Run DetailsFlat, Fast and Festive!"This was my first major running event. It was a more than amazing experience. From the fabulous volunteers providing constant support throughout the event to the last 500 metres where the spectators blew me away with their cheers." The flat and fast features of this event (includes the marathon, half and 5k) have consistently been the reason for so many people reaching a personal best, qualifying for Boston, having a memorable but good first marathon or an outstanding one. Even power walkers or slower runners love this course because of its 6 hour 30 minute time limit. New since '08: The events start and finish in the same spot in the heart of downtown, at City Hall, at Bay & Queen Streets, hosted by Mayor David Miller. They head out and back along the lakeshore on a flat course that Boston hopefuls and first-timers love. Toronto Waterfront was one of only 4 sub-2:10 marathons in North America in 2007 [2:09:30]; and has been awarded a prestigious IAAF Silver label for both 2009 and 2008, as one of the 50 best road races in the world! There were only 4 gold and 4 silver labels awarded in North America in 2009, and 19 gold and 30 silver labels world-wide! There are bands and Neighbourhood Entertainment Centres every 2 kilometres, cheerleaders, and numerous aid stations. Overall, there's a great, festive atmosphere. All marathoners and half marathoners get technical t-shirts and exciting finisher's medals (marathon & half) designed by Hasty Awards, who developed the world's first "spinner" for Miami Marathon. Toronto Waterfront, however, is much more than just the run... it's a festive, full weekend that starts with gurus John Stanton and Coach Jenny Hadfield at the free 2-day Expo, Friday and Saturday. There's a Saturday morning (free) short International Friendship Run, hosted by the Running Room, a fun carbo load pasta dinner on Saturday night and a post-race Victory party in Nathan Phillips Square from 9am to 3pm on Sunday. It's all part of an "unforgettable" Toronto experience! |
In this section: (alphabetical)
Spectator Viewing Guide"I have never felt anything more exhilarating than running those last 400 metres and crossing that finish line. Thank you for such a truly amazing first time experience. Your race was very well organized and made me feel comfortable and welcome as a new runner" — R.K., Mississauga, ON |
What's the weather like?
Aid Stations, Water and Gatorade, Gels
Water & Gatorade will both be available at the race party area near the Start/Finish line and registration area, and at all "Water & Aid stations" along the courses.
Each aid station has Gatorade, Water, and first aid personnel. Port-o-lets are also located at each aid station.
Cytomax Gulp N' Go gels will be available on-course for the marathon at 24K and 32K.
Water & Aid stations are located at approximately every 2.5km — exact kilometres below:
| 3k | 5k | 7.5k | 10k | 12.5k | 15k |
| 18k | 21k | 23k | 25k | 27.5k | 29k |
| 31k | 32k | 34k | 35.5k | 37.5k | 40k |
ChampionChip Timing
All participants will be issued a timing chip with their run packets. See FAQ: ChampionChip Timing for details about the ChampionChip and how to wear it.
You must have a chip in order to have a recorded time. NO CHIP = NO TIME.
Course Maps & Descriptions
2009 Marathon/Half Marathon Course & Elevation: click to enlarge
New 5k map coming soon
Course Descriptions
Course is marked in Kilometres
Our courses are all accurately measured and certified by Bernard Conway, IAAF Class "A" measurer and IAAF Head Measurer for the Americas. Our Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K courses are ALL marked in kilometres.
Used to Imperial, not metric? NO problem!
The Running Room booth at the race Expo will have lots of FREE "pace" wristbands in kilometres for
you to pick up.
Need to know now?
Running Times has some great tables in kilometres as well as miles at:
www.runningtimes.com/Channel.aspx?CategoryID=94.
Marathon (Start time: 7:30am) (no earlier start time)
Starting at City Hall (Bay just north of Queen), go south on Bay, east on Wellington [join the traditional course at this point], switch to Front St. at Church, continue east to Parliament Street, turn south to Lakeshore Boulevard, left/east for 100m then turn WEST on Lakeshore and continue to Windermere, where you turn and head back east on eastbound Lakeshore to Stadium Road, right/south to Queens Quay, east to Parliament & Lakeshore Boulevard. Continue east on Lakeshore, south on Cherry Street for an out and back, then turn east onto Commissioner's Street. South on Leslie for a short out and back, then north on Leslie to Lakeshore. North on Coxwell, east on Kingston connecting with Queen Street East. Out and back on Queen in the Beaches to turnaround at Neville Park. Retrace route to Coxwell where you go straight through onto Eastern Avenue, continuing west on Wellington, then Front, to Bay, north on Bay to the spectacular Finish at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square [same line as Start].
