Vancouver Marathon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vancouver Marathon |
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BMO Bank of Montreal Vancouver Marathon Logo
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| Date | First Sunday in May |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Event type | Road Race |
| Distance | Marathon |
| Established | 1972 |
| Official site | BMO Vancouver Marathon |
The BMO Vancouver Marathon is a big running event that happens every year in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's held on the first Sunday of May. This race is one of the largest marathons in Canada, attracting runners from all over the world. A full marathon is a very long race, about 42 kilometers (or 26 miles and 385 yards).
In 2014, over 14,000 people took part in the event, and more than 3,700 of them completed the full marathon distance. The race is officially recognized by big sports groups like the International Association of Athletics Federations, which means it's a high-quality race where runners can qualify for other major events.
The Vancouver Marathon started in 1972 with just 46 runners. They ran five loops around Stanley Park to finish the race. Back then, it was called the Lions Gate Road Runners International Marathon. Over the years, more and more people joined, and by 1977, about 300 runners were participating. In 1983, the race became known as the "Long Marathon" because runners accidentally ran an extra 561 yards!
Today, runners can choose from different race lengths:
- Full Marathon (42 km) – This race can help runners qualify for the famous Boston Marathon.
- Half Marathon (21 km)
- 8K (8 km)
The main sponsor of the race is the BMO Bank of Montreal, which is why it's called the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Before BMO, Adidas was the main sponsor from 2001 to 2005, and the race was known as the Adidas Vancouver International Marathon.
Contents
How the Marathon is Organized
The Vancouver International Marathon Society (VIMS) runs this big event. VIMS is a non-profit group led by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a team of staff.
Every year, VIMS asks for volunteers to help make the marathon a success. About 4,000 volunteers work together to ensure everything runs smoothly. They help with many important tasks, like setting up water stations, staffing medical tents, preparing food, and handing out shirts and medals to the runners.
What Happens During Race Week
The marathon isn't just one day of running; there are other activities too!
The Marathon Expo
The marathon weekend kicks off with an exciting Expo. This is where runners go to pick up their race information and get cool free stuff from different sponsors and sports groups. It's a great place to learn about new running gear and meet other runners.
Race Day Excitement
On race day, runners start at different times to help keep the race organized and make sure everyone's time is recorded accurately. Along the race course, there are many safety officials, including paramedics and radio operators from VECTOR (Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization), ready to help if needed.
After the races, there's an award ceremony. The fastest male and female runners in the full and half marathons receive cash prizes. The fastest relay teams also get awards.
Past Marathon Winners
Many amazing runners have won the BMO Vancouver Marathon over the years. The table below shows some of the top male and female winners and their winning times.
| Year | Male winner | Female winner | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Tom Howard |  Canada |
2:24:08 | Patricia Loveland |  United States |
3:39:23 |
| 1973 | Tom Howard | Canada |
2:21:46 | Deborah Collins | Canada |
3:24:39 |
| 1974 | Tom Howard | Canada |
2:14:34 | Maria Brzezinska | Canada |
3:03:15 |
| 1975 | Joe Skaja | Canada |
2:22:30 | Linda Winslow | United States |
3:06:49 |
| 1976 | Ross Jackson |  New Zealand |
2:22:30 | Doris Brown Heritage | United States |
2:47:34 |
| 1977 | Chris Bolter | Canada |
2:22:36 | Meg Gordon | Canada |
3:14:32 |
| 1978 | John Hill | Canada |
2:20:49 | Gail McKean | Canada |
2:55:33 |
| 1979 | Bill Scott |  Australia |
2:15:56 | Gail McKean | Canada |
2:44:53 |
| 1980 | Garry Henry | Australia |
2:13:14 | Marilyn Belwood | United States |
2:45:27 |
| 1981 | Brian Morgan | Australia |
2:19:42 | Nancy McLaren | Canada |
2:48:23 |
| 1982 | Steve Pomeroy | Canada |
2:16:56 | Sue Krenn | United States |
2:45:25 |
| 1983 | Paul Bannon | Canada |
2:19:42 | Beverly Bush | Canada |
2:45:23 |
| 1984 | Ric Sayre | United States |
2:16:34 | Carol Raven | New Zealand |
2:52:03 |
| 1985 | Adrian Wellington | Australia |
2:24:24 | Kikue Tejima |  Japan |
2:55:32 |
| 1986 | Hiromi Nishi | Japan |
2:21:14 | Joi Belyk | Canada |
2:45:37 |
| 1987 | Tetsuji Iwase | Japan |
2:21:12 | Cathy Kroll | United States |
2:46:50 |
| 1988 | Mitsumasa Matsuyama | Japan |
