Vancouver Woman to run 100th Marathon at the BMO Vancouver Marathon Sunday, May 5, 2013
Vancouver, BC – April 30, 2013 – Lori Wong, a 60-year-old retiree from Vancouver, ran her first marathon in Vancouver in 1990. On Sunday, May 5 she will run her 100th marathon at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. As a marathon runner for over 23 years, Laurie has been saving her 100th marathon for her hometown. She is thrilled to have friends and family join her at the finish line on Pender Street to mark the occasion. The 42nd running of the BMO Vancouver Marathon will attract over 16,000 + participants in four events, including a re-introduced 8km event, a Teen Challenge, and a Kids Mile Fun Run. Organizers have confirmed there are only a handful of spots remaining for the marathon and half marathon events.
Wong, who has already run three marathons since April 6, has a lot of good memories including her most special run in 1992. “I can totally remember the feeling of crossing the finish line and having my family greet me. I had just given birth two months earlier and there was my husband handing me back my 8-week old son, along with my two teenage boys. We captured the moment in a photograph that I still have today. I’m so excited that my whole family will be there to re-enact the original image.” She adds, “We plan to recreate the moment on Sunday; only my son, who is now 21years old, will be holding me!”
In order to get to 100 marathons, Wong had to run three marathons this month including Yakima, Whidbey Island, and now Vancouver. She first started running when a co-worker suggested she try and run the Sun Run. Once she realized she could manage that, the stage was set. Wong’s best time is 3 hours and 41 minutes. As for Sunday she says the timing is not important, “I don’t care what time I run, I only care about finishing. Look for me after 1:00pm, I’ll be wearing bib # 4913.”
About The Vancouver International Marathon Society
The BMO Vancouver Marathon and Half Marathon is organized and operated by the Vancouver International Marathon Society, a non-profit organization. The event is Canada’s largest marathon and has a 41-year history within Vancouver and the running community internationally. The event will take place on May 5, 2013, featuring the three point-to-point courses, showcasing the city’s famous landmarks, shorelines and neighbourhoods. The 2013 events will remain capped at 5,000 for the Marathon, 10,000 for the Half-Marathon, 2,000 for the 8km, 500 for 8km Teen Challenge and 500 for the Kids 1-Mile Fun run participants.
About BMO
BMO Bank of Montreal is proud to be in its eighth year as title sponsor of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. BMO supports the running community through sponsorship of marathon events in Vancouver, Kelowna, Charlottetown, Phoenix, Arizona, and Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. BMO has a long and proud history of supporting sports in Canada. We believe our ties with sports reflect some of our most deeply held corporate values, such as contributing positively to a healthy quality of life in the community, and promoting the achievements of people, regardless of age or ability.
Media Contacts:
- Deirdre Rowland, Media Relations, 778-888-9974, [email protected]
- Laurie Grant, BMO Media Relations, 604-665-7596, [email protected]