High Performance Application - Royal Victoria Marathon 2026

The Royal Victoria Marathon is a road-race weekend in Victoria, British Columbia, run every October on Vancouver Island since 1980. The main event is a full marathon, with a half marathon, 8K, and 1.2K kids run on the same program. The marathon is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier, World Athletics certified, an Abbott World Marathon Majors MTT Age Group Qualifier, and a World Athletics World Ranking Competition. The High Performance Athlete Program brings in competitive distance runners, with a stated focus on helping Canadian athletes develop. The marathon uses a seaside Victoria course with mild to moderate elevation changes, while the half marathon starts beside the Parliament Buildings and runs through downtown with downhill, flat, and mild uphill sections. The 8K is an out-and-back route, with a gradual climb after 2K that can set up a quicker second half. The event draws nearly 10,000 competitors across its races, and high-performance prizes go to the top open and masters men and women in the marathon and half marathon, with an extra incentive for breaking a course record. Robin Pearson, Alex Marshall, and Bruce "Gunner" Shaw started the race, and Cindy Rhodes stands out in its history with six wins.