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- January 06, 2012
We’ve been listening to participants, volunteers and the community and the feedback over the last few years was that it was time for something new. The challenge for the Volunteer Design Committee, entirely made up of volunteers such as past Board members, hard core runners and city folks, was to create a signature event that engages participants and the community in a unique way while celebrating our 40 year legacy.
To that end, we have created two exceptional races, showcasing some of Vancouver’s most unique qualities – our charming neighborhoods, our world class parks, our stunning Seawall and our vibrant downtown.
- January 06, 2012
A looped course is the most common found course in running events. It starts and finishes in the same location. It is also logistically the easiest to manage for organizers. The BMO Vancouver Marathon has primarily been a loop for some 40 years.
A point to point course is not as common, as it starts in one location and ends in another. It provides significant planning for organizers to execute. Generally a point to point course is often looked as being more challenging for organizers, but also provides the opportunity for participants never to repeat the same or similar area of a destination/ city again making the entire running experience unique. Every km will be an experience.
- January 06, 2012
The point to point option was chosen as it provided greater flexibility in course design in Vancouver. It could not have been possible without transit line from the 2011 Olympics, or the countless city, parks board & government agencies that have collaborated for the last 2 years on the project. It will definitely be flatter (only a couple of slight hills), with both routes having net elevation loss (within IAAF guidelines) and therefore it promises to be faster. We also join the ranks of the “Big City” (point to point) Marathons – Boston, New York, London and Los Angeles. These are iconic runs – and we aspire to offer just as interesting a route, if not even more scenic.
- January 06, 2012
· 2012 features is a whole new running experience; in fact it is two distinct running events. The Half Marathon and the Marathon both are completely separate from the start until the last 2km of both events
· Half Marathoners will experience something exceptional and different from most events - 21 kms of their OWN SEPERATE unique course.
· The route designs retained some of the highlights of the previous courses from participant feedback while providing more stunning views of the mountains and ocean or unique places in the city never run before in a major event.
· We want people to Experience the BMO Vancouver Marathon AGAIN for the FIRST time.
· No doubling back on the route, fewer hills, and both routes have a net elevation loss, making the courses potentially faster.
- January 06, 2012
In May 2012 we are focusing all our attention to provided the best participant expereince on two distinct running events. The Half Marathon and the Marathon both are point to point and completely separate from the start until the last 2km of both events. In order to ensure the best participant experience and highest levels of safety their will not be a Marafun or 8 Km this year.
Stay tuned for other ways to get kids involved during the Marathon Weekend. Thank you so much for your understanding for May 6 2012.