Run DetailsFlat, Fast and Festive!"This was my first major running event. It was a more than amazing experience. From the fabulous volunteers providing constant support throughout the event to the last 500 metres where the spectators blew me away with their cheers." The flat and fast features of this event (includes the marathon, half and 5k) have consistently been the reason for so many people reaching a personal best, qualifying for Boston, having a memorable but good first marathon or an outstanding one. Even power walkers or slower runners love this course because of its 6 hour 30 minute time limit. New for '08: The events start and finish in the same spot in the heart of downtown, at City Hall, at Bay & Queen Streets, hosted by Mayor David Miller. They the head out and back along the lakeshore on a flat course that Boston hopefuls and first-timers love. Toronto Waterfront was one of only 4 sub-2:10 marathons in North America [2:09:30]; and has been awarded a prestigious IAAF Silver label for 2008, as one of the 50 best road races in the world! There are bands and Neighbourhood Entertainment Centres every 2 kilometres, cheerleaders, numerous aid stations and "The Penguin", John Bingham, hamming it up on the mike after his finish in the half. Overall, there's a great, festive atmosphere. All marathoners and half marathoners get adidas Climalite technical t-shirts and exciting new finisher's medals for 2008 (marathon & half) designed by Hasty Awards, who developed the world's first "spinner" for Miami Marathon. Toronto Waterfront, however, is much more than just the run... it's a festive, full weekend that starts with gurus John Stanton, Coach Jenny Hadfield and John Bingham at the free 2-day Expo, Friday and Saturday. There's a Saturday morning (free) short International Friendship Run, hosted by the Running Room, a fun carbo load pasta dinner on Saturday night and a post-race Victory party in Nathan Phillips Square from 9am to 3pm on Sunday. It's all part of an "unforgettable" Toronto experience! |
STWM08 Technical SurveyTake the survey for a chance to win one of 5 free entries or 2 pairs of adidas shoes! In this section: (alphabetical)
Spectator Viewing Guide"I have never felt anything more exhilarating than running those last 400 metres and crossing that finish line. Thank you for such a truly amazing first time experience. Your race was very well organized and made me feel comfortable and welcome as a new runner" — R.K., Mississauga, ON |
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Aid Stations, Water and Gatorade, Gels
Water & Gatorade will both be available at the race party area near the Start/Finish line and registration area, and at all "Water & Aid stations" along the courses.
Each aid station has Gatorade, Water, and first aid personnel. Port-o-lets are also located at each aid station.
Cytomax Gulp N' Go gels will be available on-course for the marathon at 24K and 32K.
Water & Aid stations are located at approximately every 2.5km — exact kilometres below:
| 3k | 5k | 7.5k | 10k | 12.5k | 15k |
| 18k | 21k | 23k | 25k | 27.5k | 29k |
| 31k | 32k | 34k | 35.5k | 37.5k | 40k |
ChampionChip Timing
All participants will be issued a timing chip with their run packets. See FAQ: ChampionChip Timing for details about the ChampionChip and how to wear it.
You must have a chip in order to have a recorded time. NO CHIP = NO TIME.
Course Maps & Descriptions
2008 Marathon/Half Marathon Course & Elevation: click to enlarge
2008 5k Course: click to enlarge
Course Descriptions
Course is marked in Kilometres
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.
Used to Imperial, not metric? NO problem!
The Running Room booth at the race Expo will have lots of FREE "pace" wristbands in kilometres for
you to pick up.
Need to know now?
Running Times has some great tables in kilometres as well as miles at:
www.runningtimes.com/Channel.aspx?CategoryID=94.
Marathon (Start time: 7:30am) (no earlier start time)
Starting at City Hall (Bay just north of Queen), go south on Bay, east on Wellington [join the traditional course at this point], switch to Front St. at Church, continue east to Parliament Street, turn south to Lakeshore Boulevard, left/east for 100m then turn WEST on Lakeshore and continue to Windermere, where you turn and head back east on eastbound Lakeshore to Stadium Road, right/south to Queens Quay, east to Parliament & Lakeshore Boulevard. Continue east on Lakeshore, south on Don Roadway, east on Commissioner's Street to Leslie. South on Leslie out the scenic Leslie Spit into Tommy Thompson Conservation area (2.5 down, 2.5k back), continue north on Leslie to Lakeshore. East on Lakeshore to Queen & Woodbine, where you turn around and run back on Lakeshore, left/south on Leslie, right/west onto Commissioner's, north on Don Roadway, left onto Lakeshore, west to Bay, north on Bay for just over 1km to the spectacular Finish at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square [same line as Start].
Half-Marathon (Start time: 7:30am, with marathoners)
Starting at City Hall (Bay just north of Queen), go south on Bay, east on Wellington [join the traditional course at this point], switch to Front St. at Church, continue east to Parliament Street, turn south to Lakeshore Boulevard, left/east for 100m then turn WEST on Lakeshore and continue to Windermere, where you turn and head back east on eastbound Lakeshore to Bay St., then north on Bay for 1km to the spectacular Finish at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square [same line as Start].
5k (Start time: 8:15am)
Starting at City Hall (Bay just north of Queen), go south on Bay to Harbour, [join the traditional course at this point], go east on Harbour to Parliament where you do a U-turn on Lakeshore from the eastbound lanes to the westbound lanes, back to Bay St., right/north on Bay back to the Finish at City Hall [Bay just north of Queen].
Course Limitations
AGE LIMIT: Half Marathon = 16 years on race day
AGE LIMIT: Marathon = 18 years on race day
(no age limit for 5k)
For further information and background, see IMMDA Advisory Statement on Children & Marathoning (PDF).
The Marathon, Half & 5k courses are closed to baby joggers, strollers, animals and inline skaters. All the above and non-registered persons will be asked to leave the course by run marshals.
Time Limits
Marathon: 6 hours 30 minutes — Power Walkers welcome!
Half Marathon: 3 hours 40 minutes
5K: 1 hour, 10 minutes
After the courses close, support will be limited, and participants assume the role of pedestrians.
Entertainment
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is proud of the fact that we have the most on-course entertainment of any marathon in Canada, with "live" bands and performers on professional stages, approximately every 2 kilometres. They offer a wide range of Canadian and multicultural entertainment from Ukrainian cossack dancers to Chinese Lion dancers, Indian bhangra to Latin drums, reflecting Toronto's vibrant diversity… "the world within a city"!
After you Finish, enjoy more of these sounds on the Main stage in Nathan Phillips Square.
See the Neighbourhood Challenge section for details on the great live entertainment you will find along the way!
Gear Check
Gear Check (bags/coats) will be available run morning at Nathan Phillips Square. The cost is $2 per bag, with proceeds going to the four featured charities. Gear check will be open from 6:30am to 2:15pm.
Getting There and Parking
Start Area — City Hall / Nathan Phillips Square. Underground "GREEN P" City Parking available underneath the Square. Access by Queen St. West (between University Ave, and Bay St.); or, by University Ave./Armoury St. (between Queen St. W and Dundas St. W.) then Chestnut St. south. For more information please visit www.greenp.com.
There are also many private lots in the area, particularly:
- The Eaton Centre, Yonge & Shuter
- [more to come soon]
Directions from the EAST (Scarborough, Kingston, Ottawa)
From the 401: Take the DON VALLEY PARKWAY — SOUTH.
To the Gardiner Expressway west.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
Directions from the WEST (Oakville, Burlington, London)
QEW — east to downtown Toronto.
Follow the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY — east to Spadina.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
Directions from the NORTH (North York, Barrie, Sudbury)
Head south on the 427 to the QEW — east to downtown Toronto.
Follow the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY — east to Spadina.
Exit Spadina — north to QUEEN STREET, east on QUEEN, to Nathan Phillips Square.
OR come south from the 401 on Yonge St. to Eaton Centre or similar parking, just south of Dundas. Another GREEN P is also located at Dundas Square ar Yonge & Dundas. Do NOT take Avenue Road/Unversity south to race, as Queen's Park Circle will be blocked from noon Saturday with WORD ON THE STREET.
ROAD CLOSURES will be posted in the FAQ section - click here.
International Friendship Run
International Friendship Run at the Waterfront with John Stanton, founder of Canada's world-famous "Running Room". 9:00am Saturday September 27th, from Commerce Court Running Room store, Wellington and Yonge Streets. Refreshments to follow. FREE. Easy, inspirational jog with runners from around the world. Open to everyone.
Post-race Massage
Post-race massage takes place between 8:30am and 2:15pm in Nathan Phillips Square located adjacent to the Finish Line area. Massages will be done in order of when you arrive — show your bib and they will check you off their list — no tickets needed! You can buy your massage for $15 when you register or you can add it to your entry until Tuesday, September 23rd on our online form.
Live Text Message Notification on Race Day
Sportstats is offering live SMS text messaging for Marathon and Half-Marathon participants.
Cost is $2.99. Checkpoints are as follows:
Marathon: 10km, 21.1km, 30km, Finish.
Half-Marathon: 10km, Finish.
Click here to register for live text
message notifications.
Medals and T-shirts
ALL entrants in the Marathon and Half-Marathon will receive an adidas Climalite technical t-shirt. Separate Men's and Women's styles are available. For 2008, the marathon shirts are RED, the Half shirts are BLACK.
All 5K participants receive a quality cotton t-shirt.
All 2008 Marathon and Half Marathon finishers receive a finisher's medal!
Click picture to see the medals close-up!
"Awesome", "fabulous", "is this one of the Beijing medals?" … these were just a few of the comments on our new medals, from runners at the CRIM 10 Miler Expo in Flint, Michigan this past weekend, where we showed the samples for the first time. The marathon version is shiny gold, 2.5 inches in diameter, 7mm thick, and heavy! The Half marathon is 2", and made with an antique silver finish. The medals hang from a relatively new, state-of-the-art, heat-transfer ribbon, that's both dynamic and comfortable. Which one will be yours?!
Medical
Medical services at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be supervised by The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine.
The 'Centre' is also available for your Pre and Post race injuries or medical concerns.
The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine
777 Bay St., College Park
Toronto, Ont.
