The Royal Victoria Marathon kicked off its 2026 campaign Wednesday night at the running store and sponsor Frontrunners Victoria. The organizing committee is expecting further growth from the 2025 benchmark event, which saw over 15,000 registrations. The race weekend is already over 10,000 five months in advance.
“Last year was a milestone—45 years and record participation,” said Race Director and General Manager Cathy Noel. “More than 15,000 people registered across the weekend. Right now, we’re sitting at 10,834, which is a 36 percent jump from this time last year. At this pace, the marathon and half-marathon will likely sell out by July.”
Noel used the launch to unveil several new elements designed to elevate the participant experience. The Half Marathon now has a title sponsor—OUTWAY, the Victoria-based performance sock company. Red Bull will host an energy station, and Island Savings is partnering with CHEK to create a Charity Cheer Zone stretching from Mile 0 to Oswego. Within that zone, organizers are adding a 1 km sprint segment open to all participants, complete with prize money courtesy of Island Savings. The pre-race carbo dinner also returns, this time featuring World Race Walk Champion Evan Dunfee as guest speaker.
“We’re always looking at how to make the RVM better—for runners, volunteers, and the community,” Noel added. “Tourism partners play a huge role. A race weekend isn’t just a start line and a finish line. It’s ferries, hotels, restaurants, attractions—everything that shapes the experience. In 2025, the event generated more than $14 million in economic impact.”
Course records
- Marathon (Men): Lamech Mokono, 2:13:42 (set in 2013).
- Marathon (Women): Lucy Njeri, 2:37:56 (set in 2011).
- Half Marathon (Men): Jon Brown, 1:02:32 (set in 2002).
- Half Marathon (Women): Natasha Wodak-Fraser, 1:11:45 (set in 2018).
- 8K (Men): Justin Kent, 23:14 (set in 2019).
- 8K (Women): Sarah Inglis, 25:35 (set in 2021).
- 5K (Men): Charlie Dannatt, 14:37 (2025)
- 5K (Women): Chloe Hewitt, 17:44 (2025)
Defending champions
- Men’s marathon: Louis Maruk — 2:24:29
- Women’s marathon: Cassandra De Winter — 2:39:52
- Men’s half-marathon: Russell Pennock — 1:05:15
Women’s half-marathon: Claire Sumner — 1:15:13
Men’s 8K: Liam Donnelly — 23:59
Women’s 8K: Jenna Schulz — 28:03
Saturday, October 10, will see the Island Savings 5K and Thrifty Foods Kids Run take over Oak Bay, while Sunday’s main events—the Marathon, OUTWAY Half Marathon, and Westland Insurance 8K—start and finish in downtown Victoria. Through the CHEK Charity Pledge Program, organizers aim to raise $300,000 this year, adding to the $2.35 million generated since 2005.
Those recognized on the evening were the over 10,000 participants (five months in advance), volunteers, charities, and the sponsors who help stitch the whole weekend together. Now in its 46th year, the RVM is preparing for another growth spurt, with organizers projecting a full slate of 17,000 entries across the five races scheduled for October 10 and 11.
