With hundreds of inspirational #WhyIRunVan posts across social media, we thought we’d share some of the great stories through our blog
Vancouver International Society Board Member, David Crerar tells us why he Runs Van
David Crerar is a father, husband, son, lawyer, runner, climber, adventurer, and adherent of Teddy Roosevelt’s encouragement to lead “the strenuous life”. After university years in Toronto and two years of teaching ESL in Japan, David returned to his hometown of North Vancouver. For him, there is no better place to raise a family, under the shade of tree and mountains, and with infinite offerings for adventures.
David loves the Vancouver International Marathon: it was his first marathon, and he has run it for each of the past 15 years. Since then, he has completed 140 marathons and ultra-marathons, including Boston and New York, as well as the West Highland Way 95-mile race in Scotland, and the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run in California.
When indoors, he is a commercial litigation lawyer with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and is proud to have joined the Board of the Vancouver International Marathon Society (Society) this year. David is also Chair of the Society’s HR and Governance Committee.
Apart from the breathtaking scenery and endless opportunities to be active in Vancouver, David also claims to RunVan for the great gear!
“The Society has been giving out bright blue BMO gloves for over a decade. I love mine and have worn them on most of my races and most of my running, hiking, and climbing adventures. I get lots of comments on them on the roads and trails, usually prompting other runners to recount how much they loved our city and our marathon.”
At Beacon Rock 50K in southern Washington in June, several of the (American) ultra runners noticed them and commented on how much they loved the Vancouver Marathon. When David was running across the Grand Canyon last May, he was nearing the North Rim when a runner coming down in the opposite direction said, “Hey – you’re from Vancouver!”, leaving him confused until they pointed at the blue gloves. They’ve saved David’s palms (and probably many others’!) over the years from innumerable wipe-outs and would-be tree branch impalements.
In the next few years, David would like to run the London and Chicago Marathons, circumnavigate-run all of the volcanoes in Washington State, fast-pack the John Muir Trail, run the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon in Iceland, hike the West Coast Trail with his daughters, and run from one coast of England to the other alongside Hadrian’s Wall. He’ll be bringing his BMO blue gloves and RunVan tech shirt with him, of course!
View more inspirational #WhyIRunVan posts
To enter in the #WhyIRunVan contest, share your inspiring stories and photos on social media @BMOVanMarathon for your chance to win a prize pack.
Winners will be drawn weekly in February. Send us your stories and photos about a great BMO Vancouver Marathon race, your running inspiration or what you love about running – any stories and photos that reflect your running experience and why you love to run in Vancouver.
Contest details:
- Use the hashtags #bmovm #RunVan #WhyIRunVan @BMOVanMarathon
- Contest will run throughout the month of February
- Winning stories will be selected every Monday by Vancouver International Marathon Society staff
Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BMOVanMarathon or email your stories to [email protected].