Let’s race! Sold-out BMO Vancouver Marathon draws world’s elite – Vancouver Sun
Let’s race! Sold-out BMO Vancouver Marathon draws world’s elite Vancouver Sun
Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will be participating in the marathon, relay, half-marathon, and 8K Sunday. Vancouverites and visitors may want to …
Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will be participating in the marathon, relay, half-marathon, and 8K Sunday. Vancouverites and visitors may want to take note of road closures.
The annual BMO Vancouver Marathon takes places Sunday in Vancouver. NICK PROCAYLO / PNG
More than 18,000 long-distance runners, including some of the world’s top athletes, will take part in the annual BMO Vancouver Marathon, half-marathon, relay and 8K road races on Sunday, beginning at 7 a.m.
Organizers with the Vancouver International Marathon Society RUNVAN say this year is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races to date.
Race routes will impact traffic in Riley Park, South Cambie, Oakridge, Fairview, Kerrisdale, Dunbar, UBC, Point Grey, Kitsilano, West End, Coal Harbour, Chinatown, Yaletown, Cambie, False Creek and some Downtown neighbourhoods. For a full list of road closures visit bmomarathon.ca.
This is a map of the route and road closures for Sunday’s BMO Marathon in Vancouver.
This year’s sold-out event has attracted some of the most elite competitive runners in the world.
Defending champion and local run coach Rob Watson (2:13:29) is back, as is 2015 course record holder Luka Chelimo (2:10:11) of Kenya, and multiple-time champ Daniel Kipkoech (2:18:45) of Kenya.
New this year is 2018 Boston Marathon Champion Yuki Kawauchi of Japan (2:08:14,) who will make his much anticipated Canadian Marathon debut.
“I’m very excited for the BMO Vancouver Marathon to be my first race in Canada,” said Kawauchi, in a statement. “I’ve heard that Vancouver is a world-class beautiful city, and can’t wait to experience it for myself and to meet and run with all my fellow runners.”
On the women’s side, China’s Li Zhixuan (2:26:15) looks to become the second Chinese runner to win the BMO Vancouver Marathon title after Zheng Zhiling took the gold last year, according to a BMO Vancouver Marathon media release. Yuko Mizuguchi (2:31:19) of Japan and Mexico’s Margarita Quintero are other top contenders. Mizuguchi will also make her Canadian debut alongside new fiancée, Yuki Kawauchi.
Vancouver’s 42.2K race, billed as one of the top destination marathons in the world, takes runners on a scenic route starting at Queen Elizabeth Park and through 12 of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods, including around Stanley Park on the seawall.