Vancouver Marathon

The BMO Vancouver Marathon is an annual race held on the first Sunday of May each year in Vancouver, British Columbia. As the second largest international marathon in Canada,[1] it has a certified running distance of 26 miles and 385 yards long. The marathon saw over 14,000 people participate on May 4, 2014,[2] with over 3700 completing the marathon distance.[3] This marathon is certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations & Association of International Marathons and Distance Races as a qualifying marathon race.

Vancouver Marathon
BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon Logo
DateFirst Sunday in May
LocationVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Event typeRoad Race
DistanceMarathon
Established1972
Official siteBMO Vancouver Marathon

The race started in 1972 when a small group of 46 runners ran five loops of Stanley Park to complete the first Vancouver International Marathon (known as Lions Gate Road Runners International Marathon).[4] The marathon grew over the next few years to 300 participants in 1977. However the event suffered a major setback in 1976 when a participant, Dr. Leslie Truelove, collapsed mid-race and died due to aneurysm. The Dr. Leslie Truelove Memorial Trophy was established to honour the first male finisher in the 50+ age category. His widow, Rosamund Dashwood, subsequently took up running and became a national champion for her age group.

The 1983 race became known as the "Long Marathon" after runners were misdirected during its running — adding an extra 561 yards to the race.

Currently, several different options are available for participants:[5]

  • Full Marathon (a Boston Marathon qualifying event) – 42 km
  • Half Marathon – 21 km
  • 8K – 8 km

Its current title sponsor is the BMO Bank of Montreal thus the marathon is known as BMO Vancouver Marathon. Previous title sponsor was Adidas in 2001-2005, known as the Adidas Vancouver International Marathon.

Organization

The event is hosted by the Vancouver International Marathon Society (VIMS), a non-profit organization run by a volunteer Board of Directors, and managed by staff of the Society.

Each year, VIMS recruit volunteers to help with pre-race preparations and race day operation. In total, about 4000 volunteers help to run the marathon smoothly. Volunteers help in areas such as water stations, medical stations, set-up/take down, food services, given out shirts & medals to runners.

Event details

A free Friendship Run organized by the Running Room is held during the race week for those who wish to participate.

Expo

The Marathon is kicked off by an Expo where runners to pick up their information packages and to receive promotional materials from various sponsors and athletic associations.

Race Day

All participants start off using a staggered time system to ensure timing accuracy. Along the race course, various safety officials are on course, including paramedics and amateur radio operators from VECTOR (Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization).

The award ceremony are held on race day. Cash prizes will be presented to the top three male and female full and half marathon runners while merchandise will be awarded to the fastest relay team.

Past winners – Full marathon

[6]

