The BMO Vancouver Marathon 2011 Charge into 2011!

We welcome you to join us at the 2011 Brita® Sports Expo at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. This festival weekend revolves around the Brita® Sports Expo and will be filled with lots of fun and surprises. Don’t miss a great opportunity to showcase your products and services to thousands of your customers for only pennies each!

 

The Expo will be held Thursday, April 28th through Sunday, May 1st.

Back by popular demand:
Speaker Program
Live Entertainment on Saturday and Sunday
Free Kids Zone
Early Bird Discount – Save $100 – Take advantage of this great savings by reserving your booth by Friday, January 14th!

For further information, contact Maureen Hazekamp at expo@bmovanmarathon.ca or call 604-754-9991     

This event will sell out – reserve your space early and save!

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

BRITA Sports Expo – exhibitor Information

A great opportunity to showcase your products and services to thousands of your customers.

 

The Province Team – FOLLOW THEIR JOURNEY

Seven runners, one goal: to do their personal best at the 2011 BMO Vancouver Marathon. Follow their journey as they train their way toward May 1.

 

Running Tips – Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Long Run

Including long runs in your training plan is essential in preparing you physically and mentally for your event. Read about the ways to get the most out of your run.

 

Celebrating 40 Years – Marathon Memories

The celebration of 40 years of marathons in Vancouver continue with stories shared by former Olympian Diane Clement, Don Basham (former Marathon race director) Dr. Jack Taunton, and Bruce "Gunner" Shaw.

Diane Clement
Former Olympian Diane Clement ran the Vancouver Marathon in 1980 with a time of 3:34:36.  Diane is married to former Olympian Doug Clement who ran 3:24:42 in the Vancouver Marathon in 1979.  Diane has become an acclaimed chef and author of several cook books.

Her favourite Vancouver marathon memory:  “In 1980, we invited Premier Bill Bennett to be the honourary race starter – by firing a cannon!  The race started in front of the law courts at Smythe and Hornby, and the excited runners took off, tripping over the cannon before the race organizers were able to remove it off the course! Needless to say, it was the last time a cannon was used as the starting gun.”

Premier Bill Bennett, Don Basham & Diane Clement 1979

 

Don Basham
Marathon Race director 1972-1985

Don Basham in 2010

In the early 1970’s and 80’s there were four significant events that stand out for me.  The first was in 1979, when we took the Marathon from an elite athlete, five lap course around Stanley Park with only a handful of runners, to the main streets of Vancouver as a marathon for the people, including the new "recreational runner", adding hundreds and then thousands of participants.  Secondly, we brought the highly successful marathon training clinic concept from its birthplace in Honolulu to Vancouver. This gave the average jogger the tools and motivation needed to try a marathon for the first time.

In May of 1982, we became a founding member of the Association of International Marathons. Our new positioning really elevated the profile of the Vancouver International Marathon and put us on the world stage.  In the 1990’s, we established a sister marathon relationship with the Lake Kawaguchi Marathon in Japan. This also brought the event more international exposure and attracted more out-of-country participation.

 

But perhaps the best memory of all is just the association with the average runner and the satisfaction of seeing them cross the finish line, often for the first time, and working with the hundreds of eager and willing volunteers.

 

Dr. Jack Taunton and Bruce (Gunner) Shaw
Lions Gate Road Runners
Jack was a co-founder Vancouver Marathon with Ivor Davies.  Jack Taunton went on to become a celebrated sports medicine doctor and Chief Medical Officer of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. His good friend Gunner Shaw died in a car accident in 1984 and now has two cross country races named after him.

Jack writes “one of my favourite marathon memories is running with the late Gunner Shaw. Our training goal for a number of us close together in time trials and races was 2:32 so we set our pace for that in the race. It was very competitive with such a core group, all close in Vancouver and Victoria like Bruce (Gunner) Shaw.” In 1980 Gunner Shaw had his views on a number of things held sacred by the strong and serious running movement. On carbohydrate loading: “That’s a 365-day-a year deal with me…yeah, it’s continual loading,”  and on changes before a marathon?  “No. I change my underwear and that’s it.”

 

 

BMO Vancouver Marathon on Facebook – Connect with us!

'Like' us on Facebook? If you haven't yet, you're missing out on great conversations and prizes! And invite friends. You and your friend could be the lucky prize winners in our ongoing giveaways.

 

BMO Vancouver Marathon