This weekend’s 44th Royal Victoria Marathon and its accompanying half marathon are sold out, and the field is filling up for the 8K, 5K and Thrifty Foods Kids Run, which are also part of the event.
With all those athletes taking part — more than 12,000 are expected — several streets will be temporarily closed around the legislature in James Bay and around Willows Park in Oak Bay on Saturday, Sunday or both.
Events begin Saturday in Willows Park with the 5K, starting at 9 a.m., and the Kids Run, starting at 10:30 a.m.
On Sunday, action shifts to Belleville Street near the legislature with the 8K, starting at 7:15 a.m., and the marathon and half marathon starting at 8:15 a.m.
Race director and general manager Cathy Noel said 2,800 marathon participants and 5,250 half marathoners are registered, with up to 3,000 anticipated in the 8K, 1,000 in the 5K and 600 in the Kids Run.
Making it all happen this year will be a team of 1,200 people organized by Peninsula Co-op, said Noel, who is leading the marathon weekend for the 24th year.
Saturday’s events will mean closures in Oak Bay on Esplanade and on Beach Drive from Dalhousie to Humber.
A full closure on Belleville around the legislature starts Saturday in preparation for Sunday. Other marathon road closings begin at 1 a.m. on Sunday.
Look for police and other traffic personnel Sunday at the following major route crossings:
• Yates at Douglas, Blanshard and Quadra, reopening about 9:10 a.m.
• Cook at Fort, reopening about 9:15 a.m.
• Moss at Fairfield, reopening about 9:30 a.m.
• Robertson at Ross/Crescent, reopening about 2:15 p.m.
• Richmond at Fairfield, reopeing about 2:15 p.m.
• Richardson/McNeill at Foul Bay, reopening about 2 p.m.
• Beach Drive from Margate to Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Victoria Golf Course, reopening about 1:45 p.m.
Roads will be reopened gradually as the various events finish, and all of the run-related equipment, including items at the eight aid stations/porta-pottie sites, is expected to be removed on Sunday afternoon.
Noel said Canadian Olympic marathoner Cam Levins is attending the Kids Run and will be speaking at the start of both the marathon and half marathon.
More than $100,000 has been raised for 18 charities as part of the weekend’s annual CHEK Charity Pledge Program, she said. The program began in 2005 and has since raised over $2.35 million.
Contribute to the program at www.runvictoriamarathon.com/charities.
Complete maps and road-closure information are at runvictoriamarathon.com/ royalvictoriamarathon.
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