The Royal Victoria Marathon (RVM) sold out with about 9,000 athletes registered for the event, raising more than $100,000 for charity.
Organizers say this is the first time in decades that the event has sold out.
“We sold out of the marathon and the half-marathon. I’ve been the race director for 23 years, and we have never done that,” said Cathy Noel, RVM race director.
Nearly 2,000 participants were registered for the full marathon, which is also a qualifying race for the 2025 Boston Marathon. More than 3,800 people signed up for the half-marathon.
More than 2,000 people signed up for the 8K, over 600 for the 5K, and almost 500 for the Thrifty Foods Kids Run.
Since 2014, the RVM has raised more than $2.2 million for charities. This year, 21 charities will benefit from the money raised.
“We’ve raised over, for this year alone, we’ve raised $100,000 for charity, and those dollars are still coming in,” said Noel.
The events first started in 1980, with only a total of 700 people running. It has since grown to host thousands of athletes and spectators from around the world. Noel says it took more than 800 volunteers to run the event this year.
“Welcoming people, giving them their nutrition out on the course and all of the aid stations, and making sure they run the right way.”
Many athletes returned to try and set records and beat out their personal best times.
Campbell River athlete Aidan Anderson placed second at the 2022 RVM. This year, he took the gold, finishing at 2:29:06, just 47 seconds faster than last year.
“I felt really good up until 30km. I felt confident, I felt strong. After 30km, my legs started cramping up. I felt sure that I would get past, but I just ran as fast as I could without cramping, and I finished first,” said Anderson.
Anderson collapsed after crossing the finish line but had no serious injuries.
Lydia Tay, from Burnaby, finished first at 2:49:45 for the women’s full marathon. She says this was her first elite race, and she managed to score her personal best time.
“My goal was 2:50, that was my A goal. But my coach, Paul Taylor, he really believed in me and thought I could do it. So I just tried to stay true to my training,” said Tay.
Cameron Levins, who is from Black Creek, B.C., finished first in the men’s half marathon with a time of 1:01:18. Levins was attempting to beat the national record of 1:00:18 that he had set.
Makenna Fitzgerald from Calgary, Alberta, placed first in the women’s half marathon at 1:17:28.
A full list of race results can be found here.
Oli Herrera
