This past September we collaborated on a project with Nike and Tempo Journal to profile one of our long standing community members, friends and run leaders Jes Lam.
This story in it's original form was published here
These are Jes' own words
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It’s 6pm on a Thursday and like clockwork, I ascend the stairs of Vancouver Running Company (VRC) and it feels like I’m coming home. I’ve been running with Flight Crew Run Club for five years now and can’t imagine spending Thursday night anywhere else. The moment I stepped through the door that first night, I was immediately embraced by the magic that pulsates through its walls.
The constant chatter and electricity that generates from everyone in the shop on a Thursday is contagious – you can’t escape it. Everyone is stoked to run and that’s what makes this place special. It’s a place where inhibitions and doubt are left at the door because everybody is a runner, everybody is accepted, and everybody belongs here. It’s a place where you can leave the day behind, the week behind, and rev into the weekend on a high. And I can guarantee that you’ll find your new best friends here; I know I did.
Being situated in the heart of Kitsilano allows VRC to show off Vancouver’s beauty on every route we run. The route we chose to shoot at is quintessentially Vancouver with ocean and mountain views along every step of the way. We run over the infamous Burrard Bridge where most like to push it to the top then let the legs float as you descend to the other side. And then there’s the stairs – it’s always a competition of who is going to be a “hero” by running up them versus walking.
Vancouver’s picturesque Seawall is a major attraction of this route with good reason. From the Seawall we admiringly gaze across the water at the skyline that is anchored by a backdrop of the Coast Mountains while the sun sets. Run views really don’t get any better than this.
Though I may not be hitting the heavy mileage I used to pre-pandemic, I find myself evermore grateful to have this sport to turn to in these times.
Running is my meditation where I can free myself from the anxiety brought on by all the turmoil in the world. As I’ve gotten accustomed to solo running these past several months, I eagerly anticipate the day when I can run with the Crew once again. Until then, I look forward to solo runs where I get to bump into a familiar, smiling face along the Seawall and throw out an air-five.
