EVENT INFO

BIB INFO

Bib must be clearly visible on the front of your shirt.

For safety and liability reasons, bibs are non-transferrable.

Bibs record your chip time and tag you in photos.

All runners are assigned a bib number and corral according to their estimated finish time. Your race bib for the in-person event includes a timing chip and tear-away gear check tag. Your bib will also be good for a complimentary sleeve of Stanley Park Brewing Beer if of legal drinking age. See the back of your bib for details, restrictions apply.

Customize your bib name and estimated finish time well in advance of race month. To edit general registration, please visit the Event Page, click the ‘Sign In’ button top-right and sign into your Participant Dashboard.

In-Person Races

Join a beautiful jaunt through Musqueam territory.

Virtual Races

You may run, walk or stroll your race distance at your own pace and at a time and location of your choice, following the guidelines of your local health authorities. You may choose your own race day and your own starting line, whether it’s a treadmill, a park, your neighbourhood streets or Seawall. For the Virtual Race, you’re asked to please find your own pedestrian friendly route.

When may I run the race?

IN-PERSON : SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025

• Half Marathon : 8:30am start (Corral: Black 8:30am, Grey 8:33am, Blue 8:36am, Yellow 8:39am, Pink 8:42am)
• 10KM : 10:30am start (Corral: Black 10:30am, Grey 10:34am, Blue 10:38am, Yellow & Pink 10:42am)
• 5KM : 12pm Noon start (Corral: Black 12:00pm, Grey & Blue: 12:05am, Yellow & Pink 12:10am)
• UBC Relay : 12:20pm, Relay Exchanges every 1KM

Where is the Race Course?

In-Person: The Great Trek is held near the University of British Columbia, on-campus and in the surrounding area. Take part in ‘a jaunt through Musqueam territory’.

TravelSmart

The Great Trek takes place on Musqueam Territory with the Start and Finish at the campus of the University of British Columbia. Please consider taking transit or using the paid parking options on the UBC Campus. Please also be aware and observe the temporary road closures and detours.

Start Live In-Person

In-Person: Please arrive early on race day.

• Access: Pay parking is available in the North Parkade and by the Rose Garden, subject to availability. The University Blvd Parkade has a 2-hour time limit. View: UBC Parking Map.
• Start, Finish and Gear Check Areas are near the Student Life Building. View: greattrek.ca/festivities/#map
• Gear Check: Inside the UBC Student Life Building you’ll find Gear Check. Place all items into your own bag. Detach the tear-off tag at the bottom of your race bib, and attach to this to your one checked bag. After you finish, return to Gear Check and show your race bib to collect your bag. Note: RUNVAN® is not responsible for potentially lost or damaged goods, and all clothing discarded near the Start Line will be donated to charity.
• Toilets: Portable outdoor toilets will be available near the UBC Student Nest. Additional washroom facilities are available inside the Student Nest.
• Pacers: Pacers will help guide runners with the goal times. Pacers will be visible with RUNVAN® pacer shirts and signs and may be found in the start corrals.
• Corrals: Start waves feature colour-coded corrals. Approximately three minutes prior to your estimated Start Time, you’ll be invited to enter from the back of the the Start Line Area
  IN-PERSON : Saturday, October 25, 2025
  • 21.1KM : 8:30am start (Corral: Black 8:30am, Grey 8:33am, Blue 8:36am, Yellow 8:39am, Pink 8:42am)
  • 10KM : 10:30am start (Corral: Black 10:30am, Grey 10:34am, Blue 10:38am, Yellow & Pink 10:42am)
  • 5KM : 12pm Noon start (Corral: Black 12:00pm, Grey & Blue: 12:05pm, Yellow & Pink: 12:10am)
  • UBC Relay : 12:20pm Relay Exchanges every 1KM

Gear Check

Gear Check will be available inside the UBC Student Life Building on race morning. To help speed up the Gear Check process, please follow the steps below:

• Place all items you’d like checked into your own bag please. No loose items.
• Detach the tear-off tag at the bottom of your race bib.
• Attach your tear-off tag securely to the outside of your bag, near the top.
• Hand your one tagged bag to the volunteers at Gear Check.
• After you finish, return with your race bib to collect your bag.

Note: RUNVAN® is not responsible for any potentially lost or damaged goods.

Clothing discarded near the Start Line will be donated to charity.

Runner Etiquette

For all, please remember to leave room for others to potentially pass. Do not block the entire width of the race course with your pace groups. Thank you! Please enter at the back of the corral when your race and corral colour is called and consider finding your goal pacer time to help you cross the Finish Line.

Do not block the width of the road, and allow others to pass by displaying proper Race Etiquette. Should you not be able to complete the race within the course time limit, you’ll politely be asked to remove yourself from the race per the event’s stated Pacing Requirements. Thank you for understanding.

Elites

Elite Pacers should be made known to all competitors, including the target pace or Estimated Finish Time so as to ensure others equal opportunity to benefit from that pacing, if they so desire. Pacers must also be registered in the same race they are pacing, and start at the very start of the event, running the entire race unless or until they drop out. Pacers must run and may not use bikes, scooters, etc. Please contact us if you meet the RUNVAN Elite Standards.

