Royal Victoria Marathon draws record crowds and road closures

The 46th Royal Victoria Marathon is taking place this Thanksgiving weekend, with a record 17,483 runners participating. The event features several distances, including the marathon, the Outway Half Marathon, and the Westland Insurance 8K. Many of the race distances have sold out for the second consecutive year.

The elite field includes notable athletes such as Olympic bronze medalist Evan Dunfee, US Olympic trials qualifier Matt Welch, and Canadian record holder Natasha Wodak. Other prominent competitors include two-time local champion Catrin Jones and 2017 champion Sarah Inglis.

Due to the scale of the event, significant road closures are expected in Victoria and Oak Bay, particularly on Sunday, October 11. The Victoria Police Department and the City of Victoria have issued advisories regarding disruptions in downtown Victoria, the Inner Harbour, James Bay, Beacon Hill Park, Fairfield, and Dallas Road. Motorists and pedestrians should expect restricted access to several downtown streets and the area south of Yates Street during the morning hours.