Monday, October 6, 2014

Ontario Running Road Race Review

Ontario Running Road Race Review

I am a quite the regular average runner.  I am sure there are much better race reviews out there from much better runners.  Still, I paid my entrance fee, I was a part of the race regardless where I started or ended up, so this is how I saw it.

I started running in 2012 a bit more than just tread-milling and since have participated in over 50 road, trail and obstacle course races (23 road races in 2012, 16 road races in 2013 and 14 road races in 2014).  I'd like to share some experience of my participation in those races, which are mostly within or around Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Here is a link to my list of races that I participated over the past couple of years:  Road Race Results

Below is a highlight of all the races I've been privileged to participate in:


Race Timeline Fees SWAG Buzz Difficulty Scenic Support Charity
5 km
Toronto Spring Run-Off Spring $60 Elite Yes Hard Yes Great The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Toronto Goodlife Spring $50 plaque Yes Easy Great SickKids Foundation
Whitby WIN Spring $40 BBQ Easy Yes Abilities Centre
Grimsby Tim Hortons Peach Bud Spring $40 BBQ Medium West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation Inc.
Bowmanville Alfie Shrubb Classic Spring $40 Alfie Medal Easy Camp Oochigeas
Toronto Pride and Remembrance Summer $30 Yes Easy Great Foundation
Bum Run Summer Free Elite Yes Easy Colon Cancer Canada
Oakville Drew Hildebrand Summer $35 Yes Easy Great Drew Hildebrand Teen Benefit Fund
Mississauga Erica's Wish 5k Summer $40 BBQ Medium Yes Great Canadian Cancer Society
Toronto Pearson RunWay Summer $60 Medium Yes Hope Air
Dundas Cactus Summer $40 BBQ Medium
Oshawa Durham 1/8 Marathon Summer $45 coins Yes Easy Yes Amazing The Refuge
Mississauga Unforgettable Run Summer $40 certificate Easy Yes Alzheimer Society Peel
Toronto Midsummer Night's Run Summer $100 BBQ Hard Yes SickKids Foundation
Toronto Energizer Night Race Summer $70 head lights Yes Hard Yes Sunnybrook Foundation
Orillia CANI Race 2 Summer $33 grabs Easy Yes The Sharing Place 
Toronto MEC Series Race 3 Summer $15 Bars Easy
Hamilton Slainte Summer $20 Beer Super Easy Yes
Hamilton Downhill Classic Summer $20 Beer Super Easy Yes
Toronto Downsview Summer $30 gift cards Yes Medium Yes Humber River Hospital Foundation
Toronto ZooRun Fall $45 Elite Yes Hard Amazing Great Toronto Zoo
Toronto 5K Fall $55 gift cards Medium SickKids Foundation
Toronto Ten Miler Fall $40 gift cards Yes Easy The Living City Foundation
Toronto Downsview Park Fall $40 gift cards Medium Humber River Hospital Foundation
8 km
Burlington Robbie Burns Winter $40 Oatmael Amazing Easy Jumpstart
Toronto Spring Run-Off Spring $60 gear Hard Yes Great The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Toronto Angus Glen 5 Miler Spring $70 BBQ Yes Hard Amazing Markham Stouffville Hospital
Toronto Dawn at the Don Summer $55 Easy Yes Junior Development Program
Hamilton Imperial Glass Fall $20 Beer Easy Yes
10 km
Toronto Sporting Life Spring $60 Super Easy Yes Great Camp Ooch
Toronto Yonge St.  Spring $55 Elite Yes Super Easy Yes Great Canadian Cancer Society
Oakville Mercedes-Benz Spring $65 a new Car Yes Easy Oakville Community Foundation
Toronto Longboat Island Summer $55 gift cards Yes Easy Amazing Great Start2Finish
Toronto ZooRun Fall $45 Elite Yes Hard Amazing Great Toronto Zoo
Whitby Waterfront Fall $40 BBQ Easy Yes Abilities Centre
15 km
Mississauga Bread & Honey Spring $50 Yes Medium Yes Easter Seals
Half Marathon
Peterborough YMCA Half Winter $70 Medium Yes YMCA Strong Kids Foundation
Toronto Goodlife Spring $95 Yes Medium Yes Great SickKids Foundation
St. Catharines Grapes Fall $60 Wine Yes Medium Yes Heart & Stroke Foundation
Ottawa The Canadian Fall $120 BBQ Easy Carefor Health and Community Services
Run Ajax Fall $50 Easy Yes Jumpstart
Toronto Downsview Fall $50 Medium Humber River Hospital Foundation
Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Fall $85 Elite Yes Medium Yes Great Scientists in School
30 km
Hamilton Around the Bay Winter $90 Elite Amazing Hard Amazing Great St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation
Marathon
Toronto Goodlife Summer $110 Elite Medium Yes Great SickKids Foundation
Ottawa Marathon Summer $100 Elite Yes Medium Amazing Amazing Charities
Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Fall $110 Elite Yes Easy Yes Great Scientists in School


