Celebrating the 45th year of Vancouver’s only marathon, the ‘Legacy Talks’ video series interviews those who have played key roles in helping grow the event from its early beginnings. Today, we talk with Dr. Jack Taunton, the event’s original co-founder.
The ‘Legacy Talks’ video series features those who have played key roles in helping grow the event from its early beginnings. As a student at Simon Fraser University, Dr. Jack Taunton was a runner, football player and soccer player.
“When I could see that I wasn’t going to be a professional football player… I didn’t have a club to run in, so some of the people that I raced with – I talked to them – and six of us started the very first road running club in Canada. We named it, actually they tell me that I named it, ‘the Lions Gate Road Runners’. Then, out of that, we started the Vancouver Marathon.”
Starting with a route that went around Stanley Park five times, Dr. Jack Taunton and the other co-founders have watched as the race has expanded to thousands of runners, and a stunning scenic course that has maintained part of its original waterfront route around Stanley Park.
“In terms of the reputation that we developed… You take a look at the individuals that have won or done well in the marathons. I mean we’ve got a number of world junior champions, 10KM world champions, world leading marathoners. It just gives me a thrill, and I’m honoured that they ask me to be the starter of the race each year.”
“I want to make sure that we continue to offer the health benefits of exercise. I want to see the Canadian marathon record broken in Vancouver. Join in, and this year run in the 45th anniversary of the Vancouver Marathon.”