Race director's message

I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to all the walkers, runners, and volunteers at this year's Vancouver Front Runners Pride Run & Walk, especially since the event was held outside Pride week. This was our fifth annual run and our fifth time to donate proceeds to the Dr. Peter Centre.

The participants who run or walk the course are instrumental in making this event a success. Without you, there'd be no race! I hope you had a good time.

If it was your first race or first 10 km run, congratulations! I hope the experience has inspired you to come back next year and in the meantime to run harder, faster, and longer. Warm thanks to returning participants—especially if you brought friends along to help or run. Familiar faces are always good to see.

Finally, the volunteers deserve special thanks; we couldn't hold this event without you. Thank you for putting the word out, cajoling sponsors to donate prizes, setting up, registering participants, leading the famous warm up (matching tututs next year, I hear!), marking the course, preparing post-race victuals, singing patriotically, emceeing, marshalling, recording race times, and racing well. You made the 2009 Pride Run & Walk come together beautifully on the day.

See you next year!
Don Yapp