Below are some personalized reviews for each race in timeline sequence:

Toronto Half Marathon 2007

I entered this race with absolutely no training beyond the usual weight juggling at the gym.

I was overwhelmed for my first road race by the numbers of people.  Not only could I not find my friends before the race, I had no idea where to start.  Luckily there was plenty of volunteers to help out and I appreciate their energy.

My recommendation from this race experience is maybe try to race a smaller race first before jumping into the big leagues.

Harry Rosen 5k April 2010

Harry Rosen 5k always marks the beginning of spring for the city of Toronto.

The presentation is fantastic with a podium stage, an announcement stage at the start of the race, lots of favorable signage, and a super large troupe of volunteers.

The course is challenging - what a great way to welcome the spring!

Harry Rosen 5k April 2011

There has to be a running event that can be done year over year.  This race is always the same every year so if this is your annual ritual, expect the expected.

Harry Rosen 5k April 2012

This race provided a pamphlet to interest me into another race which suggested there was a draw to win a Mercedes if I completed a 10 k race.  All I had to do was complete a 10 k race?  Considering I haven't actually raced a 10 k, this was actually intimidating.  I never felt I was one of those 10 k people.  Regardless I entered the race, just to see if I could do it and there is a chance I could win the draw for the Mercedes which leads to the next race.

Mercedes-Benz 10K April 2012

What attracted me to this race was that the sponsor was giving out a free car to the winning draw for anyone who could finish the race.  This was the big leagues for me, to race in a 10 k race.  I haven't ran more than 20 minutes on a treadmill, and only ran a few road 5 k races.  Other than that, racing a 10 k was unheard of... until this race.

As you can tell from this picture, I was suffering.  What is funny is that compared to all of the other races I've participated, this course is super easy and fun.

The presentation is amazing with full access to the college grounds, there is a large podium for the free car draw.  This is another great race to kick off the spring!

Yonge St. 10K April 2012

This was a great race and fantastic presentation at the start of the race.  They make this race feel like it is a real race, with elites and introductions...

There is a great number of people racing this event.  The best part, it is a downhill race!  If you are going to race a race once and only once, then downhill is a lot easier.

What was also nice was taking advantage of the large array of post-race snacks.  This race, being right in the heat of Toronto, made a great way to enjoy the nice weather for the rest of the day.

Toronto Marathon 5K May 2012

What was great about this race was that all the great runners were either racing the Half Marathon or the Marathon. So entering into the 5 k event is a lot less emphatic on elites.

Well, that was what I thought until the race started. There was a great set of runners all ahead of me and it put me into a challenge.

Even the 5 k awards are plaques, which is nice because non-elites could get a chance to get some SWAG.

There is good support for this race.

Whitby WIN 5K May 2012

The course leads to a pleasant boardwalk which is a nice change for a road race.

