Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5k, Toronto, ON

Today is the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5k.  It is the 29th edition and was expected to attract more than 25,000 runners from more than 70 countries.

I'm not a runner but I'd signed up to walk the 5km.  Though I've done lots of 5km walks on my own and in charity walks/runs, I've never done this one.  I'm doing it in the Charity Challenge in support of the Annex Cat Rescue, who I volunteer with.  I raised $460 ... thanks to Gord, Leanne, Shirley, Dawn, Mary, Kathy and Shawna!

The 5km started on Lakeshore Blvd., just west of Ontario Place and I walked there (about 2.5km).  It was about 0C so brisk.  It felt warmer when the sun was out.

There were different "corrals" ... the fastest corral started first at 8am.

I was in the third (green) corral and we left at 8:15am.  The 5km route was east along Lakeshore Blvd. and then north on Bay Street to City Hall.

This group carried a canoe the whole way!

The first km point

There was lots of support along the way

There were hydration stations along the way

The 2km point

The 3km point

The 4km point ... north on Bay Street

Whoohoo!

As soon as we crossed the finish line, we received our medals.  My finish time was 57 minutes ... I would have gotten in sooner (my estimated time of arrival when I started was about 40 minutes) but I stopped to take pictures along the way.

We were given a goody bag of snacks (banana, crackers, etc.)

There were some photo ops ... I passed as the lines were long.

There were vendors providing coffee, juice, yogurt, etc.

When I left, the marathoners hadn't arrived yet but there was still a good size crowd.

It was fun and I look forward to doing it again next year!