For a more in-depth look, visit my blog here:
http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2016/05/race-recap-bmo-vancouver-half-marathon-2016/

Package Pickup

Everything went seamless, from signing up to the end of the race. The expo was large with lots of volunteers that showed you where you needed to go. Runners get a bib with timing chip first and then they have to walk through the entire expo before getting their t-shirts at the very end. This meant you have to wind your way through all the sponsors and vendors, a smart move on their part. Lots of sporting brands were well represented and if you couldn't buy their stuff, you could at least try them out. This year's t-shirt was quite nice, teal coloured, made by Saucony, and very light. They also gave a free transit pass because they encourage everyone to take transit that day to alleviate traffic. Free shuttles were also made available for people living in the suburbs, but you had to register for them.

The Course

Everything was exactly the same as last year, the only difference was there were less people cheering this time around. Where did they all go? No complaints about the aid stations... but I also didn't use any of them.

Post-Race

It was a lively finish line so runners had no choice but to run the last 500 meters... even though it was a hill. The crowd just pumps you up! Got my medal, photographers were pulling us aside to take photos, and I got a bottle of water and some food (sandwich and banana). It was very crowded so I had to meet my friends at a designated spot. Took a while to get there but it's all good. Great event as always!

For a more detailed account, please check my blog below:
http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2016/05/race-recap-vancouver-sun-run-2016/

My work had a corporate team so my entry into the Sun Run was comped. That being said, our team captain picked up our packages which consisted of the race bib and the t-shirt… but not the cotton shirt this year, a real tech shirt! Finally after over 3 decades the shirt they provided was one you could actually wear comfortably on the course. I wasn’t a fan of the design and colour but it still was a big improvement from the old cotton shirts. I still went to check out the expo even though I got my stuff already. I went around lunch time on the Friday and it was pretty empty.

Not much has changed from year to year. There were lots of aid stations with water so if you’re not picky, you could get away with not bringing any water with you. The new shirts are a plus but still no medals. I hope one day they’ll decide to have medals. I would pay extra for it and others probably would too. It’s definitely not a race to PB because of the insane amount of people (I couldn’t even sprint to the finish). There were photographers there but you’d be lucky if they actually got a clear shot of you. It was just way too congested. My only beef (other than the crowds)… they should be a little more strict with the corrals. The honour system doesn’t really work and just adds to the problem. I’d do this race again next year though (if it’s free).

For an in-depth look, visit my full race recap here:
http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2016/04/race-recap-paris-marathon-2016/

I loved this marathon. They have been organizing this event for 40 years and they know what they were doing. It was seamless from signing up, to package pickup, from the starting line to the finish line. Everything is well laid out on the website, email notifications, they even have an app your friends and family can download to track you. The expo was massive, with lots of brands to choose from. Asics of course was a title sponsor so if you love Asics, you'll basically walk through a gigantic store. Unfortunately, the exchange rate wasn't great so I didn't buy anything other than a souvenir shirt. Runners get a free backpack with some treats and flyers inside, a medal, and a Finisher t-shirt (which you collect at the finish line). Lots of extra stuff including the free pace bracelet from Asics that they can print out for you plus the Tagheuer 41st km photo that you could've registered for (they would take your photo at the 41st km timing mat and post it automatically on your FB).

The course itself was gorgeous. You could just enjoy the scenery and try to forget how much pain you're in. The worst part was the last park where there were hardly anyone cheering and it seemed like such a tough slog to get to the finish. They had signs that told you what landmark you were running next to.

The aid stations were plentiful and included bottles of Vittel water, oranges, bananas, raisins and sugar cubes. It got quite slippery at these sections though, especially on the cobblestones so be sure to walk them just in case.

Start line and finish line were near Metro stations so getting there and getting back was not a problem. The stairs going down the stations are terrible on marathon legs though. Ouch.

I definitely recommend this race to anyone. Such an amazing experience. I got to run through parts of Paris that we couldn't get to while sightseeing. Everyone was so nice too.

For a more detailed review, check out my full blog post here:
http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2016/03/race-recap-west-van-run-10k/

Pre-Race / Package Pickup

I managed to sign up for this race with a discount code from one of the West Van Run Crew members. The website is very informative, well laid out, and I think they did a great job marketing this race. Package pickup was at Park Royal South, easily accessible via bus from downtown Vancouver or you can drive and park at the mall. It was pretty straightforward, just look up your bib number and let the volunteers know. I received my bib and an awesome West Van Run water bottle. They did have a bag check available on race day but I didn’t need to use it.

