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May 18, 2024

Toronto Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Toronto Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.8

Organization 3.8

Spectators 3.1

Number of comments: 160 [displaying comments 101 to 111]

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 9 10 11 12 13 .. 16 > ]

J. G. from Toronto (10/4/2005) "The most fun in Toronto running!" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Toronto Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was just a great marathon and so much fun to run. Yonge Street was amazing and even in lousy weather, the crowd support was impressive. The finish line was great with lots of food and the best massage tent of any Canadian marathon.
J. B. from Toronto (9/2/2005) "Decent Marathon" (General Comments) 4-5 previous marathons \| 3 Toronto Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The Toronto Marathon is a decent marathon. I've run it for the past 3 years now. It's true that you need to deal with motorists who hate giving up their roadways to you. But the organization is top-notch. The course is well marked with km markings. The added time check at the 32km mark is also an added bonus. Fan support could be better. It's kind of depressing running through residential neighborhoods and not a soul on the street or even poking out their windows. However, along Yonge between Hogs Hollow and Davisville, and crossing Yonge through Alymer, the fans really line up. The course isn't too bad. However running through an industrial wasteland at the 37 km mark doesn't really give you the motivation you may desire.
J. B. from Brockville, Ontario (6/1/2005) "This should be better" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Toronto Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon and it was a rewarding experience personally. However, the lack of support and outright hostility Torontonians gave this event was terrible. I just ran the Ottawa Marathon, and the difference is like night and day. Ottawa embraces their race with open arms. When I ran Toronto, I had to put up with honking motorists swearing at me and other runners for holding up traffic. I was actually struck by a vehicle that went through a police stop on the course because he was tired of waiting. When I have marathons like Ottawa to run and enjoy, I can truthfully say I will never run Toronto again, which is sad because Toronto is my hometown.
K. C. from Pittsburgh, PA (5/30/2005) "Jar-Jar Loves Runners!" (about: 2002) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Toronto Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran this a few years ago and qualified for Boston. I will never forget that near the end of the course, a guy was dressed up as Jar-Jar Binks holding a sign that said: 'Jar-Jar Loves Runners.' You know, I just cracked up, and I believe it helped push me to the finish. We need more sense of humor in marathons. Toronto is a great city, too.
K. L. from Toronto, Ontario (2/3/2005) "great run in lousy weather" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Toronto Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran a PB at Toronto this year by more that 12 minutes. This amazed me due to the crappy weather. I think the wind and rain made me run faster. You'll see lots of the city and the volunteers and cops were very supportive everywhere. There were lots of bike marshals and excellent signage with really good water tables. Food and massage was the best I've seen at a marathon finish line. Thanks Toronto, I'll be back in October.
K. W. from Toronto, ON (11/5/2004) "First Time Running TO - and loved it!" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Toronto Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my first time running the Toronto 1/2 Marathon, and up until the gun went, I was dreading every minute of it. This race is not known for its vast number of spectators (as a former spectator to many friends who ran this event before me), and is more commonly known for frustrated locals who don't understand that they have to give up Yonge Street for a couple of hours. And the thought of Hogg's Hollow hill and the incline at the end nearly killed me mentally. I don't know if it was the group hugs at the beginning (to feel some warmth on a cold race day) or the fact that I had friends cheering me on every 2-3K for the first 12K, but I ended up loving the entire race and running a PB! I still think Toronto can work on getting the city more involved in the event, but overall organization (minus the chaos at the finish line) and course (although too quiet at times - Rosedale Valley Road) were quite good. It's a blessing that the first - and only - big hill on the course happens at 3K (for the 1/2 marathon). And as long as you do your hill training, the end incline up University isn't a struggle at all.
B. B. from USA (11/2/2004) "Toronto has not embraced the marathon." (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Toronto Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I ran Chicago twice and New York once before doing Toronto in 2004. I was very disappointed in the whole experience -- although I did manage a personal record (PR). The course was ugly, which is hard to believe in a city as wonderful as Toronto. The biggest disappointment was the community. Cars sped through intersections which were supposed to be blocked. Cars honked and drivers yelled at police to let them through -- and sometimes the police did stop runners to let the drivers through. We ran through two parks, which were great. But trying to battle 26.2 miles, 38-degree temperature, big winds, constant rain was not made any easier by running on ugly, unfriendly main streets for most of the run.
C. B. from Toronto (10/28/2004) "4th 1/2 Marathon - One complaint: The weather" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 4-5 Toronto Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my 4th time running the Toronto 1/2 marathon - I wouldn't miss it for anything. The weather was the worst by far, and I must admit the last-minute change in the course threw many of us off guard - especially that bit along Lakeshore Blvd... how boring was that? Will be back next year - great organization; lots of water stations, great support from the volunteers.
J. L. from Toronto, ON (10/27/2004) "Fun!...but cold and windy" (about: 2004) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As a native Torontonian, this had to be my first marathon and I really enjoyed it. This year's version was quite cold and windy and the homestretch along University Ave was quite difficult but was certainly worth it. I would definitely like to see more fans especially downtown where runners need it the most. Otherwise, a fabulous and rewarding experience.
A. C. from Toronto, Canada (10/22/2004) "Need a real sports drink!" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Toronto Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This was my second time running it and although maybe not the course for PB's, I like the variety of scenery (i.e. commercial Yonge to chi-chi Forest Hill to financial district). This year I was surprised that the course was changed to skip Front to go under the Gardiner Expressway (much uglier but blocked the wind & rain on a miserable day). My BIG complaint is there was no Gatorade-like drink. To have to run 42km without sugar is UNACCEPTABLE (sugar-free beverage? Do I look like I'm on a diet?!). Maybe not everyone needs sugar, but a lot of us do!

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