Richmond's Big Pirate Run returns to Garry Point Park this Saturday for fifth year

It's not every day you see pirates running to stay healthy instead of chasing treasures, but this is what Steveston will see this weekend. Sea2Sky Events' fifth annual Big Pirate Run is returning to Garry Point Park on Saturday, September 19, where everyone is invited to dress up as pirates and run to fundraise for the Richmond Food Bank.

Kids can take part in the one-to-three-kilometre race, while adults have the option to participate in the five-, 10-, 15-, or 21.1-kilometre (half marathon) runs. All routes are stroller-friendly, wheelchair-friendly, and dog-friendly with no official timing — the event has always focused on participation, movement, and having fun rather than competition.

Richmond resident and participant Shannon Sawicki has been part of the Pirate Run since its inception, bringing her son, now 10 years old, along every year. Although her son is sometimes embarrassed by her elaborate pirate costumes, he enjoys the racing and community atmosphere. Her son typically runs the one-to-three-kilometre route, but this year will be his first in the 5K.

"I'm always looking for different ways to incorporate fitness in a non-competitive kind of fun way," Sawicki said. "It lets us go out and have some fun, not take ourselves too seriously, and showing them that fitness doesn't have to be this overwhelming thing." Events like the Pirate Run allow the community to meet others who want to get out and move without worrying about performance metrics.

Sawicki highlighted the long-term value of making fitness social and enjoyable. "Finding ways to incorporate fitness into your social life and your regular routine, and making it just a part of something that you do for fun is something that you can carry through life. You're creating lifelong habits that you can take through into adulthood."

Watching her son grow into someone who loves running has made Sawicki proud. "I'm happy to see him being empowered and seeing the confidence that builds in him, but also that he's having fun doing it and making friends," she said. For kids especially, events like this teach valuable community skills. "For kids, it's really good to get them out and put them in these situations to teach them what building a community is like."