More than 9,000 people are expected to take to the streets 鈥� running or walking 10 kilometres 鈥� on Sunday at the 28th annual sa国际传媒 10K.
Regular runners will travel the same route as elite racers, with the prize being better health rather than medals and money.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about being the fastest, but a desire for a healthier lifestyle,鈥� said Bill Taylor, Vancouver Island area manager for the Running Room, the newest retail partner for the event.
鈥淲e want to expose people, to get them interested to the idea of life-long ParticipACTION,鈥� added Taylor, referring to the national program that encourages Canadians to lead a more active life.
For most people, running and walking the annual TC10K is an achievable goal, especially with the help of training clinics run by the Victoria International Running Society, which hosts the event.
Participants of all abilities have been training since January at a dozen recreation centres throughout Greater Victoria and Shawnigan Lake. Participants sign up for a 14-week program led by experienced runners. At the weekly chaperoned runs, they progress at a gradual and safe pace toward their goals.
Although beginners comprise the majority of clinic participants, there are a significant number of repeat members.
鈥淲e initially thought that only beginners would be interested in the clinics,鈥� said Angie Woodhead, the new director of operations at the TC10K. 鈥淲e were pleasantly surprised to find a large number of repeat clientele.鈥�
She said that for many, it鈥檚 social, an opportunity to meet up with fellow participants year after year. It鈥檚 the same for the race, where she says there are 鈥渁 handful of lifers鈥� 鈥� people who have run the 10-kilometre race 28 years in a row. The oldest participant this year is a 92-year-old man.
鈥淢any have used the race initially to improve their health or to achieve a weight-loss goal. Our hope is that they use the event as a springboard into a healthier lifestyle,鈥� she said.
The Thrifty Foods Family Run aims to instill the excitement of the regular race in a younger demographic. Families can walk, jog or push a buggy around a 1.5-kilometre course before enjoying festivities in the KidZone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awe-inspiring to watch the little duffers,鈥� said Taylor
While the 9,000 participants take over the city for a morning, the event wouldn鈥檛 be possible without the efforts of more than 700 volunteers. Some arrive as early as 4 a.m. on race day to begin setting up. Others direct traffic or staff the water stations. Charities provide volunteers to help out.
Participants can still register for the race at the Race Expo, which takes place at Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas St., on Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Expo is open to the public and is the place for registered runners and walkers to pick up their race packages. Teams can also pick up their packages on Thursday from 4听p.m. to 7 p.m.
The race starts at 7:55 a.m. on Sunday for wheelchair and visually impaired athletes, with other runners and walkers starting at 8听a.m. from the corner of Belleville and Government streets. There will be four portapotty stations, as well as three permanent public washrooms along the race route.
Road closures include intersections along the race route on a rolling basis. The start/finish area will be closed from 5 a.m. to 2听p.m. and an on-street parking ban on the race route will be enforced from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Go to tc10k.ca for details.
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Take a peek at the universe on world Astronomy Day
Star-gazers can set their sights on the heavens at International Astronomy Day events at the Royal sa国际传媒 Museum and the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory on Saturday.
The day begins with activities at the Royal sa国际传媒 Museum, followed by an opportunity to stare deep into the known universe with public telescope viewing at the National Research Council of sa国际传媒鈥檚 Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Centre of the Universe when the sun goes down.
Starting at 10 a.m. at the museum, you can view the sun with solar telescopes. Visitors can also take in a Walk Among the Planets display, outside on the main concourse.
Displays on telescopes, mirror grinding and astrophotography can be found in the museum鈥檚 Clifford Carl Hall, while society volunteers and Science Venture students from the University of Victoria engage children with hands-on activities.
There will be three lecture presentations on astronomy in the museum鈥檚 Newcombe Conference Hall, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
When the sun sets, activities move to the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, with tours and a chance to see the observatory鈥檚 Centre of the Universe exhibits. The historic Plaskett Telescope will be open for tours, with society members setting up their personal telescopes for public viewing, weather-permitting.
All presentations, displays and workshops are free at the Royal sa国际传媒 Museum, but regular admission charges apply for the permanent galleries. Activities run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum, 675 Belleville St. For information, go to royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
Entry to the observatory grounds is by ticket only, but tickets are free. To obtain your entry ticket in advance, go to observatoryhill.org/content/ events.
Visitors with tickets will be welcomed starting at 7:30 p.m. The event runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., rain or shine at Observatory Hill, 5071 West Saanich Rd.
For more information, go to victoria.rasc.ca.
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Wildflower Festival celebrates spring
Nature lovers, native-plant gardeners and curious ecologists of all ages are invited to celebrate the arrival of spring at the In Bloom Wildflower Festival, Saturday at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve in Duncan.
The Nature Conservancy of sa国际传媒 is hosting this family-friendly event, with an opportunity to explore a restored Garry oak meadow.
Learn more about birds, bees, splashy wildflowers, native plants and wetland bugs.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour around the preserve, with stops at information displays, listen to Coast Salish storytellers and learn about the world of the Garry oak ecosystem at hands-on discovery stations.
Nature Talks presenters include Elizabeth Elle, a conservation ecologist and Simon Fraser University professor who will share her discoveries of bees and other wild pollinators (including a mason bee that is new to science), and Royal sa国际传媒 Museum Archeology Collection manager and researcher Genevieve Hill, who will discuss archeological evidence for traditional use of wetland and Garry oak ecosystems.
Children鈥檚 activities include hay rides and nature crafts.
The Nature Conservancy of sa国际传媒 is the nation鈥檚 leading land-conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain.
Admission is by donation. The event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, 1241 Maple Bay Rd., Duncan.
Drivers are asked to park on Maple Bay Road, then walk to the end of Aitken Road to enter the preserve. For more information, go to natureconservancy.ca/bc, [email protected] or 1-888-404-8428.
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Take your ukulele to James Hill鈥檚 extravaganza
Hear music from greats such as Johann Strauss and Antonio Vivaldi played on the ukulele at the James Hill Ukulele Extravaganza, on Sunday at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre.
At the concert, ukulele master James Hill will be accompanied by the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, with Tina Horwood and Island Ukuleles appearing as special guests. Other groups include Tiger Rag (30 advanced players) and Nova Scotia Song (a 70-student ensemble).
Along with works from Strauss, Vivaldi, Rossini and Offenbach, a suite of Hawaiian pieces will be played on ukulele and cello.
Unlike other concerts, this one invites audience participation.
Concert-goers are encouraged to bring along their instruments and will have an opportunity to join in to play and sing You Are My Sunshine with Hill and all of the other ukulele players on stage and in the audience.
Advance tickets are recommended, but there might be tickets available at the door (cash only).
Admission is $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for students. Children 12 and under are eligible for free tickets with the purchase of an adult ticket, with a maximum two children per adult.
The concert starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, Oak Bay High School, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd.
For more information, go to civicorchestraofvictoria.org.
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Youth orchestra season finale
The Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra concludes its Season of Symphonies with a season-finale performance Sunday at the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium. The program the 65-member orchestra has chosen for the finale includes Mendelssohn鈥檚 Symphony No. 3 (Scottish), Smetana鈥檚 M谩 Vlast: Vysehrad and the Three-Cornered Hat: Suite No. 2 by Falla.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $10 for students and children. The concert starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
For more information, go to gvyo.org. For tickets, go to tickets.uvic.ca.