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Scotiabank Vancouver Half

2017 #ScotiaHalf Shirt Options

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

We’ve just received our tentative shirt designs for this year’s Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k participant t-shirts and now we need your input! Take a look at the two options above, then vote on your favourite style. The most popular version will chosen for the 2017 Asics race shirt that all participants will receive.

Voting closes at midnight on January 12.

Shirt Options

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Scotiabank Charity Challenge raises over $50 million for local Canadian communities

By | Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k, Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

Runners at 6 marathons across the country set the pace for giving back to the community

TORONTO, ON – (Marketwired – June 24, 2016)

Since 2003, participants at six Scotiabank-sponsored road races from coast to coast have made every step of their run count, raising more than $50 million for local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This turnkey fundraising program surpassed the $50 million mark thanks to continued efforts from races in Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa and Calgary so far this year, and in the lead-up to the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon and 5k this weekend.

06-28-16-charitychallenge1200x900The Scotiabank Charity Challenge launched in 2003 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon as a way for runners to fundraise to support local charities. Every dollar raised goes directly to the charities. Scotiabank pays for all transaction fees, credit card fees and the cost of the fundraising platform.

Scotiabank proudly hosts a Scotiabank Charity Challenge at each of six sponsored race events across Canada each year including:

For links to Scotiabank’s races and the charities supported by runners at each one, please visit the Scotiabank Marathons’ page.

“On behalf of all of my colleagues at Scotiabank, I want to congratulate all participants who have run in the Scotiabank road races since 2003 and made every step count by signing up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge,” said Kyle McNamara, Executive Vice President and Co-Head Information Technology, Business Systems, and Executive Champion for Marathons at Scotiabank. “We encourage everyone to keep the fundraising going, and to work together to support local charities that have a significant impact on Canadian communities.”

“We launched the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in response to runners who told us that they wanted to make their race more meaningful,” said Jacquie Ryan, Vice President, Sponsorships at Scotiabank. “It has been an honour to witness the commitment and dedication of all participants – both on the course and off – as we have grown this fundraising program together.”

About Scotiabank
Through our global community investment strategy, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2015, Scotiabank contributed $67 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of $895 billion (as at April 30, 2016), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank’s media releases using Marketwired. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

Kip Kangogo runs to victory, marking his fifth win at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon

By | Elite Athletes, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
Over $860,000 raised at the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k.

VANCOUVER June 26th 2016 – Over 6,500 people took part in the 18th annual Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k on Sunday, June 26. The event raised more than $860,000 and counting for 81 local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This amount is a significant contribution to the $50 million raised nationally in the lifetime of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge since its inception in 2003.

Race day saw momentous victories on a sunny Vancouver morning as runners brought their best to the scenic course, stretching from UBC to Stanley Park. Kenyan-born Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alberta owned today’s race, as he has since his Canadian debut in 2009, leading the men’s pack and winning his fifth Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon in eight years with a time of 01:07:03. Kenya’s Pius Kipsang Korir followed in second place, with Kangogo’s fellow Kenyan Canadian, Willy Kimosop in third for the men’s event.

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Romanian born American, Adriana Nelson came to Vancouver looking for a half-marathon win, and led the women’s pack from the beginning. She ran to victory three minutes clear of second place, Lindsay Tessier from Toronto.

“We would like to congratulate all of the runners in the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, especially those who participated in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and ran for causes close to their hearts,” said Winnie Leong, Senior Vice President of the BC and Yukon Region at Scotiabank. “This marks a special year for the race here in Vancouver. With the support of the local community, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge reached a fundraising total of $860,000 and counting – helping to take our national fundraising even further past the $50 million national fundraising milestone achieved this past week.”

Charity

The race also saw record-breaking moments as Jason Cole and Rand Surbey broke the Guinness World Record for fastest half-marathon pushing a wheelchair. The powerhouse duo had a strong finish in the race and in their fundraising efforts, raising over $15,000 for the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. The Scotiabank Charity Challenge also saw a record broken as Cassie and Friends Society raised over $120,000 this year, surpassing the most a charity has raised through the Challenge in Vancouver, annually.

