The First Half Half Marathon is one of the most popular 'small' races in Vancouver. It sells out within a couple of hours - but if you are running with the Forerunners training clinic, you can get an automatic group registration! This race is also great because bib swaps are available free of charge.

There is no expo - simply a bib and shirt pickup Friday and Saturday at the Forerunners store. Quick - no fuss, no muss.

The day started out the way race days should. It was brisk but not too cold, quite foggy with the promise of sun. I brought along my throwaway BMO Marathon gloves and my sunglasses, and wore my First Half long-sleeved race shirt from 2014. Last year was a personal best (PB) in the half marathon distance, and while I had no expectations that this year would be another, I felt that wearing the shirt might be good luck!

The venue is Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown, so no matter the weather you can hang around inside and keep warm. The biggest challenge is toilets - bathrooms inside the building get crowded very quickly; there is a row of porta-potties outside, but I always feel like there aren't quick enough. There is a bag check - but because I live less than 10 minutes from the start line, I didn't bother bringing a bag.

Corrals are self-seeding, with target times well marked.

The first two kilometres take us from the Roundhouse, around BC Place Stadium, and back toward the Roundhouse. My first km was a bit fast, but the second was a bit slow…so I decided to try and find a happy medium. I managed to achieve a pretty consistent pace that put me on the right track.

I’ve gushed about the beauty of running in Vancouver, and today was no exception. We ran along English Bay, and the fog started to burn off as we passed Lost Lagoon. The course took us around Stanley Park, the halfway mark somewhere along the Seawall, I checked my time. Not ideal, but a time with some potential. I picked up the pace a tad. This part of the race is tough – Stanley Park continues to be my nemesis – though I have beaten it down before. On the dark side of the park, the fog was still pretty thick and I could barely see Siwash Rock.

We do another loop around Lost Lagoon (which, if you're not expecting it, kind of sucks) - then back along English Bay. Though the course is mostly flat, there is a short uphill at 20km, and a final one just before 21km.

It couldn’t have been a better day! This is my fourth First Half (and my best so far). As usual, the food are the finish line is amazing - coffee, juice, yoghurt, hot soup (including vegetarian), bagels and bananas. And the volunteers were stellar.

One of my favourite things this year was that each bib had a QR code - and volunteers with iPads could instantly tell you your results! I was very impressed with this new bit of technology, since trying to read print outs in tiny font is generally impossible. They also do a great awards ceremony with lots of door prizes.

My only complaint involves the shirts - again! This has been a recurring theme. I don't know what it is about Mizuno, but their quality and sizing is tremendously consistent. I've alternated between ordering a small shirt that was too small (2012), then a medium shirt that was too big (2013), another a small shirt that fit a bit too tight (2014) - and again this year, a medium shirt that was too big! Fortunately, I waited around long enough to get an exchange, and ended up with the size I wanted.

All in all - one of my favourite races - and consistently my half marathon PB!

Link to this review