There is great food after the race with plenty of room to socialize and share race experiences with others.

The 5 k route is separate from the other distances of the day which is a nice change, it is more organized that way.  And of course, it is nice to have a 5 k race with the longer distances so that all the elites run the longer distances, leaving a controlled group for this race.

Alfie Shrubb 5K June 2012

The event organizers share the story about the Alphie Shrubb who started from running to help a fire to morph into a world class running competitor. The historical context of the race was such an inspiration. The crowd was excited by the inspiration. There was a lot of supporters and the post-race festivities was enjoyable.

Unforgettable Run 5K June 2012

The crowd was great and the course was also nice. It is a small turnout for the race and the director sends out certificates of achievement to each of the participants.

Race for Teens 5K June 2012

The presentation is well thought out for this race.  They emphasize the charity and the cause for the race, which inspires everyone.  The post race snacks are great and it is a nice getaway from the city to relax and socialize.

Toronto Pearson 5K June 2012

This was a very different race compared to any other. We were allowed to race on the actual Pearson airport!

The presentation was unique, they actually park a plane by the finish line.  So, when you are racing, you can see where you are going from kilometers away!

The snacks were pretty good, there is a lot of buzz around this race.  The course is pretty straightforward... you pretty much run straight forward.

Angus Glen 5 Miler June 2012

The course was on the Angus Glen golf course which is beautiful.

The post-race festivities was social and fun. By far being on the the best races where you get to lounge on the golfing grounds as long as you want.

I spent the rest of the evening at this race since the organizers reserved an entire section of the patio for us all to enjoy.

The course was quite challenging with small hills and turns around the fairways and greens.  The scenery makes up for it.

Downsview Park 5K July 2012

The post festivities were great and as always for this series of races, the gear they gave us was very nice. I received a park blanket from this race which designated Canada Day.

There is a lot of thought put into the presentation for these races.  A scottish bag-pipe is trumpeted before the race starts.  There is always a podium, the food is great and chances to get SWAG is achievable.

Dawn at the Don 8k July 2012

This race has quite a competitive crowd.  The Olympic club hosts the event and they show up prepared.

The entire event is contained within the grounds of Sunnybrook Park.  It is easy to park and orient the course.  The park has some great scenery which is perfect for a race on a nice day.

Durham 1/8 Marathon July 2012

This race was really fun.  I met a lot of new people and really enjoyed the course.

The finishing line was unique in that it was riddled with a huge crowd of supporters which added to the excitement.

I appreciated the race awards and presentation for the race, the gave out flowers to the age group finalists. The sponsor for the race also threw in a really unique finishing awards, which were memorable coins.

MEC Summer 5K Toronto July 2012

It was this cost friendly race which made the event worth getting up early in the morning.  MEC takes advantage of some very good trails and pathways to host the race.

The post race snacks comprise of protein bars from their sponsors.

CANI Race 2 - 5K August 2012

What was most special about this race was after the finish, we all got to jump into the lake at the finish line to freshen up.

The presentation and awards was a nice touch to the cottage country setting for this race.

Toronto 5K August 2012

This was a highly competitive race.   There were two races in Toronto called "Toronto 5k".  This one was the Toronto Ten Miler race.

The presentation for this race was excellent.  One year they had presentations at the The Distillery Historic District and another year at Cherry Beach.

Bum Run 5K August 2012

This race has a unique name for the run for a great charity.  All of the races are for great charities, but this race is really effective in marketing the charity message.

The people were very supportive for this race. The prizes were excellent, but only for elites.

The course was fun and quite easy.

The Canadian Half Marathon September 2012

Running in the evening was a treat as it starts in the evening.  What a way to enjoy a full day in nice weather and then finish off with a half marathon event.  Getting an opportunity to race while the sun is setting is inspiring.

The course rolls along a long windy park with a waterfront and a lot of supporters.

The BBQ at the end of the race is a nice touch with picnic tables and full access to the track.

