Dick Voneugen spent Sunday in his happy place -- in the fresh air, surrounded by runners and friends, helping them reach the finish line.
The 79-year-old Voneugen couldn't count the Sundays in his lifetime that have unfolded in similar fashion. But this run was different. For all the years he has spent enriching the local athletics scene, this heel-to-toe event was being held in his honour.
At the conclusion of the Dick Voneugen Birthday Fun Run, which attracted more than 50 participants, Voneugen was uncharacteristically emotional. Standing in the finishing area at the Otway Nordic Centre, he knew he was experiencing a special moment in time.
"It almost brings tears to my eyes to see so many people come out, all fit, and doing this just for the heck of it," said Voneugen, who acted as a mobile aid station for the runners, including Jeff Hunter and Reid Roberts, who completed an 80-kilometre course. "All this for a birthday run, and I hope it carries on. There's no reason why not with guys like Jeff and Reid. And it doesn't need to be the Voneugen Run, it could just be the Birthday Run. Anybody can join."
When Voneugen was in his 40s, he started a tradition of running his age on every birthday, which falls on July 24. His distances got longer until he reached 60 and then he started counting back down. Eventually, because of advancing age and various aches and pains, he halted the run altogether.
After a recent conversation between Voneugen and Hunter, the 36-year-old Hunter decided the spirit of Voneugen's birthday trot should be kept alive. And for Hunter, an ultra marathoner, the chance to run 80km in recognition of Voneugen's upcoming 80th birthday was poetic.
At the end of his Sunday jog through the streets and trails of Prince George, Hunter didn't look at all like a guy who had been on the move for more than eight hours. He was happy with his run and even more pleased that the event was so well-attended and received.
"It exceeded my expectations," he said. "It was spectacular. I'm going to tally up the cumulative kilometres. I don't have it off hand but I bet you we're easily over 800."
The 42-year-old Roberts, who crossed the finish line alongside Hunter, used the word "fabulous" to describe the day.
"It's a great tribute to Dick, as you can see by all the people who came out," Roberts said. "For me personally, being able to do an 80K training run and have a rolling aid station was great. If you were trying to do 80K on your own, with the amount of fuel that you need to be taking [through] drinking and eating, unless you're doing loops around your house where you can stop in, it's very difficult. So having Dick meet us every hour or hour-and-a-half made it really enjoyable."
Hunter and Roberts are preparing for the Sinister 7, a July 7-8 ultra marathon that will see them try to tame a mountainous 148km course in Crowsnest Pass, Alta.
Distances for Sunday's Voneugen run included 50km, 42.2km, 25km, 19km and 7.5km.
Voneugen, a Prince George Sports Hall of Fame member for his long-time involvement in events like the Labour Day Classic and the Terry Fox Run, isn't planning anything special for his milestone birthday.
"I was going to maybe have a little get-together at my house," said Voneugen, who is dealing with lower back and hip problems these days. "No run though. My running days are over. Even walking is, at times, a challenge."
