Jun 19 2024
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Get Moving for the Cause that Moves You with the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Charity Challenge

By | Announcement, Charity Challenge | No Comments

2024 TCS Charity Challenge officially kicks off with over 120 Canadian charities and a new green way to give back

TORONTO, ON (June 19, 2024) – The annual TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is returning to the city’s streets this fall for the iconic run’s 35th edition and as of today, registration is officially open for the TCS Charity Challenge, giving participants the opportunity to run, walk or wheel for the cause that moves them. The TCS Charity Challenge has raised over $53 million to date for more than 150 Charity Partners each year making a lasting impact in our communities. 

The TCS Charity Challenge unites the spirit of runners with a unique fundraising program that supports local charities and empowers participants from across Toronto and around the globe to build a community of support around the cause that moves them. This year, race organizers are challenging those partaking in the marathon, half marathon and 5k distances to help reach their fundraising goal of $3 million, to bring the cumulative total over $56 million since the inception of the program.  

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event offering participants a unique race experience along Toronto’s beautiful waterfront, parts of the Trans Canada Trail and through the heart of the city. The race takes place in-person over the weekend of October 19 to 20, 2024, with the marathon and half marathon taking place on Sunday and the 5k on a new course and time the day prior, providing even more opportunities to choose to run and fundraise this year.

“We are so excited to be kicking off the TCS Charity Challenge again this year,” said Charlotte Brookes, National Event Director at Canada Running Series (CRS). “Our Toronto Waterfront Marathon community has raised millions for incredible organizations over the years, leaving a legacy of lasting impacts in our own communities. Race weekend brings an infectious energy to Toronto and the Charity Challenge adds a meaningful boost to the excitement as Torontonians, Ontarians and Canadians everywhere choose to run, and choose to give to support so many important causes each October.”

“This year, we are pleased to introduce the Green Bib Program, which allows participants to choose to wear a green bib on race day and have a donation made to a participating sustainability charity in lieu of receiving a race shirt and medal,” continued Brookes. “The program combines our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact, to join philanthropy with sport, and to provide our participants with more ways to personalize their race experience.”

The marathon has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for sustainability Charity Partners in recent years, including Trans Canada Trail and Trees for Life who are returning once again as the 2024 feature Charity Partners. 

“Each year, we’re reminded how powerful the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon community is and what an incredible impact the TCS Charity Challenge has,” added Soumen Roy, Executive Director and Country Head, Canada, Tata Consultancy Services. “Having raised nearly $3 million last year, we’ve seen what a difference the challenge can make for local organizations and those they support. We’re proud to be part of the TCS Charity Challenge and look forward to another great year of fundraising!”

“For me, fundraising for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation through the TCS Charity Challenge was a cause incredibly close to my heart as a cancer survivor,” says Brandon Throop, the top TCS Charity Challenge fundraiser in 2023, the top 2023 TCS Charity Challenge fundraiser, raising over $100,000. “It was an important opportunity for me to pay it forward, and to be able to do so through running, something else close to my heart for many years, makes it that much more personal. I hope that others will choose to run for the cause that moves them, or support those running, because every little bit really does make a difference.”

Registration and fundraising for the TCS Charity Challenge officially opens today. Here’s how to get involved:

  1. Register online for one of the Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K events.
  2. Fundraise by signing up for the TCS Charity Challenge and selecting the charity you’d like to raise funds for.
  3. Donate by visiting the TCS Charity Challenge website and selecting the Official Charity you’d like to donate to.
  4. Support the TCS Charity Challenge, our Charity Partners, and participants by following along on social media and using the hashtags #chooseTOrun, #chooseTOgive, and #TCSCharityChallenge, and come out on October 19 and 20 to cheer on your friends and family along the race route and at the finish line!

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About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

2024 marks the 35th edition of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity runners. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. 

For more information, visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com. 

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 65 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development. 

As part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 601,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the mSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. 

For more information, visit www.tcs.com  

MEDIA CONTACT:

Emma Hunt, Sutherland Corp.

emma@sutherlandcorp.ca

Jun 04 2024
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TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Kicks Off 35th Anniversary by Celebrating One of Toronto’s Oldest Landmarks

By | Announcement, Medal Reveal | No Comments

TORONTO, ON (June 3, 2024) – Canada Running Series unveiled the highly anticipated 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon medal yesterday evening at Union Station, just in time for the iconic marathon’s 35th anniversary. The host location is also featured on the medal’s design as a tribute to Union Station being a hub of Toronto community and activity since it was opened in 1927. This year’s medal also highlights Toronto’s “Monument to Multiculturalism,” symbolizing the diverse and inclusive spirit of the city. The new medals will be awarded to all 25,000 race participants, with variations for distance. Photos of the medal and medal reveal event can be found here. 

“The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is not just a race, it’s a celebration of our city’s spirit and resilience,” said Charlotte Brookes, Race Director. “Union Station is a cornerstone of Toronto’s history and activity, and with the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon being such a standout weekend in the city, we wanted to encapsulate the energy and essence of the city in our 2024 design.” 

This year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is set to take place on October 20, 2024, with both in person and virtual race options available. Registration is open, and can be found on the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s website. The world class marathon weekend brings over 25,000 participants from across the globe to Toronto annually for the Olympic qualifying race, and has raised over $52 million for local charities through the marathon’s TCS Charity Challenge since its inception. 

