{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see WP:SDNONE --> {{distinguish|Toronto Waterfront Marathon}} {{Infobox athletics race | bgcolour = darkred | image = | imagesize = | caption = | date = May | location = Toronto, Ontario, {{flagcountry|CAN}} | type = Road | distance = Marathon, Half marathon, 10K, 5K | est = 1977 | beneficiary = Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation | sponsor = | participants = 8,486 (2019) | record = Men's: '''2:15:17''' (2000)<br>{{flagicon|MAR}} Mostafa El Damaoui<br>Women's: '''2:31:47''' (2004)<br>{{flagicon|RUS}} Olga Kovpotina | homepage = {{URL|http://www.torontomarathon.com/|Toronto Marathon}} }} The '''Toronto Marathon''', held annually on the first Sunday of May, is a race from North York's Yonge and Sheppard intersection, down Yonge Street to the 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Christie |first=James |date=2011-05-13 |title=Toronto Marathon a test on two levels |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/toronto-marathon-a-test-on-two-levels/article579790/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref> In 2011, the race was moved to May due to pressure from the government of Toronto over repeated road closures in October due to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon also held that month and from Scotiabank, the sponsor of the Waterfront Marathon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshman |first=Mihira |date=2011-10-06 |title=Toronto's marathon wars continue |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/uncategorized/torontos-marathon-wars-continue/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=Canadian Running Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Michael |date=18 February 2010 |title=Supplementary Report -Establishment of One Toronto Marathon |url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-27517.pdf |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=City of Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Grant |first=Kelly |date=2010-02-19 |title=Toronto to stick with two marathons |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-to-stick-with-two-marathons/article4306938/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-09-27 |title=Ford Proposes Moving Marathons Off Streets & Into Parks |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2010/09/27/ford-proposes-moving-marathons-off-streets-into-parks/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=CityNews Toronto |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Welsh |first=Gary |date=21 January 2010 |title=Establishment of One Toronto Marathon |url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-26684.pdf |website=City of Toronto}}</ref> The Toronto Marathon was moved to the first Sunday of May in 2012. <ref>{{cite news |date=February 19, 2010 |title=Toronto Marathon moving 2011 event to May, run organizer confirms to 680News |url=http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/28477--toronto-marathon-moving-2011-event-to-may-run-organizer-confirms-to-680news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223114131/http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/28477--toronto-marathon-moving-2011-event-to-may-run-organizer-confirms-to-680news |archive-date=February 23, 2011 |publisher=680 News}}</ref> The event was temporarily held mid-May in 2011, due to other events in the city that year.
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.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Toronto Marathon |date=1 October 1984 |work=Baltimore Sun |location=Baltimore, Maryland |pages=13C |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Toronto Marathon Record Set |date=1 October 1984 |work=Morning Sentinel |location=Waterville, Maine |pages=15 |language=en }}</ref> In 1988, the winner was Susan Stone, who had just become the Canadian National Champion in the 10K two weeks prior to the race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Susan Stone |date=2023 |publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |editor1=Ken Young |editor2=Andy Milroy |location=Mattole Valley, California |url=https://more.arrs.run/runner/5863/1/position/asc |accessdate=10 January 2023 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |language=en }}</ref>
