2023 Navy Run sets the pace 

Get ready, the Navy Run is this weekend!

Jazmin Holdway 
Lookout Newspaper

With less than a week away from the 2023 CFB Esquimalt Navy Run, runners are keeping their muscles warm and their bodies hydrated. The Defence and extended community will join in person and virtually to participate in the annual family-friendly event on Saturday, June 17.

“We’re excited to welcome returning runners and new participants to this year’s Navy Run,” says Laurel Koslowski, Navy Run Race Director and Community Recreation Coordinator with Personnel Support Programs (PSP). “It will be a beautiful day to lace up those running shoes and hit the course, whether you’re running the kids’ run, 5K or 10K race, or even coming out to support those who are.”

Runners are being encouraged to get lots of rest in the week leading up to the race and to stay hydrated, especially as the weather is warming up. Community members are also encouraged to come out and cheer on those hitting the streets this weekend.

Get ready, the Navy Run is this weekend!

The Navy Run is an all-inclusive race that brings people together to challenge themselves and participate at a comfortable pace.

“Last year, when I did the Navy Run, I saw how inspirational this event really is,” says Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Stan Budden, Navy Run Ambassador and Unit Chief of Naval Fleet School (Pacific). “You see all types of people challenge themselves to see what they can do, and there is nothing better than seeing them accomplish great things they may not have been able to do before. That’s why I do this – to see and cheer on those accomplishments.”

No matter your fitness level or training plan, race day and the week leading up to it is an excellent time to reflect on your training and to see how far you have come already, CPO1 Budden says.

“As Fred Lebow said, ‘In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last, you can say, I have finished. There is a lot of satisfaction in that’. And that’s what the Navy Run and being out there has done for me – given me the satisfaction to say I can do it,” CPO1 Budden says.

For anyone in the Esquimalt area on the morning of June 17, be sure to come on out and cheer on our incredible runners.

A special thank you to the 2023 Navy Run sponsors: Seaspan, Babcock, and BMO.

Race maps and information can be found at navyrunesquimalt.com.

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Race Week

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Race Week:

Hydrate! Drinking enough water in the week leading up to the race will ensure you’re hydrated throughout the race. Try not to drink too much water in the hour before the race, though, as it may slosh around in your stomach while running.

Keep your nutrition up! Snacks and foods that keep your energy up without making you feel heavy or sluggish will give you that extra boost you’ll need on race day.

Stay positive! Race week can bring some anxiety or stress to meet a specific goal. By showing up, being active, and surrounding yourself with a community of like-minded individuals, you’re already making a difference and taking a step toward meeting those goals. Remember to soak it all in and have fun on race day!