Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon
The Lowdown
The Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon is one of Canada Running Series' flagship events in Western Canada, run each June along Vancouver's scenic ocean-side corridors. First held in 1999, the race grew into a staple of the city's summer running calendar under longtime title sponsor Scotiabank (the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon) before Scotiabank's sponsorship ended in the late 2010s; Beneva, the Canadian insurer that also title-sponsors the Beneva Montreal Marathon and Beneva Quebec City events, became the Vancouver Half Marathon's official title partner beginning with the 2026 edition. The event is distinct from the BMO Vancouver Marathon, a separate full-marathon event held each May. The half marathon starts on NW Marine Drive near the University of British Columbia and finishes at the Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park, Kitsilano, tracing the city's forested UBC waterfront and beaches en route. The course has rolling downhill and uphill sections with grades up to 8% but no sustained climbs, and it is timed with a 3-hour cutoff (8:30 min/km pace). The race weekend also includes a 5K and a 1K Kids Race, both starting and finishing at the Museum of Vancouver, and the event anchors Canada Running Series' Charity Challenge fundraising program, which raises money for local and national charities. Thousands of runners take part each year, drawn by the ocean views and one of the region's best-supported charity-fundraising road races.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
University of British Columbia (UBC) campus and Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach
Kitsilano Beach
Museum of Vancouver, Vanier Park
English Bay / Burrard Inlet waterfront views
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CA
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 16 for the 21K half marathon on race day
- 5K and 1K Kids Race open to younger participants; under-12s encouraged to run with an adult
- In-person and virtual (June 1-30) entry options for all distances
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID for in-person race kit pickup
Entry Methods
- Online individual registration via Race Roster
- Charity Challenge fundraising entries supporting local and national charities
- Corporate/team entries
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable per standard Canada Running Series policy; check the event FAQ for deferral options
Water stations approximately every 3km on the half marathon course, with electrolytes and energy gels at the 10K mark
Accessible shuttles run 6:00-11:30 AM between the start and finish areas; accessible parking at UBC West Parkade near the start
Part of Canada Running Series, which stages over 60,000 participants annually across its events and raises more than $5 million for Canadian charities
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

