Scotiabank Half Marathon Runners

Vancouver is host to a number of running races each year, including major ones like the BMO Marathon, Scotiabank Half Marathon and 10K Vancouver Sun Run.

There is also the Big Fun Run series of runs as well as the Try Events series of races.

Running events that take place in late spring and early summer include the Vancouver Sun Run in April and both the Big Jungle Run and Vancouver International Marathon in May. In June there is the Scotiabank Half Marathon. For details about these and other races throughout the year, continue reading.

Click on any of the following to skip to a specific month:

Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K and 5K Runs

Below is a calendar list of the city’s main running races. Some are huge events, like those mentioned above. The popular races can attract tens of thousands of participants and just as many spectators.

Other races on our list are smaller and limited to only a couple of hundred entries. Some are along level urban streets and others are up rugged trails through the mountains.

In short, there’s something for everyone (except for people who simply don’t like running!).

January Vancouver Runs

Vancouver Chilly Chase – 5K, 10K, and half marathon routes in late January around False Creek. (January 28th, 2024)

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s January Calendar of Events.

February Vancouver Runs

Fort Langley Historic Half – a 5K, 10K and half marathon run in mid-February. (February 18th, 2024)
Run Ridge Run – 13K, 25K and Kid’s Race runs at Belcarra Regional Park by both Sasamat Lake and Buntzen Lake. (February 24th, 2024)

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s February Calendar of Events.

March Vancouver Runs

Big 80s Run – a non-competitive event with a 1980’s theme at Burnaby’s Central Park. It’s part of the Big Fun Run Series. (March 9, 2024)
St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run – a colourfully green race around Stanley Park on a weekend around March 17th. Costumes are highly encouraged for this holiday-themed race. (March 16th, 2024)
Vancouver Chocolate Run – run, jog or walk 5K, 10K or Fun K (0.6km) at Stanley Park. (March 2nd, 2024)
Shamrock ‘n Race – 5K, 7 miler and half marathon running races around Burnaby Lake in mid-March. (March 17th, 2024)
Big Easter Run – a fun, social and family-friendly Easter-themed running event at Jericho Beach. It happens on the Easter Long Weekend. (March 30th, 2024)

To see what else happens this month, see Vancouver’s March Calendar of Events.

St. Patrick's Race Crowds in Stanley Park — St. Patrick’s Day Run in Stanley Park

April Vancouver Runs

Up the Creek Run – in late April there is a 5K, 10K and 500m Kids’ Run. The trail starts at the Hyde Creek Rec Centre in Port Coquitlam. In 2023 the cost was $40 per person. Children participated for free when running in the kids’ run. Exact date and details for 2024’s run are to be confirmed.
Vancouver Sun Run – one of the world’s largest 10-kilometre runs takes place in mid-April. During the run, you get to see much of downtown Vancouver including English Bay and False Creek. There are thousands of people ready to cheer you on at different places throughout the racecourse. (April 21st, 2024)
Diez Vista 50 Km Trail Run – a 50-km run for up to 200 participants through rugged forested trails in Belcarra Regional Park. (April 13th, 2024)

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s April Calendar of Events.

Vancouver Sun Run

May Vancouver Runs

Vancouver International Marathon – one of Vancouver’s biggest marathons. The run takes place in early May and starts at Queen Elizabeth Park. There is also a half marathon, an 8K and a 2.5K kids run. (May 5th, 2024)
Big Jungle Run – a family-friendly “fun run” that happens at Burnaby Lake Park. (May 25th, 2024)
5 Peaks Golden Ears Race – this is the second of five events in the 5 Peaks series. The race includes an 8K Sports Course, 12.8K Enduro Course, 1K Children’s Challenge and 3K Timed Kids’ Race at Golden Ears Provincial Park. (May 4th, 2024)
Survival of the Fittest – grueling but spectacularly scenic 18K and 35K runs. Both begin on the lands of Quest University in Squamish. (May 11th, 2024)
Run for Women – a 5K walk/run, 10K walk/run and 1K Little Steps run for kids benefiting the BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre Foundation at UBC’s Wesbrook Village. (May 11th, 2024)

To see what else happens this month, see Vancouver’s May Calendar of Events.

June Vancouver Runs

Father’s Day Walk/Run – 2K, 5K and 10K strolls, walks and runs around Burnaby Lake benefiting the BC Prostate Cancer Foundation on Father’s Day Weekend. (June 16th, 2024)
5K Foam Fest – a running race that includes obstacle-course elements and lots of foam. (June 15th, 2024)
Scotiabank Half Marathon – a major 5K and half-marathon race in late June. (June 23rd, 2024)
RBC Run for the Kids – 2 km and 5 km fundraising runs benefiting the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. (June 9th, 2024)
Longest Day Road Race – a run benefitting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. It takes place at UBC on June 14th in 2024.
Seek the Peak – a race from Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver up to Grouse Mountain that took place on June 10th in 2023. The date for the race in 2024 is TBD.

