Banff Marathon

Ran the 2017 Banff Marathon and was lucky enough to be able to run the planned course up the Bow Valley Parkway which was beautiful. When registering for this event you do so knowing that you could end up running the alternate course due to bear activity so I don't understand those that complain. I personally witnessed on the marathon course Parks Canada tracking tagged bears to make sure they didn't get close to the course..thanks Parks Canada! It a tough run, you're pretty much running up hill for the first 19km but the return leg is obviously a bit easier. As mentioned by other reviewers, disappointed with the t-shirt & the medal, no year on the t-shirt and the medals are bulk made with one medal that represents all the events only to be singled out by the colour of the neck ribbon. Spectator support for this run is limited for obvious reasons, you don't really see anyone until you're back in the Banff township with 4km to the finish. Liked the way the organizers try to separate every bit of garbage for recycling. There were even volunteers biking the course picking up garbage.

The course was beautiful, albeit a bit hilly (you expected flat in the canadian rockies?). The volunteers were awesome and there was electrolyte goos at every water stop. No crowd support outside of the wildlife due to the race being run in a national park. It is a great destination marathon as the canadian rockies are spectacular. We were fortunate this year as the previous year the course was run along side the interstate due to wildlife concerns. I understand it to be hit or miss each year and a last minute decision whether the preferred course can be run. In terms of improvements, I thought the cost was too high for what they were giving you. The only swag was a short sleeve shirt covered with advertising and a finishers medal. The expo had no vendors and was just a packet pickup and the post race food was limited to stale bagels and water.

I happened to be looking for a June marathon. The price almost turned me off. I found that the price far out weighed the value I received from running the marathon. Overall the course was incredibly ugly. I am sure with a little more planning, you could have chosen a more scenic alternate route. Overall the food was average, no coffee at the finish line. One of the volunteers got me a coffee that was reserved for volunteers only? Plus I had to pay for a daily park pass, when I had a season park pass. The medal and t-shirt was average,no year marked on them. I think part of the problem is I spend so much time in the mountains anyway. I find the scenic impact is no big deal. The website comes across as more of a tourist advertisement then running related. I am looking at running the Marathon again next year, only because I have to be in Calgary on the 22th of June. If I register I will pay the early bird fee. Even though it is not worth the value.