Kamloops Marathon Draws Runners From Canada, US and Beyond

Ryan Day Competing in the 2011 Marathon in Victoria, B.C., Canada

When the starter’s pistol fires on MacArthur Island at race time on July 29, there will be some experienced marathoners pacing the pack in the 2012 Kamloops Marathon.

Among them will be B.C. competitive runner Ryan Day. Over the last two years, Day has finished among the top five in marathon races in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. In San Francisco’s 50-mile North Face Endurance Challenge, Day came 14th with a time of 7:04:01.
In the 2005 Ottawa marathon, Day clocked 2:19:55—the third best Canadian time in the race. His personal best in a half-marathon was in Gibson’s, on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, at the B.C. April Fools Run with a race-winning time of 1:06:23.

Ryan Day is an economist and youth worker in the Secwecpemc-ken ri7, St’uxwtews communities in the Cache Creek area of the B.C. Interior. “Long distance running was traditionally the way our messengers linked our communities. It’s in our blood,” says Day. 

Day writes a regular blog dealing with everything from the philosophy of running to nutrition and training. On Saturday, July 29th, at 11:30 AM, at the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) Day will speak at the Running Expo, sponsored by the Running Room, about his approach to marathoning. 

Entries for the 5 km and 10 km are lower than expected at the moment and more runners are wanted. Response to the half and full marathon races has been excellent with entries from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, Vancouver and French Guyana all coming to Kamloops to race. 

Adam Van der Beke, from Kourou, French Guyana, who ran the Monte Carlo Marathon in 2009, says he likes marathoning because it “keeps you in shape and keeps you focused on staying fit.”

The 2012 Kamloops Marathon is a two-day event with four race categories. Two short races, the 5 km and the 10 km, will be held on Saturday, July 28 starting at 8am. The half-marathon (21.1 km) and the full marathon (41.2 km) races each have cash prices totalling $1,000. The races start at 6am on Sunday, July 29.

Thompson Rivers University is one of the sponsors of the Kamloops Marathon, and net proceeds from the Marathon will support student athletes on TRU’s cross-country running team. Many members of TRU’s staff, students, and faculty are race entrants and volunteers.

Contact:
Christopher Seguin
Vice-President of Advancement
Thompson Rivers University
E: CSeguin@tru.ca
C: 250-574-0474