Hosted in partnership with Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, this race marks Canada Running Series’ first in-person race since the start of the pandemic
TORONTO, ONTARIO, October 13, 2021 — The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 10K (“STWM”) in-person race is taking place this Sunday, October 17, 2021. With 5,000 participants lacing up for the sold-out event, this marks the first in-person race held by Canada Running Series since the pandemic struck in the spring of 2020. Held in partnership with Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, STWM will double as the Athletics Canada 10K Championships, drawing some of the country’s top distance runners to Toronto to compete for the Canadian title.
This year, 151 local charities are taking part in STWM’s Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and are accepting donations as part of the challenge until November 15, 2021. Since 2003, the Charity Challenge has raised $45 million in tremendous support of 550 local charities dedicated to building vibrant communities. Scotiabank pays for all related transaction and credit card fees, allowing participating charities to keep 100 percent of the proceeds raised.
In the women’s division, Natasha Wodak, two-time Olympian and the Canadian 8K record holder since 2013, is anticipated to lead the pack. With a 10K personal best of 31:59, Wodak is only 15 seconds shy of the national 10K record, held by her own coach, Lynn Kanuka-Williams since 1989. Vancouver’s Leslie Sexton and Scottish star Sarah Inglis are expected to push Wodak all the way.
The men’s division is expected to be fiercely competitive as they chase down the Canadian record (28:17), set by Newfoundland’s Paul McCloy in 1987. Tokyo Olympians Ben Preisner and Luc Bruchet will be battling for the win, alongside two-time Canadian Cross Country Champion Mike Tate, and Ben Flanagan, who will be seeking redemption after failing to secure a spot on the Tokyo 2020 team. Prepare for some sibling rivalry as Olympic bronze medallist, Evan Dunfee, racewalks against his brother, Adam Dunfee, who will run the course.
To ensure the health and safety of participants, staff, volunteers, vendors, and media, verification of full vaccination will be required to gain access to the race area. In an effort to encourage physical distancing throughout the event, staggered start times will funnel 50 waves of 100 people across the start line beginning at 7:59 a.m. EDT with the elite wheelchair race.
Race Details
When
- Sunday, October 17, 2021
- 7:59 a.m. – 10K Championship elite wheelchair start
- 8:00 a.m. – 10K Championships elite women start
- 8:13 a.m. – 10K Championships elite men and 10K Masters start
Where
- Start Line Location: Lake Shore Boulevard at Strachan Avenue
- Finish Line Location: Lake Shore Boulevard just above Coronation Park
Photo Opportunities
- 7:00 a.m. Broadcast begins
- 7:45 a.m. Land acknowledgement
- 7:59 a.m. Elite wheelchair start
- 8:00 a.m. Elite women start
- 8:13 a.m. Elite men and masters start
- 8:32 a.m. Women’s winner crosses finish line
- 8:40 a.m. Men’s winner crosses finish line
- 9:00 a.m. Awards ceremony
Media Accreditation
Media interested in covering the STWM 10K must register for accreditation here. All media must receive advance accreditation to gain access to the in-person event on October 17. Media must also provide proof of full vaccination in order to access restricted event areas including the start and finish line. Photo and interview opportunities will be available near the start and finish lines for a limited number of accredited media.
Out of an abundance of concern for the safety, after checking in, media will be escorted to an assigned position where they will stay throughout the race. After crossing the finish line, athletes will be carolled to the media area for interviews and photos.
Livestream Broadcast
The 2021 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 10K in-person race will be available via livestream at www.stwm.ca. The livestream will begin at 7:30 a.m. EDT and will cover the entirety of the event free of charge.
Traffic Advisory
Road closures will take place on Sunday, October 17 from 4:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The following areas will be closed:
- Strachan Avenue: Lake Shore Blvd. West to Fleet Street
- Fort York Blvd.: Lake Shore Blvd. West to Fleet Street
- Lake Shore Blvd. West: Bathurst Street to Windermere Avenue
- Parkside Drive: Spring Road to Lake Shore Blvd. West
- Colborne Lodge Drive: The Queensway to Lake Shore Blvd. West
- Ellis Avenue: The Queensway to Lake Shore Blvd. West
More information on road closures throughout the event can be found here.
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About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is 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. During the 2020 event, participants raised over $2.96 million for 163 community charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. In 2021, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon will host a 10K along Toronto’s scenic lakeshore, the first in-person race for Canada Running Series since the pandemic began, which will also double as the Athletics Canada 10K Championships in partnership with Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
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 Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for track and field, para athletics, cross-country running, and road running. Its purpose is to support high performance athletics excellence at the world level, and to provide leadership in developmental athletics. Athletics Canada is a not for profit, charitable organization operating under a board of directors elected by provincial / territorial members. For more information, visit: athletics.ca.
About the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s largest running and walking festival with six races, including the Ottawa Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K and Kids Marathon, as well as the Lumberjack, Voyageur or Bytown distance challenges. In 2021, runners and walkers in the virtual event raised a record-breaking $1,064,163.58 for local and national charities through the Charity Challenge. The 2022 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 28-29.
The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend was named Event of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Tourism Awards, and in 2020, its title sponsor Tamarack Homes won the Sport Tourism Canada’s Canadian Sport Event Sponsorship Initiative of the Year Award. The event is one of only two running events in Canada to host a World Athletics (formerly IAAF) Gold Label Marathon, and is host to Athletics Canada’s Canadian 10K Championships. For more information or to register, visit: www.runottawa.ca.
Media Contact:
Sam O’Neill
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
sam@canadarunningseries.com
