Race Policies

The following is a list of Policies for 2013.

General Policies 

1. Age Restrictions:  Our race registration Age Policy requires that as of race day, May 5, 2013, all Marathon participants must be 18 or older, all Half Marathon participants must be 16 or older, all 8 km participants must be 13 or older, and all 8 km Teen Challenge participants must be between 13 and 19. All Kids 1-Mile Fun Run participants must be between 6 and 12 on race day, May 4, 2013.

This policy follows international standards, has been informed by our external medical advisers, and is in place for the safety of participants. Parents/guardians must sign the Letter of Authorization for participants aged 16-19 and parents/guardians are urged to ensure that young runners have the training and pace judgement needed to complete the event comfortably and safely. Event organizers reserve the right to require proof of age.

2. Prohibited Items: The use of strollers, bicycles, inline skates, pets, and elite pacing are strictly prohibited. The right to disqualify runners who fail to comply with these regulations is at the sole and exclusive decision of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver International Marathon Society (“Society”).

3. iPods/MP3 players/headphones: For the runner’s safety, music devices are prohibited. There is no risk of disqualification for simple use, however, if a runner puts themselves or other runners at risk through an unsafe act that Event officials determine was caused directly or indirectly through the use of a prohibited item, the runner may be disqualified.

4. Pacing Requirement: There will be designated check points along the course with authorized course marshals that monitor and encourage runners to stay on pace and to ensure completion within the cut off time.  A sweep vehicle will be available for pick up if necessary.

5. Course Hours: The Half Marathon course is open at 7am and closes at 11am. The Marathon course is open at 8am and closes at 4pm. The 8 km course is open at 6:30am and closes at 8am. The Kids 1-Mile Fun Run course opens at 10:30am and closes at 11:30am.

6. Course Availability: The event is restricted and limited to registered participants only.

 Parental Letter of Authorization

Governing Law Agreement (for Non-residents of Canada)

Refund Policy

ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE AND CANNOT BE DEFERRED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

For Legal and Liability reasons Runners cannot offer their unused bib to any other runner. Runners are not allowed to defer their unused entry to the following year.

Switching Races

While there is space available, you may switch your Marathon entry to a Half Marathon entry.  However, the difference will not be refunded. You may switch from the Half Marathon to the Marathon but you will be charged the difference. A $10 change fee will be applied to all changes.

NOTE: The online link to switch races is now closed. While there is space available, you may switch your Marathon/Half Marathon/8K entry to a 8K/Half Marathon/Marathon entry at the Health, Sport & Lifestyle Expo, held at Canada Place on Thursday May 2, Friday May 3 and Saturday May 4. Please pick up your race package and proceed to the Solutions Desk to switch your registration.

If you are registered as a VIP Marathon or VIP Half Marathon runner, or wish to upgrade to the VIP Marathon or Half Marathon Package, please email registration@vanmarathon.ca with your request.

Note: if a runner registered for the Marathon runs the Half Marathon without officially switching events prior to race day, upon crossing the Finish Line the runner will not receive a Half Marathon medal (and vice versa). In addition, the timing company will register the runner’s time as DNF (did not finish).

Race Result Policy

VALIDATION OF RACE RESULTS POLICY

It is the responsibility of each runner (“Runner”) to properly secure the chip timing device (“Chip”) onto their shoes.  To maintain the integrity of race results for the BMO Vancouver Marathon, race results for any particular runner may not be validated in the following circumstances:

• Where (Chip) times at specific locations, the half-way point and at the 20-mile point have not been recorded (despite both start and finish (Chip) times having been recorded);

• Where (i) a half-way point (Chip) time is not recorded, (ii) a 20-mile (Chip) time is not recorded and (iii) a (Chip) time is not recorded at multiple points on the course and (iv) there is a negative split time between the first half of the marathon and the second half of the marathon exceeding 15 minutes; or

• In such other circumstances as determined by the sole and exclusive decision of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver International Marathon Society (“Society”).

In the event a Runner’s time has not been validated in the circumstances described above, the Runner may appeal the non-validation of the runner’s time by requesting, in writing, that the Society review the validation of the runner’s time. Such review will be based on the written explanation of the runner and a review of the cameras (film and photo) commissioned by the Society during the race. All decisions by the Society as to any such appeal are final.

The Society reserves the right to forward notice of all results that have not been validated to BC Athletics, Athletics Canada, the Boston Marathon Society or such other race governing organizations as appropriate.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT RESULTS: GUN TIME IS THE OFFICIAL TIME

The BMO Vancouver Marathon bases the results on GUN TIME. Gun Time is the time from the start of the race (gun) to when you cross the finish line as per IAAF, Athletics Canada, USATF, AIMS and International Awards standards.

Excerpt from the IAAF Road Race Handbook – Pg 196 RULE 240

Note: “For road races and road walking events, the official time will be the time elapsed between the start gun and the athlete reaching the finish line. However, if an athlete crosses the start line after the start gun, his time elapsed between the start and finish line can be made known to the athlete but will not be considered as official time. The order in which athletes reach the finish line will be considered as the official finish position.” 196 RULE 240

The Chip timing is provided to participants for personal interest only.

Rules of Competition

• Participants must stay within course boundaries, as designated by officials, marshals  traffic cones, barriers, and other markings, at all times. Failure to do so may result in disqualification and ineligibility for future BMO Vancouver Marathon events.

• Participant bib numbers must be fully visible at all times on the front of the body.

• Participants are advised not to invite anyone not officially registered for the event to join in any part of the race. Any runners not officially registered for the event will be given one warning before the Police will be advised, and the runner will be removed from the course.

• The Society reserves the right to disqualify any individual from the BMO Vancouver Marathon event. This disqualification may be based on, but is not limited to, all race policies; unsportsmanlike conduct; competing with an unofficial bib number; competing with an official bib number assigned to another person; transferring or attempting to transfer an official bib number, or to obtain such bib number, from another person; being paced during the race by a person not entered in the race; accepting assistance from non-race participants; crossing the finish line without having completed the entire course; and providing false information on the race entry form. Individuals disqualified from a race will be removed from the race results and may be barred from future events.