2012 PMC Science Fair Fun Run - Race Re-cap

The 13^th Annual PMC Science Fair Fun Run was a huge success and we want to thank everyone who came out and supported our fund raising event! Runners were met with cool, slightly breezy weather - ideal for running. The sun eventually showed itself from behind the clouds bringing a little more warmth during the awards ceremony.

The Athletes' Village is a perfect start/finish location with ample room for mingling, visiting the displays and relaxing before and after the run. There’s even a Terra Breads there now which we must admit, we indulged in both before (coffee and hot chocolate…) and after (blueberry bread…) the run.

616 runners participated with timing chips (many others ran and walked but chose not to be timed…) and from what we've heard through our Facebook page and other emails, many personal records were broken. The overall winner Philip Edgcumbe crossed the finish line with a gun time of 17:28, a fabulous 3:30 per kilometre pace. Two runners battled for second and third places with Bryan Andrews coming second in 18:03 and Richard Jang third in 18:14. The first woman across the finish line was Erin Barrett, 7^th place overall with a gun time of 18:50.

This year's first place corporate team was KPMG followed closely by second place PMC and third place Deloitte. In the school team category UBC Engineering Co-op blazed to a  first place finish, with UBC Science eCo-op second and Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair rounding out third.

There were many other outstanding performances in individual age groups and team categories and we congratulate you all! A complete list of overall, age group and team results can be found on the Race Headquarters website.

A race re-cap would not be complete without acknowledgement and thank you to our wonderful group of volunteers! Without your hard work, the race could not take place. Many comments were received about the inspiration provided by the White Spot Pipe Band near the halfway mark. The music was very uplifting at an important point in the race!

Photos from the run are up on our Facebook page - please have a look – and we encourage you to become Fans! We hope everyone had a wonderful time and once again, thank you to everyone who made this day a great success!

The PMC Science Fair Fun Run Team

May 2nd Fun Run Draw Winner!

We're happy to announce the winner of our May 2nd

prize draw through Facebook!!!

James Blake has won a $25 Running Room gift card!

plus Madden NFL 12 for Play Station 3!

There is one more prize package still to be won!

"Like" our Facebook page then enter your

name in the draw!

The remaining draw date is May 16th.

All you have to do is "Like" our Facebook page (or be an existing Fan) - then fill out the draw entry form. The entry form must be filled out or your name cannot be included in the draw. This applies to both new and current Fans.

Click here to enter your name in the draw!

Please note: The Contest is sponsored and run by the PMC Science Fair Fun Run. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

April 16th Fun Run Draw Winner!

We're happy to announce the winner of our April 16th

prize draw through Facebook!!!

Sarah Albrecht has won a $25 Running Room gift card!

plus FIFA Soccer 12 for X-Box 360!

There are still two more prize packages to be won!

"Like" our Facebook page then enter your

name in the draw!

Remaining draw dates are May 2nd and May 16th.

All you have to do is "Like" our Facebook page (or be an existing Fan) - then fill out the draw entry form. The entry form must be filled out or your name cannot be included in the draw. This applies to both new and current Fans.

Click here to enter your name in the draw!

Please note: The Contest is sponsored and run by the PMC Science Fair Fun Run. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

We're Giving Away some Free Swag!

You could win in our "Fun Run Draw"!

All you have to do is "Like" the PMC Science Fair Fun Run Facebook Fan Page (or be an existing Fan...) and you can enter to win one of three prize packages. Whether you are an existing Facebook Fan or just becoming one, to enter this draw, you must fill out and submit the form.

The three prize packages are:

1) Drawn on April 16, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus FIFA Soccer 12 for X-Box 360

2) Drawn on May 2, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus Madden NFL 12 for Play Station 3

3) Drawn on May 16, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus The Sims Medieval Limited Edition

See the "Enter Free Draw!" tab on our Facebook Page to enter and for complete contest rules.

Good luck in the draw!

Please note: The Contest is sponsored and run by the PMC Science Fair Fun Run. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Fun Run Draw Contest Rules

1. The PMC Science Fair Fun Run’s Fun Run Draw (the “Contest”) starts at 5:00 pm PDT on April 10, 2012 and continues until 11:59 pm PDT on May 15, 2012 (the “Contest Closing Date”).

2. The Contest is sponsored and run by the PMC Science Fair Fun Run. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to PMC Science Fair Fun Run and not to Facebook.

3. This Contest is open to individual residents of Canada who are of the age of majority in their province or territory of residence excluding residents of the Province of Quebec, and (a) employees of PMC Science Fair Fun Run and/or any other Contest sponsor and its/their parent and affiliated companies, representatives, dealers and agents, (b) Contest suppliers and judges and (c) those with whom any persons falling within categories (a) to (c) above are domiciled.

4. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations; and it is void where prohibited by law.

