BMO Vancouver Marathon
Vancouver, Canada · First Sunday of May
Canada's largest marathon runs point-to-point from Queen Elizabeth Park through Pacific Spirit Forest, up the demanding Camosun Street–UBC climb (km 9–11, +88 m in 3 km), then descends spectacularly to the Stanley Park Seawall for 15 flat kilometres along English Bay before finishing in downtown. The setting is exceptional — mountain backdrop, golden beaches, old-growth forest. One of the top 25 Boston qualifying races globally by output (~8% BQ rate), with a 2025 course record of 2:14:32. The Camosun climb is the race's defining moment; run it conservatively to take full advantage of the seawall.
Course
Elevation gain
251 m
Net elevation
-63 m
Finishers
~6,886
Month
May
First Sunday of May
Race-day weather
Median start temp
12°C
Historical range
7–22°C
Hot-year risk
Moderate
Vancouver in early May is typically cool and ideal for racing (high 11–16°C in most years), but 2026 hit 26°C and triggered a public health advisory — the hottest race in the event's 46-year history. Check forecasts in race week; cool years like 2025 (14°C high) and warm outliers like 2026 are both realistic.
Getting in
Sells out fast. First-come, first-served via bmovanmarathon.ca; no lottery, no waitlist, no bib transfers. Sells out every year — increasingly fast. Marathon cap ~7,500. Opens in the preceding autumn; register as soon as registration opens for 2027. Official site ↗
Pacing plans for BMO Vancouver Marathon
Course-adjusted splits for every common goal — not flat even splits, but pacing that matches where this course is fast and where it bites.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BMO Vancouver Marathon a fast course?
Yes, it is a fast course by big-marathon standards. The course drops 63 m from start to finish with 251 m of climbing along the way. We rate it 7/10 for PR potential.
What is the weather usually like at the BMO Vancouver Marathon?
The median start-line temperature is around 12°C, with a historical range of roughly 7–22°C. Vancouver in early May is typically cool and ideal for racing (high 11–16°C in most years), but 2026 hit 26°C and triggered a public health advisory — the hottest race in the event's 46-year history. Check forecasts in race week; cool years like 2025 (14°C high) and warm outliers like 2026 are both realistic.
How do you get into the BMO Vancouver Marathon?
Sells out fast. First-come, first-served via bmovanmarathon.ca; no lottery, no waitlist, no bib transfers. Sells out every year — increasingly fast. Marathon cap ~7,500. Opens in the preceding autumn; register as soon as registration opens for 2027.
Is the BMO Vancouver Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes — the BMO Vancouver Marathon is a certified course accepted by the B.A.A. for Boston qualifying times. Note that it is not eligible for records due to its point-to-point or net-downhill layout, but that does not affect Boston qualifying.