I was looking forward to using the half marathon in Vancouver as a training run. The Vancouver Marathon was my first marathon (run in 2005) and I had fond memories of a great expo, fantastic course support, big crowds, and a lot of "marathon love."

Wow, this year could not have been more different. The rain kept the crowds away (not their fault). The expo felt like it was half the size of the previous year. I walked out of the building and headed to the "second room" only to find there was no second room this year. Last year there were lots of vendor samples and some entertainment. This year registration was confusing and very few samples. I hadn't had lunch but figured since last year they had about stuffed us, it was all good. I left cranky and hungry. (Not that it's their job to feed me, but that was a change from last year.)

The beginning of the half wasn't as organized as I remember the full being. People were seeding themselves all over the place. I'm a runner and started behind groups of people walking 5-7 abreast. WALKERS MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COURSE! PLEASE!

Two water stations had no water. So not cool. Fortunately at the last minute I had grabbed my own hydration belt. A number of runners did not have water, though. That's just plain dangerous. High and mighty types might like to criticize others for complaining about this, but when it is advertised that there are hydration stations throughout the course, people depend on that. That is just an inexcusible oversight in my book. They said that there was a communication mix up and water wasn't delivered. So get in the car, drive down to the local grocery store, and buy some doggone water!

End of the event was SO confusing. I saw my husband on one side of a fence, then didn't see him again for another hour. The "Mylar blankets" were more like plastic trash bags and were being given out well away from the finish line. I had to look for it. We were all soaked and plastic doesn't hold in the heat. Couple that with the separation from family and I was miserable.

However, I do love that the food for the runners is a "no family" zone. I've been to too many races where people believe that it's a buffet open to Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Lou, and all seven kids.

Course was gorgeous. Weather was rainy, but nice. I'll definitely do Vancouver again, but doggone it I want water, and MYLAR at the end of the race. Not plastic!

No water, no mile markers, disorganized start; very disappointed.

I've run this marathon in the three years previous and something horribly went wrong this year. It's been way better in the past. Too bad the organizing team spent its effort and energy trying to ward of the Rock N Roll Marathon, instead of dedicating its efforts to this year's race. I suggest giving this race another chance. In the past my experiences were fantastic.... A beautiful city to experience a marathon.... I feel sorry for all the participants who had to deal with this year's fiasco.

Even in the rain, running through Vancouver is a treat! It's a bold move that the organizers also take you by soup kitchens and 'drug areas' - shows all aspects of this cosmopolitan city. Lacking km markers (only every 5 km) and many runners very disappointed at end where they were separated from friends/family for a long time - first by fence that you CANNOT get through and then BC Place stadium has runners on one side of a barrier and public on another. People want to hug/greet friends and family immediately and there was grumbling about inability to do this.

Expo was so-so for an event of this size. I found aid stations fine for water/Ultima/sponges but know that some later runners found no liquids available.

For a city the size of Vancouver - not as many spectators as you'd expect, but those that come out are enthusiastic and friendly.

My first spring marathon and first Vancouver after 5 others in BC (Victoria 4x and Okanagan 1x) - I'd definitely come back to this one but it sure doesn't blow the other two BC marathons 'off the map'.

Vancouver/Whistler and area all worth visiting though and LOTS to see and do in this world-class city. I guess you can say the sublime to the downright ugly - and you see all of that on the course too!

This was my third marathon and I only have one complaint. The course is too confined to the downtown area. I understand the reason for doing this(traffic control) but I felt like I was running in circles all morning. I think it would have been more enjoyable had they eliminated a few switchbacks and gone through more of the city. We must have passed the stadium at least four or five times. Other than that the experience was very good. The crowd support was good considering the miserable rainy weather. Vancouver is still one of my favorite cities and the people are wonderful.

I ran Vancouver as my first half marathon, so I don't have another half to compare it to. Although, it rained like cats and dogs through most ( all?) of the half marathon route, it was still a really great run.

