Toronto Marathon

The Toronto Marathon, held annually on the first Sunday of May, is a race from Yonge and Sheppard, in the north end of Toronto, to Exhibition Place, via Humber Bay Park. The origins of the event trace back to 1977, and the race was initially called the Canadian International Marathon. In 2003, its name was changed to the Toronto Marathon. It was held previously on the third Sunday in October, the first Sunday after Canadian Thanksgiving, for 16 consecutive years. Because of concerns that another event was being held three weeks prior and led to too many road closures, as well as pressure from a major financial institution, the Toronto Marathon was moved to the first Sunday of May in 2012. [1] The event was temporarily held mid-May in 2011, due to other events in the City of Toronto that year.

Not to be confused with Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Toronto Marathon
DateMay
LocationToronto, Ontario,  Canada
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, Half marathon, 10K, 5K
BeneficiaryPrincess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Established1977
Course recordsMen's: 2:15:17 (2000)
Morocco Mostafa El Damaoui
Women's: 2:31:47 (2004)
Russia Olga Kovpotina
Official siteToronto Marathon
Participants8,486 (2019)

In addition to a full marathon, the event also includes a half marathon, a 10K run, a 5K run, and an eight-person relay across the marathon course. The marathon meets international standards and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The event is a member of AIMs and Athletics Ontario and meets their criteria.

The race featured women marathoners prior to the opening of the Olympic competition for the women. In 1984, Anne Hird won the race as winds gusted and a large field pursued her.[2][3] In 1988, the winner was Susan Stone, who had just become the Canadian National Champion in the 10K two weeks prior to the race.[4]

Regularly attracting 8,000 to 10,000 participants from over 55 countries, and every Province and Territory in Canada, the event is also a major fundraiser for many charities. A Runners Expo is held on the Friday and Saturday at the Queen Elizabeth building on the Exhibition Grounds immediately prior to race day and features over 60 vendors as well as the race kit pick-up for event participants.

COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the race was cancelled,[5] while the 2021 edition of the race was virtualized, as organizers stated that COVID-19 vaccine distribution will not be wide enough by May 2021 in order to allow the live in-person racing event to be safely held by that spring.[6][7]

Criticism

In 2018 the Toronto Marathon was accused of having an incorrect distance. Participants using GPS's believed that the marathon course was 43km even though it was supposed to be 42.2km. The organizers claim that this is not true and that "the distance is 100 per cent correct" [8] The course was proven to be measured correctly and km points designated accurate. It is known that when using a GPS, the signal can be inaccurate, especially around tall structures like those found in the downtown core, and that it caused an inaccurate reading for some runners using this technology. The course is certified by AIMS and Athletics Canada meeting their measurement criteria and is re-surveyed every 5 to 10 years as required by these respective organizations.

List of Marathon winners
Year Winner men Nationality Time Winner women Nationality Time
2023 Marco Li  Canada 2:34:55 Brittney Hall  United States 2:42:56
2022 Dennis Mbelenzi  Canada 2:29:57 Marianne Hogan  Canada 2:47:58
2021Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020
2019 Ken Langat  Canada 2:28:52 Dale Findlay  Canada 2:54:00
2018 David Freake  Canada 2:33:57 Julie Hamulecki  Canada 2:52:10
2017 Peter Kemboi  Canada 2:41:06 Michelle Spencer  Canada 3:00:30
2016 Bryan Rusche  Canada 2:35:54 Julie Hamulecki  Canada 2:56:04
2015 David Le Porho  Canada 2:21:54 Jutta Merilainen  Canada 3:00:45
2014 Brendan Kenny  Canada 2:26:25 Rachel Sinasac  Canada 2:55:18
2013 Terry Gehl  Canada 2:37:31 Mylene Sansourci  Canada 2:58:22
2012 Brendan Kenny  Canada 2:27:57 Jutta Merilainen  Canada 2:47:17
2011 Brendan Kenny  Canada 2:27:19.2 Melissa Begin  United States 2:54:50.9
2010 Brandon Laan  Canada 2:23:38.1 Nathalie Goyer  Canada 2:52:50.5
2009 Paul Rugut  Kenya 2:26:08.6 Elizabeth Randell  United States 2:57:53.8
2008 Daniel Njenga  Kenya 2:29:00.0 Dawn Richardson  Bermuda 2:57:46.8
2007 Charles Bedley  Canada 2:21:58.8 Leslie Black  Canada 2:58:47.0
2006 Anthony Skuce  Canada 2:34.10 Nicole Stevenson  Canada 2:47.09
2005 David Cheruiyot  Kenya 2:17.12 Lioudmila Kortchaguina  Canada 2:37.17
2004 Procopio Hernández  Mexico 2:16.42 Olga Kovpotina  Russia 2:31.47
2003 Lemi Chengere  Ethiopia 2:25.55 Angela Batsford  Canada 2:55.04
2002 Michal Kapral  Canada 2:30.40 Karen Cowling  Canada 2:56.13
2001 Jackson Omweri  Kenya 2:22.22 Karen Cowling  Canada 2:56.02
2000 Mostafa El Damaoui  Morocco 2:15.17 Jennifer Cooper  Canada 2:59.04
1999 Manuel Salvati  Canada 2:28.25 Allison McKenzie  Canada 2:59.50
1998 Nick Tsioros  Canada 2:41.49 Carolyn Walker  Canada 3:07.57
1997 Peter Fonseca  Canada 2:28.26 Gaylene Pridham  Canada 2:58.24
1996 Paul Mbugua  Kenya 2:20.33 Kim Webb  Canada 2:37.52
1995 David O'Keefe  United States 2:23.15 Laura Ruptash  Canada 2:49.19

See also

References
  1. "Toronto Marathon moving 2011 event to May, run organizer confirms to 680News". 680 News. February 19, 2010. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011.
  2. "Toronto Marathon". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 1 October 1984. pp. 13C.
  3. "Toronto Marathon Record Set". Morning Sentinel. Waterville, Maine. 1 October 1984. p. 15.
  4. Ken Young; Andy Milroy, eds. (2023). "Susan Stone". Mattole Valley, California: Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. "Live Update: How coronavirus is affecting running events". Canadian Running Magazine. 2020-04-29. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  6. "COVID-19 Update". www.torontomarathon.com. Toronto Marathon. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  7. "2021 Virtual Toronto Marathon". Running First Ltd. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  8. Ralph, Dan (May 8, 2019). "Was Toronto Marathon too long? Race director assures runners it was '100 per cent correct'". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
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