{{short description|Canadian marathon runner}} {{Multiple issues|{{COI|date=February 2022}} {{improve categories|date=December 2025}}}}
'''Peter Donato''' is a marathon runner from Toronto, Canada. Running in the costume of Jefferson, the mascot dog of MyNextRace.com, he obtained the record for the fastest marathon run by a male wearing a mascot costume when finished the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 4 hours 16 minutes 43 seconds on September 26, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fastest marathon by a mascot (male) |url = http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Search/Details/Fastest-marathon-by-a-mascot-%28male%29/72294.htm | work=Guinness Book of Records| accessdate=April 16, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="toronto">{{cite web | url = http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/news/2010_09_26b.htm | work = Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | title = Mascot Breaks Guinness World Record | date = September 26, 2010}}</ref> This record was covered by the CBC,<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2010 |title=Toronto marathon attracts 22,000 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-marathon-attracts-22-000-1.951517 |access-date=December 29, 2025 |website=CBC}}</ref> ''Toronto Star''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Cynthia Vukets Staff |date=2010-09-26 |title=Toronto Waterfront race puts city in marathon major league |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-waterfront-race-puts-city-in-marathon-major-league/article_8f4660b7-c56f-5d49-bf25-b2360da7b352.html |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref> and Runners Web.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Runner's Web and Triathlete's Web, a Running, Track and Field and Triathlon Resource Portal |url=https://runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?https://runnersweb.com/running/news_2010/rw_news_20100928_STWM_Mascot.html |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=runnersweb.com}}</ref>
== Career == He also held the Guinness World Record for half-marathon run by a male in a mascot costume. He achieved this during the Publix Supermarkets Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa, FL, U.S.A. on February 27, 2011. Running in the Jefferson costume, he completed the Half-Marathon in 1hr 59min 14sec.<ref name="tampa">{{cite news | url = http://www.tampabay.com/sports/running/elias-gonzalez-jessica-crate-lower-mens-and-womens-gasparilla/1154272 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110302205516/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/running/elias-gonzalez-jessica-crate-lower-mens-and-womens-gasparilla/1154272 | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 2, 2011 | title =Elias Gonzalez, Jessica Crate lower men's and women's Gasparilla half-marathon course records | work=St Petersburg Times | date=28 February 2011| first=Bryan | last=Burns|accessdate=2011-04-16}}</ref> This new record was covered by ''Irun Magazine in Canada''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karnis |first=Karen |date=2011-02-28 |title=iRun.ca - World Record holder Jefferson the Dog does it again (Home to Canada's running community and iRun magazine) |url=https://www.irun.ca/index.php/world-record-holder-jefferson-the-dog-does-it-again/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220712194815/https://www.irun.ca/index.php/world-record-holder-jefferson-the-dog-does-it-again/ |archive-date=2022-07-12 |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=iRun.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> and the ''Tampa Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Bryan |title=ANOTHER RECORD AMOUNT COMPETE |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2011/02/27/another-record-amount-compete/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> This half-marathon record was then broken by the Brand Manager of MyNextRace.com, David Hiddleston, on October 13, 2011, at the same race, in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 27 seconds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-20 |title=New world records set at Toronto Marathon |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2011/10/new-world-records-set-at-toronto-marathon/?fb_comment_id=10150356315701855_19113015 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220712194811/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2011/10/new-world-records-set-at-toronto-marathon/?fb_comment_id=10150356315701855_19113015 |archive-date=2022-07-12 |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=Guinness World Records |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The costume weighs 25 pounds.<ref name="toronto" /> MyNextRace.com<ref>{{cite web | url = https://mynextrace.blogspot.com/ | website=MyNextRace.com | title= Services | accessdate=2011-05-03}}</ref> is a website maintained by All Sports Marketing Inc., a company founded by Donato which specializes in marketing and management of sporting events.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allsportsmarketing.ca/index.php?c=All%20Sports%20Marketing%20Inc | work=All Sports Marketing, Inc. | title= Services| accessdate=2011-05-03}}</ref> Donato was also quoted in the ''Globe and Mail'' for his efforts to revive MyNextRace.com in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-07-17 |title=Race is on to revive website for runners |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/the-challenge/race-is-on-to-revive-website-for-runners/article4423954/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> One of the biggest fans of MyNextRace.com and a personal friend and sponsored athlete, Danny Kassap died due to heart problems discovered after pulling out of the Sporting Life 10k race.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Morgan Campbell Sports |date=2011-05-03 |title=Obituary: Danny Kassap, 28, brought joy to fellow runners |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/obituary-danny-kassap-28-brought-joy-to-fellow-runners/article_f688568a-9a8c-5ff7-b91a-7c5bc5723ec1.html |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref>
MyNextRace.com created the first ever Midnight Run in Canada on December 31 in Liberty Village, Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=New Year's Eve dinner at the ROM, a rock-and-roll rager and three other ways to ring in 2018 |url=https://torontolife.com/food/2018-new-years-eve-event-guide-toronto/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Toronto Life |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LeBlanc |first=Patricia |last2=D'Cunha |first2=Amber |date=2015-12-30 |title=Say hello to 2016: What's open and closed New Year's in Toronto |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2015/12/30/say-hello-to-2016-whats-open-and-closed-new-years-in-toronto/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=CityNews Toronto |language=en}}</ref> Peter Donato was quoted as a "local legend" in the ''Toronto Star''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Josh Tapper Staff |date=2012-12-27 |title=Midnight run adds fitness to New Year’s Eve fun: Local legend |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/midnight-run-adds-fitness-to-new-year-s-eve-fun-local-legend/article_41f69d23-ce95-5de0-a7c9-3898e6b10813.html |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref> Good Times Running took over the event and added the largest halloween fitness experience called Monster Dash Toronto to the lineup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monster Dash raising money for a cause |url=https://www.cp24.com/video/c1525415/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=CP24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Monster Dash organizers drop by CP24 Breakfast |url=https://www.cp24.com/video/c983512/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=CP24 |language=en}}</ref> Local media outlets have covered this popular event, including the ''Simcoe News''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simcoe.com |date=2025-12-29 |title=Simcoe County News — Local Breaking News Headlines |url=https://www.simcoe.com/news/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=Simcoe.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2020, after the global COVID-19 pandemic shut down the events industry, Mr. Donato started a fundraiser for health care workers which has raised over $30,000 to date. The Isolation Run attracted participants from across Canada, and was featured in the news when Donato raised money himself and cycled 273 kilometres throughout the Niagara region as a personal challenge.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-12-29 |title=Local Breaking News and Weather Headlines {{!}} Niagara This Week |url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |website=NiagaraThisWeek.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-07-31 |title=Pitching in: Fitness-focused fundraiser helps collect money for health care workers |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-pitching-in-fitness-focused-fundraiser-helps-collect-money-for-health/ |access-date=2025-12-29 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref>
== External links ==
* [https://mynextrace.com/ MyNextRace.com] * [https://www.isolationrun.org/ The Isolation Run]
==References==
<references/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Donato, Peter}} Category:Canadian men marathon runners Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)