What's the Vancouver Marathon like?

not certain.

I have never been to Vancouver.

Tron wrote:

Anyone have any good/bad experiences with it?

I'm considering doing it next year but curious what others have though about the race? I know it's net downhill but doesn't it have a bunch of hills in it?

The first 20k is hills including one really long climb and some really long pretty steep decents which thrash your quads. But then the course becomes mostly flat and scenic and beautiful. Its worth it for the course but it’s not a good course of you’re looking for a PB.

The most beautiful city in Canada. If you can just nearly afford a home in beverly hills , than you won’t be able to afford a home in Vancouver. We do not like people from Ontario. You won’t set a PR here , unless this is your first marathon.

Surrey BC wrote:

The most beautiful city in Canada. If you can just nearly afford a home in beverly hills , than you won’t be able to afford a home in Vancouver. We do not like people from Ontario. You won’t set a PR here , unless this is your first marathon.

How much slower is it than “fast” marathons?

Tron wrote:

Surrey BC wrote:

The most beautiful city in Canada. If you can just nearly afford a home in beverly hills , than you won’t be able to afford a home in Vancouver. We do not like people from Ontario. You won’t set a PR here , unless this is your first marathon.

How much slower is it than “fast” marathons?

Here ya go, bruh....

Heard the old course was better. it's a slow nasty course too. Some years they don't control the traffic properly and you wait for minutes to cross Granville or burrard.

People do it for the scenery.

Read up about how they stopped the runners so that traffic could get through lights.

Dumb race wrote:

People do it for the scenery.

Read up about how they stopped the runners so that traffic could get through lights.

They would really do that? Is that for stragglers or faster runners. I would think I’d be under 3hrs

Shirts vs. Blouses wrote:

Tron wrote:

How much slower is it than “fast” marathons?

Here ya go, bruh....

http://findmymarathon.com/marathon-time-conversion.php

When I put Berlin compared with Vancouver it was basically the same time?

I would think Berlin would be way faster

Tron wrote:

Dumb race wrote:

People do it for the scenery.

Read up about how they stopped the runners so that traffic could get through lights.

They would really do that? Is that for stragglers or faster runners. I would think I’d be under 3hrs

Serious , this is well organized . The bridge that you cross is long . I have friends with 3 hour PR's , and one guy ran a 3:08 and was happy. It could be very ,very warm, or rainy cold. look at there map. everything by the ocean is dead flat . the issue is the first 10 miles.

Surrey BC wrote:

Tron wrote:

They would really do that? Is that for stragglers or faster runners. I would think I’d be under 3hrs

Serious , this is well organized . The bridge that you cross is long . I have friends with 3 hour PR's , and one guy ran a 3:08 and was happy. It could be very ,very warm, or rainy cold. look at there map. everything by the ocean is dead flat . the issue is the first 10 miles.

Yeah..I would be surprised for a marathon of this magnitude if they actually stopped runners.

Profile looks like 2 good downhills and one long uphill in the first half before hitting sea wall. Hard to tell how steep from elevation profiles. Guessing even if you make it through that ok, it will tire legs out for second half of race

Tron wrote:

Yeah..I would be surprised for a marathon of this magnitude if they actually stopped runners.

Profile looks like 2 good downhills and one long uphill in the first half before hitting sea wall. Hard to tell how steep from elevation profiles. Guessing even if you make it through that ok, it will tire legs out for second half of race

It happened. In the comments it says they don't do it anymore.

My concern would be the course. A serious hill in the first ten miles. It sounds like the old course 2011 and before was better. Fast and scenic. Why can't they go back to that? Best of both worlds.

Tron wrote:

Anyone have any good/bad experiences with it?

I'm considering doing it next year but curious what others have though about the race? I know it's net downhill but doesn't it have a bunch of hills in it?

I've done it 5 times. It's a great course, but not one to necessarily expect to PR on. Technically it is net downhill, but since the big downhill is too steep to properly take advantage of the downhill it is effectively net flat with a bunch of hills. One year they did stop some of the slower runners for a couple minutes, but they learned from their mistake. The course is beautiful. The last 12km dead flat is very nice (not counting the last 200 meters up a slight hill to the finish).

Overall I would definitely recommend it

Chillin wrote:

Tron wrote:

Anyone have any good/bad experiences with it?

I'm considering doing it next year but curious what others have though about the race? I know it's net downhill but doesn't it have a bunch of hills in it?

I've done it 5 times. It's a great course, but not one to necessarily expect to PR on. Technically it is net downhill, but since the big downhill is too steep to properly take advantage of the downhill it is effectively net flat with a bunch of hills. One year they did stop some of the slower runners for a couple minutes, but they learned from their mistake. The course is beautiful. The last 12km dead flat is very nice (not counting the last 200 meters up a slight hill to the finish).

Overall I would definitely recommend it

Thanks! seems from race profile there are 2 downhills and 1 uphill in the first half. Are all those quite steep or just 1 downhill is steep?

I'm guessing it's variable but typical weather you've experienced?

I did the old course a few times only because it was my hometown race. There’s no one to watch or cheer. I’ve encountered cars and cyclists on course. Weather can be crap. It’s expensive. Marshals weren’t paying attention. This was the race that sent a blind runner in a bq attempt in the wrong direction. That being said I ran my best time there. The traffic stops on the new course are a concern if you’re running around 3:30 or so. I like the Victoria marathon much more.

Tron wrote:

Chillin wrote:

I've done it 5 times. It's a great course, but not one to necessarily expect to PR on. Technically it is net downhill, but since the big downhill is too steep to properly take advantage of the downhill it is effectively net flat with a bunch of hills. One year they did stop some of the slower runners for a couple minutes, but they learned from their mistake. The course is beautiful. The last 12km dead flat is very nice (not counting the last 200 meters up a slight hill to the finish).

Overall I would definitely recommend it

Thanks! seems from race profile there are 2 downhills and 1 uphill in the first half. Are all those quite steep or just 1 downhill is steep?

I'm guessing it's variable but typical weather you've experienced?

The weather when I did it was:

2013: 17°C (62°F) mix of sun and clouds

2015: 12°C cloudy

2016: 14°C sun and clouds

2017: 10°C (50°F) cloudy

2018: 16°C sunny

I picked a good year to do a different race because 2014 was cold and rainy, but as you can see aside from that one is has been historically very good weather (Maybe slightly too warm for optimal performance).

Yes there are 2 big downhills. The first one from approx km 2 - 7 is long and gradual and is definitely good to bank a little time (or to just get a few easy miles in), and it leaves you feeling good going into the one big uphill. The second one at km 20 is the one I meant that is too steep. You can either fly down it and crush your quads, or take it easy and not get the downhill advantage. So taking out that second hill it's no longer net downhill. But after you get down that second hill you hit the half way point and from there it is mostly flat with just a couple much smaller hills.

Then after you get over the Burrard bridge and enter into Stanley Park it is perfectly flat and is my favourite part of the race. However that could be influenced by the fact that that is where I do 95% of my training, some people have said they hate that part because the crowds completely disappear and you are all alone for the last 10km of the race.