How a great event grew greater… by the decade

1970s

In 1972, the very first running of the Vancouver Marathon took place. It was called the “british Columbia Marathon”. Founded by Jack taunton and Ivor Davies, 46 entrants ran five loops around Stanley Park, and only 32 finished. The Lions Gate Road Runners, under race director Don Basham, organized the event.

The first place male finisher was Tom Howard of Surrey, B.C., who ran a winning time of 2:24:08.

The first place female winner was Patricia Loveland from Oregon, who finished at 3:39:23.

Tom Howard won the event three years in a row, setting a course mark for a Canadian in 1974 — with a personal best time of 2:14:34. His goal was to run a fast race, bring more credibility to the event and entice more elites to run. His time is still second fastest and best by a Canadian.

Quotes from Tom Howard: 1974 best time:

“I went into that race thinking the event needed more credibility to bring in elite runners so I wanted to run a sub 2:20. I wanted it to attract top racers to help build the event.

“I was happy to have managed that goal.”

In 1979, the Marathon changed its name to the Vancouver International Marathon and the event left Stanley Park.

Quotes from Don Basham, race director 1972-1985:

“For me, taking the Marathon to the main streets of Vancouver was the key to enticing recreational runners.”

1980s

In 1980, Australian runner Gary Henry set the current course record with a time of 2:13:14.

Henry’s win came at a pivotal time when international runners started making their way to Vancouver.

In 1982, Vancouver became a founding member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Road Races).

Founding member of AIMS, Don Basham, says attending a race director’s event in Honolulu was the beginning of bringing Marathon clinics to vancouver via THEYMCA.

Quotes from Gordon Rogers, Current AIMS Board Director (1992 to present day):

“AIMS was important for events like Vancouver, London and Boston as it put everyone on a level playing field . . . on a certified course and helped to promote distance running.”

In 1986 Expo put vancouver in the spotlight and the event attracted 2,400 participants to a new race course.

1990s

In 1991 for the first time, the vancouver Marathon added a Half Marathon course.

Through the early ’90s, elite Japanese runners marked winning times in the men’s and women’s full Marathon.

That’s until 1993, when women’s elite runner Eniko Feher of Hungary won four of five finals to become the most prized female athlete in that decade and overall at the Marathon.

2000s

Germany’s ulrichsteidl kicks off the century by winning the men ’sevent from2000-2004.

The kenyanse merged in the latter part of the decade with thomasom wenga winning the men’ seventin 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Sandwiched in the middle of his winning streak was fellow Kenyan runner Bernard Onsare’s 2009 win.

In 2007 Argentina’s Claudia Mariela Camargo sets the female course record in a time of 2:35:50.

2010s

In 2011, the Bmo vancouver Marathon celebrated its 40th year and the 40th consecutive running of the event. Now, organizers are excited to showcase two new point-to-point courses with 5,000 participants lacing up for the Full Marathon and 10,000 for the Half. The elite field features runners from seven countries in what is shaping up to be one of the most highly contested elite fields for some time. From 46 entrants in 1972 to the 15,000 runners who will run on Sunday, the exciting vision for the BMO Vancouver Marathon is a world-class event that is now recognized as a Forbes top 10 destination Marathon.