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2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:12 am
by HCcD
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:01 pm
by Jwolf
I will likely be doing the half.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 6:02 pm
by Stampie
I'm undecided if I will run in the event in 2014. If I do, I will likely do the half.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 6:09 pm
by Stampie
Wow, prices have increased from last year. I paid $79 plus fees & GST for the half (~$90 all in) when registration openned last year for the 2013 race.
Races - Level 1 - Level 2 - Level 3
Full Marathon (Must be 18+) $119.00 $149.00 $169.00
Half Marathon (Must be 16+) $89.00 $109.00 $119.00
8k (Must be 13+) $49.00 $59.00 $69.00
8k Teen $25.00 $25.00 $25.00
Kids $25.00 $25.00 $25.00
Prices do not include GST or EventsOnline online processing fee
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:22 pm
by ultraslacker
Every year I think, "maybe I'll do this." And then I look at the exorbitant fees. The only year I've actually run it was the year a maniac gave me her bib.
Sent from my GT-S7560M using Tapatalk 4
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:48 pm
by Jwolf
ultraslacker wrote:Every year I think, "maybe I'll do this." And then I look at the exorbitant fees. The only year I've actually run it was the year a maniac gave me her bib.
Sent from my GT-S7560M using Tapatalk 4
The fees actually went up crazily last year.
I'm actually having second thoughts now. I WON'T be registering early.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:03 pm
by marymac442
I will likely do the Half but will wait until at least the end of the early bird rate before registering.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:39 am
by Stampie
Take note of this on the early bird rate and only 5,000 bibs (assuming they are capping it at 10K as they have the past two years) are available for the early bird rate, which is still steep IMO.
http://www.bmovanmarathon.ca/register-now/Registration Rates
2014 Early Registration will open on September 17, 2013 (noon Pacific Standard Time). Click here to sign up for NEXT YEAR’s events.
To improve your race experience and ensure our suppliers and stakeholders have enough time to meet our event requirements, changes to our registration policy have been introduced for 2014. Effective September 2013 (for the May 2014 event), race entries will be available in limited quantities within a limited time. Once a level has sold out, or the cut-off date has been reached, registration will continue at the next level while space lasts.
Level 1 race entry fees will apply to the first 50% of all available race registrations for each event, up to January 5, 2014 at 11:59pm pacific standard time, whichever comes first.
Level 2 race entry fees will apply to the next 35% of all available race registrations for each event, up to February 28, 2014 at 11:59 pm pacific standard time, whichever comes first.
Level 3 race entry fees will apply to the last 15% of all available race registrations for each event, up to April 4, 2014 at 11:59pm pacific standard time, whichever comes first.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:18 am
by ultraslacker
sounds like a cash grab to me.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:01 am
by ian
ultraslacker wrote:sounds like a cash grab to me.
Yep, but we already knew that this is how this race tends to be organized (i.e., charge what the market will bear and minimize costs wherever they think they can get away with it). That's their choice. I'll be skipping this one in favor of a nearby marathon in St. Albert which would temporarily complete my "every marathon in Alberta" set (until the corporate fraud formerly known as the Banff Marathon finally occurs).
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:24 pm
by RobW
The Abby marathon is 3 weeks later and half the price. I've done it twice and is a great little race.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:36 pm
by Jwolf
I am of two minds on BMO Vancouver. Under the new direction in the past two years, it grown into a much bigger event and has that big, world-class marathon feel. I like the big race aspect and love that it's happening in my backyard (almost literally-- the start is 2K from my house). Having been injured last year but participating regularly since 2004 before that, I don't think I'd want to see it go by without me next year. So I'll probably do it.
I also don't love the half-course though. So I'm still not sure. At least I'm happy to have this decision to make.
2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:23 pm
by marymac442
I feel much the same though I find the start logistic irritating since I don't live within 2 k of start.
I used to love/hate the old half route (having to run up a big hill/getting to run down a great hill) and I'm really not fond of the new route. I too will probably end up doing the half but I'm not entirely convinced.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:46 pm
by Stampie
Jwolf wrote:At least I'm happy to have this decision to make.
Like!
Jwolf wrote:I also don't love the half-course though.
I'm in the same boat. I'm not a huge fan of the half course, but really like the full course. Ok let me step back, the half course is nice in scenery, but the downhill portion at the start is way too early in the race to be of any benefit since it is so congested with runners at that point. I was stuck trying to jockey for position for the first 3-4K and by that point the downhill was finished.
