While rain dampened the spirits of many fair goers, it could not thwart the competitive and cooperative force of Silver City Days Fun Run participants.
Runners and strollers proved organizer Dan Horan correct when he predicted this year’s 5km and 10km run would be even more popular than last. Over 280 stepped up to the starting line Sunday - 100 more than 2010.
“I thought we might get 300 if we had a nice day,” said Horan. “I’ve been involved for the past four years and this is the largest turnout by far.”
Mike Zahn repeated as he cruised to first place in the 5km run in a 18 minutes and 13 seconds. The Trail resident trains by playing soccer and running from his home in Shavers Bench to Teck and back every day.
“This is my one run of the year,” he said after bettering last year’s winning time by over 10 seconds.
“I didn’t feel great, I felt heavy this year but I hoped I was doing better because I felt worse than past years.”
Tina-Louise Harris of Coquitlam won the ladies 5km in her first visit to Trail.
After a few snags in last year’s race due to last-minute registration, Gerald Klassen of Gerick’s Cycle and Sport put up an incentive door prize to have entrants register early.
It worked. More than 200 entries pre-registered, allowing the race to get going on time.
With the kinks worked out, Teck’s “Move to Wellness” corporate challenge proved even more successful.
“It went really good,” said Megan Olsen, health and wellness coordinator for Teck. “I think we had over 200 corporate participants.”
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Teams from School District 20, Hall’s Printing, Kootenay Savings, Celgar, Teck and the Skills Centre donned their running shoes to jog, walk or crawl the 5 or 10 K route.
“Healthy workplaces makes healthy communities,” said Olsen. “We see Teck people shrinking every day.”
But it’s not the size of the workforce that’s reducing, it’s the size of the individuals due to the Health and Wellness program.
“We’ve lost over 2,500 pounds up there now. People have gone off their medication for blood pressure or cholesterol, and they and they’re families are just getting healthier and healthier,” she added.
Ryan Cain from Cranbrook won the 10 K mens event in 35:15:00 beating out last year’s winner and brother, Dallas Cain of Rossland.
“It was a tough run but lots of fun,” said Cain. “Dallas has been talking about it so we always trade back and forth here.”
The siblings competed in the Penticton B.C. provinicial duathlon championship Saturday, a race where Dallas beat Ryan, so he was looking to even the score.
“I’m sure he’ll try to exact some revenge next weekend,” said Ryan.
The East Kootenay run goes next Saturday in Cranbrook and the first-time participant in Silver City Days run was impressed with the organization and the number of runners and hopes they can match it.
“I knew that Gerald from Gerick was involved, and I knew that he always puts on such a great race – so anytime he’s involved, the East Kootenay crowd usually tries to come out and support it.”
The official results were not available by press time.
“The other neat thing is that it brings the community together,” said Gord Menelaus. “I was really nervous this morning about the weather . . . but you’ve got 280 people here today, it’s just awesome.”