EVENT INFO
RACE DETAILSSchedule
October Tradition
Register Now
This event is capped and expected to sell-out.
PACKAGE PICKUP
Forerunners Main St hosts Package Pickup at 3889 Main St, Vancouver, BC, race week only, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Visit Forerunners Main St. during Package Pickup hours. Race day pick-up is not available.
The Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial is held annually in late October. In-person races include an official Start Line, Finish Line, timing and results with offical Half Marathon 21.1KM, 10KM and 5KM races.
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL AND FOLLOW ALL EVENT RESTRICTIONS
Safety continues to be a top priority for event organizers. In-person races will feature corrals and start waves. Participants will also have access to sanitation stations at multiple locations near package pickup, the Start Line Area, Finish Line Area and indoor venues. Masks are optional.
Event organizers monitor health guidelines and follow appropriate regulations. Event details are always subject to change, as permits are subject to the approval from governing bodies. RUNVAN® has various plans that will adjust according to the guidelines of the Provincial Health Officer, City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Parks Board, to support the return of in-person racing. Participant safety is always a top priority.
Deferral Policy
Should organizers be forced to cancel the in-person event altogether, the RUNVAN® Deferral Policy will apply.
Deferral will include entry into this year’s Virtual Race, race swag, plus a partial discount into next year’s race.
Cancellation AFTER August 15 until race day in October:
- Entry to this year’s Great Trek Virtual Race, race bonuses, AND
- 25% Deferral discount to one of the following three Great Trek events
Refunds are not provided per race policies agreed to upon registration. Event funds are often spent well in advance of race day per traditional ordering timelines and supplier deposit terms, and registration can’t simply be returned. RUNVAN® invests in marketing, has fixed operational costs, plus makes large advance purchases. Since that product is ordered months in advance, refunds on products like medals and giveaways are unavailable. Registrants will still have an opportunity to complete the Virtual Race and collect their commemorative rewards.
Thank you for understanding.
What’s Included
- New Great Trek toque
- Race Bib with Timing Chip
- Race Medal included
- Combo Medal if you complete the Hat-trick
- $25 off at Forerunners, minimum $75 spend
- Food including sushi or warm chili post-race
- Gear check and pacers provided by RUNVAN®
- On-course aid stations with Alkiss Water
- Nuun Hydration and Xact Nutrition
- 16oz sleeve of Stanley Park Brewing Beer if of age
- Options to donate and fundraise for charity
- Measured and marked 21.1KM, 10KM, 5KM
- Access to event photos through your profile
- Race Results, leaderboards and more!
Green Bib Option
RUNVAN® is now offering a Green Bib option where you can save on the registration fee by skipping the giveaway item, which are toques this year. Medals are still available for all finishers, including those who select the Green Bib.
Race Bonuses
- New Great Trek toque or opt to go green
- Race Bib with Timing Chip
- Race Medal included
- Bonus medal with the Hat-trick
- Designs by Musqueam artist Darryl Blyth
Train with Forerunners
BIB LOOKUP
All runners are traditionally assigned a bib number and corral according to their estimated finish time. Please also note race bibs may not be transferred for legal and lability reasons and per race policies. Thank you.
Personalized bibs and estimated finish times may be updated until approximately two weeks prior to the race.
PACKAGE PICKUP
Every runner is required to pickup their kit during Package Pickup hours. Race day pickup is unavailable.
Location: Forerunners Main St – 3889 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Dates: Race week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday only; No race day pickup
Times: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, pre-race, 10am-6:30pm
You will be required to present your emailed confirmation number or bib number and picture ID in order to collect your race bib.
To pick-up another runner’s race package, please have their full name and confirmation number, and a copy of their valid photo ID.
For groups of five or more, please email info@runvan.org with all of the names in advance so me may prepare the kits ahead of time.
Your kit includes various race bonuses including an exclusive Great Trek toque, and a $25 Forerunners gift card valid on a minimum $75 spend.
Dates and location subject to change. Please respect the safety protocols administered by staff and volunteers on-site. Thank you.
CHECKLIST TBD
Great Trek toque
$25 Forerunners gift card with minimum spend
*Please present valid ID
In-Person Races
In-person events are back now that restrictions are lifted! Join a beautiful jaunt through Musqueam territory.
Virtual Races
You may run, walk or stroll your race distance at your own pace and at a time and location of your choice, following the guidelines of your local health authorities. You may choose your own race day and your own starting line, whether it’s a treadmill, a park, your neighbourhood streets or Seawall. For the Virtual Race, you’re asked to please find your own pedestrian friendly route.
When may I run the race?
IN-PERSON : SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023
- Half Marathon : 8:30am start (Corral: Black 8:30am, Grey 8:34am, Blue 8:38am, Yellow 8:42am, Pink 8:45am)
- 10KM : 10:30am start (Corral: Black 10:30am, Grey 10:35am, Blue 10:40am, Yellow & Pink 10:45am)
- 5KM : 12pm Noon start (Corral: Black 12:00pm, Grey & Blue: 12:05am, Yellow & Pink 12:10am)
Start Live In-Person
In-Person: Please arrive early on race day.