It was also nice to see the other races going on such as the Iron Man events.

Energizer Night 5K September 2012

All of the runners had to wear a head light while racing.  It was a unique experience trying to balance light in front of the running trajectory.  It was challenging returning on the course with other people in the race.  It was a very popular race with a huge turnout and Sunnybrook park is not designed for such an event.   Yet there is no other place that a light show should be.  I considered this a fun race which is was entirely, I enjoyed it!

The event ended with a stunning light show with a live band.  It was very cool to enjoy a nice summer night.

Longboat Island 10k September 2012

The course was super awesome because I am a big fan of running on wooden boardwalks.  The course is also super flat since it is the Hiawatha Islands.

There is always a BBQ after the race and the presentations are a great way to enjoy the day.  This is definitely a race to bring the entire family.

Toronto 5K September 2012

19:36
My favorite race in Toronto because of the downhill. There is also a huge uphill but that is later in the race.

The competition for this race is always amazing.  Some racers seem to do really well at this race compared to other races.

The post race festivities for this race are pretty cool.


Zoo Run 5K September 2012

This race was tough! It was so fun. Racing at the Zoo, who knew?

Not only did I spend some extra time at the post-event, eating snacks and socializing, I also got a chance to navigate the Zoo.

There was an abundant set of little hills in this race.  Since all of the elites enter in the 10 k race, it is a lot easier to enter the 5 k race and get a feel for the competition.

Grapes Half Marathon September 2012

The half marathon race started off with a hill, then eased off into a flat course for most of the remainder of the race.

This was the only race that put up huge tents for the race which made the event appear so much better.

There is always some great elites that race this event.  For the awards, they give out wine bottles to the top place finishers for each age group.

Scotiabank Marathon October 2012

I raised so much money and awareness for http://www.scientistsinschool.ca/ though participating in this race.   There are so many charity options to choose from with the registration.

There is such a huge group of racers and supporters for this race.   The presentation and buzz for this race is outstanding.

The prizes are also amazing, but all go to the elites of the event.  However, there is some top prizes for best races in Canada which is a nice tough for this Canadian series event.

Downsview Half November 2012

It is a great experience to be able to race through Downsview park, since it is a part of Toronto.  The presentation for this race is always great with bag-pipes kicking off the event, announcements and call out to the charity.

The post-race food consists of the usual basics along with hot beans and soup.  A necessity for ending a challenging race.

The course has some hills and is quite challenging.  The park has some great scenic appeal to it and is really maintained well.

This was a great race to complete the running season!


Whitby Waterfront 10K November 2012

The course included a boardwalk throughout the course.   It was completely flat for the 10 k component.

The post-race festivities was a great experience, there was a free beer and everybody shared tables inside a social community center.

Imperial Glass 8K November 2012

Hamilton races are always a great time. It feels like participating in one of those tailgate parties except running instead of tailgating. It is just that feel of Hamilton that provides that atmosphere.

The course was super flat. The post-race festivities were really fun, sharing the local sports Irish bar http://www.slainteirishpub.ca/

Tannenbaum 10K December 2012

The course was super flat.

The race participants were all super competitive and the awards presentation emphasized top performances.

It was a nice scenic route along the Toronto beaches.

Around the Bay March 2013

What an amazing race!   We all get to share the FirstOntario Centre where each of the running clubs bond.

The race starts downtown Hamilton, then routes all the way around the bay, all the way back to downtown, completely Around the Bay!

What a challenge.  There are hills, flat straight sections and a lot of runners.  More runners in one single arena that you may ever see.

The best part of the race was the bus ride home with the running club.  Longboat is fun.


Spring Run-Off 8K April 2013

The 8 k for this race is a little tougher than the 5 k as it has a few more hills on the course.  So with the challenge comes the appeal.  There are race prices for the elites, but also a unique race price for the best costume.  More chances for anyone to win!

Both the 8 k and the 5 k get a great presentation and the crowd support is nice at the top of the very last hill.

