While some running events have been recording lower turnouts in the post-pandemic world, that was not the case with the sold-out 19th annual Fort 91原创 Half Marathon and 5 K race, presented by Peninsula Runners and Garrison Running Co. at the historic fort on Sunday, July 10, with close to 400 runners taking part.

Event organizer Philip Ellis, owner of Peninsula Runners in 91原创, was 鈥渁 little bit鈥� surprised, and pleased, with the attendance.

鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 because we鈥檙e a small event,鈥� Ellis told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淧eople feel comfortable coming out. We鈥檙e not the biggest [or] fanciest outfit, but we do a good job.鈥�

Ellis is thinking about increasing the size of the twin events next year, but not by a lot.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to upset the neighbours by getting too many people,鈥� Ellis explained, who is considering setting a cap of 500 maximum.

READ ALSO: Fort 91原创 half marathon and 5K events sell out

Event regular Roger Antoniazzi, wearing number 001, was back for his 19th consecutive Fort 91原创 half marathon, competing in the 60-69 division, where he finished third.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not getting any easier,鈥� the Surrey resident laughed.

While the Sunday weather was near-perfect, a higher than usual number of mosquitoes were an annoyance,

Maple Ridge鈥檚 Tara Beaubien applied insect repellent before she arrived for the run, her first in six years.

鈥淲ith high water levels, the mosquitoes were going to be extra,鈥� Beaubien observed.

Beaubien, who finished second in the female 40-49 division, arrived with her own cheering section, her two grandsons, aged four and two, who were waiting for her at the finish line.

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Cloverdale resident Shiraz Kaba, 77, was delighted to see the run resume after the pandemic forced a shutdown.

Kaba, 77, couldn鈥檛 say how exactly many races he鈥檚 taken part in since he took up the sport.

鈥淚鈥檝e been doing it for 17 years now,鈥� Kaba related, 鈥渏ust being healthy.鈥�

Drew Nicholson from Surrey was overall winner in the half marathon , while Bethany Pitcher from Burlington, Ontario, was the first female runner to cross the finish line.

In the 5K, Markus Toolsie-Worsnup from Maple Ridge was first overall, with Ana Dulko, from North Vancouver, just six seconds behind.