Vancouver Half Marathon to offer cash prize for the oldest sub-two-hour finisher

Canada Running Series (CRS) and Jevitty Life Science have collaborated to offer a unique new prize for the oldest runner who finishes the Vancouver Half Marathon in under two hours this Sunday. That person will receive the Jevitty Golden Shoe award, a $200 purse and a prize pack.

“The Jevitty Golden Shoe award is meant to inspire senior athletes who are motivated to live a healthy lifestyle, but more importantly, it’s meant to inspire others–as Ed Whitlock did for many Canadians,” says Jerry Kroll, CEO of Jevitty Life Science.

“You are never too old or frail to chase your goals,” says Kroll. We have seen that in recent performances from Canadian masters record-holders Erlinda Biondic, Rejeanne Fairhead and Canio Polosa, who have inspired many to embrace physical activity later in life.

The goal of this collaboration between the two organizations is to spread awareness of healthy living while aging. “An important thing all senior runners should understand is their bone density levels,” Kroll says. “Understanding body and muscle mass can give you an idea of how to live healthier and improve your performance while aging.”

“This award is about the celebration of life,” says Ryan Chilibeck, race director of the Vancouver Half Marathon. “After two years of virtual races, it seemed only fitting to celebrate longevity at our first in-person event after the pandemic.”

The prize pack will include a body composition imaging scan package from Jevitty, which is designed to give the athlete an understanding of their body’s strengths and weaknesses and how they can improve their overall health and fitness. Later this summer, the company intends to launch a phone app to help athletes track their training, nutrition and recovery. 

“These records you are seeing aren’t miracles,” Kroll says. “You can live longer and perform better by knowing yourself and taking care of yourself.”