Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland are home to a number of popular running events and races throughout the year. The BMO Vancouver Marathon and the Vancouver Sun Run are the biggest, but there are plenty of other opportunities for runners to stretch their legs.
Continue reading for details on the most notable races and other running events in the area.
Running Events and Marathons in Metro Vancouver
Below are details on major running races in the Lower Mainland. Some are massive events that feature tens of thousands of runners as well as huge crowds of spectators watching them go. Others are smaller and have somewhat more relaxed atmospheres. What they all have in common is that you’ll definitely work up a sweat if you take part!
BMO Vancouver Marathon
One of the biggest marathons in Canada, the BMO Vancouver Marathon has taken place for over 50 years and attracts upwards of 25,000 participants each year. Many people come from outside of Canada to participate! The event typically happens on the first Sunday in May, which in 2027 is May 2.
In addition to the full-length (42.2 km) marathon, there’s also a half marathon as well as an 8 km race and a 2.5 km Kids Run. The Kids Run is held at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. The other three races all have the same finish line, on West Pender Street between Bute and Thurlow in downtown Vancouver.
The full-length marathon begins at Queen Elizabeth Park. Runners head west before turning up to go around Pacific Spirit Regional Park and the UBC campus. The route then heads east, crossing the Burrard Bridge to head into downtown. From there it loops up and around Stanley Park before finishing on Pender Street.
There is live music set up at various points along the different race routes. The marathon is accompanied by the Health, Sports & Lifestyle Expo that happens at the Vancouver Convention Centre on the Saturday and Sunday of the race weekend. If you can’t race on the main day (or don’t want to be part of such a massive crowd) then you can also run a virtual Vancouver Marathon. The virtual run can be done on any day of your choosing between April 1 and May 31.
Click Vancouver Marathon for more information.
Vancouver Sun Run
The Vancouver Sun Run is – by number of entrants – the biggest running event in the Lower Mainland. Over 55,000 people participated in the 2026 edition! The 10 km course begins and ends in downtown Vancouver. The 2027 event is set for Sunday, April 18.
Starting on West Georgia Street, runners head west before turning down Denman Street and past English Bay, leaving downtown over the Burrard Bridge. The route then loops around and heads east on 6th Avenue until it turns north on Quebec Street. The race finishes outside of BC Place Stadium on Pacific Boulevard.
In order to try and manage the crowd of runners, participants are released in waves sorted by their expected finishing times. For those who don’t want to run for the full 10 km but still want to take part in the event, there’s a 2.5 km Mini Sun Run as well as a 10 km walking division. There’s also a virtual race available between the Friday and Sunday of the race weekend.
People of all ages and fitness levels participate in the Vancouver Sun Run! After finishing the race everyone heads into BC Place for refreshments and live entertainment. There’s also an awards ceremony for the top runners. The cost to participate in the main 10 km race is between $25 and $70 depending on how old you are and how early you register.
Check out the Vancouver Sun Run website to learn more.
Vancouver Half Marathon
The Vancouver Half Marathon is the most popular race of that distance (21 km) in the city. The event happens on the last Sunday of June each year. In 2026 that’s June 28.
In addition to the main half marathon, there’s also a 5 km race and a 1 km race for kids under the age of 13. Both of the latter two start and end at the Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park. The half marathon begins at UBC and ends at the Museum of Vancouver as well. The main race costs $140 to run in 2026. It sold out more than a week before the event day! Make sure to secure your spot in advance if you want to participate.
On race day, the event begins with the 5 km run at 7:30 am. The half marathon gets underway just 15 minutes later over at UBC. All participants have three hours to complete the half marathon, as the course closes at 10:45 am. The Kids Race begins at that same time at the Museum of Vancouver.
For more details click Vancouver Half Marathon.
Big Fun Run Series
For those who want to take part in a running event that’s smaller than the ones listed above, and with a fun and family-friendly atmosphere, then the Big Fun Run series is a great option!
The events in the Big Fun Run series aren’t super competitive. Rather, they’re all about having a good time while being active. Most of them welcome those with strollers, wheelchairs and pets. Each race also has its own theme. Some runners dress up to fit whatever the theme may be!
There are up to around half a dozen or so events in the Big Fun Run series in any given year, although in 2026 there are just three. The first was the Big Easter Run at Vancouver’s Jericho Beach Park on April 4. Then there’s the Big Pirate Run in Richmond on September 19. The final event is the Big Elf Run at Stanley Park on December 12.
Each of the events have three to five different race lengths to choose from, which can range anywhere from 1 km to 21.1 km. All of the events are a bit different in terms of what options they offer. What they all have in common is that they’re fun and accessible events for people of all ages and abilities. Each run typically partners with a local charity as well.
There are multiple other events in the series that have happened in previous years (and hopefully will again soon). Those are the Big 80’s Run in Burnaby in March, the Big Jungle Run in Burnaby in May, the Big Superhero Run in Richmond in August, and the Big Halloween Run in Vancouver in October.
Go to the Big Fun Run Series website for the most up-to-date information.
Try Events Races
Try Events is another organization that puts on a number of different races throughout the year. They’re similar to the Big Fun Run series in terms of there being a lot of race length options depending on the event, and different local charity partners. Some of the differences include that they don’t have the people wearing costumes, or the same level of theming geared towards families.
The races put on by Try Events are also not as large as ones like the Sun Run and Vancouver Marathon, but they draw a good number of participants. They also offer a full-length marathon in addition to their shorter races (the Boundary Bay Marathon in Delta each November).
The other races on the Try Events calendar are the Chilly Chase in Vancouver in January, the Fort Langley Historic Half Marathon in February, the Chocolate Run and Shamrock’n Race in Vancouver in March, the Rubber Ducky Race in Burnaby in October, and the Vancouver Historic Half Marathon in November.
Most of the race days include random prize draws in addition to finishing medals and other goodies given out to each participant. Some of the events have their own unique items included with registration. For example, each runner participating in the Chocolate Run receives some chocolate.
To learn more visit the Try Events website.
Terry Fox Runs
Held in honour of the great Terry Fox and serving as a fundraiser for cancer research, just about every municipality in the Lower Mainland puts on their own Terry Fox Run each September. They happen on Sunday, September 20 in 2026.
The runs have course lengths of between 1 km and 10 km. You can take part as either an individual or as part of a team. Participating in a Terry Fox Run isn’t about “winning” the race or seeing who gets what time. It’s about raising money for cancer research and taking part in a positive, community event.
Visit the Terry Fox Foundation website to find the run closest to you, and to donate to the cause.
Other Information
Click Vancouver Running Races for details on other running events happening in Metro Vancouver.
To learn about biking events in the region, see our page about Vancouver Cycling Events. Or, check out our Vancouver Sports Calendar for a full listing of the biggest sporting events in the Lower Mainland.