I have ran the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon a few times for the half marathon, and 2017 was the first year I ran a full marathon, let alone a full marathon at this particular event.

The Expo:

The expo is held at the Victoria Convention Centre in the Empress hotel. It is a fairly small expo. Checking in is quick and easy to do. Upon receiving my number and marathon jacket, you enter a shopping area with lots of race related clothes as well as shoes and accessories for sale.

Expo favourites: the photo area with fun signs that you could pose with, quality of clothing for sale, samples of food and beverages

Expo wishes: more vendors - you can easily breeze through the expo in twenty minutes if you aren't a shopper or don't stop to chat with every vendor

The quality of the race shirts are great. They offer technical shirts for all participants, whether you are running the 8km, half marathon, or full marathon. The full marathon jacket I received is by New Balance and was a very classy zip-up that you can wear on the run or casually. Loved that.

The race:

The race goes through downtown Victoria, along Dallas Rd, Beach Drive, and in through scenic Oak Bay/Uplands area in Victoria. Lots of seaside scenery which is gorgeous, and the residential areas were full of support with people coming out to spectate and cheer. The race is full of rolling hills with a long stretch of a hill at the 37th km (or 23rd mile), then a small hill around mile 25 before the finish. The rest of the race is mostly flat through the residential/downtown portion. Lots of aid stations along the way with tons of volunteers to help - this particular year they had Honey Stinger gels and Ultima electrolytes as well as water.

Race favourites: running along the ocean, support from the crowd

Race wishes: less hills, but they really weren't AWFUL!

Parking for the race is good - lots of parkades nearby and tons of street parking downtown. Free on Sundays. This race is held during Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday.

Race is well organized with tons of good food and beverages in the finisher area. Cookies, oranges, fruit, granola bars, different juice/water options, some other hydration drinks.

Lots of photographers on the course too to capture your race moments.

Overall a great race & one that I like to participate in every October! Highly recommend :)