The Movember Run, 2013

So last year my friend Mike Milloy and I put on a charity run to raise funds for the Movember Charity and did very well. This year we couldn't pass up the opportunity to do it all over again. This also lets me help the running community by taking my turn behind the mantel of Race Director and do all the organization type stuff, rather than just show up and run.

A race can be as complicated as you want and we want this one to be really uncomplicated. We choose a well known running route in our local park that is about 6K in length, we keep the cost as low as possible for the runners (while still raising a good amount for charity), and we aim to let everyone have a good time. And as Movember has a fitness theme to it this season, we aim to be as inclusive as possible because we want people getting out and moving.

For the second year in a row we had an outpouring of support from the local business community in the form of food, beverages, prizes, and the ever important tent! We also had a local radio station show up to send the runners off in style, thanks Live 105.

  Thanks to Luke MacDonald and Aerobics First for great prizes and the use of this very nice tent!

The set up and race start got going quickly, and the weather cooperated (yeah it was chilly but it wasn't raining). Mike gave the obligatory speech, the volunteers were in place around the course, the timing device was set, and the runners were sent off.

The race goes through the outer perimeter of the park, up a few steep hilly and turns around at a water table, then back along the same path. Last year we had the fastest runner finish in about 22 minutes, so we assumed it would be a similar time this year. And about 21:30ish or so later we had a winner.

  Then a couple of minutes later our female winner.

We also had some great costumed runners.

A huge mention to our great father daughter team, returning for another year and an even faster run and second place overall.

I must say all the runners, 77 in all (and 86 registered) did a great job and as was the case last year we got it all done in under an hour. Then it was on to the treats with coffee donated by Java Blend, yum, and a great sheet cake from Superstore that was as good to look at as eat.

And a race goes as well as the volunteers that help out. this year we had more than last and that certainly  makes the job easier for the director. Thanks so much guys and gals.

Overall what a great time. So many prizes, some personal best run times, and we raised $2050 for Movember. That is up from last years $1800, so way to go!

A shout out to our sponsors, Sportwheels, Aerobics First, Muphy's The Cable Wharf, Saint Lou's Barbershop, Kinesic Sports Lab, Massage Experts, Kartbahn, Run Nova Scotia, Active Approach Health and Wellness Centre,  Moksha Yoga, Java Blend Coffee Roasters, and Movember Canada.

Awesome stuff Mike.