Update: Teferi Kebede Balcha, an Ethiopian immigrant who works as a janitor during the day and trains at night, won the men's title in the 2022 Times Colonist 10K on Sunday, while Jen Millar took the women's title. Read our full story on the race here.
The rubber hits the road on Sunday — running shoe rubber, that is.
The TC 10K road race returns to Victoria after a two-year hiatus and thousands of runners are raring to go.
COVID-19 lockdowns cancelled the 2020 race and last year participants ran their own 10K routes and recorded their times.
The sea of humanity — although smaller than the usual 9,000 runners — will return to the starting line at the B.C. legislature Sunday at 8 a.m., and it’s looking like Mother Nature will provide for ideal running conditions with cloudy skies and temperatures of about 12 C.
Mark deFrias, a race organizer, said Friday a combined 6,000 participants are expected for the 10K and 1.5K family run. A virtual race is also being held.
He said registrations levelled off soon after the Omicron variant started spreading this year.
“There’s a little COVID hangover and some anxiety around the sixth wave,” said deFrias.
But the charitable aspect of the TC 10K is on par with past pre-COVID events.
Despite the slip in registrations, runners have already donated $40,000 with those funds passed on to the B.C. Cancer Foundation, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Help Fill a Dream, Easter Seals, Victoria Hospital Foundation, Every Step Counts and the Times Colonist Literacy Fund.
“It pretty amazing and a real testament to the generosity of Victorians,” said de Frias.
The non-profit RunSport Victoria Society, which operates the TC 10K, also provides funds for other entities holding healthy-pursuit events in the region. The race started in 1990 as the Garden City 10K, and re-branded to the TC10K in 2001 after the Times Colonist became the title sponsor.
There will be minor changes to the route this year, specifically the use of Cook Street, instead of Vancouver Street, and changes downtown to avoid newer construction, said organizers.
The route — closed to vehicle traffic and with no parking — will head north on Government/Wharf to Yates, east on Yates, south on Cook, east on Richardson, south on Moss, east on May, south on Memorial to Dallas Road, then along Dallas to Erie, finishing back in front of the legislature.
Victoria police will be on hand to guide traffic as all intersections along the run route will be closed to vehicles.
No on-street parking will be allowed along the route starting early Sunday morning; vehicles on the route will be removed.
The Thrifty Foods Family Fun Run starts at 11 a.m. on a route around the legislature.
Participants can pick up their race packages at Uptown shopping centre across from Starbucks today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday at the legislature lawn, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Bike valet services will be available on-site at the legislature grounds from 6:30 a.m. to noon on race day, courtesy of Capital Bike. No donation is required.
Victoria police will deploy temporary surveillance cameras in support of its traffic operations to ensure public safety during the event.
The road closures for today and Sunday:
• Belleville Street, between Menzies Street and Government Street, will be closed from 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
• Belleville Street, between Oswego Street and Menzies Street, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
• Menzies Street, between Quebec Street and Belleville Street, will be closed from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
• Government Street, between Belleville Street and Superior Street, will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sunday.
