With the days flying off the calendar as we approach the new year (and new decade!) we’re taking a look back on our top moments of 2019.
This year was a special one for CRS as we celebrated our 30th edition as an organization. And since we couldn’t pick just ten moments, given the holiday spirit, we decided to go for a “12 Days of Christmas” style list.
We’ll highlight one moment each day until 2020 on our social channels. But if you’ve got time for some reading here they are all at once:
Moment #1 – Highest fundraising year EVER
Closing the fundraising till at $$6,840,929, 2019 was our highest fundraising year yet across all events.
This one also goes out to everyone who runs and raises funds for a cause. This has truly been a community effort and we’re thankful to run with those who give back to their local communities.
Moment #2 – Both all-comers records broken at TOwaterfront42K
This year, both the men’s and women’s all-comers records were broken by Philemon Rono in a time of 2:05:00 and by Magdalyne Masai-Robertson in a time of 2:22:16
These times were also the fastest marathons run on North American soil in 2019.
Congratulations Philemon and Magz!
Moment #3 – Sending both Canadian TOwaterfront42K champions to Tokyo 2020
In addition to the honour of hosting the Canadian Marathon Trials, both men’s and women’s Canadian Champions of TOwaterfront42K qualified for Tokyo2020.
Both Trevor and Dayna reached the qualifying time standard and are headed to Tokyo next year as part of Team Canada.
Moment #4 – Most Guinness World Records broken at TOwaterfront42K this year
Did you know that this year we had a record-breaking number of record-breakers! That’s right. Officially, 14 Guiness World Records were broken at this year’s @ TOwaterfront42K.
Congratulations to all the new GWR record holders in 2019!
Moment #5 – New brand/logo for TOwaterfront42K
To help celebrate the 30th Edition of the Canada Running Series and Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon event we refreshed our look and created an entirely new social identity with the help of Origin agency.
You may have noticed we’re no longer using the STWM hashtag… this is intentional. As we welcome more and more international runners each year we moved to a tag and identity that more clearly indicate what our event is all about!
In 2019 we gave a big welcome to our new identity! Welcome, #TOwaterfront42K
Moment #6 – The 30th edition of CRS
We’re halfway there!
Tied to our rebrand, for us, Moment #6 of 2019 was celebrating our 30th Edition, not only of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, but of the entire Canada Running Series!
For 30 years now we have been celebrating the community of running in Canada and working to get Canadian runners the recognition they deserve.
Athletes of all ages and abilities have been enjoying Canada Running Series events for over 30 years now and will continue to do so for many years to come.
Thank you to everyone who has run in our events or helped us in any capacity over the years.
We’re so happy for the opportunity of making your running dreams come true!
Moment #7 – Sharing life events with runners at the lululemon Toronto 10K
Yes, we have events other than TOwaterfront42k 😉 they’re freakin’ awesome, too!
We’ve been fortunate to have lululemon as an amazing race partner at the Toronto 10K for the past few years and this year, we were able to provide the gorgeous and most inspirational setting where two runners celebrated a very important life moment…
Some were lucky enough to witness a PROPOSAL at the step and repeat backdrop after the 10K this past June. Mango Peeler, Toronto artist-athlete, created a stunning mural for the event which was the perfect setting for this happy couple.
Runners enjoyed a 10K race along the waterfront with cheer stations every 1K and themed donuts at the end.
Another one bites the donut (dust).
Moment #8 – Inspirational words from Charlie Dark
It was an honour to have Charlie Dark, global lululemon ambassador and run crew founder, join us to share some inspirational messages at the lululemon Toronto 10K.
Charlie started running around 2006, when he was not confident enough to go to a gym on his own. He ran in the dark until his confidence grew. Now it has grown so much that he is able to travel to events and inspire other runners, and empower young people, to achieve their goals.
It is a pleasure to know Charlie and always a delight to hear him speak.
Moment #9 – Charity Challenge partner wins highest fundraising category, nationally
Fountain of Love and Life celebrated their 10-year anniversary as an official charity partner of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
They had raised $451,295.32 this year, winning the highest fundraising charity category not only in Toronto, but nationally across 6 Scotiabank Charity Challenges in Canada.
To date, they have raised a total of $2,209,935.27
Moment #10 – The male champions of CRS
Let’s take a moment to recognize all the (M) champions from our 8 races across Canada this year.
- Spring Run-Off – High Park, Toronto – Tristan Woodfine *
- 21K de Montreal – Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal – Tristan Woodfine
- Toronto 10K – Toronto Waterfront – Jean Marie Vianney
- Edmonton 10K – Edmonton, AB – Leonard Chesoo
- Vancouver Half-Marathon – Vancouver, BC – Benjamin Preisner
- Eastside 10K – Vancouver, BC – Evan Esselink
- ZooRun – Toronto Zoo – Wendimu Adamu
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon – Toronto, ON – Trevor Hofbauer
Thanks for running with us and for flying through that finishing tape.
*Tristan is also the overall series winner of 2019.
Moment #11 – The female champions of CRS
Let’s take another moment to recognize the female champions of CRS events in 2019.
- Spring Run-Off – High Park, Toronto – Sarah Inglis
- 21K de Montreal – Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal – Anne-Marie Comeau
- Toronto 10K – Toronto Waterfront – Nyirarukundo Salome
- Edmonton 10K – Edmonton, AB – Natasha Wodak
- Vancouver Half-Marathon – Vancouver, BC – Natasha Wodak
- Eastside 10K – Vancouver, BC – Malindi Elmore
- ZooRun – Toronto Zoo – Rachel Hannah *
- Toronto Waterfront Marathon – Toronto, ON – Dayna Pidhoresky
Thanks for running with us and for flying through that finishing tape.
*Rachel is also the overall series winner of 2019.
Moment #12 – Most participants EVER in 2019!
CRS had the most participants EVER (across all our events) in 2019.
With a whopping 69,045 participants across our series of events, this one is all on YOU. So, thanks for making this year of running in Canada a great one <3
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That’s all for now, folks.
Thanks for all the good times this year. Have a happy and safe New Years and we’ll see you in 2020! ❤️