Year Male winner Female winner
1972Tom Howard Canada2:24:08Patricia Loveland United States3:39:23
1973Tom Howard Canada2:21:46Deborah Collins Canada3:24:39
1974Tom Howard Canada2:14:34Maria Brzezinska Canada3:03:15
1975Joe Skaja Canada2:22:30Linda Winslow United States3:06:49
1976Ross Jackson New Zealand2:22:30Doris Brown Heritage United States2:47:34
1977Chris Bolter Canada2:22:36Meg Gordon Canada3:14:32
1978John Hill Canada2:20:49Gail McKean Canada2:55:33
1979Bill Scott Australia2:15:56Gail McKean Canada2:44:53
1980Garry Henry Australia2:13:14Marilyn Belwood United States2:45:27
1981Brian Morgan Australia2:19:42Nancy McLaren Canada2:48:23
1982Steve Pomeroy Canada2:16:56Sue Krenn United States2:45:25
1983Paul Bannon Canada2:19:42Beverly Bush Canada2:45:23
1984Ric Sayre United States2:16:34Carol Raven New Zealand2:52:03
1985Adrian Wellington Australia2:24:24Kikue Tejima Japan2:55:32
1986Hiromi Nishi Japan2:21:14Joi Belyk Canada2:45:37
1987Tetsuji Iwase Japan2:21:12Cathy Kroll United States2:46:50
1988Mitsumasa Matsuyama Japan2:19:20Isabelle Dittberner Canada2:50:33
1989Shem-Tov Sabag Israel2:19:41Anne Mangal Canada2:50:05
1990Yoshikazu Tanese Japan2:23:47Reiko Hirosawa Japan2:55:41
1991Shigemi Tamori Japan2:25:01Misao Miyata Japan2:52:14
1992Masato Kojima Japan2:23:24Yuka Terumuma Japan2:43:16
1993Hayashi Morozumi Japan2:18:37Eniko Feher Hungary2:47:27
1994Makoto Sasaki Japan2:17:24Eniko Feher Hungary2:46:24
1995Graciano Gonzalez Mexico2:23:11Yoko Okuda Japan2:48:50
1996Juan Gonzalez Mexico2:17:47Eniko Feher Hungary2:52:38
1997Juan Gonzalez Mexico2:22:53Eniko Feher Hungary2:49:56
1998Juan Gonzalez Mexico2:22:48Krystina Pieczulis Poland2:43:20
1999Atsunari Saito Japan2:21:33Krystina Pieczulis Poland2:43:46
2000Ulrich Steidl Germany2:18:53Krystina Pieczulis Poland2:45:32
2001Ulrich Steidl Germany2:18:56Leteyesus Berehe Ethiopia2:45:51
2002Ulrich Steidl Germany2:17:01Angela Strange Canada2:45:46
2003Ulrich Steidl Germany2:20:22Angela Strange Canada2:46:22
2004Ulrich Steidl Germany2:18:26Mary Akor United States2:44:43
2005Kassahun Kabiso Ethiopia2:15:40Rimma Dubovik Ukraine2:44:05
2006Kassahun Kabiso Ethiopia2:18:28Malgorzata Sobanska Poland2:37:06
2007Thomas Omwenga Kenya2:25:27Claudia Camargo Argentina2:35:50
2008Thomas Omwenga Kenya2:15:59Mary Akor United States2:37:54
2009Benard Arasa Onsare Kenya2:28:26Mary Akor United States2:46:24
2010Thomas Omwenga Kenya2:16:55Emma Muthoni Kiruki Kenya2:37:17
2011Benard Arasa Onsare Kenya2:19:54Keddi-Anne Sherbino Canada2:43:40
2012Gezahgn Eshetu Ethiopia2:21:51Ellie Greenwood United Kingdom2:42:16
2013Thomas Omwenga Kenya2:24:09Lucy Njeri Kenya2:40:34
2014Berhanu Mekonnen Ethiopia2:21:08Kimberley Doerksen Canada2:37:00
2015Luka Chelimo Kenya2:18:37Lioudmila Kortchaguina Canada2:37:37
2016Daniel Kipkoech Canada2:21:04Hirut Guangul United States2:39:52
2017Daniel Kipkoech Canada2:19:09Gladys Tarus Kenya2:39:38
2018Rob Watson Canada2:27:38Zhiling Zheng China2:43:50
2019Yuki Kawauchi Japan2:15:01Yuko Mizuguchi Japan2:41:28
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[7]
  • Note: Bold face text denotes current course record holder.

Current World Records established at the Vancouver Marathon

MARATHON

  • May 1, 2005 BJ (BETTY JEAN) McHUGH of North Vancouver, BC Canada established a world W77 single age Marathon record with a time of 4:11:28
  • May 3, 2009 GWEN McFARLAN of Richmond, BC, Canada established a World W75 age group Marathon record for and a W75 single age world record with a time of 3:57:30

HALF MARATHON

  • May 4, 1997 BJ (BETTY JEAN) McHUGH of North Vancouver, BC Canada established a world W69 single age Half Marathon record with a time of 1:41:39
  • May 4, 2008 BJ (BETTY JEAN) McHUGH of North Vancouver, Canada (Single age record for Women aged 80 years old, 2:04:19 Half Marathon)[8]
  • May 2, 2010 GWEN McFARLAN of Richmond, BC, Canada established a World W76 single age Half Marathon record a world record with a time of 1:52:23
  • May 2, 2010 BJ (BETTY JEAN) McHUGH of North Vancouver, BC Canada established a W82 world single age Half Marathon record with a time of 2:23:08

Race Dates

The race is held on the first Sunday of May each year.

  • May 2, 2010 (39th)
  • May 1, 2011 (40th)
  • May 6, 2012 (41st)
  • May 5, 2013 (42nd)
  • May 4, 2014 (43rd)
  • May 3, 2015 (44th)
  • May 8, 2016 (45th)
  • May 7, 2017 (46th)
  • May 6, 2018 (47th)
  • May 5, 2019 (48th)
  • Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition of the event was cancelled. [7]

Controversy

After the 2015 Vancouver Marathon, a video surfaced regarding the lack of coordination with traffic police. Runners were stopped mid-race at intersections. The Marathon director addressed the video and as of 2016, the race no longer begins in waves. Now all runners begin once the gun goes off.[9]

See also

References
  1. 14,395 Participate in BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon, Canada’s 2nd Largest Marathon
  2. Thousands run in Vancouver Marathon
  4. Association of Road Racing Statisticians Accessed May 5, 2008
  5. General Info
  6. Association of Road Racing Statisticians Accessed April 20, 2008
  7. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZERS CANCEL THE 2020 BMO VANCOUVER MARATHON AMID COVID-19 CONCERNS
  8. Women's winner back on track
  9. BMO Vancouver Marathon executive director talks traffic holdups Running Magazine
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