2:19:20 | Isabelle Dittberner | Canada |
2:50:33 |
| 1989 | Shem-Tov Sabag |  Israel |
2:19:41 | Anne Mangal | Canada |
2:50:05 |
| 1990 | Yoshikazu Tanese | Japan |
2:23:47 | Reiko Hirosawa | Japan |
2:55:41 |
| 1991 | Shigemi Tamori | Japan |
2:25:01 | Misao Miyata | Japan |
2:52:14 |
| 1992 | Masato Kojima | Japan |
2:23:24 | Yuka Terumuma | Japan |
2:43:16 |
| 1993 | Hayashi Morozumi | Japan |
2:18:37 | Eniko Feher |  Hungary |
2:47:27 |
| 1994 | Makoto Sasaki | Japan |
2:17:24 | Eniko Feher | Hungary |
2:46:24 |
| 1995 | Graciano Gonzalez |  Mexico |
2:23:11 | Yoko Okuda | Japan |
2:48:50 |
| 1996 | Juan Gonzalez | Mexico |
2:17:47 | Eniko Feher | Hungary |
2:52:38 |
| 1997 | Juan Gonzalez | Mexico |
2:22:53 | Eniko Feher | Hungary |
2:49:56 |
| 1998 | Juan Gonzalez | Mexico |
2:22:48 | Krystina Pieczulis |  Poland |
2:43:20 |
| 1999 | Atsunari Saito | Japan |
2:21:33 | Krystina Pieczulis | Poland |
2:43:46 |
| 2000 | Ulrich Steidl |  Germany |
2:18:53 | Krystina Pieczulis | Poland |
2:45:32 |
| 2001 | Ulrich Steidl | Germany |
2:18:56 | Leteyesus Berehe |  Ethiopia |
2:45:51 |
| 2002 | Ulrich Steidl | Germany |
2:17:01 | Angela Strange | Canada |
2:45:46 |
| 2003 | Ulrich Steidl | Germany |
2:20:22 | Angela Strange | Canada |
2:46:22 |
| 2004 | Ulrich Steidl | Germany |
2:18:26 | Mary Akor | United States |
2:44:43 |
| 2005 | Kassahun Kabiso | Ethiopia |
2:15:40 | Rimma Dubovik |  Ukraine |
2:44:05 |
| 2006 | Kassahun Kabiso | Ethiopia |
2:18:28 | Malgorzata Sobanska | Poland |
2:37:06 |
| 2007 | Thomas Omwenga |  Kenya |
2:25:27 | Claudia Camargo |  Argentina |
2:35:50 |
| 2008 | Thomas Omwenga | Kenya |
2:15:59 | Mary Akor | United States |
2:37:54 |
| 2009 | Benard Arasa Onsare | Kenya |
2:28:26 | Mary Akor | United States |
2:46:24 |
| 2010 | Thomas Omwenga | Kenya |
2:16:55 | Emma Muthoni Kiruki | Kenya |
2:37:17 |
| 2011 | Benard Arasa Onsare | Kenya |
2:19:54 | Keddi-Anne Sherbino | Canada |
2:43:40 |
| 2012 | Gezahgn Eshetu | Ethiopia |
2:21:51 | Ellie Greenwood |  United Kingdom |
2:42:16 |
| 2013 | Thomas Omwenga | Kenya |
2:24:09 | Lucy Njeri | Kenya |
2:40:34 |
| 2014 | Berhanu Mekonnen | Ethiopia |
2:21:08 | Kimberley Doerksen | Canada |
2:37:00 |
| 2015 | Luka Chelimo | Kenya |
2:18:37 | Lioudmila Kortchaguina | Canada |
2:37:37 |
| 2016 | Daniel Kipkoech | Canada |
2:21:04 | Hirut Guangul | United States |
2:39:52 |
| 2017 | Daniel Kipkoech | Canada |
2:19:09 | Gladys Tarus | Kenya |
2:39:38 |
| 2018 | Rob Watson | Canada |
2:27:38 | Zhiling Zheng |  China |
2:43:50 |
| 2019 | Yuki Kawauchi | Japan |
2:15:01 | Yuko Mizuguchi | Japan |
2:41:28 |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | |||||
| 2021 | ||||||
| 2022 | Chris Balestrini | Canada |
2:23:56 | Dayna Pidhoresky | Canada |
2:34:30 |
| 2023 | Yuki Kawauchi | Japan |
2:17:04 | Dayna Pidhoresky | Canada |
2:34:25 |
- Note: Bold face text shows the current record holder for the course.
World Records Set at the Marathon
Some amazing world records have been set by older runners at the Vancouver Marathon! These records are for specific age groups.
Marathon Records
- On May 1, 2005, BJ (Betty Jean) McHugh from North Vancouver, Canada, set a world record for women aged 77 in the marathon with a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes, and 28 seconds.
- On May 3, 2009, Gwen McFarlan from Richmond, Canada, set a world record for women aged 75 in the marathon, finishing in 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 30 seconds.
Half Marathon Records
- On May 4, 1997, BJ (Betty Jean) McHugh set a world record for women aged 69 in the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 41 minutes, and 39 seconds.
- On May 4, 2008, BJ (Betty Jean) McHugh set another world record for women aged 80 in the half marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 19 seconds.
- On May 2, 2010, Gwen McFarlan set a world record for women aged 76 in the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes, and 23 seconds.
- Also on May 2, 2010, BJ (Betty Jean) McHugh set a world record for women aged 82 in the half marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 8 seconds.
When the Race Happens
The BMO Vancouver Marathon is always held on the first Sunday of May.
- May 2, 2010 (39th race)
- May 1, 2011 (40th race)
- May 6, 2012 (41st race)
- May 5, 2013 (42nd race)
- May 4, 2014 (43rd race)
- May 3, 2015 (44th race)
- May 8, 2016 (45th race)
- May 7, 2017 (46th race)
- May 6, 2018 (47th race)
- May 5, 2019 (48th race)
- The 2020 race was cancelled because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 event was held virtually, meaning people ran on their own and reported their times.
Cancellations of the Race
The marathon had to be changed or cancelled in some years.
- In 2020, the race was replaced with a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The 2021 race was also cancelled as a live event and replaced with virtual races.
See also
- List of marathon races in North America