“Today we saw residents of Vancouver and surrounding areas unite in an inspiring way – from talented runners to dedicated supporters cheering on race participants, we witnessed a great deal of athleticism, philanthropy and community spirit,” said Clif Cunningham, Canada Running Series Western Race Director. “With the combination of outstanding running achievements and hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for local charities here in BC, we couldn’t have asked for a better day.” 

Spectators

Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k Results:

Half-Marathon Results   

Half-Marathon Male 

1. Kip Kangogo – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada:  01:07:03

2. Pius Kipsang Korir–  Kenya: 01:07:29

3. Willy Kimosop – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada: 01:08:11

Half-Marathon Female         

1. Adriana Nelson – Boulder, Colorado, USA: 01:14:35

2. Lyndsay Tessier – Toronto, Ontario, Canada: 01:17:30

3. Robyn Mildren – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: 01:18:55

5k Results

5k Male          

1. Alistair Kealty – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: 17:07

2. Dorian Baysset – Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada: 17:56

3. Samuel Yeung – Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada: 19:28  

5k Female               

1. Olivia, Willett – Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada: 18:57

2. Carina Blafield – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: 20:12

3. Hannah Ye – Leesburg, Virginia, USA: 20:22

To see a list of charities involved in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, please visit the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k website.

For more highlights and complete race results, please visit: www.vancouverhalf.com 

Twitter Hashtags: #ScotiaHalf and #runScotia

Meet the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Pacer Team: Mike Hsiao.

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

By Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Pacer, Mike Hsiao. 

Volunteering, simply put, is an art. Like any great structure ever built, there is a story of planning, engineering and building, happening behind the scenes that rarely surfaces. My name is Mike Hsiao, and I am the 1 hour, 45 minute Pacer for the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, and I am also the team captain of Race Force Athletics and Volunteering Club. Race Force is a non-profit organization that has been volunteering at Canada Running Series (West) events since 2008.

The volunteer process usually begins months before the event. The safety of all participants is a key deciding factor in any volunteer program. For example, with an event such as the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, where numerous hydration stations are essential, volunteers are needed. Other examples are at key intersections of the course where, along with traffic personnel and police, volunteers are needed to help answer questions and guide runners.

Ensuring volunteers have a positive experience is the next step. The foundations of any successful program include where the volunteers need to be placed, volunteer shift length, and food all need to be taken into consideration. All of these steps happen even before the recruitment of volunteers happen.

Recruitment takes place after all of the key roles have been identified. Budgeting for volunteer food, t-shirts and costs associated with running the program are also taken into consideration. Recruitment itself is an art. After all of the volunteers are recruited, the race day co-ordination is a whole other ball game. In the grand timeline of volunteer coordinating, race day only occupies a small portion in the big picture.There is proverb that says: “For 10 minutes on stage, it takes 10 years of preparation off stage”. We want to create the best experience for the volunteers, to give them valuable skills and a well-rounded experience.  So, you may ask, is volunteering worth it?

YES! Not only does supporting an event such as Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon benefit countless people and causes in need across hundreds of charities, it also brings people together and create smiles! So, if you are a runner reading this, be sure to give a volunteer a high-five or a hug when you are out running the 2016 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon, or any other race.  If you are a volunteer, chat up your fellow volunteers, and who knows, you may find yourself a new best friend!

Register to run the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon with Mike on Sunday June 26th.Sign up here.

Kip Kangogo Chasing Fifth Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon Victory

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
June 16th, 2016 – By Paul Gains.

Kip Kangogo returns to the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Kip KangogoMarathon June 26th in search of his fifth victory in this acclaimed road race.

The Kenyan born resident of Lethbridge, Alberta gained his Canadian citizenship in 2014 and has been a constant in this Canada Running Series race, winning on his debut in 2009 and repeating in 2010 and 2011. After second place to Olympian Reid Coolsaet in 2012 he won for the fourth time in 2013.

Kangogo, a proud Canadian, went on to represent Canada at last summer’s Pan Am Games. When he toes the Vancouver starting line it will be with mixed emotions.

