Running with the herd at Oasis Zoo Run

Last weekend, I ran through a tropical oasis with parrots perched on trees in front of waterfalls and swans grazing amongst the backdrop of lush foliage. It was hard to believe I was even in Southwestern Ontario.

This is what it’s like to run the Oasis ZooRun by Canada Running Series at the Toronto Zoo. Around every corner of the 5K course, is a sight to behold. There are some times when racing when the scenery is so breathtaking that achieving a good race time feels insignificant. This was one of those times.

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My son came with me and stayed by my side throughout the whole thing. He encouraged me to take many breaks and walk so that we could take it all in. As an animal-lover by nature, he said to me, “How can we run past this while we are here?” I agreed. Hence our hour-plus finishing time– the longest it has taken me to finish a 5K yet. My daughter could have lapped us three times, and her impatience was evident. I told her that for our next race, she can run like the wind.

Running among the animals, I noticed a curious look in some of their eyes. Likely, they were wondering what all the running was about. One herd actually ran alongside us in their enclosure at one point. It was truly amazing.

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This was a race where the spirit, enthusiasm and energy of the volunteers stood out. They were amazing and their exuberance was evident. One of the beauties of this race was that it ended at the far reaches of the zoo, so you had to traverse through the whole thing before being able to pick up your checked bags. This provided a great opportunity to take in various exhibits. My son was especially eager to visit the gorillas afterwards. We were in awe watching their grandeur and beauty.

Having run this race, was a great primer for my son and daughter. Both of them were certainly ready for their cross-county meets the week after. They ran well with smiles on their faces. I wonder if they imagined the animals running alongside them as they crossed that finish line?

Well done Canada Running Series, well done.