Runs

DESTINATION RACE: Royal Victoria Marathon, Victoria, B.C.

June 15, 2009
By Michal Kapral

Race Date: October 11, 2009

Events: Marathon, Half-Marathon, 8K, Thrifty Foods Kids Marathon

Founded: 1980

Race Director: Rob Reid

Volunteers: 1,100

Participants in full marathon, 2008: 2,042

It’s easy to see why the Royal Victoria Marathon has remained a popular destination race for the past three decades. The city of Victoria is a haven for runners, with its clean air, accessible running paths and trails, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and generally fit and healthy population. Coffee shops and good food options abound. On any given morning, you’re likely to see a group of runners from one of the local running groups. When race day rolls around in October, the whole city rallies behind the event, making you feel like you’re part of something special.

With local running guru Rob Reid at the helm, the Royal Victoria Marathon attracts runners from across North America and the world. The scenic course features some rolling hills and winds along the water’s edge, offering some distractingly good views of the Pacific coastline, especially in the latter stages of the race. The marathon has been a hotly contested event since Tom Howard ran 2:21 to beat out a field of 681 finishers at the inaugural event in 1980. Last year, more than 12,000 runners competed in all five of the events - including a marathon, half-marathon and an 8K.

Victoria Marathon Society president Bob Reid (no relation to Rob) has been working with the marathon since the beginning and says he’s excited about this year’s 30^th anniversary. The 2009 race on October 11 will offer new features, including a reunion of all past winners, special commemorative finishing medals, an expanded race guide that gives the history of the event, and a new race category for the visually impaired.

The race has a special rate at its official hotel, the classic Fairmont Royal Empress. Originally built in 1908, it is now fully restored, but still serves its famous afternoon tea and the ornate Bengal bar prepares incredible post-race cocktails and Indian curry. The hotel hosts the pre-race banquet, which at $40 is well above the usual carbo-loading meal price, but the buffet offerings are fit for royalty. At the pre-race dinner last year, runners were treated to an inspiring keynote speech by Boston Marathon runner-up Dick Beardsley, who also spoke at the race expo.

At the end of the marathon, Rob Reid greets every finisher with a handshake - a tradition he has maintained since he became race director 11 years ago. Probably because of its organization and attention to detail, many top age-group runners race here, including Betty Jean McHugh, 81, who last year set an age-group world record of 4:36:52 for the marathon. Olympic gold-medallist triathlete Simon Whitfield regularly races in the 8K, which also attracts top talent from across Canada. The Royal Victoria Marathon calls itself a race “by runners for runners,” and it shows in the attention to detail.