5. No purchase necessary.

6. HOW TO ENTER:

You must have Internet access, be a Fan of the PMC Science Fair Fun Run Facebook Fan Page, and have a valid email address in order to participate. You can enter the Contest through the Contest app on the PMC Science Fair Fun Run Fan Page on Facebook. To enter, go to www.facebook.com/sciencefairfunrun (the“Website”), click on the Contest tab, and if you are not already a Fan, click on the “Like” button. Fans will see an entry form. Fill out the form, read the contest rules and accept the terms and conditions, then submit your responses by clicking on the submit button. Upon successfully submitting an eligible Entry, you will be eligible to be entered into a random draw for a chance to win a prize, as described below. To be eligible for the draws (see Rule 7 below), your Entry must be received by no later than 11:59:59 pm (PDT) on the day immediately preceding the Draw Dates.

Only one Entry per person is allowed. All eligible Entries received, except previous winners, will be entered into all three (3) draws.

7. DRAWS: DETERMINATION OF WINNERS

Draw Dates:

On April 16, 2012, May 02, 2012, and May 16, 2012 (each a “Draw Date”) at or about 12:00pm (PDT), a random draw will be conducted to select one (1) eligible Entry from all eligible Entries received as a potential winning entry for the prize corresponding to the applicable Draw Date.

The Contest Sponsor (or its representatives) will make three (3) attempts to notify the selected entrant by contacting him/her via email within two (2) days of the respective Draw Date. If the selected entrant is not reached within three (3) attempts, then he or she shall be disqualified and forfeits the corresponding prize and another eligible entrant may, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Contest Sponsor, be randomly selected as the potential prize winning entrant, whom the Contest Sponsor (or its representatives) will attempt to contact, and who shall be subject to disqualification, in the same manner, with timing being calculated from the new draw date.

8. PRIZING:

PMC Science Fair Fun Run will give away three (3) prize packages, one on each of the Draw Dates (see section 7).

The three (3) prize packages will consist of:

1) April 16, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus FIFA Soccer 12 for X-Box 360

- approximate combined retail value is $85 CDN.

2) May 2, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus Madden NFL 12 for Play Station 3

- approximate combined retail value is $85 CDN.

3) May 16, 2012 - $25 Running Room gift card plus The SIMS Medieval Limited Edition

- approximate combined retail value is $55 CDN.

There is a limit of one prize per individual. All prizes must be accepted as awarded and cannot be transferred or exchanged for its equivalent cash value or any other consideration. Contest sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of at least equal value in the event of the unavailability, for whatever reason, of the advertised prize.

Winners will be required to answer a skill-testing question administered by phone.

9. By entering this Contest, the entrants agree to and do:

(a) release and hold harmless PMC Science Fair Fun Run, other sponsors, their advertising and promotional agencies and the contest judge(s), and their respective affiliates and directors, officers, owners, partners, employees, agents, dealers, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively the “Releasees”) from any liability in connection with this Contest or, if declared a winner, with any prize. Before being declared a winner, entrants may be required to sign and return, within a stipulated period of time, a Declaration of Compliance with the Contest Rules and a full Liability and Publicity Release (the “Release Form”). By accepting a prize, winners consent to the use of their name for publicity, advertising or informational purposes in any medium or format without further compensation or notice;

10. Only the Selected Entrants will be contacted. The names of the winners will be posted on the PMC Science Fair Fun Run’s blog, on the Contest’s Facebook App, and announced on Twitter after each winner is confirmed.

11. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries. All entries that are incomplete, illegible, damaged, irregular, have been submitted through illicit means, or do not conform to or satisfy any condition of these Contest rules may be disqualified by the PMC Science Fair Fun Run. PMC Science Fair Fun Run takes no responsibility for lost, stolen, delayed, damaged, misdirected, late or destroyed entries, or for typographical or other production errors. PMC Science Fair Fun Run is not responsible for any errors or omissions in printing or advertising the Contest. All entries become the property of the PMC Science Fair Fun Run and will not be returned.

12. PMC Science Fair Fun Run is collecting personal data about entrants for the purpose of administering this Contest. PMC Science Fair Fun Run is not authorized to use your personal information in any way other than the intended use and is subject to applicable Canadian Federal and Provincial privacy legislation.

13. The Contest will be run in accordance with the terms, conditions and rules herein set out; provided PMC Science Fair Fun Run reserves the right to amend same, at any time or times, in its sole and unfettered discretion. Contestants must comply with these Contest rules, and will be deemed to have received and understood the rules by participating in the Contest. The terms of the Contest, as set out in these Contest rules, are within the sole and unfettered discretion of PMC Science Fair Fun Run and are not negotiable. All decisions of PMC Science Fair Fun Run with respect to all aspects of the Contest are final and binding on all parties.