“Canada Running Series is an incredible organization widely recognized for hosting impeccably planned running events, with the pinnacle of Canada’s race season being the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon,” said Soumen Roy, Executive Director and Country Head, Canada,Tata Consultancy Services. “The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a legacy event for the city with 35 years of history, and these medals showcase not just the city that serves as the backdrop for this world-renowned race, but the physical achievement of each and every participant.” 

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is renowned for its scenic route, cheerful atmosphere, and commitment to charitable causes, attracting participants from across the world including elite athletes, amateur runners, and avid enthusiasts. Runners typically pass Union Station during the race, making it a landmark the participants can expect to see on race day and have for years.

Join the tens of thousands who celebrate Toronto every year for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. #ChooseTORun by registering to participate, #ChooseTOGive through the TCS Charity Challenge or #ChooseTOCelebrate by lining the race route to support the participants on October 19-20, 2024. 

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About the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier running event and the grand finale of the Canada Running Series (CRS). It is celebrating its 35th edition in 2024. Since 2017, the race has served as the Athletics Canada national marathon championship race and has doubled as the Olympic trials. Using innovation and organization as guiding principles, Canada Running Series stages great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians to recreational and charity runners. With a mission of “building community through the sport of running,” CRS is committed to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. 

To learn more about the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com. 

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 65 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development. 

As part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 601,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the mSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Laurel Bury

Sutherland Corporation

laurel@sutherlandcorp.ca

May 08 2024
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Celebrating the Legacy of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon

By | History, Races | No Comments

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon (TWM) is more than just a race; it’s a storied chapter in Canadian and global long-distance running history. This event weaves through the heart of Toronto annually in October, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, and 5 km race, attracting runners from around the globe. Known for its scenic course along Toronto’s beautiful waterfront, the TWM stands as a testament to human endurance, community spirit, and the transformative power of running.

A Marathon of Records and Firsts

Since its inception, the Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been a battleground for breaking records and setting new standards in marathon running. The 2013 edition saw Deressa Chimsa shattering the men’s course record, clocking the fastest marathon ever on Canadian soil. This clearly indicates the race’s caliber and appeal to elite runners worldwide. Similarly, in 2011, Koren Jelela Yal set the women’s course record, establishing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon as a premier running event

Ed Whitlock’s Enduring Legacy

The TWM is also intertwined with the extraordinary feats of Canadian runner Ed Whitlock. Whitlock’s achievements, including becoming the oldest man to run a marathon in under three hours and setting multiple age-group world records at TWM, have cemented his legend and highlighted the marathon as a platform for extraordinary human achievements.

A New Canadian Record

In 2018, Cam Levins made history at the TWM by breaking Jerome Drayton’s 43-year-old Canadian men’s national record for the marathon. This momentous achievement underscored the TWM’s role in the evolution of Canadian long-distance running.

Fastest Marathon on Canadian Soil 

Kenya’s Philemon Rono’s 2:05:00 in 2019 remains the fastest marathon run on Canadian soil (along with the fastest time in North America that year). Plus, Kenya’s Magdalyne Masai-Robertson’s 2:22:16 in 2019 is also the women’s Canadian soil record.

Canadian Women’s Records Broken

In 2013, Lanni Marchant (2:27:58) and Krista DuChene (2:28:29) both broke Silvia Ruegger’s 2:28:36 Canadian record (set in 1985) at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Lanni won the Canadian Women’s race that year, and it would be almost ten years before Malindi Elmore broke the Canadian Women’s marathon record. 

Navigating Challenges

The global COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges, leading to the cancellation of the 2020 in-person race. However, the TWM’s spirit remained unbroken, with virtual races allowing participants to maintain their connection to the event and continue supporting charitable causes.

A Force for Good

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been a significant force for philanthropy, raising millions of dollars for charity through the Charity Challenge, raising anywhere from 2.5 – 4M per year for various organizations. 

The Marathon’s Cultural Impact

Ed Whitlock: More Than a Marathoner

Ed Whitlock remains one of the most compelling figures in the history of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. His unconventional approach to training, lack of sponsorship, and remarkable performances have made him a global icon, attracting attention from media outlets worldwide. Whitlock’s legacy transcends running, inspiring countless individuals to rethink the boundaries of age and potential.

Fauja Singh: The Centenarian 

Fauja Singh’s participation in the TWM further exemplifies the marathon’s cultural resonance and that running has no age limits. As the oldest man to ever finish a marathon, Singh’s story of resilience and determination has captivated audiences worldwide, from Vice Media to the New York Times, showcasing the marathon’s capacity to inspire and amaze.

Always Improving the Marathon Experience

Evergreen Certification 

In 2023, The Council for Responsible Sport certified the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon with the highest distinction possible: Evergreen Certification. This award recognizes the event’s outstanding social, environmental, economic, and community impact. 

A Bright Future with TCS

In 2024, the TWM, now sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), anticipates one of its biggest turnouts, with 25,000 runners from over 70 countries. This new chapter promises to build on the marathon’s rich competition, community, and innovation legacy. It includes the introduction of a race app featuring a carbon footprint calculator, highlighting TCS’s commitment to sustainability. 

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From breaking records to breaking barriers, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon has become a beacon of inspiration, community, and athletic excellence. As it continues to evolve, the TWM remains a pivotal event in the global running calendar, celebrated not just for its scenic course and competitive field but for its profound impact on runners, spectators, and the wider community. Here’s to many more years of memorable races, remarkable achievements, and the unifying power of running.