416-597-9755
The Canadian Ski Patrol will be providing on course assistance.
Packet Pick-up
Friday September 26
11:00am to 8:00pm
New Entry & Race Kit Pickup
at RUN EXPO:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front St. West
Saturday September 27
10:00am to 6:00pm
Race Kit Pickup
at RUN EXPO:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front St. West
You (or a friend) must pick up your number, ChampionChip, t-shirt and goodie bag at the RUNNER'S EXPO on Friday or Saturday. Please bring photo ID OR a printout of your registration email confirmation*. If a friend is picking up for you, they should have a printout of your registration email confirmation* AND email permission from you. If picking up for friends, you can do so for a maximum of three (after which you'll have to line up again at the appropriate table). THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO RACE KIT PICK-UP ON RACE DAY.
*Lost email confirmation for registrants using EVENTSONLINE,
click here
to have it re-sent.
Lost email confirmation for registrants using RUNNING ROOM or MARATHONGUIDE, email
to have it re-sent.
More info on the Runners' Expo (new website)
Transportation to the Expo:
Easy access via Skywalk from Union Station.
Focaccia Pasta Dinner with John "The Penguin" Bingham
Sponsored by Focaccia Restaurant
Join us on Saturday, September 27th, at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 205, either at 5pm (first seating) or 7pm (second seating)—featuring special guest, John "The Penguin" Bingham from Runner's World.
Tickets only $25.00. Book when you register, or separately online, OR at the EXPO. All Pasta Dinner ticket pick-up at "Pasta Dinner Tickets" table, Registration Area, EXPO.
Photos (Individual)
Finish line and event photos for the Marathon and Half-Marathon will be taken by Action Sports International.
You can set yourself up ahead of time to receive an email as soon as your photos are ready—click here! You can also print your own personalized Finisher's Certificate.
Schedule for Run Weekend 2008
Wednesday September 24
- 7:00pm Special Showing of "Spirit of the Marathon" movie at Scotiabank Theatre, Richmond
& John Sts.
The perfect way to relax in race-week, get off your feet, sit back, and be inspired by the magic of the marathon. For movie highlights see www.marathonmovie.com.
Tickets available online at cineplex.com and at the theatre box office.
"You'll never be the same… if you run a marathon or see this film. It captures your heart, your body… your very spirit." —Kathrine Switzer, first woman to officially finish Boston Marathon
Friday September 26
- 10:30–11:00am Press Conference, at the Expo, Metro Convention Centre
- 11:00am Runners' Expo / Race Kit Pickup Opens at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Front Street, between Simcoe St. & John St. — Guest Speaker Schedule
- 8:00pm Runners' Expo Closes
Saturday September 27
- 9:00am Friendship Run from Commerce Court Running Room, Wellington & Yonge Streets
- 10:00am Runners' Expo / Race Kit Pickup Opens — Guest Speaker Schedule
- 5:00pm Focaccia Pasta Dinner (first seating), Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 205
- 6:00pm Runners' Expo Closes
- 7:00pm Focaccia Pasta Dinner (second seating), Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 205
Sunday September 28
All Sunday morning events are at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square (123 Queen St at Bay). All start lines are on Bay St on the east side of the Square.
- 7:30am Marathon (42.2km) Start
- 7:30am Half-Marathon (21.1km) Start (with marathon)
- 8:15am 5km Run / Walk Start
- 8:30am Top 5km runners finish
- 8:30am Top Half-Marathoners finish
- 9:00am to 1:00pm "Live" entertainment on Main stage in Nathan Phillips Square: Dr. Payne & the Disease
- 9:00am 5k (Top 3 overall only in 5k) & Half Marathon Awards on the Main stage in Nathan Phillips Square
- 9:40am Top Marathoners finish
- 12:00pm Marathon Awards on Main stage in Nathan Phillips Square
- 12:15pm International Team Challenge and Top Canadian & Ontario Awards ceremony on Main stage, Nathan Phillips Square
- 2:00pm Course closes—reopens to traffic
- 6:00-9:00pm Post-Run Victory Party at Milestones, 132 John St.
Live entertainment on Main Stage at finish area: Dr. Payne & the Disease
Start Corrals
Over the past 3 years especially, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon & Half has gained an international reputation for its flat, fast course: "the perfect place to run a fast time and get a Boston Qualifier!"
To make it possible for as many runners as possible to get off the line quickly and chase fast times, we have START CORRALS again for 2008. Shortly before Race Week, all entrants will be assigned bib numbers based on expected finishing time. Your number will then place you in one of the following corrals:
- ELITE: sub 2:30 marathoners and sub 1:15 half marathoners
- Red: 2:30 to 3:10 marathoners and 1:15 to 1:35 half marathoners
- Yellow: 3:11 to 3:35 marathoners and 1:36 to 1:47 half marathoners
- Blue: 3:36 to 3:59 marathoners and 1:48 to 1:59 half marathoners
- Green: 4:00 to 4:45 marathoners and 2:00 to 2:15 half marathoners
- Purple: 4:46+ marathoners and 2:16+ half marathoners
Toilet Facilities
Port-o-lets will be located at the start/finish area as well as on course at each aid station.