Though I have never raced the old course, I have run the old course a few times. Yes Prospect Point has it challenges, but the reward afterwards is great as Marymac is alluding to.
I might consider Abbotsford for 2014.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:53 pm
by Jwolf
Stampie wrote:Ok let me step back, the half course is nice in scenery, but the downhill portion at the start is way too early in the race to be of any benefit since it is so congested with runners at that point. I was stuck trying to jockey for position for the first 3-4K and by that point the downhill was finished.
You started too far back.
I didn't have any congestion problem-- just not sure that the downhill start is that nice to my body.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:04 pm
by Stampie
Jwolf wrote:Stampie wrote:Ok let me step back, the half course is nice in scenery, but the downhill portion at the start is way too early in the race to be of any benefit since it is so congested with runners at that point. I was stuck trying to jockey for position for the first 3-4K and by that point the downhill was finished.
You started too far back.
I didn't have any congestion problem-- just not sure that the downhill start is that nice to my body.
Yes, I did position myself incorrectly in my corral. But I don't think that would have made a lot of difference? Then again I might be wrong.
I agree, that early downhill at the start is not ideal. Especially when you have a false flat for about the last Km of the race. The half course is by no means an easy one.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:32 pm
by turd ferguson
I like the idea. Its actually kind of innovative, applying varying rates depending on how full the race is instead of calendar dates.
One of the thing that ticks me off is a race that never comes close to filling up but jacks the rates closer to the date. There's no scarcity. With this model, if a race doesn't fill up then the higher pricing never kicks in.
I like the new course but didn't like the point to point logistics. It was a pain in the butt from downtown (train plus a long walk), I can't imagine what a pain it was coming from elsewhere. I did miss the Prospect Point hill, only because I like races with a bit of a challenge.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:27 pm
by marymac442
turd ferguson wrote:I like the idea. Its actually kind of innovative, applying varying rates depending on how full the race is instead of calendar dates.
One of the thing that ticks me off is a race that never comes close to filling up but jacks the rates closer to the date. There's no scarcity. With this model, if a race doesn't fill up then the higher pricing never kicks in.
There are still price increase they just happen the earlier of a set day or 50% capacity, etc. or at least that's how I read it. I'm not a contract lawyer, maybe I should re-read might be a loophole there.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:48 pm
by Spirit Unleashed
ultraslacker wrote:sounds like a cash grab to me.
I've been trying to put my feelings into words. Finally, its like a blue light special: hurry now and get yours before the cheapies are all gone. By default, 50% of the people will pay more than the first 50%.
Do you feel the subtle psychological trigger: hurry and get yours.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:10 pm
by ultraslacker
It guarantees them a certain amount of money if they sell out as they have been doing. In the past if 100% of people registered early bird, then 100% of people would pay the lower rate. But now they've eliminated that risk to themselves, while simultaneously ripping off the customers. :/
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:25 pm
by Spirit Unleashed
ultraslacker wrote:It guarantees them a certain amount of money if they sell out as they have been doing. In the past if 100% of people registered early bird, then 100% of people would pay the lower rate. But now they've eliminated that risk to themselves, while simultaneously ripping off the customers. :/
Interesting
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:26 pm
by Jwolf
It also guarantees them a certain amount of money early on so they can start paying their bills.
I'm ok with it as long as there is some value and they put on a good event. I don't see it as a rip off- its a business and these big city races aren't cheap to put on.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:50 pm
by La
It's significantly higher than the price of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon ($80-110, $130 for mail-in or in-person), and that race has big prize money and many elite racers who come. Can they really justify a $169 max price? Or do you think they're doing that to encourage people to register earlier?
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:10 pm
by Jwolf
Yeah, those late prices are pretty steep, especially when you compare to something like Boston which is $175! I guess they really are trying to push people to register early.
Which is another reason why I'm hesitant-- given my rough year of injury battle, I'm reluctant to put money down too early.
Re: 2014 Vancouver Marathon
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 12:24 am
by Half-Mary
I'll be undecided until closer to the date. While I didn't like all of that downhill at the beginning (trashed my quads), I still knocked 7 or 8 minutes off of my previous time when I ran this race. I know that won't happen again, but it has only left me with good memories of the last time I did run in Vancouver.
I might be racing in Portland over the long weekend in May, so if I do, that will be my spring A race. Last year (2012), I did both Vancouver and then Portland, and it was a bit much.
Habs, are you running Vancouver in 2014? Who else might be coming in from out of town?
