Meet David, Local Leader & Passionate RUNVAN Ambassador
More than just long-term runners of the BMO Vancouver Marathon, RUNVAN Community Ambassadors are leaders in Vancouver who embody the Society’s mission, vision, and values. Elite and recreational runners, business leaders, or local heroes, these superstars find joy in motivating and inspiring others through running. They’re also comfortable with public speaking and tend to be regulars at our running events throughout the year.
David, the pace “bunny”.
Meet David Papineau, a graphic designer and the former marathon clinic instructor at the Broadway Running Room. David ran his first marathon in Vancouver in 2004 and has now completed 38 marathons, nine of them in Vancouver, including his personal best of 2:44:55 at the 2009 BMO Vancouver Marathon. He is on pace to run his 50th marathon on his 50th birthday in the fall of 2018.
David is a big fan of Strava and is closing in on his goal to run every street in Vancouver, while creating the occasional piece of Strava Art along the way.
David also competes in ultramarathons and is a two-time finisher of the Western States Endurance Run. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and two daughters. Find David on a Strava, Twitter and Instagram and at broadwayrunclub.com.
RUNVAN: Take us back to the first time you ran in the Vancouver Marathon or Half Marathon. What was it like? How long ago was it? What do you think has changed since then?
DP: My first marathon was the Vancouver Marathon in 2004. This was my hometown race, and so I felt well prepared and the race exceeded my expectations. Ten years later, I’m still running marathons, so that first Vancouver Marathon experience obviously had a positive impact on me.
The new course design is the biggest change since 2004. Both courses are great, and I will always have fond memories of the old course, especially the feeling of cresting Burrard Bridge for the second time knowing you’re down to the last mile [the new Marathon course includes one trip across Burrard Bridge; Half Marathon runners take the Cambie Street Bridge].
RV: Name a few of your favourite points along our new course. Why do they stand out for you?
DP: Everyone is going to say the Camosun Street hill (kidding!) so I will say the downhill stretch from UBC, which starts at about the 19-kilometre point of the race. This is easily my favourite part of the new Marathon course. It offers runners their first glimpse of Burrard Inlet and of the North Shore mountains. The view is spectacular in places and gives weary runners a reason to look up from the tops of their shoe s. It also marks a major transition point on the course: from that point onward, the race is run around sea level and the water is always in view until you get to the last half kilometre.
RV:Running is a great way to see the world. Of all the places you’ve traveled to outside of Vancouver, whether it be for competition or for pleasure, which was your favourite spot to run in and why?
DP: I love the stadium finish at the Seattle Marathon. It’s just a high school football stadium and runners go up the middle of the field to the finish line rather than around it, but for some reason, the first time I ran Seattle, it felt like the finish of every Olympic marathon I had ever watched on television.
Off road, I can’t get enough of the dry, dusty, Ponderosa Pine-scented trails of the Okanagan and naturally, I love running the trails of Pacific Spirit Park. Running on a trail surrounded by trees is good for your soul.
RV: What is your pre-race routine?
DP: I’m into superstitions. I write my daughters’ initials on my racing shoes and when a race has timing chips I always put it on my left shoe. I carried a Terry Fox loonie in my shorts pocket each time I ran Boston and New York City, and I always wear my father’s Masons ring on marathon day. My dad first got me interested in running when I was a kid and he passed away before I ran my first marathon. Wearing his ring during my marathons is my way of honouring him.
RV: Pay it forward: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a parent, coach, or mentor about running? OR got your own advice? Share it with us!
DP: Think like a Kenyan. Growing up we hear about how Kenyan kids run great distances to school every day. Why can’t we run a little more like that? Run to school, run to work, run to the store. Make running more than a workout. Make it one of your preferred modes of transportation. When you do, running becomes more natural. When running is your way of getting from A to B you don’t have time to overthink it, you just do it.
And if you ever get the chance to run a marathon on or around your birthday, wear a birthday hat. You’ll be glad you did.