PLEASE NOTE: the new section of the Waterfront Marathon course through The Beach is pancake flat all of the way across Queen St. with only a minor undulation near the turnaround at Neville Park.
Half-Marathon (Start time: 7:30am, with marathoners)
Starting at City Hall (Bay just north of Queen), go south on Bay, east on Wellington [join the traditional course at this point], switch to Front St. at Church, continue east to Parliament Street, turn south to Lakeshore Boulevard, left/east for 100m then turn WEST on Lakeshore and continue to Windermere, where you turn and head back east on eastbound Lakeshore to Bay St., then north on Bay for 1km to the spectacular Finish at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square [same line as Start].
5k - ALL NEW for 2009 (Start time: 10:20am)
Fabulous, NEW, scenic Waterfront 5K course approved, to Start at Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and run point-to-point from inside the
Princes' Gates along the last part of the Half marathon course, to Nathan Phillips Square Finish line.
NEW Start TIME: 10:20am, in front of the Direct Energy Centre.
NEW MAP coming soon.
New COURSE is beautifully scenic at the CNE and then Lakeshore Boulevard, CN Tower; and is wide and flat, with minor exception of Spadina flyover.
IMPORTANT:
Shuttle buses will be provided from:
(i) Nathan Phillips Square to CNE Start Line, before the run, from 7:30am to 9:30am [departing University Avenue & Armoury St.].
(ii) returning from Nathan Phillips Square [University & Armoury] to CNE [if you parked your car there before the run], from 11am
PARKING & "How to get There" directions, coming soon.
Course Limitations
AGE LIMIT: Half Marathon = 16 years on race day
AGE LIMIT: Marathon = 18 years on race day
(no age limit for 5k)
For further information and background, see IMMDA Advisory Statement on Children & Marathoning (PDF).
The Marathon, Half & 5k courses are closed to baby joggers, strollers, animals and inline skaters. All the above and non-registered persons will be asked to leave the course by run marshals.
Time Limits
Marathon: 6 hours 30 minutes — Power Walkers welcome!
Half Marathon: 3 hours 40 minutes
5K: 1 hour, 10 minutes
After the courses close, support will be limited, and participants assume the role of pedestrians.
Entertainment
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is proud of the fact that we have the most on-course entertainment of any marathon in Canada, with "live" bands and performers on professional stages, approximately every 2 kilometres. They offer a wide range of Canadian and multicultural entertainment from Ukrainian cossack dancers to Chinese Lion dancers, Indian bhangra to Latin drums, reflecting Toronto's vibrant diversity… "the world within a city"!
After you Finish, enjoy more of these sounds on the Main stage in Nathan Phillips Square.
See the Neighbourhood Challenge section for details on the great live entertainment you will find along the way!
Gear Check
Gear Check (bags/coats) will be available run morning at Nathan Phillips Square. The cost is $2 per bag, with proceeds going to the four featured charities. Gear check will be open from 6:30am to 2:15pm.
Getting There and Parking
Start Area — City Hall / Nathan Phillips Square. Underground "GREEN P" City Parking available underneath the Square. Access by Queen St. West (between University Ave, and Bay St.); or, by University Ave./Armoury St. (between Queen St. W and Dundas St. W.) then Chestnut St. south. For more information please visit www.greenp.com.
There are also many private lots in the area, particularly:
- The Eaton Centre, Yonge & Shuter
- ...more
Directions from the EAST (Scarborough, Kingston, Ottawa)
From the 401: Take the DON VALLEY PARKWAY — SOUTH.
To the Gardiner Expressway west.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
Directions from the WEST (Oakville, Burlington, London)
QEW — east to downtown Toronto.
Follow the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY — east to Spadina.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
Directions from the NORTH (North York, Barrie, Sudbury)
Head south on the 427 to the QEW — east to downtown Toronto.
Follow the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY — east to Spadina.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
OR come south from the 401 on Yonge St. to Eaton Centre or similar parking, just south of Dundas. Another GREEN P is also located at Dundas Square ar Yonge & Dundas. Do NOT take Avenue Road/Unversity south to race, as Queen's Park Circle will be blocked from noon Saturday with WORD ON THE STREET.
ROAD CLOSURES are posted in the FAQ section - click here.
International Friendship Run
International Friendship Run at the Waterfront with John Stanton, founder of Canada's world-famous "Running Room". 9:00am Saturday September 26th, from Commerce Court Running Room store, Wellington and Yonge Streets. Refreshments to follow. FREE. Easy, inspirational jog with runners from around the world. Open to everyone.
