As far as destination races go, you could do a lot worse than the Royal Victoria Marathon in Victoria, BC. This event also features a half, 8K, and 5K.
Victoria is a beautiful city in the Pacific Northwest nestled between Vancouver, BC to the north and Seattle, WA to the south. The total number of participants in the three events are around 12,500, with about 4,000 of those in the marathon. The races all start and finish near the Inner Harbour, which is a small, charming area within a very walkable city. The topography is rolling, a bit like Winston-Salem, so it is something we locals should be very prepared for. There are very few flat segments but no really big climbs. The total elevation gain was about 750 feet, which is comparable to the Richmond Marathon.
The race was well organized, with a decent expo and adequate post-race provisions. Unfortunately, I’m not able to comment on the quality of the awards.
It is worth mentioning that the race is measured in kilometers which, once you’ve adjusted your GPS watch, will seem to make your splits just fly by! I had never seen a sub-5 minute split in a marathon until that day, and I just ignored the fact that it meant about an 8 minute mile.
A large segment of the course runs along the coastline, so the scenery is a great way to ignore the physical distress. There are several bands playing for the runners along the way, including (unfortunately) bagpipes at one station!
In general, the crowd support was pretty good with large crowds near the start and finish areas and groups of folks along much of the course. Except around the bagpipes, of course. Who wants to listen to that for 4 hours!?!
The weather in October in Victoria is generally mild. I caught a 51-degree day (although they kept saying it was 11 degrees, but it sure felt warmer!) with clouds and light wind. Pretty much perfect.
Once you’ve paid your dues with your race there are plenty of touristy things to do in the area. Whale watching is popular, and you are virtually guaranteed to see humpbacks feeding in the krill-filled waters just beyond the harbor. Butchart Gardens is a popular tourist spot, renowned for its 55 acres of meticulously maintained flora. It is about ½ hour drive north of downtown but well worth the trip and easy to find tour guides that will take you there. The town also has a large museum and extensive historical architecture. The city pays homage to the indigenous tribes that lived there before European settlers, including a large collection of totem poles. Locals seem to have a good appreciation of the natural beauty and resources around them and overall this makes for a great destination race!