Get your running shoes on for Squamish’s latest community event—or walking shoes if you’d prefer.
Global not-for-profit Parkrun, is a volunteer-led charity that runs 2k and 5k running events for those who want to optimize their fitness, and to socialize, entirely at their own pace.
The charitable event began in the U.K. back in 2004, and has been established in Canada since 2016. Only this weekend is it coming to Squamish, specifically to the Mamquam Spawning Trail, which runs adjacent to the Squamish Valley Golf Club.
Ben Sales and Ceri Lewis are the event directors who brought about Parkrun’s launch in Squamish. The Squamish Chief spoke with Sales and Lewis about their process; they are originally from the U.K., but have lived in Canada for the last four years.
“It's actually been quite a long time in the making, I think maybe over a year. We proposed Parkrun in a few different locations, but Parkrun’s regulations are quite strict on safety, so you can't have anything that crosses a road, even driveways. Where we have it now on the Mamquam Spawning Trail is actually perfect, because it's almost exactly 5k with the two loops and the flight trail at the start,” Sales said.
Sales confirmed that the Mamquam Spawning Trail will be a fixed route for the foreseeable future. He said a small trial run was held there on Saturday, July 5, to test out the registration and barcode result system, as well as the circuit/ route, noting that there will be arrows and marshals stationed this Saturday to help participants navigate the route, which is planned to always remain 5k.
“People are encouraged to walk at their own pace, or run fast if they want, [or bring their] buggies and dogs. We are asking people to keep their dogs on a short leash, especially this week with the bear that's been in the area,” he added.
Regarding the reasoning for launching Parkrun specifically in Squamish, Sales shared his and Lewis’ sentiments.
“People were aware of [Parkrun] when we got here, but we decided it could be a really awesome thing to have in Squamish, which has very, very hardcore [sports] activities. It's possibly missing an easier community activity,” he said.
“It does feel unique, because it's less about racing and it's time; it's [about] just being there, walking and volunteering, and cheering, of course,” Lewis added.
“There are different levels of how seriously people take it. You get given a position, an age grade, and a gender grade as well. So people take those kinds of things seriously, like where you are within your age range. It's really people just trying to improve their personal best and their general fitness,” Sales said.
Join in or volunteer
Sales and Lewis expressed how community volunteers will be brought together, not just from Squamish, and also not just as participants. He said Lewis and he are currently drawing volunteers from the Parkrun in Ambleside in West Vancouver, and are hoping to encourage more seniors, in particular, to volunteer or to walk as a group. He said Lewis and he have approached those (over 55) at The 55 Activity Centre for discussion, who are “super keen.”
“Ambleside [volunteers] have been super helping us to be up and running. There's a group of maybe 10 coming up from Ambleside [on Saturday],” he said.
“There's a big thing around attending the first inaugural Parkrun, so I would expect to see some people from further afield, and I think weekly as well, [such as] the climbing community.”
Lewis noted that there will “always be a coffee element at the end” as a “big part of it.” Participants will be encouraged afterwards to get coffee together, somewhere locally, to support local businesses.
Lewis and Sales said they will initially volunteer for maybe the first two events, before running themselves, alongside the participants. They said they will also keep an eye out for donations of equipment they can use in the rainy months, such as a gazebo.
Parkrun in Squamish is also directed by Kathleen Grace and Melissa Whitley, who are past Parkrun participants. Their contacts, as well as further details about the event, can be seen on Facebook. Details can also be found on Instagram, along with a route map.
Parkrun takes donations on its website, where everyone of all ages can register for free, for future runs, and the inaugural Squamish event.
Parkrun in Squamish will take place on Saturday, July 19, at the Mamquam Spawning Trail at 9 a.m., and will continue weekly thereafter.
Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter.
This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.
