Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Unfortunately, we have a no refund policy for the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k and all events in the Canada Running Series. No refunds, carry overs, or transfers to other races, not even for medical reasons, as per our entry form and online registration.

Online correction form is now closed. If you need to make any changes to your entry (change of distance or switch your entry over to another person) you can do so at the Health & Runners' Expo at the Help Desk on Friday, June 26th or Saturday, June 27th. Expo details can be found here.

If you are unable to run — packet and tshirt pickup will be available Friday (26th) & Saturday (27th) at the Runners' Expo, at the Empire Landmark Hotel.

We encourage you to come out and cheer on the 5000 runners who will be running their best at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, Sunday June 28th.

In your race packet will be:

• your bib number
• your timing chip
• your run T-shirt
• Runners' Packet

Please bring photo ID (required) and/or your registration confirmation to pick up your run packet and number.

Remember, you need to bring your ChampionChip timing chip and your bib number to participate on run day.

Empire Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street, Vancouver)

• Friday June 26th, 11:00am to 7:00pm
• Saturday June 27th, 10:00am to 5:00pm

Pick up your runner's bib, timing chip and Technical t-shirt. Check out the latest running gear, events and more great health exhibits.

We encourage all runners to pick up their race packets at the expo, to allow yourself time, and reduce the stress of race morning.

Run Day Packet Pick-Up

• Half-Marathon: UBC (location TBC), 6:00am to 6:45am
• 5k: At Ceperley Park / Second Beach, Stanley Park, 7:30am to 8:45am

No RUN day new registrations accepted for either the Half-Marathon or 5k events.

Yes — BUT ... you should produce ONE of the following items in order to pick up a run packet that is not your own:

• The photo ID of the person you are picking up for
• A letter from the person you wish to pick up for
• A printout of the registration confirmation of the person you wish to pick up for.

You should only pickup one packet at a time. If you are picking up for multiple people you may be asked to move to the back of the line to pick up the other packet. This keeps the line moving and fair for all runners involved with the event.

You should arrive an hour before your start time to do any last minute things, i.e. baggage check, warm-up, port-o-let stop, etc.

You can turn in the monies you raised for the official charities to their booth at the Runners' Expo (see details above) or at their tables at the Starting lines of the 5k (Ceperley Park) and the Half-Marathon (UBC).

ChampionChip is a high-tech, easy to use timing device that provides accurate net and split times for every individual athlete.

The send and receive antennae are cast in mats placed at the finish line and other timing locations. They are connected to a Yellow Box at the side of the road, containing electronics and batteries. Each time an athlete wearing a ChampionChip crosses the mats, the chip gets energized and sends out its ID number. This number and corresponding time are then stored in the Yellow Box and transferred to a timing computer for further processing.

All runners must ensure they run across the orange mats at the beginning of the race. Also at the end of the run — no matter how tired you are — CONTINUE TO RUN ACROSS ALL MATS.

Your chip is supplied to you for the event in your run packet — which you pick up at the runners expo — with your bib and T-shirt.

Chips are disposable and do not need to be returned at the completion of the event.

In your run packet will be included a short plastic zip strip (like a twist tie) to attach the chip to your shoelaces.

Bear in mind: no chip, no time. Only athletes wearing a ChampionChip will be timed. The reading distance of the ChampionChip System is limited. The antennae are embedded in the red mats on the road. Therefore the chips should be located as close to the mats as possible — on your shoe.

Use the plastic strip to attach the chip to the bottom portion of your shoelaces.

It important to have the long end of the chip pointing toward your toe.

Gun Time: The time from the sound of the starter's signal to the time when the runner crosses the finish line. Also know as the Official Time.

Real Time, Chip Time: The time from when the runner crosses the starting mats at the start line, to the time when the runner crosses the finishing mats. For personal interest only.

Gun Time is the official time.
All awards are based on GUN TIME — the time from the start of the race (gun) to when you cross the finish line as per IAAF, Athletics Canada, BC Athletics, USATF, AIMS and International Awards standards.

Excerpt from the IAAF Road Race Handbook — Pg 196 RULE 240
Note: For road races and road walking events, the official time will be the time elapsed between the start gun and the athlete reaching the finish line. However, if an athlete crosses the start line after the start gun, his time elapsed between the start and finish line can be made known to the athlete but will not be considered as official time. The order in which athletes reach the finish line will be considered as the official finish position. 196 RULE 240

The Chip timing is provided for personal interest.

Yes, Half-Marathon baggage check will be available at the starting area at UBC, closing at 6:55am to take your bags to the finish area.

5k baggage check will be available at the start/finish area at Second Beach, Ceperley Park.

There will be a $2 fee for baggage check, with proceeds to the Charity Challenge.

At the starting area at UBC there will be Portolets as well as facilites inside available for runners.

At Stanley Park / Second Beach, there will be Portolets and Park facilities available for runners.

There will be Portolets at the 6k and 14k locations. The route passes public facilities at Jericho, Kitsilano and English Bay.

Water stations are located approximately every 3km on route. Water, Gatorade and First Aid will be available at each station. Plus areas at the Start and Finish lines. On the 5k route there is a water station at the 1k / 4k point.

Half-Marathon Water Stations:

First Aid for the Half-Marathon provided by SportMed BC and their volunteers.

The course is marked every kilometre, plus the first mile.

Results will be posted in the park as they become available. Full results will be available the afternoon of the run on this site at svhmRESULT.htm.

The awards ceremony for the Half-Marathon and 5k will take place on stage in the park (near the finish area) at 10:30am. Awards will be presented for the Half-Marathon overall and age category winners. For more information on prizing, please visit svhmAWARDS.htm.

The Half-Marathon is accurately measured to with 1 metre by certified measurers and is sanctioned by BC Athletics. The run is also a sanctioned member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races).

The road closures for the event are called "Rolling Road Closures" — the roads are closed just before the first runner and open as the last runner passes. In order to minimize the impact on the businesses and residents along route, participants are asked to keep a minimum 9 minutes per kilometre pace (15 min/mile). The road and seawall closures are set by the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Parks Board.

Runners expecting to finish in over 3h10min are cautioned that they may be asked to move to the sidewalk and become informed pedestrians to finish the Half-Marathon route, so roads may be reopened to traffic.

The finish line will remain open until 10:30am; each finisher will receive a finisher's medal on completion of the run.

There are a number of great spots to see the run, but remember there are a number of road closures: