By Paul Gains

As the newly-appointed manager of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Elite Athlete Hospitality Program Reid Coolsaet brings much experience from his years as a world-class marathoner. Of course, it also helps that the Canada Running Series team has earned a solid reputation for taking care of the Canadian contingent as well as the international stars.

Winning a national championship earns World Athletics bonus points – something which Coolsaet was able to impress upon the entries – and, with the qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo open, this is no small carrot.

Among those who have been drawn to Toronto Waterfront this year is Canadian women’s record holder, Natasha Wodak (2:23:12) who finished a credible 13th in the Tokyo Olympics. That was her second time as an Olympian. Despite all her success Wodak has never won the national marathon title.

“What we are thinking is that if I win, and run decently in Toronto, it’s really good points and I don’t need to run the (qualifying) standard,” she admits. “I then could possibly run a marathon in Japan in early March.”

Wodak turned 42 this year but continues to be an international-class performer. Further, she is an inspiration to others who are reaching the age when retirement is normally a consideration including 37-year-old Leslie Sexton. Indeed, Sexton ran her personal best this past January finishing 8th at the Houston Marathon in 2:28:14. That makes her the fifth fastest Canadian of all time.

“I will be looking to run a competitive time, something to maximize those Canadian championship points,” Sexton said last month, “but not necessarily going for a personal best this time. I will have to see how the training goes.”

Two years ago she and her partner and coach, Steve Weiler moved to Vancouver where he is the lead endurance and cross country coach at the University of British Columbia. Sexton coaches the post-secondary endurance runners outside the varsity program.

As a much sought out coach Coolsaet has a number of elite Canadians under his wing including Erin Mawhinney, who will make her debut in Toronto. At 28, this Hamilton, Ontario full-time, home and palliative care nurse was racing on the track last year but after winning the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon – which covers the first half of the full marathon – she is now ready to challenge herself over the full distance.

“I’d like to have a controlled race. I am hoping to be able to stick with a reasonable pace group and then hit 30k feeling I can respond to the people around me,” she says. I really don’t want to hit 30k in a massive deficit because I just think, for the first one, you don’t want to have a traumatizing experience. I think going out on the conservative side will probably be better.”

Anticipating the physical toll her first marathon might exact upon her Mawhinney has booked the day after the race off.

Other leading Canadian names are Rachel Hannah (2:32:09 pb) of Toronto, and Quebec’s Anne Marie Comeau. Hannah earned the 2015 Pan Am Games marathon bronze medal and was 3rd in the 2024 Ottawa Marathon while Comeau represented

Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing. Distance running had been a huge part of her cross-country ski training but she is now absorbed in distance running.

A year ago she finished 11th in the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (2:34:51) in what was her first serious marathon attempt. More recently she finished 3rd in the Canadian Half Marathon Championships in Winnipeg and also won the Montreal Half Marathon.

The men’s field is led by 31-year-old Tristan Woodfine whose personal best of 2:10:39, recorded in Houston earlier this year, makes him 7th fastest Canadian of all time – right behind his coach, Reid Coolsaet.

Woodfine is a quality runner who lives just outside Eganville, in Eastern Ontario. After graduating from the Ontario Health and Technology College, he has put his career as an emergency first responder on hold while pursuing his running objectives. A growing online coaching business helps pay the bills.

He has twice won the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half marathon. “I talked to Reid about trying to qualify for Tokyo 2025,” he reveals. “I have had a few sit-downs (with him). I’d get a fair amount of points with another good performance with a strong time. A solid finish in Toronto would put me in a good position.”

While Woodfine has twice gone under 2 hours 11 minutes and has a wealth of experience, Vancouver’s Justin Kent appears poised to step into that territory. His personal best of 2:13:07 – which came while finishing 10th in the 2023 Prague Marathon – is certainly not indicative of his potential. That Prague result earned him a place on Canada’s 2023 World Championship team. He finished 29th in his first World Championships.

Of the upcoming TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Kent exudes quiet confidence. “I don’t necessarily want to get ahead of myself. I have definitely learned the hard way of being too ambitious,” Kent says. “But I know, definitely, I am the fittest I have ever been. It depends on the weather and the pacing.”

“There is a pace group (going for) 2:10 I’d like to be maybe a little bit quicker the first half and see what I can do that would set me up to run in the 2:10’s.”

The youngest of the medal contenders, both 25 years of age, Vancouver’s Thomas Broatch and Andrew Alexander of Toronto, will be the subject of intense interest. The former is the defending Canadian champion having won here a year ago in his marathon debut. In January 2024 he finished 7th in Houston recording a new personal best of 2:11:54.

“I know the Toronto Waterfront course is pretty quick, the organization is great and they give us a good chance to run a fast time,” Broatch says. “So, I definitely would like to improve my Houston time. I think going under 2:11 and getting into that 2:10 club would be a pretty good result. I would be quite happy with that.”

Meanwhile, Alexander, who is jointly coached by former Canadian 1,500m record holder, Dave Reid and current Canadian 3,000m steeplechase record holder, Matt

Hughes, is excited about making his debut at TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. And he is also brimming with confidence.

“I want to be the first Canadian to cross the line,” Alexander declares boldly. “ I want to be at least one one-thousandth of a second ahead of the second Canadian. If the (fast) time comes with that I will be happy. But for the first marathon it’s just get this out and, if it goes well, focus on time-chasing after that.”

The winner of the Canadian Championship earns $8,000 and if he or she manages to get inside the top eight overall there is more prize money to be had. And of course, a fast time is amplified in terms of World Athletics points. The competition promises to be epic.

By Paul Gains

Racing the 42.2km marathon distance for the first time is sure to cause nerves. When Erin Mawhinney makes her debut at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon October 20th though she will do so with the confidence of having experienced at least part of the course.

A year ago the now 28-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario won the TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon which covers the first half of the World Athletics Elite Label race. More recently, in June 2024, she won the Under Armour Toronto 10K for the second consecutive year. It too covers a stretch of the Toronto Waterfront marathon course.

She admits to being ‘excited’ by the upcoming task.

“I won (the half marathon) last year which was kind of a surprise for me. So I got a taste of the course there,” she recalls.

“It was windy and there’s a part of the course where the marathoners and half marathoners separate. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t think I could ever do the full thing’. Apparently it’s fine, so we will see.”

Mawhinney laughs at her statement. Since that day she has increased her weekly training volume up to 190km. That is with the help of her coach, two-time Canadian Olympic marathoner Reid Coolsaet. Considering she was still running the occasional 1,500m on the track last year she is grateful for his advice.

The choice of Toronto Waterfront for her debut was a natural one being so close to her home. Also coach Coolsaet ran the race six times in his career and finished an incredible 3rd place in 2011.

“I am really excited,” she continues. “I have seen some of Reid’s other athletes approach (the marathon) and the training they have had to do to prepare. So, I got a sneak peak of what it will be like. I am excited to try the full thing.”

Besides being a world-class race the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon will once again serve as the Canadian Marathon Championships. As Reid Coolsaet has had a hand in helping put the Canadian field together she is aware of the strong competition she faces. Nevertheless, she intends to run cautiously.

“Anytime I get to run a Canadian championship, at any distance, is a great opportunity,” Mawhinney says. “This year it just so happened that it works out for people’s schedules that basically all of Canada’s top marathoners have chosen to sign up for Toronto. It hasn’t been like that in previous years.

“I’d like to have a controlled race. I am hoping to be able to stick with a reasonable pace group and then hit 30k feeling I can respond to the people around me. I really don’t want to hit 30k in a massive deficit because I just think, for the first one, you don’t want to have a traumatizing experience. I think going out on the conservative side will probably be better.”

An apparent expert in time management Mawhinney graduated from McMaster University’s Master of Nursing program in 2023 while making a name for herself in Canadian road racing simultaneously. Working full time has helped keep her life balanced. She doesn’t sit around waiting for her next workout.

“Right now I am working for a home healthcare company. I have taken on an additional role as a medication and IV specialist,” she explains. “Occasionally, I will work an overnight job at the hospital but my full-time job is this medication and IV specialist at the home healthcare company. Most of our clients are palliative care clients.”

The emotional stress of caring for patients in the last weeks or months of their lives counters the physical exertion of running such high volumes. But she laughs when asked if she is prepared for the aftermath of competing at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

“Yes, I did anticipate having some problems walking the next day just based on how I felt after some 40k long runs,” she admits with a laugh. “I booked the morning off (after Toronto Waterfront) so I can hobble around painfully for that morning.”

By Paul Gains

Ethiopian women have proven a formidable force at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon having won eight of the last fifteen editions of this World Athletics Elite Label race.

A year ago they filled the top four places in the women’s race.

Once again, the East African nation is sending a strong contingent to the October 20th fixture intent on adding to this record. Kumeshi Sichala will now join her compatriots having run a personal best of 2:25:25 to finish second at the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia this past July.

“My training partner Waganesh Mekasha told me about the course and Toronto Waterfront Marathon in general,” Kumeshi says of her choice in fall marathons. “Honestly, I cannot wait to race Toronto Waterfront Marathon.”

“I watched the Toronto Waterfront Marathon many times (on live stream). My husband told me a lot about Toronto because he was there when Yihunilign Adane (2:07:18) won in 2022. He told me how much the fans motivate the athletes (and that) the atmosphere at the finish line is amazing. (He said) the city is so beautiful, the food is tasty and the people are welcoming.”

Waganesh Mekasha is one of the elite athletes with whom Kumeshi trains. Mekasha was second in Toronto Waterfront a year ago and won the 2023 Ottawa Marathon. She has already confirmed her return to this year’s event.

Others in the training group include Zeineba Yimer – the 2023 Barcelona winner and Mestawut Fikir who won this year’s Paris Marathon in her debut at the distance. They train under the guidance of esteemed coach Nigatu Worku three times a week at various locations around central Ethiopia. And it is Kumeshi’s husband, Hailye Teshome, who drives her to the workouts. On other days she runs alone.

Kumeshi won the 2019 Kosice Marathon with a then personal best of 2:26:01 and then took time off as she and Hailye, who works with the group’s Edinburgh, UK based sports agency, Moyo Sports, started their family.

“I have a daughter now,” Kumeshi says proudly. ”Her name is Soliyana.”

The name means ‘mother of Jesus’ in Amharic.

Following the birth of Soliyana she didn’t run for six months. Her return to proper training has gone well and now Toronto Waterfront Marathon presents itself as the latest challenge after her personal best earlier in the year.

Like most elite East African runners Kumeshi is grateful to have both her husband and a maid to help with raising her daughter. Considering the amount of time spent training and recovering from workouts there is little time for her other interests but she finds a way to fit everything in.

“When I am not training I like cooking,” she admits. “When I am away from home to compete I do a warm up run every morning and then read books as the race day approaches.”

As evidenced by her choice in names for her daughter she and Hailye are devout Christians. Reading her bible is especially comforting to her.

As she turns her attention to Toronto Waterfront, which will mark her first visit to Canada, she is brimming with confidence. And, why shouldn’t she be. A solid block of training, a fast course and her compatriot Waganesh Mekasha to challenge for the top prize of C$20,000. Asked what her objective is in the race she is succinct.

“I hope to win the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and run a personal best,” she responds.

Thomas Broatch will line up in defence of his Canadian marathon title October 20th as  the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon once again hosts the national championships.

A year ago the Vancouver native surprised many with his victory – which also saw him finish 6th place overall in this World Athletics Elite Label race. Most impressive was that this was his marathon debut. Three months later he took five minutes off his Toronto time running 2:11:54 for 7th place in the Houston Marathon. Lessons learned in Toronto, he believes, helped in Houston.

“In Toronto I felt pretty good in the last 10km, in terms of breathing and energy, but my legs were completely destroyed,” the 25-year-old remembers, “and I wasn’t able to really push the last 10km. So I made some adjustments in training for Houston.

“For Toronto I did pretty much all of my long runs on gravel or soft surfaces. For Houston I did all those on concrete which I think really helped. My legs felt great in the last 10km and, even though I was hurting, I was able to push. That’s something I have taken forward to make sure the legs are ready for 42km of pounding.”

The Canadian championship gold medal was accompanied by $8,000 in prize money – he also collected $2,000 for his 6th place overall finish – giving him what he calls “a generous prize pool for Canadians.”

Besides his ‘new preference’ for running on concrete he has increased his weekly training volume from 180km to 200km under the guidance of coach Chris Johnson at the Vancouver Thunderbirds Track and Field Club.

Until two years ago Broatch was still focusing on track racing (5,000m and 10,000m) while the marathon was simply a distance to be contemplated for the future. Now with a couple of positive experiences he realizes it is logically his best event.

“Yes definitely,” he declares. “I think I will still do other distances to help with the marathon. But I think, especially because the first one went quite well and then I was able to improve even more, I definitely see myself focusing on the marathon.”

That hasn’t stopped him from dropping down on occasion. In April he finished second in the Vancouver Sun Run 10k with a personal best of 28:58. He explains that this was right at the end of an exhausting buildup for the Copenhagen Marathon, which flew under the radar and even escaped the keen eyes of the World Athletics statisticians.

“The Sun Run was a really good race. It actually wasn’t the big focus of the Spring,” he says almost apologetically. “I actually ran the Copenhagen marathon two weeks after Sun Run so this was more of a prep race for that marathon.

“I think that showed me that the marathon training doesn’t really hurt my speed but gives me that extra strength which helps my 10k. That was by far my fastest 10k and the course is not even that fast.”

The Copenhagen Marathon didn’t go as well as he had hoped so he’s not concerned few knew about it. After running Houston and coming away with a strong personal best he wondered if an even faster time was in the cards. Confidently, he went out harder than his body could handle.

“I went out in 2:10 pace (65 minutes at halfway) for the first 27km then pretty much collapsed the last third of the race,” he reveals. “It was a pretty spectacular blow up.”

Basically, he jogged home just to finish.

Among the things he realized is that his marathon training helped his 10k form but the racing effort at the Sun Run might have taken too much out of him coming that close to the Copenhagen race. Another lesson learned.

Broatch works as a software engineer for a renewable energy company called ‘Clear’ writing software for wind farm owners. In his free time he has been enjoying playing golf with family and friends as well as online chess. He admits to being a fan of ‘The Three Body Problem’ trilogy of books.

It is hard to believe that Broatch is still 25 and has many years ahead of him. As he looks toward Toronto Waterfront he seems wiser and confident in the approach he is taking.

“Training has been pretty good,” he reports. “I have been able to run consistently 190 to 200km a week for the last three months now. No injuries, no illness. Definitely, pretty tired. But I think that has been a feature of all my marathon builds.

“I know the Toronto Waterfront course is pretty quick, the organization is great, and they give us a good chance to run a fast tine. So, I definitely would like to improve my Houston time. I think going under 2:11 and getting in that 2:10 club would be pretty good result. I would be quite happy with that.”

Winning national championships also offers tremendous bonus World Athletics points which are used for qualification for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. He has never represented his country. An international call-up is, he says, something that “is in the back of my mind!”

By Paul Gains

Roza Dereje has raced just once in the last three years yet her commitment to the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a massive coup for this World Athletics Elite Label Race.

Twice she has dipped under the 2:20 barrier and can point to a personal best marathon time of 2:18:30 set when she won the 2019 Valencia Marathon. Moreover, she represented Ethiopia in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon – held in Sapporo, Japan in 2021. Under hot humid conditions she narrowly missed the podium finishing 4th that day. Then there is her incredible record at World Marathon Majors: a second place finish at the 2018 Chicago Marathon (2:21:18) and, six months later, a third place in the 2019 London Marathon (2:20:51).

Her one outing was a credible 6th place finish at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Northern Ireland (August 25th, 2024) – a tuneup for her first visit to Canada. Never before has the Toronto Waterfront Marathon enjoyed the addition of an athlete sporting such credentials.

There is a good explanation for her hiatus from the sport ever since those Tokyo Olympics. A little over a year ago she gave birth to her first child, a son named Yobsan.

“Life has changed a lot,” the 27 year old admits. “Being a mom is a great thing to be in this world and life is so good after it.”

Roza’s husband is Dereje Ali, a former world class marathon runner, who finished second in the 2011 Ottawa Marathon. The couple and their infant live in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa and have reversed traditional roles in their household. Indeed,

Roza credits her husband’s sacrifice for her ability to compete at the highest level and to make her comeback at this year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

“He stopped running just to support me,” she explains. “We talked about it and he stopped to take care of the children and household and allow me the time to rest and recover in between training sessions and to prepare food etc. to help me to be a champion.”

Those training sessions involve meeting up with her elite training group under renowned coach Haji Adilo three times a week. She trains alone on other days. The meetups can be in a variety of different locations depending upon Haji’s objective for the session.

“Akaki, Sendafa, Entoto, they are great training places too,” Roza continues. “I drive with my husband Dereje to all of the sessions. We are very fortunate to have a good car and can travel freely to the sessions and not have to wait on public transportation.”

Normally, training sessions begin at sunrise before there is heavy traffic on the roads at these locations. During the rainy season (June to September) it is sometimes necessary to change locations since the majority of roads are unpaved and can become slippery underfoot.

Besides the sacrifices made by Dereje her greatest influence has been Haji her longtime coach whose career as a marathon runner was cut short due to health complications. He went into coaching with a personal best of 2:12:25 from 1999.

“Haji’s great support has taken me this far, his hard work and commitment to the sport is what brings me to where I am now,” she declares. “I started my career with him and I am who I am today because of him and my other coaches in the team.”

Choosing Toronto for her come back made sense as many of Haji’s athletes have competed here.

“I used to watch other athletes running there (on YouTube livestream) so I am excited to come and run,” she adds. “Last year one of my training partners (Amid Fozya Jemal) was part of an exciting race right to the finish so I am hoping to come and make an exciting race too.”

The Toronto Waterfront course record of 2:22:16 was set in 2019 by Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai. It’s a time that Roza had beaten four times prior to her Olympic marathon race in 2021. However, talk of record breaking in Toronto, at least this far out, is not discussed though she might be very capable of achieving this standard.

“Even though it is my first time to race since I gave birth, running is not new to me,” she declares. “So I am not nervous about it. I am preparing well for the race to make my come back fruitful.

“I am training well targeting this race and I have more time to prepare myself too.”

Asked for a specific goal her answer is concise: “Winning, with the will of God!”

by Paul Gains

Much was expected of Kenya’s Elvis Cheboi when he arrived in Toronto last year for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. He did not disappoint.

Crossing the finish line first to claim the $20,000 winner’s prize he beat several international athletes who have run two to three minutes faster than his winning time of 2:09:20.

By today’s standards his personal best is not a quick time. But a victory at this World Athletics Elite Label Race against a terrific field – and by over a minute – has increased his prowess in the sport. Now he returns to Toronto hoping for favourable conditions and a world-class field where he can also run a time more representative of his ability.

Indeed, he ran a personal best of 59:15 at the 2022 Barcelona Half Marathon indicating he might be capable of a time closer to the Toronto Waterfront course record of 2:05:00 held by his countryman, Philemon Rono (2019).

Winning Toronto was a milestone in his career nonetheless.

“That (Toronto) race made me a great memory because I had never won a marathon or any race abroad,” he says from his living room in the village of Mororia, Kenya. “So it was memorable. That was my second marathon race and I won it.”

As he speaks, his two children – daughter Shaline, 6, and son Shalom, 2 – are watching a television program and he instructs them to lower the volume. Then he smiles.

“Tomorrow the small boy is two years old,” he reveals laughing. “There is a cake here. He is still young so doesn’t know it’s a birthday but I will sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.”

Family is of the utmost importance and running, in order to earn money is a priority. Yet, Cheboi has not raced since Toronto.

He and his management team at Demadonna Athletics Promotion had him lined up to race in the Vienna Marathon this past April. But he had slight issues with both his hamstrings which interrupted his buildup. So the decision was made by him and his coach, Gabriele Nicola, to put all their energies into having him fully prepared for a Toronto Waterfront Marathon title defence.

For many years now Cheboi has lived in Mororia which is about three kilometres from the famed ‘running town’ of Iten. A local hotel serves as the Demadonna team camp and houses several of the twelve strong marathon training group during the week. They go home on weekends. But, since Cheboi has a young family, it was felt it was better for him to drive in for the training sessions and for massage therapy three times a week.

Several of his training partners have run much faster than Cheboi’s best – led by Philemon Kiplimo (2:04:56) – so he is benefiting from being in such a talented group.

Like most Kenyan runners he sees his running profession as a means for a brighter future for himself and his young family. He maintains a farm where he grows maize which is used to make the Kenyan staple, ugali. He also plants wheat and potatoes while keeping goats, sheep and cattle. It’s an exhausting lifestyle and so he has enlisted help from family members.

“Yes I have help with my farm. My relatives help; my brother and also my parents,” he reveals adding he doesn’t expect to rely on farming after he retires from competition.

“God willing, I will not depend on the farm only. I think I will also find another way. Somehow I will do another thing.”

Several times during the video call from Canada he thanks the caller for taking interest and expresses his gratitude for being invited back to Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Toronto very much. Yes,” he declares. “Firstly, I want to thank the organizers for inviting me back. I think I will try to win for the second time but I can’t promise.

“The good weather on the day will determine if I can run my best time.”

By Paul Gains

The past two years have been mostly good to Tristan Woodfine as he has recorded personal bests over several distances most significantly with his 2:10:39 finish at the 2024 Houston Marathon in January. That makes him the sixth fastest Canadian marathoner of all time.

This uplift in fortune coincides with his seeking coaching advice from none other than two-time Canadian Olympic marathoner Reid Coolsaet.

Now the 31-year-old Woodfine has confirmed he will race the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, October 20th, with the objective of running both a fast time and earning the Canadian Marathon Championship title. The event doubles as a World Athletics Elite Label race as well as the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships.

“It’s local, close, the support is good,“ he says of his choice for an autumn marathon. “The Canada Running Series (team) always does a great job. I have run the course before.

“Getting under 2:10 would be nice, finally. We will see how the rest of the build goes. Ten weeks is still a long time and things can change for better or worse – hopefully for better – and by the time Toronto comes around I’d definitely love to get a PB and make another step forward there.”

Woodfine, who is currently living just outside of Eganville, Ontario with his wife Madeline, ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon once before. That was in 2019 when he finished 13th in a time of 2:13:16. But he has twice won the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon (2022 and 2017) – run concurrently with the full marathon – and has also had success at the Toronto Waterfront 10K. That race includes a long section of the marathon course too.

Credit for his upward trajectory goes to Coolsaet.

“Reid has had so much experience in the sport,” Woodfine says of his coach. “He has got a lot of valuable insights on the training front and beyond. He has done a lot of races and he knows the deal with which races might work well for your goals, that kind of thing.

“He has got so much experience on any aspect of training, racing, nutrition, injuries, he has seen so much he can really help out.”

One of the differences in Woodfine’s program since his association with Coolsaet comes as a surprise but might well be a valuable lesson for all runners.

“Some of the workouts in the base training period are almost a bit easier than what I was doing (before),” he explains. “I think maybe before I was pushing a bit too hard too early in the training base. So backing off a little bit when coming into the marathon block was probably one of the bigger things.”

Like most runners he has had his share of hiccups, most notably a nagging case of plantar fasciitis that saw him drop out of the Boston Marathon back in April. He blames a mechanical deficiency in his running form. But that is behind him now and as he enters his marathon specific buildup phase he is full of optimism.

Recently he raced the Falmouth Road Race in Massachusetts finishing 11th in 33:33 over the 7-mile course. A successful result at the shorter distance has added to his confidence.

“The last few weeks leading into Falmouth I did get my longer mileage in,” he reveals. “I got a 37km long run in there just to get things ready. The week before Falmouth was 220km. In this (Toronto) buildup block I would like to get up to a maximum of 250 or 260km.”

Besides a personal best, Woodfine is fully aware that a national championship offers the chance for maximum World Athletics points that would count heavily in 2025 World Championships qualifying. Those Championships are set for Tokyo.

“I talked to Reid about trying to qualify for Tokyo,” he admits. “I have had a few sit- downs (with him). I’d get a fair amount of points with another good performance with a strong time. A solid finish in Toronto would put me in a good position.”

Unlike many elite runners Woodfine doesn’t have a shoe sponsor. After completing his paramedic studies at the Ontario Health and Technology College he has put on hold a career in that field to focus on his running. To make ends meet he has been doing some online coaching, a sideline that continues to grow.

“I definitely love helping other runners achieve their goals,” he adds. “I also do some remote work for a pharmacy in the area. It’s best described as inventory and purchasing. It’s very flexible and works great with running.”