Mercedes-Benz 10K April 2013

Like the Longboat Island Race, this race also has a race for the kids.  On top of that, after the kids get their medals, then the mascots race against each other.  The kids really enjoy getting involved and coaching this event.

Anyone can win the car which makes the prize for this race the most impressive out of any race in the world!  You just have to finish the race for a chance to win the draw.

Toronto Marathon May 2013


The starting line is far up Yonge street past Sheppard and around the corner.  The course winds south on Yonge street through different neighborhoods, then finally up waterfront into Ontario Place grounds.  It is considered an easy course, but with the sudden changes in weather, this race can have surprises.

This is the single largest medal that I have to date.  It weighs more than all my other medals combined!

Sporting Life 10K May 2013

The most exciting part of this event was the bib packet pickup before the race. The way they organize the bib pick up creates excitement and anticipation for the race.

The course is easy, all downhill south on Yonge.  The is a lot of people participating in this race which makes for great pictures!

Bread Honey 15K June 2013

This race was quite competitive and fast.

The awards presentation is hosted in the gymnasium with plenty of seating area for the racers.  The food after the race is great.

Alfie Shrubb 8K June 2013


As with many races, there is a walking course.  This is great for people who want to come out and participate that might have injuries or too busy to train.

The course has a small hill at the halfway point, but otherwise quite flat and easy.

Tim Hortons Peach Bud 5K June 2013

If you get under 20 minutes in this race, everyone is awarded the 20 minute club medal.

The food is great and the venue is indoors which is a good change when the weather starts heating up!

Pride and Remembrance 5K June 2013

The beginning of the race has special presentation and announcements with opportunities for picture taking.

The course is very easy, just twice around Queen's Park.

This is a very competitive event with a lot of racers just ending off their spring training.


5K Series Race 3 August 2013

This race in Hamilton was quite a nice change.  It is a flat course through Bayfront Park which runs along the bay adding great scenery.

The post race meal is pizza or lasagna and is hosted at Slainte Irish Pub.

There is some awards and the results add up points to go towards bigger prizes at the next Hamilton race events.

A Midsummer Night's Run August 2013

Sometimes the race is hosted on the Leslie Spit, but this year it was hosted on Toronto Island.  Being a different location for this race posed some challenges.  The course was very easy and flat.

There was a BBQ with a lot of food to eat after the event.

Slainte 5K August 2013

The event course is at Bayfront Park which runs along the bay adding great scenery.    The event is very cost effective and has a good crowd.

The post race meal is pizza or lasagna and is hosted at Slainte Irish Pub.

There were three races for the year which added up to even greater prizes that were given out at this event.

Toronto 5K August 2013

The weather was beautiful, the people were super nice.  It was one of the best races that I can say hurt the most.  It is a quick race with a lot of competitive racers in the event.

The race starts and finishes at the same place, but there are no turn around points which is really helpful.   The race course is around an entire block and up St. Clair ending at Sir Winston Churchill Park.

Run Ajax Half Marathon September 2013

This race is very scenic as it winds along the waterfront.   The last two kilometers of the race go straight along Harwood Ave into the entrance of the Ajax Community Centre. There are some short tiny hills, but the course is mostly flat and easy to orient.

The timing for this race is great marking the end of hot summer days.

Scotiabank Half October 2013

I raised awareness and money for the Scientists in School charity.  There are so many charities to support for this race.

The beginning of the race is mostly downhill for the first 6 kilometers.  The last few kilometers are slightly uphill to the finish line.  It can be an easy race if those aspects of the course are paced appropriately.

The buzz for this race is great.  They send out email newsletters out to the participants to help training.  There is also a huge expo for this race with a lot of great SWAG.

For Ontario, this race has a lot of great competition, from within Canada and worldwide.

Downsview Half November 2013

The course has challenging moments, but there is also a straight long section through the runway.

The food after the event is outstanding with hot beans and a lot of race basics to consume.

