Price: When I decided to join, the price was already around $85 but could've gotten in for as low as $60 if I was really a keener. I thought the price was average for a half marathon.

Expo & Swag: I picked up my package on the first day the expo opened, around lunch time. Pretty smooth sailing, got my bib right away, the shirt was the correct size and I like the shirt, it looked really nice. Oasis also gave a free juice box to each runner. It was a very small expo. Asics was a main sponsor and gave out $20 off coupons for purchases over $100 (too bad I had already bought shoes). You were able to buy other running necessities like clothes, Superfeet insoles, hydration belts, Powerbar gels and chews, and other goodies. They had speakers as well but I felt bad for them... there was hardly anyone in the audience so they were basically talking to no one, but what do you expect on a work day? Other than that, there wasn't really much here... the expo didn't wow me. They provided a virtual race bag with coupons as well... again, not that great except for the discount to their next race, which I took advantage of.

Course: The course was as described... fast with lots of downhills but Marine Drive was quite boring and I'm not a fan of the turnaround. I prefer a point A to point B course without backtracking but oh well! The hills were nicely spaced out and without the heat, PB's will definitely be attainable with this race. The course was well marked per km (not miles) and there were course marshals directing people where to go. It was impossible to get lost. Running past the beaches and through Kitsilano was pretty cool, and the finish was awesome... a challenging last hill (the Burrard Street Bridge) followed by a downhill towards Stanley Park along Sunset Beach and English Bay. This area was where all the cheering people were so if you were feeling crummy at this point, your mood will elevate, guaranteed! The finish party had water, bananas, yogurt, Gatorade, and a bunch of booths which I didn't visit because I just made a bee-line to where my friends were and just hung out.

Aid Stations: They had an aid station every 2 km it seemed, which was GREAT! Lots of water, helpful volunteers (thank you for filling up my water bottle several times), and lots of gels. No complaints here. The medical teams were out in full force as well since it was so hot. I saw numerous runners being taken care of at the side of the road. The paramedics did a great job and I hope that those people managed to recover.

Parking/Access: It was easy to get to UBC by car and they also provided shuttle service. Their website had all the details and it was very complete and easy to figure out.

Medal: It's very pretty! I love how the downtown skyline is carved onto it. iTab was also available for purchase so you can personalize your medal with your name and time.

Would I do this again?

Yes! The course was well-managed. I've run a Canada Running Series race before (the Modo 8k - which I reviewed here too) so I felt positive that this would be well-run again and I was right. They know what they're doing, very organized, and really took care of us. Sportstats took care of timing (no problems there) and Marathon Photos took pictures (meh, I'm not too impressed by them). Awesome race, I just hope Mother Nature turns down the heat next year.

To read a full account of the race, check out my blog here:

http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2015/06/scotiabank-vancouver-half-marathon-2015/

Link to this review