FAQ & Answers >> FAQ: Course
FAQ: Course
Also see: What's changed for this year?
- What items are NOT allowed on the course?
- Can my dog run with me?
- Is the run a Boston qualifier?
- Are the events sanctioned?
- Where is the course?
- Where does my event start?
- Do you have a walking section for the marathon?
- Is there a walking section for the half marathon?
- Is there a wheelchair category at the STWM?
- Will the start be in waves or a mass start?
- What are the course closure times?
- Are the kilometres marked?
- Are live results / text messages available for others to track my race?
- Can I wear my headphones / iPod during the run?
- Are there pacers?
- Where are the aid and water stations?
- Will there be Gatorade?
- Will there be gels?
- Where are the toilets located along the route?
- Are there entertainment and bands on the course?
- What is the distance of a marathon?
- What is the distance of a half-marathon?
What items are NOT allowed on the course?
Half and Full Marathon Course
The following items will NOT be allowed on the half or full marathon course: strollers, baby joggers, skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorized bicycles, any other wheeled device, animals, walking sticks/poles/canes, etc.
5k Course
The following items will NOT be allowed on the 5k race course: skateboards, rollerblades, unauthorized bicycles, animals (guide dogs will be permitted).
Can my dog run with me?
The only dogs (animals) that will be allowed on the course are guide dogs and this is ONLY on the 5k race course.
Is the run a Boston qualifier?
Yes, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a registered AIMS Marathon (Association of International Marathons), certified by Athletics Canada which makes it a great flat, fast, traffic-free Boston Qualifier. For more details on qualifying for Boston visit www.bostonmarathon.com.
Are the events sanctioned?
Yes, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and Half-Marathon are fully sanctioned by AIMS (Association of International Marathons) and Athletics Canada. The 5k event is sanctioned by Athletics Canada.
Where is the course?
Click here for a detailed course description and maps.
Where does my event start?
The half and full marathon start on University Ave. just north of Queen St.
The 5k starts at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds.
Do you have a walking section for the marathon?
Yes, walkers start behind the runners at 9:00am. The marathon course will remain open until 3:00pm, allowing for a 6hr marathon. After the course closes, support will be limited and participants assume the role of pedestrians.
Is there a walking section for the half marathon?
Yes, walkers start behind the runners at 9:00am. The half marathon course will remain open until 12:40pm, allowing for a 3hr 40min half marathon. After the course closes, support will be limited, and participants assume the role of pedestrians.
Is there a wheelchair category at the STWM?
If you require the use of a wheelchair and would like to participate in the event we invite you to enter the 5k race. We are working towards creating a half and full marathon course that is accessible and safe for wheelchair participants.
Will the start be in waves or a mass start?
The half/full marathon start will have 3 waves leaving 5 minutes apart. The waves will be separated as follows:
- Wave 1 — full <3:59, half <1:59
- Wave 2 — full <4:45, half <2:15
- Wave 3 — full over 4:45, half over 2:15
What are the course closure times?
- Marathon — closes at 3:00pm, must maintain a 8:32 min/km pace (13:45 min/mile)
- Half Marathon — closes at 12:40pm, must maintain a 10:25 min/km pace (16:47 min/mile)
- 5k — closes at 1:45pm, must maintain a 15min/km pace (24.14 min/mile)
- Finish Line closes at 3:00pm
- After the courses close, support will be limited and participants assume the role of pedestrians.
To ensure we stay with in the confines of our street permit, the above times will be enforced in the following ways:
- At 1:30pm all outbound marathoners not yet at 30k (near Murphy’s Law Pub), will be redirected back towards the finish. Participants will not be permitted onto Queen St to finish the Beach portion of the course.
- At 2:30pm all marathoners that have not made the turn from Queen St back onto Eastern Ave (~35.5k) will be asked to board the rear escort vehicle to be transported to the Finish Area.
- At 3:00pm all marathoners will be asked to move to the sidewalk to finish the course as an informed pedestrian. All runners east of Broadview Ave (38.5k) will be asked to board the rear escort shuttle to be transported back to the Finish Area.
- At 12:15pm all half marathoners not yet at Strachan Ave (17.5k) will be asked to board the rear escort shuttle to be transported to the Finish Area.
- At 1:30pm all 5k participants not yet at Bay St (4k) will be asked to board the rear shuttle to be transported back to the Finish Area.
Are the kilometres marked?
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.
If you are used to Imperial measurement, the Running Room booth at the race Expo will have lots of FREE “pace” wristbands to calculate kilometres and miles.
Running Times has some great tables in kilometres as well as miles at: www.runningtimes.com/Channel.aspx?CategoryID=94.
Are live results / text messages available for others to track my race?
Yes to both!
Sportstats is offering Live Results on Race Day: check home page for link on race day.
Also, Live SMS text messaging is available for Marathon and Half Marathon participants. Cost is $2.99.
Checkpoints are as follows:
Marathon: 10k, 21.1k, 30k, 35k, 40k, Finish.
Half-Marathon: 10k, Finish.
Click here
to register for the text messaging service.
Can I wear my headphones / iPod during the run?
Yes, you are allowed to wear MP3 players, iPods, etc at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Please stay to the right hand side of the road and be aware of runners and course marshalls around you. You are encouraged to keep the volume low enough so that you can still hear important directions provided by course marshalls.
Remember that there are 12 Neighbourhood Cheering and Entertainment Centres on the marathon route, so you may wish to leave the headphones at home and enjoy the on-course entertainment.
Are there pacers?
Pacers will be available for the Marathon and Half Marathon via the STWM Pacer Program powered by Brooks. See pacer times listed on the Pacer Program page.
Where are the aid and water stations?
Water and Gatorade will be available at the race party area near the finish line and at all Water & Aid stations along the course. Each aid station will have Gatorade, Water, Port-o-lets and first aid personnel.
Water & Aid stations are located at every 2–3k. See locations below:
| 3k | 5k | 8k | 11k | 13.5k | 16.5k |
| 18.5k | 21k | 23k | 24.5k | 27k | 30k |
| 31.5k | 34k | 36k | 38k | 40k |
Will there be Gatorade?
Yes, Gatorade will be available at the race party area near the finish line and at all Water & Aid stations. Lemon/lime Gatorade will be available on course and if additional supplies are needed then Orange flavour will also be offered.
Will there be gels?
Clif Shot Gels will be available for half and full marathon participants at the 16.5k and 27k aid stations.
Where are the toilets located along the route?
There will be 2 Port-o-lets at each aid station and at each Neighbourhood Challenge entertainment station.
Are there entertainment and bands on the course?
At the start/finish area you will find a band, DJ and/or announcer. There will also be bands, DJs and performers at various points along the course as part of the Neighbourhood Challenge.
What is the distance of a marathon?
42.195 kilometres or 26 miles
What is the distance of a half marathon?
21.0975 kilometres or 13 miles
