Thousands turn out for annual Vancouver marathon

CTV Vancouver: Thousands turn out for marathon More than 15,000 runners hit the pavement for full and half marathons in Vancouver on Sunday.

Tens of thousands of marathon and half-marathon runners and spectators took to the streets under cloudless skies for the 2015 BMO Vancouver Marathon on Sunday.

Kenyan Luka Chelimo won the 44th annual full-length marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 37 seconds.

Chelimo told reporters he had just arrived in Vancouver from Kenya on Saturday night, a fact that shocked them but didn’t seem to phase the runner, who said he runs as many as four marathons per year.

He said he runs fewer marathons annually when he’s able to finish them in a faster time. The Vancouver course is too difficult to do in less than 2 hours and 18 minutes, he said.

“This course is very rough,” Chelimo said. “It’s very rough.”

Daniel Kipkoech, of Kenya, and Canadian Kip Kangogo finished second and third, with times of 2:18:49 and 2:19:21, respectively.

Lioudmila Kortchaguina, of Markham, Ont., was the top female finisher in the race, finishing in 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 37 seconds.

She said she enjoyed seeing support from fans, who were “everywhere” along the race course.

Hirut Guangul, of Ethiopia, and Ellie Greenwood, of Vancouver, finished second and third among women, with times of 2:41:25 and 2:47:23, respectively.

In addition to the full marathon, there was a half-marathon, an 8-kilometre race, and a marathon relay on Sunday.