Vancouver Marathon & Half Marathon

The BMO Vancouver Marathon is Canada's most popular destination race, consistently selling out months in advance, so registration opens early if you're serious about running it. The 42.2-kilometer course follows a point-to-point route through Vancouver's most scenic areas, taking you past mountains and golden beaches before finishing along the Stanley Park Seawall, which gives you some truly remarkable views as you're grinding through the later miles. You'll be dealing with moderately hilly terrain across the race, which means you can't just treat this like a flat fast course, but the elevation changes are reasonable enough that most runners can handle them with proper training. The race happens every May and has earned its reputation as one of the world's top destination marathons, so expect a well-organized event with good support and a strong community atmosphere. If the full marathon sells out before you can register, the half marathon and 8-kilometer race are solid alternatives that let you experience the same scenic course.