- Access: Parking will be available in the North Parkade and by the Rose Garden. For a view of the Start & Finish Area, parking options, gear check and portable toilet locations, please visit greattrek.ca/festivities/#map
- Gear Check: On the southside of the UBC Student Life Building you’ll find Gear Check. Please place all items you’d like checked into your own bag. Detach the tear-off tag at the bottom of your race bib, and attach it to this bag, and then hand your one checked bag to the volunteers at Gear Check. After you finish, return to Gear Check and show your race bib to collect your bag. Note: RUNVAN® is not responsible for lost or damaged goods, and all clothing discarded near the Start Line will be donated to charity.
- Toilets: Portable outdoor toilets will be available near the UBC Student Nest. Additional washroom facilities are available inside the Student Nest.
- Pacers: Pacers will help guide runners with the goal times. Pacers will be visible with RUNVAN® pacer shirts and signs and may be found in the start corrals.
- Corrals: Start waves feature colour-coded corrals. Approximately four minutes prior to your estimated Start Time, you’ll be invited to enter from the back of the the Start Line Area
IN-PERSON : SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023
- 21.1KM : 8:30am start (Corral: Black 8:30am, Grey 8:34am, Blue 8:38am, Yellow 8:42am, Pink 8:45am)
- 10KM : 10:30am start (Corral: Black 10:30am, Grey 10:35am, Blue 10:40am, Yellow & Pink 10:45am)
- 5KM : 12pm Noon start (Corral: Black 12:00pm, Grey & Blue: 12:05am, Yellow & Pink 12:10am)
Pacers
2022 pacers included below:
Half Marathon
1:30 Jonathan Ichikawa
1:35 Michael Suey
1:40 Ben Morley
1:45 Humphrey Chau
1:50 Raymond Cayas
1:55 Mark Nelson
2:00 Anna Stone
2:05 Kaushal Parikh
2:10 Rabih Majzoub
2:15 David Chen
2:20 Jessie Tao
2:25 Jun Xue
2:30 Andy Colton
10KM
0:40 Warren Meyers
0:45 Erin Ready
0:50 Adeline Wong
0:50 Michael Chang
0:55 Hanami Shirai
1:00 Casper Chen
1:05 Tracy Wang
1:10 Evgeny Vinnik
5KM
0:20 Victor Qin
0:25 Navy Yuan Chen
0:30 Michael Tian
0:35 Karl Shen
0:40 Rob Szpak
Finish Line In-Person
In-Person: Race day.
- Overview: The Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial is officially measured and marked. Both the Start Line and Finish Line are located near the UBC Student Nest.
- Water: Water will be available oncourse four times for the Half Marathon and twice for the 10KM while there is no oncourse water station for the 5KM. Water will be available to all runners after crossing the Finish Line.
- Medals: Medals will be awarded to all finishers! Inside post-race will also be Award Ceremonies.
- Food: Food will be available for runners as you continue on towards the food tent in the Plaza. The menu includes chips, bars, bananas and Nuun. Please help yourself to one serving of each item. For those of age, you may also try a beer sample from Stanley Park Brewing. Additionally, attached to your race bib you’ll find a ‘food ticket’ that may be redeemed for sushi or chili inside at the Nest on race day, subject to availability.
- Results: Chip timed results will be posted online at greattrek.ca/results
- Chip Times: Overall and Age Group Placings will be determined by Chip Time, not Gun Time. Your official timing chip is included on your race bib which must be visible at both the Start Line and Finish Line. Your time will officially start once you cross the Start Line timing mats.
- Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Age Group Placings by event distance will be awarded gold, silver, bronze Age Category Medals inside the UBC Nest post-race by gender Male, Female, Non-Binary.
- Patience: Please note there may be cues for certain services such as the toilets. Please be patient. Thank you!
Where is the Race Course?
In-Person: The Great Trek presented by BlueShore Financial is held near the University of British Columbia, on-campus and in the surrounding area. Take part in ‘a jaunt through Musqueam territory’.
Event Maps
Note: Maps are for reference only. If you are running the Virtual Race, please choose your own route that is pedestrian friendly. Use caution if running outside, and be alert of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Please also be respectful of safety concerns and follow the lead of your local health authorities.
21.1KM
10KM
5KM
Start / Finish
Virtual Race Precautions
On Race Day, runners usually wear a race bib with a timing chip and emergency contact info. This will be included on your bib for the In-Person event. For the Virtual Race, for safety reasons, please give someone else your race route and have an emergency contact located on your body or phone while you’re out just in case.
Aside from practicing safe, physical distancing, be alert of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Remember, there are no road closures in effect during your Virtual Race. Try to stay on sidewalks or trails as much as possible and be sure to obey all traffic signals. If you’re going to listen to music, ensure you can still hear what’s going on around you. Treadmill racing may also be an option for you.
RESULTS
In-Person race registration includes a Race Bib with a Timing Chip, and official results that will be posted online!
Virtual Race participants may submit their times from October 16-31. Virtual Race participants may use their unique ‘Confirmation Code‘ provided during registration as their ‘Claim Code‘ to record and submit Virtual Race results. You may upload data from your tracking device, or via manual input. Be sure to also share your ‘Finish Line’ photos on social @runvancanada #runvan