Vancouver Sun Run sprints into its 30th anniversary

The annual Vancouver Sun Run was participated in by some 40,000 runners to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Kenyan athlete Paul Kimugul defended his Sun Run title, finishing in a time of 28 minutes and 59 seconds and Vancouver's Rachel Cliff won the women's first in a time of 33 minutes and 14 seconds here Sunday, reports Xinhua.

There was some rain in the morning but by the time the 2014 Vancouver Sun Run began at 9 a.m., the skies cleared and it was smooth running for the participants to run, jog or walk through the route.

"I'm very happy, very, very happy," said Kimugul, a 34-year-old Kenyan who took home $3,000 (Canadian) in first-place prize money.

"I started to push at four kilometers to see if somebody is responding to my speed. Two guys were with me (Wykes and Chipangama) until six kilometers. They chased me and my body responded really well.

The 10-km race started in 1984 in downtown Vancouver by Doug and Diana Clements and sponsored by the Vancouver Sun. The first year of Sun Run was participated only by 3500 people, but now it turns out to be one of the largest race in the world.