Vancouver Marathon launches Legacy Club for longtime runners

A new program honouring long term, loyal runners will be introduced this year at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. The Legacy Runners Club recognizes runners who have participated in and completed the Vancouver Marathon, half-marathon or 8K multiple times since the inaugural races in 1972, 1989 and 2008, respectively. This year marks the 43rd running of the marathon and the 25th anniversary of the half-marathon. In light of this milestone, the Vancouver International Marathon Society is celebrating returning runners who have contributed their energy and passion to the event year after year.

The Legacy Club will honour and recognize runners who have completed the event 15, 20 or 25 times. By analyzing finisher records dating back to 1972, a total of 140 runners have been identified as inaugural members of the Legacy Club. Going forward, entrants will continue to be tracked and runners will automatically become a member of the program once they qualify.

For the 2014 event, all legacy runners will receive specialized benefits including bibs from the Society with designs unique to their participation levels along with recognition on the Vancouver International Marathon Society webpage and recognition at the start and finish lines on race day. Runners who have run and completed a Vancouver Marathon event 25 times or more will be invited to the media luncheon with the elite athletes on Friday, May 2, and will be assigned a bib number for life to commemorate their achievement.

“We are honoured to see so many participants show their unbridled dedication towards the Vancouver Marathon as well as the sport of running,” says Charlene Krepiakevich, Executive Director of the Vancouver International Marathon Society. “This Legacy Club builds on the long history of the event by recognizing those runners who have been loyal to our races over the many, many years.”

Edited from a press release.