Post-race Massage
Post-race massage takes place between 8:30am and 2:15pm in Nathan Phillips Square located adjacent to the Finish Line area. Massages will be done in order of when you arrive — show your bib and they will check you off their list — no tickets needed! You can buy your massage for $15 when you register or you can add it to your entry until Tuesday, September 23rd on our online form.
Live Text Message Notification on Race Day
Sportstats is offering live SMS text messaging for Marathon and Half-Marathon participants.
Cost is $2.99. Checkpoints are as follows:
Marathon: 10km, 21.1km, 30km, Finish.
Half-Marathon: 10km, Finish.
Click here to register for live text
message notifications.
Medals and T-shirts
ALL entrants in the Marathon and Half-Marathon will receive a technical t-shirt. Separate Men's and Women's styles are available.
All 5K participants receive a quality cotton t-shirt.
All 2008 Marathon and Half Marathon finishers received a finisher's medal!
Click picture to see the medals close-up!
"Awesome", "fabulous", "is this one of the Beijing medals?" … these were just a few of the comments on our new medals, from runners at the CRIM 10 Miler Expo in Flint, Michigan, where we showed the samples for the first time. The marathon version is shiny gold, 2.5 inches in diameter, 7mm thick, and heavy! The Half marathon is 2", and made with an antique silver finish. The medals hang from a relatively new, state-of-the-art, heat-transfer ribbon, that's both dynamic and comfortable.
Medical
Medical Services at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be supervised by the Canadian Ski Patrol while the Athletic and Physiotherapy will be supervised by The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine.
Canadian Ski Patrol provides on-course assistance, services at Nathan Phillips Square and the medical tent at the finish line.
The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine provides athletic therapy services on course.
The "Centre" is also available for your Pre and Post race injuries or medical concerns.
The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine
777 Bay Street, College Park
Toronto, ON
416-597-9755
Packet Pick-up
Friday September 25
11:00am to 8:00pm
New Entry & Race Kit Pickup
at RUN EXPO:
Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place
Saturday September 26
10:00am to 6:00pm
Race Kit Pickup
at RUN EXPO:
Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place
You (or a friend) must pick up your number, ChampionChip, t-shirt and goodie bag at the RUNNER'S EXPO on Friday or Saturday. Please bring photo ID OR a printout of your registration email confirmation*. If a friend is picking up for you, they should have a printout of your registration email confirmation* AND email permission from you. If picking up for friends, you can do so for a maximum of three (after which you'll have to line up again at the appropriate table). THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO RACE KIT PICK-UP ON RACE DAY.
*Lost email confirmation for registrants using EVENTSONLINE,
click here
to have it re-sent.
Lost email confirmation for registrants using RUNNING ROOM or MARATHONGUIDE, email
to have it re-sent.
More info on the Runners' Expo (new website)
Transportation to the Expo:
Easy access via Skywalk from Union Station.
Pasta Dinner with John "The Penguin" Bingham
Join us on Saturday, September 26th, either at 5pm (first seating) or 7pm (second seating)—featuring special guest, John "The Penguin" Bingham from Runner's World.
Tickets only $25.00. Book when you register, or separately online, OR at the EXPO. All Pasta Dinner ticket pick-up at "Pasta Dinner Tickets" table, Registration Area, EXPO.
Photos (Individual)
Finish line and event photos for the Marathon and Half-Marathon will be taken. Details coming soon.
Schedule for Run Weekend 2009: Coming Soon
Start Corrals
Over the past 3 years especially, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon & Half has gained an international reputation for its flat, fast course: "the perfect place to run a fast time and get a Boston Qualifier!"
To make it possible for as many runners as possible to get off the line quickly and chase fast times, we have START CORRALS again for 2009. Shortly before Race Week, all entrants will be assigned bib numbers based on expected finishing time. Your number will then place you in one of the following corrals:
- ELITE: sub 2:30 marathoners and sub 1:15 half marathoners
- Red: 2:30 to 3:10 marathoners and 1:15 to 1:35 half marathoners
- Yellow: 3:11 to 3:35 marathoners and 1:36 to 1:47 half marathoners
- Blue: 3:36 to 3:59 marathoners and 1:48 to 1:59 half marathoners
- Green: 4:00 to 4:45 marathoners and 2:00 to 2:15 half marathoners
- Purple: 4:46+ marathoners and 2:16+ half marathoners
Toilet Facilities
Port-o-lets will be located at the start/finish area as well as on course at each aid station.