Last-minute signup excuses for Texada Island’s Run the Rock have covered the gamut over the six years the annual race has been held.
According to race director Rob McWilliam, runners have used everything except “my dog ate my homework” to gain entry into the event after the registration deadline has passed.
“Registration doesn’t close until midnight on August 24 for the full and half marathons,” said McWilliam. “We usually get a flurry of last-minute registrations from local runners.”
This year’s race will be held Sunday, August 28. According to McWilliam, a number of runners are from outside of the region, but he would like to see more locals.
“There’s lots of good distance runners in Powell River but, unfortunately, we don’t seem to see a lot of them coming,” he said. “I’ll see more of them in Vancouver than here.”
Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island will be represented with participants. Three runners from England and two from Belgium will also take part. In addition to full and half marathons, an eight-kilometre race is also scheduled.
“Those who miss the deadline are usually the ones who say, ‘I didn’t know the deadline was so early,’ and ‘I’ve run a number of marathons and would be an asset to your event,’” said McWilliam.
The real beneficiary for the race is the small Texada community. Run the Rock raises cancer-support funds for those among the approximately 1,000 residents who need it. The race has raised more than $500 each year.
“If we’re lucky we’ll have up to 100 runners,” said McWilliam. “It’s a fairly small event that fits into the character of the island. People enjoy coming over and find it very friendly because it’s quite personal.”
Small, personal and tough. With its location on Texada, known as “the rock” by locals, the race’s name is intended to play on the fact that rock-hard mental and physical toughness is required to complete the run. Race organizers push that image with the branding slogan: “Are you tough enough?”
McWilliam said Comox’s Janet Green, who has come every year and has won the most marathons of any Canadian woman can vouch for the event’s toughness.
“She describes it as the toughest road marathon in Canada,” said McWilliam. “We’re kind of proud of that. We figure if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it in style.”
Green walked the half marathon in 2013 due to injury, but has run the full marathon every other year.
“It’s tough because you go up a thousand feet from sea level and it’s on logging roads and sometimes it’s hot,” said Green.
According to McWilliam, the eight-kilometre race was added to allow for more community participation. The shorter distance enables walkers, parents pushing strollers and children on their bikes to have a great time as well.
McWilliam said the half marathon is a more pleasant run than others he has done and the eight kilometre is just for fun.
For more information or to register, go to runtexada.ca.