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s June Calendar of Events.

Scotiabank Half Marathon Start — Scotiabank Half Marathon

July Vancouver Runs

5 Peaks Cypress Mountain Race – the third of five events in the 5 Peaks series, with a 6.9K Sports Course, 11.3K Enduro Course, 1K Children’s Challenge and 2.9K Timed Kids’ Race that’s on July 20th, 2024, at Cypress Provincial Park.
Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run – a 30-mile trail run recognized by Running Wild magazine as one of 25 most challenging races on the continent. The run usually goes from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove along the North Shore’s Baden-Powell Centennial Trail and climbs some 8,000 feet along the way. Just over 250 runners participate and are selected by lottery. The run takes place on Saturday, July 13th, 2024.
Buckin’ Hell – brutal but beautiful 35K, 50K and two-person 50K relay running races through the North Shore mountain trails beginning and ending in Deep Cove. The run takes place on Saturday, July 27th in 2024.
Vancouver Pride Run – a running event that’s part of the Vancouver Pride Festival and for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and everyone who wants to join. The exact date for the run in July, 2024, is to be confirmed.

To see what else happens this month, see Vancouver’s July Calendar of Events.

August Vancouver Runs

Big Superhero Run – a family-friendly running event in Richmond. It’s part of the Big Fun Run Series and starts at the Olympic Oval. 2024’s August race date is to be confirmed.
5 Peaks Whistler Blackcomb Race – the fourth of five events in the 5 Peaks series, with a 6.K Sports Course, 9.9K Enduro Course, 1K Children’s Challenge and 3K Timed Kids’ Race at Whistler-Blackcomb. The race is on Saturday, August 31st, 2024.

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s August Calendar of Events.

September Vancouver Runs

Big Pirate Run – a family-friendly running event at Gary Point Park in Richmond. (September 22nd, 2024)
Coho Run – a 14K run ending at the annual Coho Festival at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. 2024’s race date is TBC.
Terry Fox Runs – fundraising run with multiple venues around the Lower Mainland including at Stanley Park. (September 15th, 2024)
5 Peaks Mt. Seymour Race – the fifth and last of the five events in the 5 Peaks series, with a 1K and 3K Kid’s Run, 5.8K Sport and 10.6K Enduro. The 3K Kids’ Run is a timed race at Mount Seymour Provincial Park at 1700 Mount Seymour Road. (September 14th, 2024)

To see what else happens this month, see Vancouver’s September Calendar of Events.

Runners on Stanley Park Seawall — Second Beach at Stanley Park

October Vancouver Runs

Rubber Ducky Race – 5K, 7 mile and half marathon races at Burnaby Lake Regional Park. (October 20th, 2024)
Granville Island Turkey Trot – a 10 km Thanksgiving run, walk or stroll on Granville Island. A 1.1 km Turkey Trot Kids Run also takes place around the same time. (October 14th, 2024)
Hallow’s Eve Trail Race – 10K, half and full marathon rough terrain trail races run on Saturday, October 26th in 2024 in North Vancouver. Costumes are encouraged.
The Great Trek – a 5K, 10K and half marathon at UBC (and formerly called the Fall Classic) that was run on Saturday, October 28th in 2023. 2024’s race date is TBC.
Big Halloween Run – a new running event in the Big Fun Run Series. In 2024 it takes place on October 30th at Olympic Village and around the False Creek Seawall.

To see what else is happening this month, see Vancouver’s October Calendar of Events.

November Vancouver Runs

Boundary Bay Marathon – a 5K, 10K, half marathon, Boston-qualifying marathon and four-person marathon relay starting at Boundary Bay Park’s Centennial Beach. The race was run on November 5th, 2023. The race date for 2024 is TBC.
The Phantom Run Trail Race – 12K, 19.5K and 25K trail runs starting at North Vancouver’s Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. The race is run on Saturday, November 16th, 2024.
Vancouver Historic Half – a 5K, 10K, half marathon and half marathon relay around Stanley Park’s seawall run on Sunday, November 24th, 2024.
Vancouver Undie Run – an unconventional 2- to 3-km run where participants run in their underwear to raise money and awareness about cancer and other men’s health issues as part of Movember. (This event doesn’t happen every year, and hasn’t taken place for a while.)

To see what else happens this month, see Vancouver’s November Calendar of Events.

December Vancouver Runs

Santa Shuffle – a 5K Fun Run and 1K Elf Walk at Stanley Park with proceeds going to the Salvation Army. The run was on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023. 2024’s race date is TBC.
Big Elf Run – a fun running event where participants get a complimentary elf toque! The event includes 1K, 5K, 10K and 15K routes. The race is run on Saturday, December 14th in 2024.

To see what else takes place this month, see Vancouver’s December Calendar of Events.