I heard about the lack of water at the couple of water stations, but it didn't affect me because I brought my own water. What I didn't like was the lack of signage at the start of the race- where bag check-in was, where the entry way for runners/ families into the BC Place,etc. I think the worst was the lack of portapotties at the start line! The portapotties at the Plaza of Nations were locked, except for the ONE handicapped one!! Most runners like to go pee before a race, so what's with the lack of toilets?!

Anyways, it was lots of fun for me regardless.

One more thing: Props and word up to the volunteers and the spectators! Thanks!

I travelled from the other side of Canada specifically to run this race. I thought it would be a good race since it had been on for a few years and was supposed to be pretty flat. I was very disappointed on many points:
1) They gave a cotton long sleeve shirt at the end of the race....the last thing I want to do at the end of a marathon is stand in line for a t-shirt.
2)Mile markers were not very obvious-they were low to the ground and not very visible. I missed several mile markers and I was looking for them hard.
3) Water stations were not well organized. Sometimes the water was first, sometimes not. Often I had to reach over others to the table to get a cup of water.
4) They gave out cut-up power bar type bars and jubes along the route....yuck...I'll stick to what I know...so I had to carry.
5) They let people out of the dome at both ends so many hundreds of people (including me) ended up walking from one end of the dome (as we were directed to do) to the front of the line (which is definitely not where I should be starting) and others I talked to had to run from the other end of the dome just to make it to the start of the race in time.
6) Children's race started 5 minutes after the marathon so, of course, all the children and their parents were panicking to also get to the start line at the same time as the marathon people.
7) At the finish line, had to walk a loooooong way to get a drink, which I could have used right away AND the water there was in a little cup, so I had to stand there and drink 3-4 little cups of water and I still needed more but I didn't want to keep standing there filling my little water cup.

Overall, I am very disappointed and I will not be returning, nor will I be recommending the marathon to anyone.

The organizers try to improve this race year after year. They seem to listen to concerns from runners, and take action. Improvements have included keeping friends and family off part of the recovery area, allowing online payment by cheque, adding a halfway and, this year, a 20 mile timing mat.

One problem that I had relate first to the aid stations. Although they mark where the sports drink is served, and where the water is served, I have been served water when I expected a sports drink, in a sports drink cup. Please keep those clear. Proper hydration is very important to people running the marathon.

Most importantly, I am very concerned about the walkers blocking the course, and water stations. Early on we deal with the marathon walkers, later on we deal with the half marathon walkers. It would be a good idea to give walkers a separate course. I suggest the seawall from Main St. On the Burrard Inlet, all the way around the park, all the way around False Creek, up to UBC if needed. It would provide the mileage, the pretty views, and no traffic or timing restrictions to walkers. For those of us who are running the marathon, having no walkers blocking the course will mean that we will not be blocked from getting fluids while we run. And we may not have to swerve through walkers, which add quite a bit of distance and time to our marathon.

Otherwise, the volunteers were absolutely great, and the organizers have tried very hard to improve from previous years. I had a PB, as did many other people I know, despite the rain this year (first rainy Van Marathon in three years).

Ran a half marathon but found that there was poor instructions as to which exit to use to get to the start if you were inside the stadium. Lost time to run from one part of building to the next to get to the start line. Not enough water at water stations. Not enough people at water stations handing out cups.

My comments are about running out of cups and/or water at water stations in Stanley Park - you have apologized to half marathoners but I was in the full and I think an apology to all participants would be more appropriate since it did affect me as well. The course - not once but twice I saw runners narrowly missed by vehicles trying to get through intersections! I understand that you cannot have police officers at all intersections. If you are going to only have a volunteer please place a volunteer with enough confidence to say no to an aggressive, frustrated driver. The 2 times this happened both intersections had a lady by herself that weighed maybe 120lbs and was 5'2' and could have easily been mistaken for a pylon! It is only a matter of time before someone does get hit...