Richmond, in a time of 34 minutes and 24 seconds.
“These seniors are showing us all that fitness can be maintained at any age,” added Young.
This year’s charity of choice is the local Dream-On Seniors Wish Foundation, which celebrates aging and makes dreams of seniors come true.
Music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, draw prizes, coffee and goodies await all participants back on the Oval Plaza.
To register, go to https://www.foreveryoung8k.ca/
