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Santa Shuffle aims to bring cheer to Abbotsford, help less fortunate

A preview of upcoming races, including the Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race, Forerunners' Ugly Sweater 5K, Big Elf Run, Steveston Icebreaker 8K and West Van Run's 2018 March weekend, plus special shout-outs to RunVan, Jared and Andrea Hulme, the Lions Gate Road Runners and Abbotsford Police Department.

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Long before #abbystrong and #abbypdstrong became heart-rending hashtags, good old Abbotsford was simply known as Canada’s most charitable community.

Blogger Gord Kurenoff, Wendy Jordan-Olive and race director Marie Lashley ham it up for photographers two years ago at the popular Santa Shuffle in Abbotsford.
Blogger Gord Kurenoff, Wendy Jordan-Olive and race director Marie Lashley ham it up for photographers two years ago at the popular Santa Shuffle in Abbotsford.

And it isn’t a “gimmick” — Statistics Canada confirms the caring Fraser Valley community remains second to none for stepping up for those in need.

To be perfectly honest here, this was going to be The Year when I laced up for the Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross-Country Race at Jericho Sailing Centre, but that all changed when Const. John Davidson was shot and killed earlier this month by a suspected car thief.

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Instead, I’ll be running this Saturday in the Santa Shuffle and Elf Walk at Abbotsford’s Ellwood Park, an annual event that supports the Salvation Army.

Two years ago Const. Ian MacDonald of APD gave up his valuable spare time to help me promote Abbotsford’s Santa Shuffle, and he even made me his “deputy for a day” as I wore a crazy Care Bear outfit to spread the important message of care and compassion for the less fortunate.

It was during that fun visit to APD headquarters when I was reminded just how much time police officers in that community — my former home — unselfishly deal with the street people and those who struggle to survive in this world for a variety of reasons.

APD Const. Ian MacDonald was kind enough to help promote the 2016 Santa Shuffle. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
APD Const. Ian MacDonald was kind enough to help promote the 2016 Santa Shuffle. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

(I repaid Const. MacDonald by letting him blow my socks off in June’s Abbotsford Police 5K Challenge Run!)

The Salvation Army in Abbotsford last year served nearly 159,000 nutritional meals, provided close to 1,200 Angel tree gifts for children, gave away more than 560 emergency food hampers to families, sent 49 kids to Camp Sunrise and Supported 20 Schools through the Pantry34 Program. They did a lot more, but you get the idea.

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Taking part in a 5K run or walk is the least we can do to help keep this goodwill going and bring some needed cheer to Abbotsford.

The awesome Marie Lashley is back as race director — she helped Santa do some planking exercises two years ago, while I played photographer to escape that torture! And my classy friends Wendy Jordan-Olive and Julie Barr of Abbotsford Running Room are also helping to make sure the fun event runs smoothly.

The actual run/walk starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, but be there early as there’s a warm-up with Santa at 9:45 a.m. and some pre-race photo opportunities.

For more info, or to register, click HERE. See you there!

Vancouver runner and blogger Bradley Cuzen navigates the wet and wild Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race course. The 34th Gunner Shaw is set for this Saturday morning.
Vancouver runner and blogger Bradley Cuzen navigates the wet and wild Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race course. The 34th Gunner Shaw is set for this Saturday morning.

Gunner Shaw loaded with fun

The 34th edition of the Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race also goes this Saturday.

The 11 a.m. race, hosted by the venerable Lions Gate Road Runners Club, is known for its wild and challenging course, and its post-race food.

The new medal for the James Cunningham Seawall Race, designed by artist Margaret Briere Skwetu is almost finished.
The new medal for the James Cunningham Seawall Race, designed by artist Margaret Briere Skwetu is almost finished.

The course features grass, trails, hills, sand and beach. If it rains, add mud and wind to that list!

The final race in the B.C. Athletics Lower Mainland Cross Country Series, which stars and finishes at Jericho Sailing Centre, always attracts some of the best runners in the province. Seniors run two laps of the 5K course, while juniors do one lap.

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For more info and to sign up, click HERE.

And speaking of the Lions Gate Road Runners, they deserve huge props for making a costly, but brilliant decision during their popular James Cunningham Seawall Race last month.

Initially the race was going to serve up a beautiful medal inspired by native art, but not done by a local artist.

LGRR president Frank Stebner and vice-president Margaret Buttner, fielding negative feedback, decided to replace the original medal with a new one done by talented artist Margaret Briere Skwetu.

The cool medal will be completed soon. More than 1,000 runners took part in the wet day of racing at Stanley Park, but that medal will sure look good in all of their homes this Christmas.

Baxter Bayer (a.k.a. Elf Fizzyboots) helps the Wee Elf Run participants loosen up before tackling the fun Stanley Park course. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Baxter Bayer (a.k.a. Elf Fizzyboots) helps the Wee Elf Run participants loosen up before tackling the fun Stanley Park course. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

It’s really fun being green

The third annual Big Elf Run and Wee Elf Run is ready to roll on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Stanley Park.

There are 10K, 5K and 1K events at this afternoon event, which features plenty of green and wild costumes.

There will be prizes for the “best elfie” at the Big Elf Run next month, so bring your camera. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
There will be prizes for the “best elfie” at the Big Elf Run next month, so bring your camera. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

Baxter Bayer and his Running Tours Inc. wingman/elf Scott Williams put on a superb family event that gets you in the festive spirit faster than you can say “Baxter, what the heck are you wearing now?”

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The Big Elf Run, which made AMEX’s top 14 “seasonal events with a twist” list, helps raise money for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.

