This year marks the 26th edition of the Times Colonist 10K — and Birgit Fuerst has been there every step of the way.
In 1990, the Port Alberni woman, a former Victoria resident, had just discovered running when she decided to follow her sister’s lead and sign up for her first event, the TC 10K. She enjoyed it so much, she has run every TC 10K since.
“I don’t know why,” said Fuerst, now 63. “Just every year, I signed up in January and started planning my strategy.”
Fuerst is one of a number of people who share the distinction of having participated in every TC 10K. That has brought her some media attention for her persistence over the years, but it’s participating that matters, said Fuerst, adding that she has always enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding the event.
“I love that it’s a fun run, so that people can walk it, they can jog, they can bring their babies.”
Fuerst said this year is special, since her three-month-old grandson will take part in a stroller, accompanied by her son and daughter-in-law. “I love that, that it’s so inclusive. It’s inclusive of everybody. Anybody can do it.”
She said her son joked that the only thing that would have kept her from witnessing the birth of her grandchild was a conflict with the TC 10K.
“I said, ‘You know what, you’re probably right,’ ” she said. “It’s only an hour and change, and then I’d get over to the hospital after.”
Fuerst doesn’t come close to her personal best of 54 minutes anymore, but that’s not an issue.
“I had knee surgery about seven or eight years ago,” she said. “I just run as far as I can and then I walk, but that works really well.”
Fuerst has gone on to run in many other events since her first TC 10K, including several marathons. Next up after this year’s TC run is a half marathon in Ucluelet, six weeks from now.
Also running in this year’s TC 10K is Brett Clarke, who will wear 50 pounds of firefighting gear during the race in an effort to raise money to buy equipment for the Willis Point fire department, for which he volunteers.
A recent story in the Times Colonist about Clarke’s plan generated a $1,000 donation from a Victoria man.
Frank Webb said he wanted to offer support in memory of his son, Steven, who was in his 20s when he died in a vehicle crash many years ago.
“Steven was someone he thought would do something crazy like this,” Clarke said.
“It’s another added piece of the story which is helping motivate me for Sunday,” he said after meeting with Webb to accept a cheque for the Willis Point Firefighters Association.
Clarke hopes to raise $7,500 to help purchase at least five lightweight air cylinders for his fire department. His plan has generated plenty of attention, he said.
As of Saturday night, Clarke’s online fundraising page showed that he had raised $5,025 toward his $7,500 goal.
“Even amongst members of my department, they’re pretty impressed and a bit worried for my sanity,” he said.
Since he will be hauling such a heavy load, he said he’s happy about today’s forecast for clouds and showers.
Today’s road closings
Today’s Times Colonist 10K and Thrifty Foods Family Fun Run start and end at Government and Belleville streets. The start/finish area will be closed 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 10K race begins at 8 a.m. (7:55 a.m. for competitive wheelchair athletes and those with visual impairments). The fun run starts at 11 a.m.
All intersections along the route will be closed. Roads inside the route will be open, but motorists should expect delays. All streets on the course will be closed as of 7:45 a.m. today.
Reopening times depend on the pace of the runners. Approximate times:
• Government at Humboldt — 8:36 a.m.
• Johnson/Douglas — 8:47 a.m.
• Johnson/Quadra — 8:55 a.m.
• Vancouver/Richardson — 9:06 a.m.
• Richardson/Moss — 9:14 a.m.
• Dallas/Memorial — 11:30 a.m.
• Dallas/Cook — 11:40 a.m.
• Dallas at Douglas — 11:50 a.m.
• Belleville/Oswego — noon
The Times Colonist Half Marathon starts at 9 a.m. today from the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium. The route joins the 10K route at Dallas Road and Memorial Crescent.
Road closings are estimated based on the expected pace of the rsunners:
• Centennial Stadium to Cedar Hill Cross — 8:50 to 9:20 a.m.
• Cedar Hill Cross — 8:55 to 9:30 a.m.
• Uplands — 9 to 9:45 a.m.
• Beach Drive: Midland to Rutland — 9:05 to 9:50 a.m.
• Beach Drive: Rutland to Windsor — 9:10 to 10:25 a.m.
• Beach Drive: Windsor to Victoria — 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.
• Victoria and Beach to Foul Bay and McNeil — 9:25 to 11 a.m.
• Foul Bay and Richardson to Fairfield and Irving — 9:30 to 11:10 a.m.
• Fairfield and Irving to Dallas and Memorial — 9:35 to 11:30 a.m.
