Toronto Waterfront Marathon

I have run this race many times and it is not bad but the city could do a lot more for the runners. in Montreal the subway was free for participants and was open early prior to the race. This was not the case for TO Waterfront marathon. It made getting around expensive and overly complicated. the package pickup was pricey since it costs $14 to park. I prefer the pick up took place at City Hall since it close to subways, etc., The other problem with City Hall is that it is blocked but fences with small openings. It creates bottlenecks when the race starts. The race is okay but not as good as it could be. The shirt had a nice design but was a bit small for me. After 89 pasta dinners I would prefer something a bit larger for my frame. Yeah. Anyway, great for local runners. Some areas where you are cheered by no-one though.

I've run this marathon for the second time since 2008 (my first) and got a PR and a BQ. Very well organized race with plenty of water stations, large expo and enthusiastic volunteers. Course is mostly flat and fast, if not very scenic. One part that should be eliminated is the out-and-back on Bayview Extension along Don River. Crowd support is somewhat lacking but that's always the case with Torontonians. They mostly gripe about runners blocking traffic. At least this year we had Bridge The Gap urban running crew gathering, so in a few spots it felt like Boston or NYC. I wish they could do this every year. Also, more support and promotion from the city would be nice. Finish area is crowded. One other thing to be aware about is streetcar tracks - There's plenty of them, and they can trip you up. I will run this race again because it's about the best you can expect in Canada.

I was disappointed in this race. Touted as a 'waterfront' marathon, one really had to stretch a neck to see water anywhere along the course. A good portion of the race was on a highway (or underneath a highway) and through construction. The sections downtown and through the Beaches community were nice. Spectators were sparse except for The Beaches and the finish line. Drivers in cars seemed angry at the road closures. It is however a fairly fast race.