Hi,

I am going to be running Victoria Half on 10/10/10 and I am starting to make plans. I wanted to get information from those who have run it in the past. i.e....Air,hotels, places to eat,things to do and driving how long did it take from Portland etc. Any info you can provide so I don't have to re-invent the wheel.

Thanks for your help..

Christine

We did the 1/2 a couple of years ago (walkers) and are doing it again this year. The course is great and very scenic. There's probably a few options for getting there but we found that going to Port Angeles in Washington and taking the ferry works out well. If you are just there for the couple of days around the race you don't really need a car and can just be a foot passenger on the ferry. It's cheaper and there is no rush to get your car in line early in the day. There are overnight parking lots in the area where everyone parks. It's about 4 1/2 to 5 hours to get to Port Angeles from Portland and the sailing time to Victoria is 90 minutes. That weekend is US Columbus Day weekend and also the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend so keep that in mind if you decide to bring a car as it may be crowded.
There are lots of options for lodging on the web site for the marathon. You might want to check that out. There are lots of dining options in the area. I'm a fish and chips fan so usually try to get some while up there (although not the night before the event). We've been to several restaurant/pub/breweries up there. The one that sticks out and that we will be going to again is called Canoe Brewpub. Some others are Spinnakers Brewpub, Swans brewpub (lively atmosphere), Re-bar (vegetarian). I guess the choices for dining all depend on what you are looking for. There's lots to choose from.
There is lots to do in Victoria. If you are just there for the weekend you probably don't want to overdo it on Saturday (day before the race). The inner harbor is an active place in the summer but slows down a bit in the winter. Still lots of sightseeing and shopping. Butchart gardens is a nice place to go anytime of the year but without a car you would need to check on public transportation.
We really enjoyed the 1/2 even though we got rained on near the end. I'm sure you won't be dissapointed in your choice.

David

We've done this marathon a couple of times as well. Also did the ferry, but don't take the very last one into Victoria, you still need to be able to pick up your packet at the expo. Lodging can be an issue, so that's the first thing I would book. (We like the Hotel Grand Pacific- it's across the street from the dock, and it's at the end of the marathon, so you can get back to your hotel very quickly.) There's also long waits at the restaurants the night before the marathon, so be prepared if you want to eat at a specific time.
Lovely course, but hillier than Portland.

lj