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☰
Vancouver International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Vancouver International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 227 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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D. S. from Coram, New York
(5/12/2009)
"I expected more" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Vancouver is a wonderful city. Thus, I expected a wonderful race also. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and therefore do not recommend this race. The organization was very minimal. On the other hand, the course was good, there plenty of drinks, and they had free coffee at the start and finish. The negatives: Small expo. There weren't many souvenirs for sale. Not much clothing. The running shirt was horrible. And most importantly, the medal was ridiculous. The medal does not have the city name or the date! Again, Vancouver is a nice place, but I think the marathon needs some improvement. While this is just my own opinion, I think some of the negatives mentioned above were also noticed by other runners. | |
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C. K. from Burnaby, BC
(5/4/2009)
"Mind over body" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The expo was small and didn't generate much pre-race excitement. There was minimal clothing for sale and no deals to be found. The shirt is ok, but it's white and boring. A lack of interesting booths made it easy to leave quickly. The race was well organized, with lots of volunteers directing runners, and working the water, sponge, and candy stations. Signs also showed runners which direction to turn, and volunteers ensured that runners ran the right direction in isolated routes and when the marathoners/half-marathoners separated. This was a relief because there were many turns on course and by the end I was too tired to think straight. This marathon is HILLY! I ran the Seattle Marathon in November, and it's a flat course compared to Vancouver. The last 12K stretch over the bridge requires 100% mind over body because you're exhausted and have one last long stretch to beat. I knew it had hills but didn't know the extent. Overall, I still finished with a new PB of 3:18, but for the first-time marathoner, this course could be a mega challenge. Crowd support was good at key spots. Running the middle miles through Stanley Park was lonely, though, and I was relieved to get out and back into the main city. The finishing line had lots of food. Some choices were a little unusual (chips and carrots), but there was plenty of food. Overall, it was a great but challenging race. | |
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P. R. from Calgary, AB
(2/15/2009)
"Beautiful City, Beautiful Race!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Vancouver International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I did the race for the second time in 2008, 10 years after I ran it as my first marathon. I loved it just as much as I did the first time (although for 10 years I've been carrying a fear of the bridge crossing around mile 25 - it was not as tough the second time around thank goodness!!). The crowds in West Van after Stanley Park were particularly appreciated! I wish I lived in Vancouver to run Stanley Park all the time! (Although I do prefer the blue sky we see more often in Calgary.) Lucked out in 2008 - no rain during the race. This time I was robo-runner, using a Garmin GPS. Anyone else using one, just be ready for a few wonky pace readings in the tall buildings for the first 8 miles or so (no problems once we got into Stanley Park - tall trees don't seem to bother GPS). I'll be back again soon! | |
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k. j. from Vancouver BC Canada
(10/16/2008)
"Ace!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I have run this event four times - thrice in the half and once in the full. It is very well organized. Both routes are very picturesque and beautiful. The crowd support is fantastic. The only downside is that it always rains. | |
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T. M. from Penticton BC
(5/24/2008)
"Beautiful course; great volunteers and crowd." (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This event was well organized, with plenty of helpful volunteers. The crowds were great in the Kits and downtown areas, though a little sparse in East Van and Stanley Park. The shirt is great and the medal is a cool Inuit engraving. I'll be back next year. | |
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T. M. from Ottawa, Ontario
(5/9/2008)
"Excellent From Start To Finish" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My first Vancouver marathon and hopefully not my last. I live in Ottawa and had to be on the West Coast for business the week before and after the race. A quick check of MarathonGuide.com indicated that there would be a race which coincided with my trip, so I signed up. No regrets. From my arrival at the expo to my finish on Sunday morning, I was blown away by the level of organization associated with this race. The icing on the cake: the food tables once we were ushered back into BC Place. I'll be back for this one - just need to convince the boss that I need to be in Vancouver the first weekend in May every year. | |
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S. G. from Michigan
(5/9/2008)
"Beautiful Marathon" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I would have given it 5 stars across the board, but as I ran the last .2, and my name was announced at 5:38, the organizers closed the finish line with gates and redirected the remainder of the runners to a small timing pad at the side of the finish. Disappointing end to a tough, beautiful marathon. If I do the entire 26.2, I want my finish across the real finish line. I feel a bit robbed. The course was challenging for me, as I'm from flat Michigan. Spectators and support volunteers were fabulous. | |
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Tim Harlow from Texas
(5/8/2008)
"Way to go, Vancouver" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Vancouver is a beautiful city, and the people are wonderful. The organization of the race was excellent. The expo was pretty average but that's not why I run, so it didn't matter. We had sunny weather on race day with temps around 50. It was a bit humid. As previously noted, there were more hills than advertised. The climb up the Burrard Street Bridge just about did me in, and knowing I had to cross back over it, I was really worried. I was having a great race until Stanley Park, but once I hit the park, things became a blur. I would love to come back Vancouver and try this one again, but this time I would prepare a bit differently. The crowds and volunteers were great! Like a lot of people, I was complaining about being trapped after the race between those two garage doors. Now I understand about the airlock, and it all makes sense. Way to go, Vancouver. | |
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Kim Draney from Livonia, Mi
(5/6/2008)
"Couldn't have asked for a better first marathon" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The weather was beautiful and the spectators where so supportive. Having our names on our bibs was awesome. Being inside before and after the race was really nice, and the views were amazing. All issues that I read about previous years were addressed, the medals were beautiful, and the finisher shirts were really nice too. I couldn't have asked for a better first marathon. | |
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s. b. from gibsons,B.C
(5/6/2008)
"Great!" (about: 2008)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Vancouver International Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Being held in my home town, I loved it. It was inspiring each time we ran around the waterfront, and the weather was perfect. I didn't like the 9 mile out-and-back and the fact that miles 21 to 24 seemed to be all up-hill. The volunteers were great, and aid staions and water stations were plentiful. If the course were backwards, it would be perfect! |
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