Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon

The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, formerly known as the Royal Victoria Marathon or RVM, is a marathon race held on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada every October. It was first held in 1980 and was started by Robin Pearson, Alex Marshall and Bruce "Gunner" Shaw. The three were all marathoners and founding members of the Pairie Inn Harriers. One day all their ideas coalesced in a commitment to start a marathon in Victoria, while drinking beer at the Prairie Inn. An apt beginning. In 2006, the full marathon saw 1863 participants. The event also features a half marathon, 8K and 1.2K kids run and attracts nearly 10,000 competitors annually in all races. The full marathon is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier.

The start for the Half Marathon is on Menzies at Kingston. Run south, away from the Inner Harbour, turn left on Michigan and left again on Government Street. Take care to not get tangled up with other runners in the pack in these first two corners. Run down a slight decline on Government Street, past The Empress Hotel, and onto Wharf Street. Turn right on Johnson Street, then right on Cook Street. The first aid station is just past Fairfield Avenue on Cook Street. Turn right onto Park, right onto Heywood, left on Southgate, and left onto Arbutus, entering Beacon Hill Park. Arbutus blends left into Bridge Way. Turn right onto Heywood and right onto Circle Drive. Run a complete counter clockwise loop of Circle Drive and Dallas Road (1-mile), staying to the left, and turn right on Heywood, and right on Park; completing an early race loop. Turn right on Cook Street. Turn left on Dallas Road (the second aid station is on Dallas Road near Cambridge) and run to Hollywood Crescent, keeping to the left. The third aid station is at Dallas Road and Memorial. Stay on Hollywood Crescent, past its southern intersection with Robertson, until Hollywood blends into Robertson just before the intersection with Ross and Crescent. Turn right onto Crescent and left on Irving to Fairfield. Turn left on Fairfield, right onto Richmond, and right again onto Richardson. You’re now approaching the point where the Marathon route splits from the Half Marathon. The next aid station is beside the park on Richardson, just before turning left onto Lawndale. Turn right on Quamichan (careful of the speed bump!) and right again on Cowichan. When Cowichan reaches Richardson, you’re at the 13 km mark of the race. It’s here that the Marathon goes left and the Half Marathon goes right. Return along Richardson, left on Richmond, left on Fairfield, right on Irving, right on Crescent, left on Robertson and left on Hollywood Crescent to Dallas Road. Continue on Dallas Road westbound, all the way past Beacon Hill Park and the Ogden Point breakwater, right on Erie, left on St. Lawrence, right on Kingston, left on Montreal, right on Quebec, left on Pendray and right onto Belleville to the finish in front of the Legislature. There are water stops every 2 km in the last stages of the race: at Dallas and Memorial, Dallas and Cambridge, and at Dallas and Oswego.

The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Half Marathon is a beautiful, seaside course with some mild undulations. Scenic features along the route: BC Legislative Buildings, Steamship Terminal Building, Ogden Point, Olympic Mountain Range, statue of Terry Fox at Mile ‘O’, Beacon Hill Park.