David Hall won鈥檛 be keeping up with the lacerating pace of the Kenyan runners at the front of the pack of more than 9,000 Sunday in the 2017 sa国际传媒 10K.
But he has one record that even Kenyans such as four-time defending women鈥檚 champion Jane Murage and defending men鈥檚 champion Daniel Kipkoech can鈥檛 match. Hall has run in all the sa国际传媒 10Ks and Sunday will be his 28th consecutive. But it wasn鈥檛 easy getting to the start line this year. Hall tripped over a root while training last Sunday on the Elk Lake trail and fell hard, fracturing two ribs.
But like an injured NFL quarterback gutting it out under centre, Hall will start Sunday. Minus the rib-protecting flak jacket, of course.
Hall admits he wasn鈥檛 much of a runner until the first sa国际传媒 10K race.
鈥淚 was in my 40s, with a young and growing family, and I wanted to maintain a level of fitness,鈥� said the 68-year-old research consultant.
鈥淚 had never entertained the idea before. But I found that running is the best form of cardiovascular exercise.鈥�
Hall usually clocks around 50 minutes for the 10K, but he hasn鈥檛 run since his rib injury, and doesn鈥檛 know how that will affect his performance Sunday.
鈥淚 hope to finish before lunch,鈥� he quipped.
As part of his research job, Hall did an economic impact study a few years ago for the Victoria GoodLife Fitness Marathon, which is the annual fall bookend to the spring鈥檚 sa国际传媒 10K.
鈥淩unning events are big deals for cities. They are just good for business . . . especially when people from out of town come to run in the event. . . . a lot of money changes hands,鈥� he said.
Asked how long he will keep up his own participation in the sa国际传媒 10K, Hall has a special date in mind.
鈥淢y 70th birthday and 30th sa国际传媒 10K coincide in two years. That sounds like a good target.鈥�
Meanwhile, online registration closed Friday with more than 8,700 people registered, including more than 700 for the Thrifty Foods 1.5K Family Fun Run. In-person registration is today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Crystal Garden. A total of 387 people registered in person last year on the last day, so organizers are forecasting a turnout Sunday of more than 9,000.
Last year鈥檚 race registration was 9,474, including 936 in the kids鈥� run. A total of 8,060 people crossed the finish line, including 7,124 in the 10K.
As director of the elite division of the sa国际传媒 10K, former international running star Ulla Marquette will be mostly concerned Sunday with the Kenyans and Canadian Olympians who will be vying for victory in under 30 minutes at the front of the heaving ribbon of humanity. But she realizes it鈥檚 the average-joe runners in the middle and back of the pack who really make this race what it has become, not only on race day but also in the lead-up.
鈥淲atching the hundreds of runners preparing for the 10K on the roads in February, March and April has become a part of the rhythm of our city and Island,鈥� she said.
All those roads lead to the starting line at Government and Belleville streets on Sunday at 8 a.m. And Hall hasn鈥檛 missed a starting line yet, fractured ribs or not.