Like many elite runners the Olympic Games has been a target for Woodfine. In 2020 he beat the Tokyo Olympics qualifying standard running 2:10:51 at the London Marathon and thought he’d achieved his dream of being an Olympian. But when Cam Levins ran 2:10:14 in Austria six months later it was Levins who was chosen for the team and not Woodfine. This, despite the fact Woodfine had beaten Levins in London by well over a minute.

Despite falling short of the Paris Olympic standard with his Houston Marathon personal best he still harbours an Olympic dream.

“Yes it is still a goal. I try not to put as much emphasis on the Olympics being an ‘all or nothing’, a defining factor of success for my career,” he declares. “I think that can kind of end up making you miserable. Whether you are going to the Olympics or not. For sure, it’s a goal.

“I am in this for another Olympic cycle and hopefully I can be on the start line in LA – the third time is a charm. But I am really focused on each year and trying to enjoy each race for what it is.”

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is an obvious step forward in his career path.

By Paul Gains

Ethiopia has been blessed with exceptional marathon talent beginning with 1960 Olympic champion Abebe Bikila and continuing on to the present. There are always prospects waiting to emerge. Among the most exciting newcomers is Mulugeta Uma.

Canadian marathon fans will have the chance to witness his prowess when he lines up for the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, October 20th, as one of the favourites in this World Athletics Elite Label Race.

Earlier this year the 26-year-old won the Paris Marathon with a new personal best of 2:05:33 but nearly didn’t make it to start line. Like most runners he suffered nerves in the days leading up to his excellent performance likely due to travel but also due to his new professional circumstances.

“I was stressed,” he admits. “It was my first race under Moyo Sports Management and my new sponsor ASICS. Thus I had had to run carefully.

“I was drinking plenty of water, I was determined to finish. When I reached 25 km I felt better and I was thinking of making the podium. After 35 km I was confident I would win the race. I won the race with a new personal best. Jesus, my Lord, helped me for glory.”

Few people knew that on the evening before the race he and his management huddled together to decide whether he should even start the race due to his upset stomach. They were glad he persevered. The victory earned him $55,000 USD.

Although he is now a world-class marathoner, Mulugeta began his athletics career as a 1,500m runner earning silver medals for his country in both the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China and in the 2015 World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. But injuries from training in spiked shoes halted his progress. Over the following five years the problems with his achilles tendon persisted, hence the decision to take up road racing.

Last year he finished 7th in the Seville Marathon finishing in a time of 2:06:07. He followed that up with a second-place finish in Frankfurt last October 29th. His time on that occasion was 2:06:47. Together with his Paris victory that makes an impressive triple over a fourteen-month period. It is safe to say most marathoners would be happy with even one of those results.

Mulugeta grew up on a farm in Wolisa about 100 kilometres southwest of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa before joining a club in the city. Asked what he would be doing if not for his running career he is quite emphatic.

“I’d be a farmer, because I am the only son in the family,” he explains. “My parents do farming for a living.”

Mulugeta and his wife have no children. Between training sessions he says he enjoys time with his wife and friends and also listening to spiritual songs. He believes he has a good future in marathon running.

“As with any world-class athlete I want to run a fast time and win big competitions like the World Championships and Olympics,” he declares.

For now, his training and his mental focus is set on performing well at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. This will mark his first time in North America. Ten weeks before the journey he admits he has not studied the Toronto race in detail though he is confident of another great performance.

“I don’t know anything (about it). I only know that the course record is 2:05,” he offers. “With God’s help I want to break the course record and win the race.”

As some predicted Ethiopian women swept the first four places at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon today but the seven second gap between the winner Buze Diriba and Fozya Jemal confirmed the women’s race in this World Athletics Elite label race was one for the ages.

Buze crossed the finish line in 2:23:11 on a day where a cold 22km/hour wind wrecked chances of anyone breaking Kenyan Magalyne Masai’s 2019 course record (2:22:16). Joining her on the podium were Waganesh Mekasha (2:23:12) and Afera Godfay (2:23:15).

The four had closely followed the excellent pacemaking of Canada’s Kevin Coffey who pointed to upcoming fueling stations, potholes at the side of the road and encouraged them all the way through the first half in 1:11:01 and onto 30km where he stopped. It was here that Waganesh Mekasha – the 2023 Ottawa Marathon winner – suffered a fuel bottle mishap. But Diriba’s confidence grew the closer to the finish they ran.