Last month he failed in his bid to meet the Canadian Olympic qualifying standard (2:12:50) at the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon. The warm, muggy conditions also ended any hope of beating his personal best of 2:15:26 which he ran at the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. That PB came just three months after the Pan Am Games marathon. But the thought of another victory in Vancouver slightly tempers that.

“I think I will be just trying to go for the win,” he reveals. “I don’t know who is in the race. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon is a good venue for me. I have won it all those times. I think I have run it six times and I have won four. I lost to (2012 Olympians) Reid (Coosaet) and to Dylan Wykes in the other two years.

“When my daughter Emma was born I won this race in 2013 just for her. She was born June 2nd so I said I was going to run a race for her, just to welcome her. I won the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon for her.”

On May 1st of this year, Kangogo became a proud father a second time when his son Roy Bii Kangogo came into the world.

The picturesque course starts on the grounds of the University of British Columbia and traces the Pacific Ocean shoreline to Stanley Park. Having run here so many times, Kangogo is comfortable with choosing the correct tactics to win.

In 2011, he ran 1:03:22 coming near the race record of 1:03:10 which has been held by Kenya’s Patrick Nthwia since 2007. A fifth victory would have additional significance therefore, and he has joked with race director, Clif Cunningham, that if he gave out rings for each title he could possibly fill the fingers on one hand.

“It is a good course because it has everything. It has flats, downhill, uphills, all the challenges that runners face,” he explains. “I know the course really well. I know where there is a hill and I know how to run it.”

The only uncertainty is his level of fitness. For half the Ottawa marathon he was on Olympic qualifying pace but then the heat started affecting him. Despite the conditions, he refused to quit, which would have afforded him the opportunity to save himself for another marathon. Instead he moderated his goal. The Vancouver race will be only four weeks after the marathon.

“I think (my recovery from the Ottawa marathon) was very good,” he reveals. “I took a week off then got back into running. It wasn’t bad. The weather wasn’t the best for running faster so I did the best I could with the weather. I just kept taking fluids and tried to pace myself.

“There was no point to save it. I knew it was the last chance to run the Olympic standard. In one way or another you are going to get it or not. My pacer was on pace until 11km when he dropped out, but we were still on pace. Then I went with one guy from Sudan. By 23km I knew it wasn’t going to happen. I said ‘You know what? The next option is to run just to finish it.’ That was the next reward for me. I knew the standard was gone but after that maybe I can reward myself by just crossing the line with a smile.”

At the age of 36 – he celebrates his 37th birthday on July 20 – Kangogo knows his best days are likely behind him and retirement is on the horizon. Still he is enjoying his running.

“I think I am going to sit down with my wife,” he says of his running future. “My wife is still going to school and I think we will discuss that plan and see what we are going to do going forward. I am still running now. She is still going to school. We will discuss that in the near future.”

The elite field in Vancouver also includes Kenya’s Dancan Kasia, best known for his pacemaking duties at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon as well as Canadian international Rob Watson. The latter had also attempted the Olympic standard earlier this spring at the London Marathon. He finished in 2:18:45 and will be looking to put a spark back into his racing form. View Canada Running Series’ Race Director, Alan Brookes’ interview with Rob Watson after the London Marathon earlier this year: http://runcrs.co/1sGU8yo

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For More Information and to register:

http://www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm/

Meet the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Pacer Team: Christy Baker.

By | Digital Champions, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

By Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon Pacer, Christy Baker.

VANCOUVER June 6th 2016. My first half-marathon was the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon in 2003. I had just moved to Vancouver and running was my way to get to know the city and meet new friends. Fast forward to 2016 and I have done this race 5 times and a total of 15 half-marathons, one full marathon and numerous trail races including Seek the Peak! I am happily married with two kids and life is busy, but running not only keeps me fit and healthy, it is my social outing with friends or my husband, hitting our local trails minutes away from my front door.

I know we all lead busy lives and there is a fine line between balance and chaos. I try to keep this balance by running early in the morning, on the weekend, during my work day or after my kids go to bed. I find half-marathon training works with my family life and it is not so demanding that it takes away from every day life and fitness activities.