Course

The starting line is just a couple blocks north of Dundarave Park on Marine Drive. The route takes us east through some residential area and around Park Royal. After Park Royal, it’s off to Ambleside Park where we were able to catch some nice views of the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. There was a double back part through Ambleside for about a kilometre before heading back to Dundarave Park via the seawall. I liked the course, it was fairly flat with very minimal hills. It was a nice mix of city and natural beauty… my favourite part was running along the seawall. It was a gorgeous day for it and we even had a double rainbow at the finish line (nice touch WVR 😉 ). There were only 2 aid stations along the course, with volunteers handing out bottles of water. I thought they could’ve used a third one but that’s just me. Maybe I didn’t hydrate properly beforehand. One thing I didn’t like was the out and back at Ambleside Park. I understand that they probably had to do that to get the full 10k distance, but it just wasn’t my thing. I would definitely recommend this course to first timers, it’s worth the drive.

Post-Race

Dundarave Park had a lively finish area, with a race announcer and lots of spectators cheering. Unfortunately there were no medals (would’ve really loved one for this specific race) but runners were treated to other things. Each runner got a bag of food that included a banana, yogurt, croissant, and muffin (hope I didn’t miss anything). This was a welcome sight. There were other vendors there with booths and lots of people milling around or relaxing at the park. They posted results on the wall as they came too.

I definitely recommend this race. It was a lot of fun and very organized. Perhaps you'll break a personal record as well :)

For my full review, check out my blog here:
http://everythingbutweddings.ca/2016/02/race-recap-first-half-2016/

Package Pickup and Swag

The First Half has been going on for 27 years and counting (2017’s date has been set already btw… save the date: Feb 5, 2017). The website is fantastic and very informative. Everything I needed to know was easy to find and clearly written. I loved that package pickup was open late on Friday (until 8pm). Bib pickup was quick and painless, just know what your number is before you go. I received my bib, safety pins, a race shirt (embellished with hearts since the race was on Valentine’s Day) and a really cool fridge magnet that looks like a digital clock and you can peel off pieces so you can put your time in.

The Course

The First Half is a fast course with not a lot of hills. It starts off at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown, which is easily accessible via the Canada Line (get off at Yaletown-Roundhouse). You head east on Pacific first and loop around BC Place before getting on the seawall underneath the Granville Street bridge. Follow the seawall and the south Lost Lagoon path and start making your way around the Stanley Park seawall counter-clockwise. Before heading back to Yaletown, you take another detour around Lost Lagoon, this time on the north side and around, heading back towards the seawall, where you follow the same course back to the finish line. The problem areas were mostly around Lost Lagoon as it’s a little more uneven, made of gravel (around the water), and muddy. The hill underneath the Granville Street Bridge at the 20th km was also a killer as it’s steep and by that time you’re already pretty tired. The good news is that the finish line is just a downhill sprint away. That was my favourite part of the race. It was fun just flying down the road for that last kilometer. There were ample water stations throughout the race and also included the option to grab sports drinks. Everything was nicely marked and the volunteers were so great, standing out in the rain for hours waiting for us to pass through. Thank you all! Having nice weather would just be the icing on the cake for this race.

Post-Race

I was greeted by a volunteer straight away and she put a medal around my neck. It’s cute and has a heart motif as well. People were staying warm inside the Roundhouse where there was a little expo with booths for other upcoming races as well as a photo wall, announcers giving out prizes and results printed and projected on a screen. Just outside, there was an array of food: bananas, oranges, yogurt, coffee, and soup (chicken noodle and vegetarian). Recycling was a big deal, they really put a focus into keeping this event very eco-friendly, with bins for everything including compost, and volunteers telling us where to put what. There were also photographers at the finish line and inside by the photo wall so if you’re lucky, your photo could be posted on their Facebook page.

Would I Do It Again?

Yes! I need to do better and perhaps run this course during perfect weather. The race was organized really well, no problems. The best part was that transfers are allowed (for a fee). So no worries if you’re sick or for some reason, can’t make it. You have an option to transfer your bib to someone else. The course was nice and flat except for a few parts but mostly not too challenging. There was no delay at the starting line, as soon as the gun went off, I crossed the start line within 20 seconds. Gotta love a small field.