Top running stories of 2013, Pt. 2

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Part one, no. 10-7, of our top running stories of the year

Yesterday we counted down the top running stories of 2013 from 10 through seven. Today we’ll look at a few more of the stories that defined 2013 in the world of running.

6. Vancouver becomes a major running centre in Canada

Dylan Wykes’ coach, Richard Lee, who we awarded with Coach of the Year in our Golden Shoe awards, has stepped up to head a new post-collegiate training group in Vancouver. After years of high level athletes and no go-to training group on the west coast, a group of studs has gotten together to shake things up in the Canadian elite scene.

They’re first major appearance as a team was impressive, dominating the Canadian cross-country championships. Watch for these athletes to do well in 2014 and into the future.

5. Rock ‘n’ Roll race series cuts elite funding, announces Vancouver race

Competitor group Inc., who runs the Rock ‘n’ Roll race series, announced they will no longer be paying elite appearance fees and will be slashing prize pots at their events. The goal was to take that money and funnel it into a stream where it will benefit more the average runner, but the move has elites leaving in droves to other races.

The organization also announced a new half-marathon event starting in 2014 for Vancouver that made a splash.

4. Jamie McDonald runs across Canada unassisted for children’s hospitals

Jamie McDonald is a native of Gloucester, England, is running the same route as Terry Fox across Canada, unaided. His goal was to make it to Victoria by Christmas, but he won’t be finished by then. He just reached Calgary and still has the rockies during winter to contend with.

He’s raising money for children’s hospitals after his childhood was riddled with hospitals, growing up with a rare genetic disorder called syringomyelia.

3. A world record at the Berlin Marathon

Kenyan phenom Wilson Kipsang dipped under the previous world marathon record by just 15 seconds at the Berlin marathon in September. Berlin is quickly becoming one of the fastest and most competitive races in the world.

Kipsang ran 2:03:23 to break Patrick Makau’s record of 2:03:38, also set in Berlin two years ago. The course has been host to nine world records in the past.

Another aspect to the story was that a rogue spectator photobombed the finish in an attempt to advertise for his company.