Etiquette Tips

Please follow the RUNVAN Code of Conduct and showcase strong Runner Etiquette which includes the following:

• Be Prepared. Have all your race clothing and gear ready the day before
• Arrive early, approximately one hour before your race start time
• Wear your Race Bib number on the front of your shirt and do not cover it ever
• Pay attention to all race announcements and please remove your headphones
• Do not litter. Use washrooms, portables, the garbage and recycling bins provided
• Line up in your assigned corral, and allow faster participants to line up at the front
• Do not block the race course. Allow others to pass on the left with verbal cues.
• Do not block stations and never litter. Carry your gel packs and cups if necessary
• Run through the Finish Line. Keep moving so as not to impede others
• Take one serving of each food item only
• Yield to potential emergency vehicles
• Thank volunteers

Again, please never litter. 

Course Overview

The Great Trek starts and ends near UBC. The live course is marked at every kilometre and at halfway, and you’ll have course marshals and pacers to guide you. This route will be accurately measured and certified. For visual maps, please visit: greattrek.ca/maps. For temporary road closures, view: greattrek.ca/detours.

Note as this is a loop course, so please be aware as Elites may pass you along return routes. Please allow others to safely pass while always remaining within the course boundary.

Finish Line In-Person

In-Person: Race day.

• Overview: The Great Trek is officially measured and marked. Both the Start Line and Finish Line are located near the UBC Student Nest.
• Water: Water will be available oncourse four times for the Half Marathon and twice for the 10KM while there is no oncourse water station for the 5KM. Water will be available to all runners after crossing the Finish Line.
• Medals: Medals will be awarded to all finishers! The medal design includes event artwork by talented Musqueam designer Darryl Blyth on one side, plus new medal art on the other featuring icons unique to the course. Inside post-race will be an Award Ceremonies for top overall finishers for more earned hardware.
• Food: Food will be available for runners as you continue on towards the food tent in the Plaza. The menu includes chips, bars, bananas and Nuun. Please help yourself to one serving of each item. Stanley Park Brewing will also have sampling post-race. Additionally, attached to your race bib you’ll find a ‘food ticket’ that may be redeemed for sushi or chili inside at the Nest on race day, subject to availability.
• Results: Chip timed results will be posted online at greattrek.ca/results
• Chip Times: Overall and Age Group Placings will be determined by Chip Time, not Gun Time. Your official timing chip is included on your race bib which must be visible at both the Start Line and Finish Line. Your time will officially start once you cross the Start Line timing mats.
• Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Age Group Placings by event distance will be awarded gold, silver, bronze Age Category Medals inside the UBC Nest post-race by gender Male, Female, Non-Binary. Plus, new this year, Event Record prizing is up for grabs across all individual race distances of the 21.1KM, 10KM and 5KM.
• Patience: Please note there may be cues for certain services such as the toilets. Please be patient. Thank you!
• Stage Schedule post-race inside the Nest:
  • 10:45am Half Marathon Awards
  • 11:45am 10KM Awards
  • 12:45pm 5KM Awards
  • 1:05pm UBC Relay Awards

Event Maps

Note: Maps are for reference only. If you are running the Virtual Race, please choose your own route that is pedestrian friendly. Use caution if running outside, and be alert of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Please also be respectful of safety concerns and follow the lead of your local health authorities.

Virtual Race Precautions

On Race Day, runners usually wear a race bib with a timing chip and emergency contact info. This will be included on your bib for the In-Person event. For the Virtual Race, for safety reasons, please give someone else your race route and have an emergency contact located on your body or phone while you’re out just in case.

Aside from practicing safe, physical distancing, be alert of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Remember, there are no road closures in effect during your Virtual Race. Try to stay on sidewalks or trails as much as possible and be sure to obey all traffic signals. If you’re going to listen to music, ensure you can still hear what’s going on around you. Treadmill racing may also be an option for you.

RESULTS

In-Person race registration includes a Race Bib with a Timing Chip, and official results that will be posted online!

Virtual Race participants may submit their times from October 16-31. Virtual Race participants may use their unique ‘Confirmation Code‘ provided during registration as their ‘Claim Code‘ to record and submit Virtual Race results. You may upload data from your tracking device, or via manual input. Be sure to also share your ‘Finish Line’ photos on social @runvancanada #runvan

Awards

Half Marathon runners who place in the top three in their respective age categories will earn special medals.

First place Age Category earns free entry for the following year.

Awards presented on-stage post-race.

Course Record prize money is available per the RUNVAN Elite Program.

All must abide by RUNVAN’s stated standards around Fair Play.

REFER

Join your friends at the annual Great Trek!

1. Start your registration here
2. Under “How did you hear about this event?”, choose “Friend referral”
3. In the blank field, enter your friend’s first and last name for a chance to win a bonus prize draw

Enter your friend’s name when you register and you’ll both be entered in a draw to win a prize pack from RUNVAN®! All runners will also receive a finisher’s medal, RUNVAN® merch, post-race food, and more.