“I have been training well and I was expecting to win but after 40km I was confident,” said the winner, who lived for a time in Albuquerque, New Mexico and can understand and speak English well. “I knew I could finish well.  With one kilometer left I felt it was possible and I think I was focused in the last 500 meters, and I kept pushing. I didn’t see my time.”

Asked if she feared one of her rivals might catch her, she laughed and nodded.

“It was windy, but I managed. I was ok,” she offered. Her result was a substantial improvement over her previous marathon personal best – 2:28:06 from the 2019 Houston Marathon. 

The men’s field agreed at Saturday’s technical meeting they wanted to run 2:07 pace taking into consideration the cross wind forecasted. So, when the lead pack passed the halfway point in 62:30 observers worried they had gone too fast.

Once the eager pacemakers had dropped out by 30km the Kenyan duo of Alfred Kipchirchir and Elvis Cheboi set out after the C$20,000 first place prize money. Kipchirchir has three times beaten 60 minutes in the half marathon distance and Toronto Waterfront was his debut at the full distance. The early pace took its toll, and he faded in the final kilometers. 

Cheboi won in 2:09:20, a new personal best. 

“It was a very tough course,” he said. “I managed it. I don’t know, I think it was about 30km or more that I broke away. I made a move but later on it was very tough and windy.

“The first half was very fast but the end one was very tough, so I struggled a little bit.”

Cheboi had only arrived in Toronto on Friday night having missed his flight from Eldoret to Nairobi. Landing in Toronto he was briefly detained by Canadian immigration authorities, so he was all smiles once he settled into the race hotel. 

A jovial character, he gifted his winner’s laurels to the anti-doping control officer who accompanied him to the awards ceremony and post-race press conference.

As Kiprchirchir paid for his overzealous start, Adugna Takele of Ethiopia passed him to claim second place in 2:10:26. 

“Overall, I am happy with second place, but it was really windy,” Adugna admitted. “I couldn’t’push through it. The course is good but the wind?”

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon also served as the 2023 Canadian Marathon Championships. The men’s and women’s winners were both surprises and both marathon debutantes.

Carolyn Pomerleau of Quebec City ran 2:34:44 to capture the $8,000 winner’s purse along with the gold medal, while Vancouver’s Thomas Broatch took the men’s race running solo for most of the second half. He ran 2:16:25 which also earned him sixth place overall.

“It’s an interesting distance. A lot of things people told me about the marathon were true,” Broatch, who was still running 1,500m races four months ago said. “The first half I felt really easy. I thought I was going to be able to pick it up but then in the final 7 or 8km I was surprised how much I slowed down. Thankfully it was really late in the race.”

Meanwhile Pomerleau was delighted and surprised with her performance.

“They didn’t think about me, they were like ‘who is this girl we don’t know her?’” She said with a good nature laugh.

“It’s my first marathon of all time. My half marathon personal best was 1:13:14 and I ran that in Ottawa. I finished third in the Canadian 10km championship with 33:16 so the time in my 10k is more competitive than in the marathon. I only had eight weeks of training for this marathon. I was ok. My goal was to do a sub 2:35 and I did it.”

Among the many Americans who were using Toronto Waterfront to either qualify for the US Olympic Trials or to bolster their confidence going into that race, Emily Durgin, a resident of Flagstaff, Arizona came out on top. She finished fifth overall in personal best 2:26:46.

“I honestly didn’t know my pace; it was all over the place because of the wind,” Durgin revealed. “I ended up not going with the leaders because I thought that effort in the wind might be a little too much.

“I felt good honestly all the way through; this is a stepping stone for our Olympic trials in February. Getting that Olympic standard definitely gives you a little more confidence.  This isn’t a Berlin, this isn’t a Chicago, I kind of had to not compare my time to what women ran the past couple of weeks. At the trials I can take little more risk with the confidence this race has given me.”

This year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon sold out with a record 5,849 entries. Along with the half marathon and the 5km run today, more than 25,000 runners enjoyed the weekend and $3 million was raised for 159 official charities, so many more than just the elite athletes went home happy.