Flash - Downtown Dash
A Christmas Eve morning dash along major bike routes and the seawall around Downtown Vancouver, starting and ending in Vancouver's historic Strathcona neighborhood.
What:
A dash around downtown, before we hunker down with family for a few days. We'll run a brisk 17km route along major bike routes and the seawall around Downtown Vancouver, starting and finishing at the Wilder Snail coffee shop (799 Keefer Street) in the heart of Strathcona, Vancouver's oldest neighborhood.
Agenda:
Meet on Friday December 24th at 8:15 am Wilder Snail coffee shop at 799 Keefer Street
We'll start running at 8:30am sharp.
We'll run a 17km loop around downtown. Ideally, we'll run as a group, or break into two groups to suit desired paces. The finish is at the Wilder Snail, the same place we started.
If you want to take a detour to complete some last-minute Christmas shopping, don't forget to slip your credit card into your hydration pack.
Registration:
Registration is free for members and non-members alike. Please leave a comment below to confirm your attendance.
Whining is not allowed. You are responsible for your own well being and safety and should be self sufficient.
Please read the Release of All Claims. By participating in this event you agree to the terms of the Release of All Claims.
Backgrounder:
Looking to get in another fun run before the holidays.
The Course (Revised Dec 23)
Paved sidewalks and seawall.
From the Wilder Snail, head west towards downtown on Keefer.
Left on Jackson
Right on Union
Over Dunsmuir Viaduct, in protected pedestrian lane.
Left on Beatty to Pacific
Left on Davie
Right on Marinaside Crescent
Right on Drake
Left to go around David Lam Park, rejoin Pacific
Right on Hornby
Right on Robson, if not blocked by Construction, proceed around back of Vancouver Art Museum
Circle Christmas tree
Return to Hornby, Right on Hornby to Waterfront, Left at Canada Place
Around new Convention Centre stay on seawall to entrance to Stanley Park
Veer left under bridge to Lost Lagoon, circumnavigate Lost Lagoon to 2nd beach
Seawall all the way to Quebec St near Science World
Left on Quebec
Right on Columbia
Right on Union
Left on Heatley
Right on Georgia
Left on Hawks to Wilder Snail.
Congrats, you've completed the Downtown Dash!
Downtown Dash Recap
The Wilder Snail is a warm, intimate neighborhood cafe/grocery set in the historic Strathcona neighborhood near Downtown Vancouver - what better place to start a Christmas Eve flash event that would span the urban jungle and along a rain and wind-swept seawall?
Dario and I started from the Snail at 8:35, just missing a well-intended Mark who ultimately ran elsewhere. A light rain and warm 8 degree temp was a non-factor early, as Dario and I made it from the Adanac bike route, over to the Dunsmuir viaduct and eventually a left turn on Beatty.
Into Yaletown, a massive pile driver, driving a giant steel pile, echoed throughout the area. Ah, running in the city! Around David Lam Park and back onto Pacific ave, we headed towards our next rendezvous.
We saw Jess waiting for us right on time at the 4.5k mark near the corner of Drake and Hornby. Two were now three, headed up Hornby. We navigated a construction site near the Robson ice rink, and darted behind and around the Vancouver Art Museum. We sloshed a silly lap around the giant Christmas tree and returned to Hornby just after getting our pictures taken with the tree.
At the seawall near Canada Place, and around the new convention centre, we noticed the high tide in Vancouver Harbour. No longer sheltered by concrete and glass towers, the rain pelted us a bit harder here and the wind whistled. A moment of levity with the bright red men of Chinese sculptor Wang Shugang’s The Meeting, and a hello to seven swans-a-swimming in Lost Lagoon were the highlights of this part of the run.
At 2nd Beach we headed east along the seawall and again admired the high tide tickling the edge of our world. Where the seawall met Hornby, Jess bid adieu so Dario and I pushed on to the finish. The driving rain and headwind made for a home stretch to be earned. More historical buildings in Strathcona, around MacLean Park and a touch on the Wilder Snail signboard signalled our finish.. er.. start of our cappuccino and americano time!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Results hr:min distance
Dario Herrera 1:48 17k
Reagan White 1:48 17k
Jess Dagg :50 9k custom