14. PMC Science Fair Fun Run assumes no responsibility for failure of the internet or the website during the promotional period, for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion. PMC Science Fair Fun Run reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the email portion of this contest should a virus, bug or other cause beyond their reasonable control be a concern for the security or proper administration of the contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any web site or to undermine the legitimate operation of this promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, PMC Science Fair Fun Run reserves the right to report the attempt to the applicable authorities and to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

15. If the identity of any entrant is disputed, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant. The individual assigned to the e-mail address for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address is considered the authorized account holder. A Selected Entrant may be required to provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the selected entry. All entries must be submitted from a valid e-mail account that may be identified by reverse domain name search. The sole determinant of time for the purposes of receipt of a valid entry in this contest will be the contest server machine

Photo Essay - Jericho Park to Spanish Banks

Jericho Park to Spanish Banks Out and Back

A great 5k training route for walking or running.

Remember the opening line of the last route posted... Vancouver is defined by water - rivers, lakes, and of course the Pacific Ocean. Well, here's another great run along the ocean!

This fun route follows the beach the entire way beginning at Jericho Park on the west side of Vancouver. Enjoy beautiful views of the beach, the mountains, the boats, the birds, downtown Vancouver... did we mention the beach!?

The turn around point is where the path joins the road and starts to climb. Afterwards enjoy some time walking on the sand or bring a picnic lunch to munch on.

The route is flat the entire way. Flat and fast!

Total Distance by GPS = 5.26 k
Route – Flat
Parking is free.
For a map of the route click here

Start at jericho park

Heading west

Stay along the beach

Looking back

Waiting to load

There's always a crow

Cleaning up the beach

Not quite sure...

Lots and lots of boats

Jericho sailing centre

Firewood?

Stop for a cold one, water that is

Still heading west

Heading back

In memory

Our First Contest Winner for 2012!

We are happy to announce the winner of our first prize package for this year's Fun Run: EA Sports NHL 12 for Xbox 360, a $25 Running Room gift certificate, and a 2 GB pen-drive.

Congratulations to Lorna Jackson!!

We'll be in touch.

Please watch our Facebook page as we'll be creating a new Facebook contest tab and will run further promotions leading up to the run!!!

Thank you!

The PMC Science Fair Fun Run Team

Photo Essay - Fun 5K Route in West Vancouver

Ambleside to Woodcroft Out and Back

Vancouver is defined by water - rivers, lakes, and of course the Pacific Ocean. For runners this provides the opportunity to explore routes that offer fun training in a natural setting. Today's out and back route is located just over the Lions Gate Bridge (from downtown) in West Vancouver. Starting and ending at the concession stand in Ambleside Park, the route begins by the ocean, but soon follows the Capilano River along a mix of paved and unpaved trails - with a little bit of forest thrown in before the turn around.

The route is flat to slightly uphill on the way out (it follows the river upstream) then of course, slightly downhill to flat on the way back. There are two options to take before the turn around point: stay straight on the main trail and flat to the end, or go left on a short, fun uphill on slightly more rugged trail.

Total Distance by GPS = 5.10 k
Route – Flat to slightly rolling except one hill at the end if you choose.
Parking is free.
For a map of the route click here.

The start looking west

Freighters

Heading east

Downtown vancouver

Train bridge

Grafitti

Awesome green moss

Under marine drive

Brother's creek

Trail by river

Go left uphill, or go straight flat to turn around

Turn around point a

Turn around point b

Heading back downstream

River meets ocean

Back at the beach

The crow

Photo Essays - Our Favourite Running Routes

Many people believe the Lower Mainland offers runners some of the best running routes in the country. Whether you prefer trail or road (or combinations of both) the opportunities are endless. Those of us that live here are lucky to have so many options available.

This is part one of a series of photo essays on some of the best 5k (or shorter) running routes we have found. We will try to cover many areas of Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities. If you have a route you would like us to explore please let us know!

The Coal Harbour, Brockton Point, Beaver Lake Loop

This route starts in Stanley Park at the parking lot nearest to Coal Harbour (first parking lot after entering the park from Georgia Street). Heading east on the seawall runners run towards the Nine O'Clock Gun. Stay on the seawall all the way around past Brockton Point, the Mermaid and Lumberman's Arch until you reach the Beaver Creek Bridge (currently under construction).

Leave the seawall at the bridge heading up towards Pipeline Road. Head south on Pipeline Road back towards Georgia Street, passing the Beaver Lake Trail in the process. This is the only hill on the route - it's not long. Pass the world famous Rose Gardens and upon reaching the traffic circle from Georgia Street, head east under the overpass, back to the seawall and back to the starting point.

Total Distance by GPS = 5.04 k (though a couple photo opportunities probably added a little distance)

Route – Flat except one gradual hill on Pipeline Road
Don't forget to take some change as parking in the park isn't free!
For a map of the route click here.

Parking lot starting point

Coal harbour

Looking back - royal vancouver yacht club

Entry to dead man island

Heading east

Totem poles

Nine o'clock gun

Brockton point

First view of the lions gate

Awesome tree

She must be cold

Very cool

Writing in the sand

The gull

Leaving the seawall

The fog was amazing.

Up the hill, it's not steep

Looked like it was on fire

Famous rose gardens

Heading back to the seawall

The seawall again

Heading home