Expo: I feel the expo keeps getting smaller every year. You pick up your bib, and then wander through the maze to get your shirt at the end of the expo. We went to pick up late Friday afternoon/early evening and it wasn't busy. There was maybe 2-3 people ahead of me to pick up my bib. Volunteers at the expo were lovely.
Race morning: Took the free bus shuttle from North Van. The volunteer there was awesome! The bus ride was fast, and the bus wasn't full.
Bag check/start line area: The UPS trucks are colour coded, but we couldn't see it from where the bus dropped us off. Fast, efficient. There's lots of stuff around the start area, water, first aid. There were lots of port-a-potties, but it always feels like there's never enough.
Start Line: start line is well colour coded, and it took MUCH LESS time to start this year, since it was an 8:30am general start, rather than by corrals. Love this approach! Lots of music, the announcers are fun and chipper, and everyone is in a great mood.
Race: Awesome!! The gel volunteers could have been a little less stingy, considering there are only 2-3 max stops on the entire course that offer "food". I made sure to grab extra, which wasn't welcomed by the volunteer. I ended up giving away a couple along the last 10km of the course around Stanley Park to a girl who was fading. It was a beautiful day, perfect for racing! Not that hilly (but train for hills), and very scenic. I'm a middle to back of pack runner, so some of the entertainment stations did not have anybody playing anymore. Always a line up 3-5 people deep for all of the portapotties along the course.
Half Marathons BEWARE - I heard they ran out of water again in Stanley Park. That's not the first time.
Finish line/finish line party: the finish line is on a false flat. Be prepared for that. I've been to other races where they have real finish line parties. This is not one of them. There is food (packaged sandwiches, bananas, juice boxes, chips) and they shuttle you along to bag check and out of the finisher corral into the street. Meh. The bag check was awfully far away for someone who just finished a marathon. The best thing about the street party was that the chocolate milk truck DIDNT run out of chocolate milk though. That was a huge highlight for me.
Swag: The shirts get better every year, though I wish they printed the distance on the arm and back too. The medal is a good size, but the designs are generally the same year after year.
Pricing: I feel like the pricing is starting to get too high for the value. There are other marathons out there that are cheaper, have great swag, scenic courses, and awesome finish line parties. But I will still keep doing this race though, because I want to join the legacy club.

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