Kids Fun Run Revamped for 2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon Lineup
One mile run on the Saturday of marathon weekend has its own special course in Stanley Park
Vancouver, BC – March 1, 2013 – 500 kids will join 17,000 Marathon, Half-Marathon and 8km runners at the BMO Vancouver Marathon on the weekend of May 4-5, 2013. The new Kids 1-Mile Fun Run will introduce children 6 to 12 years old to the excitement of the marathon event.
The Saturday, May 4th Kids Fun Run will begin at Devonian Park at the entrance to Stanley Park and take children on a 1-mile loop in the park.
Similar to the 8km, Marathon and Half-Marathon, the Kids 1-Mile Fun Run will have age-clustered corrals to keep runners safe and evenly paced. Volunteer marshals will accompany children at the Start Line and “Pace Bunnies” will also guide the groups along the course.
On their race day, children will not only experience the thrill of marathon weekend, like the adults, but will also receive a cotton BMO Vancouver Marathon Kids 1-Mile Fun Run shirt, cool medal, race bib, and a post-event snack. All participating children will also have the exciting opportunity to meet and have their bibs signed by the 2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon Elite runners. Bibs will be available for one parent to join the run, if desired.
The BMO Vancouver Marathon Kids 1-Mile Fun Run is presented by Saucony Kids, one of the event sponsors. Saturday May 4th also features the annual Friendship Run at 9:30am, hosted by Running Room. John Stanton, founder of Running Room, will be in attendance for both the Friendship Run and the BMO Vancouver Marathon Kids 1-Mile Fun Run.
The Kids Fun Run represents the first phase of a much more comprehensive school-based running program to be launched in 2014.
About The Vancouver International Marathon Society
The BMO Vancouver Marathon and Half Marathon is organized and operated by the Vancouver International Marathon Society, a non-profit organization. The event is Canada’s largest marathon and has a 41-year history within Vancouver and the running community internationally. The event will take place on May 5, 2013, featuring the three point-to-point courses, showcasing the city’s famous landmarks, shorelines and neighbourhoods. The 2013 events will remain capped at 5,000 for the Marathon, 10,000 for the Half-Marathon, 2,000 for the 8km, 500 for 8km Teen Challenge and 500 for the Kids 1-Mile Fun run participants.
About BMO
BMO Bank of Montreal is proud to be in its eighth year as title sponsor of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. BMO supports the running community through sponsorship of marathon events in Vancouver, Kelowna, Charlottetown, Phoenix, Arizona, and Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin. BMO has a long and proud history of supporting sports in Canada. We believe our ties with sports reflect some of our most deeply held corporate values, such as contributing positively to a healthy quality of life in the community, and promoting the achievements of people, regardless of age or ability.
Media Contacts:
- Charlene Krepiakevich, Executive Director, Vancouver International Marathon Society, Office: 604-872-2928, [email protected]
- Laurie Grant, BMO Media Relations, 604-665-7596, [email protected]
- Twitter: @bmovanmarathon, @runvancanada