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Training for the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon this year, I have recruited some friends to run the distance with me as I will be the 2-hour Pace Bunny. This will help me practice staying on a consistent pace because I am usually a fast starter and then need to dig deep the last few kilometers to finish! My half-marathon times have improved over the last three years and I am happy with my consistently finishing between 1:45 -1:48. I am looking forward to leading the 2-hour pace group and encouraging others to get a personal best or just finish their first half-marathon. I look forward to seeing you at the start line on Sunday June 26th and if you see me, please say hi! I love to chat when I run so let’s make this an awesome half-marathon!

Register to run the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon with Christy on Sunday June 26th. Sign up here.

 

Mehrnoush’s Challenge

By | Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
May 23, 2016 – Vancouver, BC

“I had never met anyone with cerebral palsy, so when I came here [I was] so surprised, many people [are] like me,” Mehrnoush Izadi admitted over coffee at a café in the United Kingdom building, where the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC’s office is currently situated. Born in Dubai, Mehrnoush immigrated to Canada in 2011 with one of her brothers. It was very hard for Mehrnoush to adjust to her new life in Canada as “everything was so new.” After two years of living with her brother in a basement suite, her parents joined her in 2013. She eventually became accustomed to aspects of Canadian culture, including seeing other people with disabilities in the Lower Mainland, an emphasis on leaving the family home after the age of 18, and the number of dogs and dog parks – this is especially delightful since her family has adopted a dog named Felix.

One day last year Mehrnoush happened to come across website for the Cerebral Palsy Association online when she was searching for volunteering opportunities. She wrote down the address and visited the downtown office. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that Feri, the Association’s executive director, also spoke Farsi. Not only could Mehrnoush comfortably speak with Feri but Feri could also answer Mehrnoush’s parents’ questions and concerns.

Mehrnoush began helping Feri with mailing, accounting, deposits, and petty cash reconciliation. In the fall of 2014, she started the Accounting program at Douglas College. The financial burden of studying was offset by a $500 Tanabe bursary, one of the numerous bursaries the Cerebral Palsy Association makes available to its members over the years. Mehrnoush has become a well-rounded member of the association has participated in the yoga, dance, and the Association’s first ever pre-employment program in addition to volunteering her time to help support a Meat draw fundraiser in Chilliwack, the CPABC’s annual Gala, a Community Connections event on the North Shore, and the Healthy Eating-Healthy Life program, a monthly community kitchen event.

This past year has been an important year for Mehrnoush. The bursary funds and her academic pursuits have helped those around her see what she is capable of. She hopes to develop her accounting skill set more, frequenting the office 3 days a week instead of 1 day a week in the future. Her involvement at the Cerebral Palsy Association has helped her reach and realize both her personal and professional goals.

Last year Mehrnoush raised over $300 and walked the 5km route on behalf of the Cerebral Palsy Association for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. The 2014 challenge was a first for both the CPABC and Mehrnoush – it was the first year the CPABC took part in the event, where all funds raised go directly back to participating charities – and it was the first major mixed abilities fundraiser Mehrnoush and her family had seen. Her family was amazed by the diverse participants and the scale of the event. She is so excited to be a part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge for a second year in a row. This year, Mehrnoush and her family plan on walking together, “although I think my dad would win if he tried,” she jokes.

Learn more about the Cerebral Palsy Association and the Scotiabank Charity Challenge!

Rob Watson on the #ScotiaHalf Course

By | Elite Athletes, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
May 23, 2016 – by Rob Watson

Elite athlete Rob Watson has raced the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon a number of times and has trained on every square inch of the course countless times, so we asked him for a play-by-play of the race course and tips for Race Day.

Vancouver has some truly wonderful races, but if you ask me, I’d say that the Scotiabank Half-Marathon is the best one going. Why would I say that? Well for many reasons, but for today I am going to focus on just one very specific, very awesome reason; the course. This race has the most spectacular course around. It offers up a beautiful tour of our incredible city. From UBC, all the way to Stanley Park, this course showcases many of the best parts of Vancouver. If you are properly trained and ready for the intricacies of the course it can be very fast. I’ll take you through the race and give you a few tips on how to make sure you are ready to roll come June 26th.

