Vancouver Marathon

Last updated
Vancouver Marathon
BMO logo.png
BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon Logo
DateFirst Sunday in May
Location Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Event typeRoad Race
Distance Marathon
Established1972
Official site BMO 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.

Contents

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]

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]

YearMale winnerFemale winner
1972Tom HowardFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:24:08Patricia LovelandFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 3:39:23
1973Tom HowardFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:21:46Deborah CollinsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3:24:39
1974Tom HowardFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:14:34Maria BrzezinskaFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3:03:15
1975Joe SkajaFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:22:30Linda WinslowFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 3:06:49
1976Ross JacksonFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2:22:30 Doris Brown Heritage Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:47:34
1977Chris BolterFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:22:36Meg GordonFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3:14:32
1978John HillFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:20:49Gail McKeanFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:55:33
1979 Bill Scott Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2:15:56Gail McKeanFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:44:53
1980Garry HenryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2:13:14Marilyn BelwoodFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:45:27
1981Brian MorganFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2:19:42Nancy McLarenFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:48:23
1982Steve PomeroyFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:16:56Sue KrennFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:45:25
1983 Paul Bannon Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:19:42Beverly BushFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:45:23
1984Ric SayreFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:16:34Carol RavenFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2:52:03
1985Adrian WellingtonFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2:24:24Kikue TejimaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:55:32
1986Hiromi NishiFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:21:14Joi BelykFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:45:37
1987Tetsuji IwaseFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:21:12Cathy KrollFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:46:50
1988Mitsumasa MatsuyamaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:19:20Isabelle DittbernerFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:50:33
1989 Shem-Tov Sabag Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2:19:41Anne MangalFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:50:05
1990Yoshikazu TaneseFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:23:47Reiko HirosawaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:55:41
1991Shigemi TamoriFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:25:01Misao MiyataFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:52:14
1992Masato KojimaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:23:24Yuka TerumumaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:43:16
1993Hayashi MorozumiFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:18:37Eniko FeherFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2:47:27
1994Makoto SasakiFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:17:24Eniko FeherFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2:46:24
1995Graciano GonzalezFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2:23:11Yoko OkudaFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:48:50
1996Juan GonzalezFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2:17:47Eniko FeherFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2:52:38
1997Juan GonzalezFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2:22:53Eniko FeherFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2:49:56
1998Juan GonzalezFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2:22:48Krystina PieczulisFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 2:43:20
1999Atsunari SaitoFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:21:33Krystina PieczulisFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 2:43:46
2000Ulrich SteidlFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 2:18:53Krystina PieczulisFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 2:45:32
2001Ulrich SteidlFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 2:18:56Leteyesus BereheFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2:45:51
2002Ulrich SteidlFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 2:17:01Angela StrangeFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:45:46
2003Ulrich SteidlFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 2:20:22Angela StrangeFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:46:22
2004Ulrich SteidlFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 2:18:26 Mary Akor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:44:43
2005Kassahun KabisoFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2:15:40Rimma DubovikFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 2:44:05
2006Kassahun KabisoFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2:18:28Malgorzata SobanskaFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 2:37:06
2007Thomas OmwengaFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:25:27Claudia CamargoFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2:35:50
2008Thomas OmwengaFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:15:59 Mary Akor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:37:54
2009Benard Arasa OnsareFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:28:26 Mary Akor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:46:24
2010Thomas OmwengaFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:16:55Emma Muthoni KirukiFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:37:17
2011Benard Arasa OnsareFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:19:54Keddi-Anne SherbinoFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:43:40
2012Gezahgn EshetuFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2:21:51Ellie GreenwoodFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2:42:16
2013Thomas OmwengaFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:24:09Lucy NjeriFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:40:34
2014Berhanu MekonnenFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2:21:08Kimberley DoerksenFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:37:00
2015 Luka Chelimo Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:18:37 Lioudmila Kortchaguina Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:37:37
2016 Daniel Kipkoech Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:21:04 Hirut Guangul Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2:39:52
2017 Daniel Kipkoech Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:19:09 Gladys Tarus Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 2:39:38
2018 Rob Watson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:27:38 Zhiling Zheng Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2:43:50
2019 Yuki Kawauchi Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:15:01 Yuko Mizuguchi Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:41:28
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [7]
2021
2022 [8] Chris Balestrini Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:23:56 Dayna Pidhoresky Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:34:30
2023 [9] Yuki Kawauchi Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2:17:04 Dayna Pidhoresky Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2:34:25

Current World Records established at the Vancouver Marathon

MARATHON

HALF MARATHON

Race Dates

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

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. [11]

Cancellations

The 2020 edition of the marathon was replaced with a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] The 2021 edition was also cancelled and replaced with virtual events. [13]

See also

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References

  1. 14,395 Participate in BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon, Canada’s 2nd Largest Marathon
  2. Thousands run in Vancouver Marathon
  3. "Marathon | BMO 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. 1 2 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZERS CANCEL THE 2020 BMO VANCOUVER MARATHON AMID COVID-19 CONCERNS
  8. "2022 | BMO Vancouver Marathon".
  9. "BMO Vancouver Marathon - Marathon".
  10. Women's winner back on track
  11. BMO Vancouver Marathon executive director talks traffic holdups Running Magazine
  12. Crawford, Tiffany (April 18, 2020). "Covid-19: Sun Runners plan solo 10 K runs to mark cancelled event Sunday". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  13. Pawson, Chad (May 22, 2021). "Running was supposed to be the perfect pandemic pursuit, but not for this blind B.C. runner". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2021.