News Releases

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 27, 2011) - As the BMO Vancouver Marathon celebrates its 40^th year, more than 15,000 runners are estimated to cross the finish line. Entry numbers in running events, including half and full marathons, have seen a noticeable increase in the last decade. BMO will be hosting a media panel to discuss the growing phenomenon of marathons.

The panelists will discuss the following:

• Popularity of running and walking clubs
• Demographics of the BMO Vancouver Marathon
• Canadian parents' attitude towards health and fitness for their children

Panelist Profiles:

Roger Robinson - after a 30-year career as world-ranked runner, Roger Robinson is one of the leading authors, speakers and historians on running. He represented England and New Zealand in world championships and he had record-breaking age-group victories in the Boston, New York, Vancouver and other marathons. This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Roger's personal best marathon time (2:18:44) that he ran in Vancouver.

Kathrine Switzer - an authority on running and women's sports for more than 30 years. She is best known for pioneering the official entrance of women into the marathon, beginning in the late 1960's with the Boston Marathon. An Emmy Award-winning TV commentator, Kathrine has covered major road running events including the Olympics, the Goodwill and Commonwealth Games and almost all televised editions of the Boston, New York, and Los Angeles Marathons, as well as hundreds of local races around the world.

John Stanton- has become the face and voice for running in Canada. John started his passion for running over 30 years ago and has since built the Running Room with over 100 stores across Canada. In 1981, the then out-of-shape, overweight, food executive realized he had to change his lifestyle. He secretly began running before dawn. John went on to run over 60 marathons, hundreds of road races, and numerous triathlons. His pre-dawn runs would ultimately become John Stanton's 10:1 run/walk combination that has helped close to a million people do everything from learn to run to complete marathons, upright and smiling.

Brian Torrance - has been the Elite Athlete Coordinator for the BMO Vancouver Marathon for several years and has been a race director for numerous runs and marathons. He is currently Director of Ever Active Schools in Alberta. He is an avid runner representing Canada at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2008. He sits on the board of Athletics Alberta, and is the race director for the Canadian Mountain Running Championships.

Henry Donkers - an avid soccer player since youth, Henry began running in marathons eight years ago and has participated in 16 marathons and ultra marathons and was winner of his age category (50 – 55 years) at the BMO Vancouver Marathon in 2009. His best marathon time was 2:57:01. Henry was appointed Vice President, Vancouver Suburban District for BMO Bank of Montreal in March, 2011.