The Vancouver Half Marathon will cause several street closures across the city on Sunday, June 23.
The 26th Annual Vancouver Half Marathon will see around 5,000 participants run from the University of British Columbia (UBC) to Kits Point. The annual event raises money for 30 local charities and has raised over $13 million in the past 26 years.
The 5K and half marathons kick off at UBC and several road closures will be in effect. The closures commence at 4 a.m. and will continue through 12: 30 p.m. (see slide three for closures).
After the half-marathon route departs from the starting line at UBC, it will loop down Pacific Spirit Park, back past UBC, and then along the way at Spanish Banks. The Vancouver Half Marathon route continues along the coast and finishes in Kitsilano at the Museum of Vancouver at 1100 Chestnut St (see slide two for map).
The 5K is an out-and-back course and finishes in the same location where it starts.
Vancouver Half Marathon schedule
- 6 a.m. – Half Marathon Bag Check opens
- 7:30 a.m. – Half Marathon starts (UBC)
- 8:30 a.m. – 5K Bag Check opens
- 9:30 a.m. – 5K starts (UBC)
- 10:30 a.m. – Kids Race starts (Museum of Vancouver)
- 11:30 a.m. – Bag Check closes (5K and Half Marathon)
- 11:30 p.m. – Post-race sites close
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) will be at West 2nd Avenue and Alma Street to facilitate access west of Alma. Officers will also be at Trafalgar and around Kits Point to facilitate access for residents north of Cornwall. Participants are advised to use Cypress Street to access Kits Point.
Directions and parking for race day
Parking for the start line at UBC is available in the UBC West Parkade (2140 Lower Mall). Accessible parking is located on level four.
Organizers say that "limited parking is available at and near the Museum of Vancouver or the Half Marathon finish area and the Kids Race."
TransLink adds additional bus service on Sunday
Use the TransLink Trip Planner to plan your commute and allow time to get from the UBC bus loop to the start line (roughly a 15-minute walk).
- Two additional #99 buses will leave Commercial-Broadway Station at 6:10 a.m. and 6:25 a.m., respectively
- One additional #25 bus will leave King Edward and Cambie Station at 6:15 a.m.
Bag check details for race day
Participants in the 21K (half marathon) and 5K can check bags at the start area.
The Half Marathon bag check will be available from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participant bags will be transported via bus from the start to the finish area at the Museum of Vancouver.
- Drop off: 6:15 – 7:30 a.m. (Start Area at Agronomy Rd. and NW Marine Dr.)
- Pick up: 8:45 – 11 a.m. (Finish Area at Museum of Vancouver)
The 5K bag check will be open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and is located in the post-race area, in the parking lot at the corner of Agronomy Road and NW Marine Drive.
Paid shuttle to race
Race organizers will provide a paid one-way shuttle to the 21K start line from four locations, which can be booked during or after registration through the half marathon's store.
- Downtown Vancouver: 6 a.m. at the Delta Hotel on Seymour between Hastings and Pender ($15)
- West Vancouver: 5:45 a.m. at Park Royal ($15)
- Kitsilano: 6:30 a.m. at the Museum of Vancouver ($10)
- Burnaby/Coquitlam: 5:45 a.m. at the Lougheed Town Centre Bus Loop ($15)
Your shuttle ticket guarantees a seat on a school bus going to the 21K start line. However, the buses will leave immediately and won't wait for late passengers.
There is no return shuttle service post-race but nearby transit options will be available.
There is also a free shuttle back to the UBC start line for 21K participants after the race. This shuttle operates from 8:45 a.m. – 11 a.m.
No shuttles are available for the 5K race.