The presentation for the beginning and the awards is also touching and includes everyone.

Tannenbaum 10K December 2013

This course is flat and scenic going along the beaches.

There is always a lot of competitive runners in this race and it is geared to demonstrate talent and skill.

Robbie Burns 8K January 2014

All racers shared the entire hallways, gym and presentation center of the nearby Burlington school. It was a super competitive field of runners so seeing them all interact and then race was inspiring.

There was a tribute of bag pipe players in a band for the start of the race which helped ease the tension of a tough and nimble course.

There was also retro winter gear to wear for the race.  It is a tough time to race being January, but still a great way to get outdoors and enjoy it.

Peterborough Y Half February 2014

This race was a true outdoor challenge to compliment the extreme cold winter weather.

The course had some hills and windy turns but was managed well by the volunteers.

We all got to share the YMCA for the event to chill and enjoy the post-race festivities.

Toronto Yonge St. 10K April 2014

A thrilling downhill race with Canada's top racers at the starting line.  The presentations are great and introduce the elite group and also provide a countdown for everyone.

There is an entire wide area for post-race festivities.

There is an exception number of volunteers helping this race.  There is also a lot of crowd support for this race along the entire route.

Sporting Life 10K May 2014

There is an exceptional number of volunteers helping this race, more than any other event.  The bib pick up is quite organized with an assistance section.

The course is entirely downhill and is right on the brink of summer so it does get quite warm near the end of the race.

Ottawa Marathon May 2014

The expo for this event was full of vendor booths which ended the bib packet pickup.

The course had some inclines but I couldn't account for any of them being hills.  As a matter of fact, the entire course felt like a slight incline.

The crowd support for this race was amazing.  There were so many communities and supporters providing energy for all of the racers.

We also got a chance to see the Elite runners as they passed us on a few of the loops that crossed along the course.

Erica's Wish 5K August 2014

The course was mostly flat shooting along a stream and through trees.

The post race event was quite social. There was a lot of food and a lot of support for the charity event.

Dundas Cactus 5k August 2014

There is a bit of a hill on this course, but the incline is easy to climb.

The presentation and awards for this race was very thoughtful.  Elites received flowers, while age group winners received gift cards.

There was also a BBQ at the entrance to a park.

Hamilton Downhill Classic August 2014

This course was all downhill. The descent grade was about 1 or 2 % so it was easier on the legs.  The course went through the escarpment which had nice scenery.  Also the organizer provided us a bus shuttle to the starting line of the race which drove to the top of the Hamilton Escarpment which has a nice very of the valley.

The post race meal was pizza hosted at Slainte Irish Pub.

There were three races for the year which added up to even greater prizes that were given out at this event.

Downsview 5k September 2014

This course winds around Downsview park a couple times with some short hills. The scenery for this course is beautiful.

The presentation for these race series includes a bag-pipe at the start, with announcements. The awards includes a podium and some words reserved for the charity.

There is also a monitored kid race in the park.

ZooRun 10k September 2014

The course is amazing as it goes throughout the Zoo grounds. There are a lot of hills throughout.

There is plenty of basic foods at the end of the race.

This race is great for clubs to bond together after the race. The entire post race venue is on grass which is a nice setting after a race.

Toronto 5k September 2014

A flat course with only a single turn for the entire race makes this a good challenge to achieve a great finishing time.

The presentation for these race series includes a bag-pipe at the start, with announcements. The awards and post race venue is hosted on Cherry Beach.





To conclude the review of the races that I've participated in over the recent years, if you would choose just one race, I would recommend that you enter any one of the above.

Each race has it's appeal and uniqueness and ultimately you are paying to run/walk to the finish line.  Just as long as you are enjoying the outdoors as you move, they are all fantastic in that regard.

1 comment:

  1. Nice job on logging your races and running experience! I wish I kept a better journal of my races/training/running journey...

    [I've been trying to post a response hope this one works]

    ReplyDelete