Ok, let’s get started. Firstly, when the gun sounds, get going! The first couple km are quick fast – take advantage. Obviously you don’t want to go off sprinting like a crazy person, that’d be unwise, but don’t be afraid to let the legs stretch out a bit. If you are 5-10sec faster than goal pace do not stress, that’s just how the first few km’s rolls.

Settle in and try to find your rhythm during the rest of your time up at UBC, there are some gradual ups and downs, but nothing too gnarly. Settle in and relax.

Coming down off UBC we have ourselves a big ass downhill. This can be awesome, but it can also be tricky. Be careful here folks, running downhill is a great way to open up the stride and gain some time, but if you are overeager you risk putting junk in your legs. The pounding from that downhill mile can beat you up a bit. Two tips; 1) Practice running downhill. Get the body used to that pounding. 2) Come race day be patient and run light going down this hill. Let gravity do the work and save the legs for when you really need them (hint; we have a bridge to deal with at 18km).

So now you are at the bottom of the downhill. Hopefully you enjoyed the amazing views and the smooth ride on the way down. Now we are at Spanish banks and about 10km into the race. Use this time to settle back into rhythm. It will probably feel a bit funny at first as you change your stride back to a flat running gait. Don’t panic, the next 3km are pancake flat, plenty of time to get things sorted. You’ll be fine.

At 13km there is a little climb. Not gonna lie, it stings. The good news is that it is short-300m(ish), and when you get to the top there is a nice 1km downhill. That’s one of the good things about this course, after every uphill there is a nice downhill to recover on right afterwards.

At 15km you will roll past LuLu Chip’s place. Run strong and look pretty, the crowds are great here and you are making your way home. Enjoy the sights and sounds as you run past Kits beach and into the Kits Point area.

Alright then. Let’s talk about this bridge. At 18km you are going to come around a corner and encounter the Burrard Street Bridge. This is an iconic Vancouver structure that connects Kitsilano to Downtown. It is also an uphill, and it will be uncomfortable. Just get yourself to the top! Use the crowds, look at the mountains and think about all the training you have done to get to this point. Remember that it is all worth it. Once you crest this badboy it is all downhill to the finish.

After the bridge life is good. The crowds are rowdy, the course is downhill and you are so dang close to that finish. It is truly a wonderful feeling to run into Stanley Park to cross that finish line. Stanley Park is the jewel of Vancouver and boy does she look good after 21km of hard running. Cross the line, do a little dance and then drink a beer – you will have earned it.

Good luck folks.

Race Route

Want to join Rob on June 26? Sign up today at VancouverHalf.com and remember that prices go up on June 1st, so register today to save!

For more details on the course, check out the map, elevation profile, and course description.

On Being a Scotiabank Half Digital Champion

By | Digital Champions, Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
by Digital Champion Bradley Cuzen

When I did my very first Scotiabank race back in 2009, it was a 5K. It seems that the race wasn’t chip timed, so I have no idea how long it took me to finish. What I can remember – vaguely – is that it was a struggle. It was one of my first races ever. Fast forward to 2016, and I am proud and honoured to be a Scotiabank Half Digital Champion!

And what exactly is that, a Digital Champion? Well, we are a diverse bunch of runners – different ages, who run different speeds, at different stages in our running journey. But what we have in common is our love for the sport, and our enthusiasm for the Scotiabank Half and what it represents and means to us.

You can meet all of the Digital Champions – and Pacers – by dropping by the Canada Running Series West website here. Debra Kato and I especially look forward to representing this event with enthusiasm!

Charity Challenge

One of the things that makes the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K a truly special event is the emphasis on fundraising for charity. Every year there are a number of featured charities, plus a list of over 70 charitable partners to fundraise on behalf of. Fundraising can be as much or as little as you want, either as an individual or as part of a team. And while the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is an awesome component of the weekend, it’s not an obligation – but for me it holds great value.

I had intended to sign up for the Scotiabank Half in 2012 – and actually believed I had – but discovered just days before the race that I hadn’t registered. I took it as a sign and gave it a miss.