Participants receive an elf toque, personalized elf bib, Christmas woolly, snacks and hot beverages. And there is a Winter Wonderland for the kids.

There’s also a photo prize for “best elfie” and other prestigious honours such as fastest runner, best costume and smartest blogger, an award I never win at Bayer’s events even if yours truly is the only entrant!

The Wee Elf 1K goes at 1 p.m., followed by the 5K and 10K at 2 p.m.

For more info and to enter, click HERE.

Have an ugly or fun Christmas sweater? Wear it and take part in the Forerunners’ Ugly Sweater 5K Fun Run and help raise some funds and food for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank at the same time. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
Have an ugly or fun Christmas sweater? Wear it and take part in the Forerunners’ Ugly Sweater 5K Fun Run and help raise some funds and food for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank at the same time. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

The uglier the better sweater run

Grab your ugly sweaters and take part in the Forerunners’ 5K Run on Sunday, Dec. 10.

The Forerunners Ugly Sweater 5K Fun Run, which will raise funds for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, starts at 10 a.m. at the Vancouver store’s 4th Avenue location.

It only costs $5 to take part in the social run, and there will be hot chocolate, candy canes and door prizes after. And there will be prizes for best Christmas sweaters.

Participants are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the event, which starts at 3502 West 4th Ave.

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For more info or to enter, click HERE.

Icebreaker race director Jared Hulme was all smiles when he won a bag a Subway chocolate chip cookies at the Oasis Shaughnessy 8K in May. He’ll be back as race director and new husband for the Steveston race in 2018. (Gord Kurenoff photo).
Icebreaker race director Jared Hulme was all smiles when he won a bag a Subway chocolate chip cookies at the Oasis Shaughnessy 8K in May. He’ll be back as race director and new husband for the Steveston race in 2018. (Gord Kurenoff photo).

Honeymoon before the Icebreaker

An excited Jared Hulme, ready to tour Indonesia and Thailand in December with new bride (and avid runner) Andrea Chen, is pretty stoked about the 2018 Steveston Icebreaker 8K.

Hulme, who got married in July at Britannia Shipyards, lured me to last year’s 8K Icebreaker with promises of hot pizza. And the affable race director delivered, so to speak.

Jared Hulme promised hot pizza to finishers at the 2017 Icebreaker 8K and he delivered. Friends for life! (Margaret Buttner photo)
Jared Hulme promised hot pizza to finishers at the 2017 Icebreaker 8K and he delivered. Friends for life! (Margaret Buttner photo)

Once his honeymoon adventure is over, Hulme will be focusing on the Sunday, Jan. 21 race, which will be recognized in the new year as a provincial championship race. It’s also the first leg of the popular Lifestages Lower Mainland Road Race Series, and now a key part of the B.C. Super Series.

“There’s lot of great stuff coming to this race,” beamed Hulme, pointing to elite runners, new sponsors, an expo, new starting time (9 a.m.) — and more pizza, soup and coffee!

The flat, scenic course through Steveston Village and along the dykes is pretty neat and it’s a nice way to get your 2018 running/racing resolutions off to a promising start.

There will be pre- and post-event functions in Steveston Community Centre. The event raises funds for the reputable Kajaks Track and Field Club.

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For more info and to register, click HERE. And good luck to the great couple in the weeks and years ahead!

The BMO Vancouver Marathon is one of three popular RunVan events held annually, the other two being the Granville Island Turkey Trot and Fall Classic at UBC. (Gord Kurenoff photo)
The BMO Vancouver Marathon is one of three popular RunVan events held annually, the other two being the Granville Island Turkey Trot and Fall Classic at UBC. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

RunVan marks third anniversary

Speaking of congrats, RunVan celebrated its third anniversary this month.

The Vancouver International Marathon Society folks, who bring you the awesome BMO Vancouver Marathon, Granville Island Turkey Trot and the just completed Fall Classic at UBC, are class-act people who really bring fun and quality to the race game in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.

Lara Penno and Steve Kojima, who keep me informed and running every season, are classic examples of great people paying it forward. Their society is full of these types of members.

And I’m pretty thrilled to have one of their hat trick shirts hanging in my man cave, right next to the Believe It Or Not certificate for running all three RunVan races in the same calendar year.

The West Van Run 5K last March was a “learning experience” for Ninja Gord, and he looks forward to running faster and easier at the 2018 event March 3 and 4. (West Van Run photo)
The West Van Run 5K last March was a “learning experience” for Ninja Gord, and he looks forward to running faster and easier at the 2018 event March 3 and 4. (West Van Run photo)

Cowabunga, nice medals and shirts

Of all the silly things I’ve done over the years, one of the best was wearing a one-piece Ninja Turtle outfit to last year’s West Van Run 5K race in early March.

One of the best things I learned last year, during the same race, was to make sure future purchases of super hero costumes had zippers for bathroom visits!

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After almost suffering a tsunami of pre-race beverages in my non-zippered costume (smile), before being saved by two kind ladies at the Silk Purse Art Gallery who let me use their private washroom at the 3.5K mark, I finished the Saturday 5K about 10 minutes slower than usual. Dressed as a turtle, no one really expected much anyway!

Not sure what the crazy theme will be for this year’s race weekend — set for March 3 and 4 — but we got a peek at the finisher’s medals and souvenir shirts this month and they are both super sweet.

And for the first time, I’m planning to do both the 5K on Saturday and 10K on Sunday. There is also a kids’ run both days.

For more info and to enter this should-not-miss-event, click HERE.

Gotta run …

gkurenoff@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/ohgord

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