Tag

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Archives - Canada Running Series

Dec 19 2019
1

Ringing in the New Decade: Our Top 12 Moments of 2019

By | Community Leaders, Elite Athletes, General, Newsletter | No Comments

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. 

  1. Spring Run-Off – High Park, Toronto – Tristan Woodfine * 
  2. 21K de Montreal – Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal – Tristan Woodfine 
  3. Toronto 10K – Toronto Waterfront – Jean Marie Vianney  
  4. Edmonton 10K – Edmonton, AB – Leonard Chesoo 
  5. Vancouver Half-Marathon – Vancouver, BC – Benjamin Preisner 
  6. Eastside 10K – Vancouver, BC – Evan Esselink
  7. ZooRun – Toronto Zoo – Wendimu Adamu  
  8. 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. 

  1. Spring Run-Off – High Park, Toronto – Sarah Inglis 
  2. 21K de Montreal – Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal – Anne-Marie Comeau
  3. Toronto 10K – Toronto Waterfront – Nyirarukundo Salome 
  4. Edmonton 10K – Edmonton, AB – Natasha Wodak 
  5. Vancouver Half-Marathon – Vancouver, BC – Natasha Wodak 
  6. Eastside 10K – Vancouver, BC – Malindi Elmore 
  7. ZooRun – Toronto Zoo – Rachel Hannah *  
  8. 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  

—

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!  ❤️

Oct 21 2018
0

Mimi Belete breaks Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon record

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

Mimi Belete battled it out with defending champion, Ethiopia’s Marta Megra, until the final kilometre of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on a cool October morning. Belete finally pulled away to win the race, breaking the course record and setting a personal best in a time of 2:22:28.”I wanted to run my best time,” she said after the race. Megra followed closely behind finishing second in 2:22:34, with Kenya’s Ruth Chebitok taking third in 2:23:28.

On the men’s side, amidst a stacked field, featuring two-time defending champion, Kenya’s Philemon Rono and Uganda’s Olympic and World Marathon Champion Stephen Kiprotich, Kenya’s Benson Kipruto emerged as this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion, winning in a time of 2:07:25. Finishing close behind was Tanzania’s Augustino Sulle in a time of 2:07:45 in second and Kenya’s Felix Kandie in third, running 2:08:29.

Photo Credit: Canada Running Series

In fourth place was top Canadian finisher Cameron Levins of Black Creek, B.C., breaking the 43-year-old Canadian marathon record in his debut marathon, running a time of 2:09:22. Levins broke away from the chase group around the 30km mark, reeling in the lead runners. Two-time Olympian Reid Coolsaet fell back from the chase group, finishing as the second Canadian and 10th overall in a time of 2:17:36. Aaron Cooper was the third Canadian in 2:17:59.

On the women’s side, in her debut race, Kinsey Middleton emerged as the Canadian champion, running a time of 2:32:09. She and defending Canadian champion Leslie Sexton worked together for much of the race with Middleton pulling away with just over 10km left. Sexton finished second in 2:36:02, followed by Krista DuChene in 2:36:46.

In the half-marathon, with 11,607 participants running, American Will Norris took the lead early on and didn’t let it go. Crossing the finish line in a time of 1:05:30, Norris would fend off Canadian Chris Balestrini to capture the half-marathon title. Balestrini closely shadowed Norris throughout the race, and would finish in a time of 1:05:46. Rounding out the top three was Lee Wesselius in a time of 1:07:20.

On the women’s side, Allie Kieffer added to her 2018 Doha half-marathon title, winning the Toronto title with a time of 1:12:43, followed by Reneta Plis and Claire Sumner, who finished with times of 1:13:57 and 1:14:21, respectively.

Across all the races, the event saw 25,000 participants compete from approximately 70 countries, with almost 200 charities taking part. The event raised $3.5 million through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.

Oct 21 2018
0

Cam Levins smashes the Canadian marathon record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

The 43-year-old Canadian marathon record has finally been toppled. Cam Levins, a native of Black Creek, B.C., smashed the record in his debut race at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, running a time of 2:09:25 to finish fourth overall. The former record, 2:10:09, was set by Jerome Drayton in 1975 at the Fukuoka Marathon. As payment, Levins will receive $43,000—$1,000 for every year the record has stood.

Read More
Oct 11 2018
1

How to Watch the 2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

Running fans across the globe will once again be able to catch all the action at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon – an IAAF Gold Label Race – next Sunday, October 21. 

The event is being live streamed on STWM.ca and on CBCSports.ca, athleticscanada.tv and on Twitter’s Periscope, beginning at 8:15 a.m. EDT. There will be no geo-blocking, meaning you can watch all the action from anywhere in the world. 

Read More
Aug 27 2018
0

Youth leaders empowered to create mental health change with Scotiabank Charity Challenge

By | Charity, Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

Jack.org’s presence in the endurance community underscores an important link between physical activity and mental health for its many youth leaders across Canada.

The Canadian charity “aimed at empowering youth to revolutionize mental health”, has been strongly partnered with various initiatives in the endurance sports world almost since its inception. Recognizing the important relationship between physical activity and mental health, the charity is involved in several large sporting events across the country — including the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Read More