In 2013, I was on the ball early and signed up in January for the Canada Running Series Combo – the Vancouver Spring Run-Off 8K (now the Modo 8K), the Scotiabank Half, and the Eastside 10K. At that point, the thought of fundraising hadn’t yet entered my mind.

BC Cancer Foundation

Late in March of 2013, life threw us a curveball. My mom ended up in hospital with a number of medical issues, and we soon learned that she had cancer. It would turn out to be late stage pancreatic cancer, one of the cancers with the lowest survival rates. Because it often goes undetected until it has spread, it is largely incurable. This turned out to be the case for my mom. I headed back to Ontario to spend time with her and my dad, but two weeks later on April 19, she passed away quietly in hospice.

We spent the next couple of weeks putting affairs in order, planning the funeral, saying goodbye. And then it was back to the real world. I felt helpless, a bit lost, angry and exhausted. Then I decided that the only thing I could do was try and do something positive – and that where the Scotiabank Half came into play.

BC Cancer FoundationDeciding to fundraise on behalf of the BC Cancer Foundation, I wanted to honour my mom’s memory. I committed to raising money to fight cancer – and to help fund the research that is still desperately needed.

That commitment has continued – in 2014 and 2015 – and I’m doing it again this year. My goal is to raise $3,000 and bring my lifetime fundraising total to over $12,000. You can visit my fundraising page here:

http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/bjcjapan

So no matter what your motivation – to run your first half marathon, to join a team, to fundraise for a charity that is dear to your heart – the Scotiabank Half & 5K is a race worth running! Want to sign up? Visit the website here.

Mary Alice Cuzen 1934-2013

Meet the Digital Champions of #ScotiaHalf

By | Digital Champions, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments
by Digital Champion Debra Kato

This past weekend, was the BMO Vancouver Marathon. The Canada Running Series West had a booth at the expo, promoting The Scotia Half Marathon and 5K and their other remaining race for 2016, The East Side 10K.

On the first day of the expo, I saw Race Director, Clif at the Canada Running Series booth! In addition to seeing him at the races, race social evening runs, I’ve also volunteered for him at the races.

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I had the opportunity to volunteer at the booth on Friday with Race Western Operations Director, Tom, too!

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It was fun to promote this running series to the other runners going through the expo! I saw an old co-worker I hadn’t seen in over 20 years and a lot of other runner friends! Most of them plan to do the two races!

I met a couple of pacers in the Asics Pacer Team!

This is David Tam, who is the 2:15 pacer. He came by the booth today. This is from the Scotia Half website:

David is a photographer, an educator, and a father of two young kids. Running has always been part of his life from competing in track & field and soccer. He started running longer distances when he became a father and as a way to stay in shape. Now, he runs just for the pure joy of running, so if you join his group, plan to have a fun day! Slower the pace, the better the conversations.

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This is Mike Hsiao, who is a BMO Marathon Ambassador! He is the 1:45 pacer for the Scotia Half! He and I both ran the full marathon together this weekend, though he finished with a much, much faster time!

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He is also the founder and president of an 80 plus volunteer group, Race Force, who volunteer at different running events in our city! They really support the running community well!

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The Canada Running Series West races also attracts volunteers. These two BMO race volunteers are already signed up to volunteer at the Scotia Half!

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Here is my fellow digital champion, Bradley Cuzen! He is an accomplished runner who blogs, tweets and does other social media about his sport! We met through social media and have since participated in many road and trail races together and even ran a snow shoe race on Grouse Grind!

The #Scotia Half has been a race dear to his heart and he has raised thousands for his charity, the BC Cancer Foundation, in his Mom’s memory.

Connect with Bradley:

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We have both been big supporters of the Canada Running Series West races! We have both raced the #Modo8K, #EastSide10K and #ScotiaHalf before. We’re both wearing last year’s #ScotiaHalf and #Eastside10K shirts!

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It was nice to be both chosen to be the Scotia Half Digital Champions this year! We always have fun!

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Take a look at these past race medals and cool shirts! Had a great time promoting these two races today!

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Hope you sign up! Just 54 days to go to the June 26th event!