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.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} 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 pandemic == Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the race was cancelled,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-29|title=Live Update: How coronavirus is affecting running events|url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/live-update-how-coronavirus-is-affecting-running-events/|access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=Canadian Running Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COVID-19 Update |publisher=Toronto Marathon|url=http://www.torontomarathon.com/covid-19-update/|access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=www.torontomarathon.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.torontomarathon.com/2021-virtual/ |title=2021 Virtual Toronto Marathon |publisher=Running First Ltd.|access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref>
== 2018 distance controversy == In 2018, the Toronto Marathon was accused of having an incorrect distance. Participants using GPS devices 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" <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/2019/05/08/race-director-believes-toronto-marathon-courses-were-accurate.html |title=Was Toronto Marathon too long? Race director assures runners it was '100 per cent correct' |date=May 8, 2019 |first=Dan |last=Ralph |publisher=Toronto Star |access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref> 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== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Winner men ! Nationality ! Time ! Winner women ! Nationality ! Time |- | 2026 | Davide Zanetti | {{AUT}} | 2:25:08 | Philes Ongori | {{CAN}} | 2:40:36 |- |- | 2025 | Phil White | {{USA}} | 2:23:58 | Ana Laura Fray | {{CAN}} | 2:50:40 |- |- | 2024 | Alex Bernst | {{CAN}} | 2:29:31 | Philes Ongori | {{CAN}} | 2:50:54 |- |- | 2023 | Marco Li | {{CAN}} | 2:34:55 | Brittney Hall | {{USA}} | 2:42:56 |- | 2022 | Dennis Mbelenzi | {{CAN}} | 2:29:57 | Marianne Hogan | {{CAN}} | 2:47:58 |- | 2021 || colspan="6" rowspan="2" align="center" | ''Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic'' |- | 2020 |- | 2019 | Ken Langat | {{CAN}} | 2:28:52 | Dale Findlay | {{CAN}} | 2:54:00 |- | 2018 | David Freake | {{CAN}} | 2:33:57 | Julie Hamulecki | {{CAN}} | 2:52:10 |- | 2017 | Peter Kemboi | {{CAN}} | 2:41:06 | Michelle Spencer | {{CAN}} | 3:00:30 |- | 2016 | Bryan Rusche | {{CAN}} | 2:35:54 | Julie Hamulecki | {{CAN}} | 2:56:04 |- | 2015 | David Le Porho | {{CAN}} | 2:21:54 | Jutta Merilainen | {{CAN}} | 3:00:45 |- | 2014 | Brendan Kenny | {{CAN}} | 2:26:25 | Rachel Sinasac | {{CAN}} | 2:55:18 |- | 2013 | Terry Gehl | {{CAN}} | 2:37:31 | Mylene Sansourci | {{CAN}} | 2:58:22 |- | 2012 | Brendan Kenny | {{CAN}} | 2:27:57 | Jutta Merilainen | {{CAN}} | 2:47:17 |- | 2011 | Brendan Kenny | {{CAN}} | 2:27:19.2 | Melissa Begin | {{USA}} | 2:54:50.9 |- | 2010 | Brandon Laan | {{CAN}} | 2:23:38.1 | Nathalie Goyer | {{CAN}} | 2:52:50.5 |- | 2009 | Paul Rugut | {{KEN}} | 2:26:08.6 | Elizabeth Randell | {{USA}} | 2:57:53.8 |- | 2008 | Daniel Njenga | {{KEN}} | 2:29:00.0 | Dawn Richardson | {{BER}} | 2:57:46.8 |- | 2007 | Charles Bedley | {{CAN}} | 2:21:58.8 | Leslie Black | {{CAN}} | 2:58:47.0 |- | 2006 | Anthony Skuce | {{CAN}} | 2:34.10 | Nicole Stevenson | {{CAN}} | 2:47.09 |- | 2005 | David Cheruiyot | {{KEN}} | 2:17.12 | Lyudmila Korchagina | {{CAN}} | 2:37.17 |- | 2004 | Procopio Hernández | {{MEX}} | 2:16.42 | Olga Kovpotina | {{RUS}} | bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''2:31.47''' |- | 2003 | Lemi Chengere | {{ETH}} | 2:25.55 | Angela Batsford | {{CAN}} | 2:55.04 |- | 2002 | Michal Kapral | {{CAN}} | 2:30.40 | Karen Cowling | {{CAN}} | 2:56.13 |- | 2001 | Jackson Omweri | {{KEN}} | 2:22.22 | Karen Cowling | {{CAN}} | 2:56.02 |- | 2000 | Mostafa El Damaoui | {{MAR}} | bgcolor=#A9F5A9|'''2:15.17''' | Jennifer Cooper | {{CAN}} | 2:59.04 |- | 1999 | Manuel Salvati | {{CAN}} | 2:28.25 | Allison McKenzie | {{CAN}} | 2:59.50 |- | 1998 | Nick Tsioros | {{CAN}} | 2:41.49 | Carolyn Walker | {{CAN}} | 3:07.57 |- | 1997 | Peter Fonseca | {{CAN}} | 2:28.26 | Gaylene Pridham | {{CAN}} | 2:58.24 |- | 1996 | Paul Mbugua | {{KEN}} | 2:20.33 | Kim Webb | {{CAN}} | 2:37.52 |- | 1995 | David O'Keefe | {{USA}} | 2:23.15 | Laura Ruptash | {{CAN}} | 2:49.19 |}
==See also== * List of marathon races in North America
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.torontomarathon.com/ Official website]
Category:Marathons in Canada Category:Sports competitions in Toronto Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1995 Category:Annual sporting events in Canada Category:Spring (season) in Canada