This article was published on April 29th, 2013

With less than a week away until the 2013 BMO Vancouver Marathon, both half and full marathoners are making final preparations for race day on Sunday, May 5. Here are the 13 most important things all participants and spectators need to know:

1. Power of Blue. Show your BMO debit or credit card at the race expo and get blue carpet treatment for race package pick-up. Race Package pick-up is located in Canada Place at the Vancouver Convention Centre East, Hall C
   1. Thursday: May 2, 2013 4:00pm – 8:00pm
   2. Friday: May 3, 2013 11:00am – 8:00pm
   3. Saturday: May 4, 2013 10:00am – 6:00pm
2. Register for live race results. New for 2013, runners can have their results tracked in live time using Sportstats. Sign up starting Thursday, May 2, 2013.
3. Have your friends go to one of the 13 participating Starbucks locations along / near the race course to pick up an official cheer sign, write a message, and cheer on the marathon partipants on race morning.
4. Wear blue and yellow. Participants are encouraged to wear blue and yellow, the official colours of the Boston Marathon, to show their support for the recent tragedy.
5. Take transit. Inside your race package you will find a complimentary Translink pass to get you to the start line at QE Park. Transit will  have increased frequency to get participants and spectators to the start-line on time.
6. Start line corrals. There are five corrals at the start line. There are 5 corrals for the marathon (8am start), with 5 distinct colours, and 5 corrals for the half marathon (7am start), with 5 distinct colours. Enter your designated corral, based upon your expected finish time. Corrals will be released in waves, timed for natural breaks at Oak Street where race organizers are required to allow traffic to pass through at specific intervals. Timing mats at Oak Street will adjust your chip time should you be stopped at Oak Street.
7. Nutrition on course. This year PowerBar will be the nutrition on course with two gel stations and two power blast stations. Gatorade will also be available at most hydration stations, located at most mile markers.
8. Pace Bunnies: Pace Bunnies will be offered for the following finish times: 3:30, 3:30, 3:35, 3:40, 3:45, 3:45, 3:50, 4:00, 4:00, 4:15, 4:15, 4:30, 4:40, 4:45, and 5:00. The Running Room pace bunnies will be running 10:1’s (run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute).
9. Spectator hot spots. There are a number of locations outlined on the new course map suggesting the best location for spectators. Ask your friends and family to head to one of those locations to cheer you on and tell them to bring encouraging signs and noisemakers.
10. Out-and-back on Blanca. In 2013, the marathon route has a new out-and-back located on Blanca Street, replacing the out-and-back that was in the Spanish Banks parking lot in 2012. The almost 1km add-on allows the finish line to be adjusted and the marathon to be at the official 42.2km length.
11. Finish line moved. The finish line will now be at Bute and Pender. The change was made so participants can see the finish line when they veer on to Pender Street at the end of the race, bringing more energy and excitement to the finish zone.
12. Whole Foods for finishers. All half and full marathon finishers will receive a special lunch from Whole Foods after they collect their medal at the finish line. Bagged lunches will include a Powerbar Protein bar, Kettle Chips, banana, Sunrype juice box, Sunrype fruit to go fruit leather, Kind bar, Mary’s crackers, and almond butter spread.
13. Street Festival. After the marathon, meet up with friends and family and enjoy the afternoon at the Street Festival.