Comments on: Toronto’s Marathon “Solution”

By: Lesley

Lesley — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:51:48 +0000

I totally agree with Chris. Drivers only know that there are road closures because people are running. They don’t know (or care about) the reason why, how far, etc.

The complaints will not go away by moving this race to the spring.

For the record, if I’m still alive the next time the Leafs win the Stanley Cup and they want to close the streets for a “parade,” I will complain!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:38:14 +0000

Dave, I agree that not having studies to back up this move, I think this move will solve nothing.

I think Sporting Life 10km and the spring marathon will get drivers all upset in May. I know its only a 10km and Yonge St will only be closed until 9:30 or 10 AM, the downtown area will probably be closed closer to two hours (until 11 AM). Small disruptions from this race will surely make the news and then assuming the marathon falls a week or two after that, the news media will again report road closures due to another race. Some non-runners dont know the difference between a 10km and a marathon so to them there will be two marathons in May now. (One year on 3 traffic reports on the Sunday morning, 680 news said that there were road closures for the Sporting Life Marathon down Yonge St. I am not making this up, because my wife and I had a good laugh over it. )

By: Runshorts

Runshorts — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:08:18 +0000

Even though Mississauga may have hometown support, if the race dates are close I suspect their numbers will suffer. A lot of people from Toronto seem use Mississauga as a closer to home alternative to Ottawa.

I’m really, really curious as to when the spring marathon will be held. I’d like another early (April, like Waterloo) spring alternative to Boston, but that is probably too early in the season for the masses.

I wonder if there will be a Goodlife Toronto bump this fall, this being a runner’s last chance to run the course in the fall?

By: Jo-Jo

Jo-Jo — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:34:15 +0000

As usual…you make some good points. My hunch tells me that Whitby’s race will suffer.
I love NCM as do many runners…I have a hard time believing that the Toronto race will draw people away from NCM…we shall see!

By: AirForceRunner

AirForceRunner — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:57:17 +0000

As always, you make some VERY good points. Ottawa Race weekend was the first to come to my mind. A lot of folks are very loyal to this race.
I’m curious to see how this all pans out.

By: Boris Terzic

Boris Terzic — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:16:26 +0000

When it comes to the Mississauga and Ottawa they are in different cities and seem to be getting a great deal of support from their respective cities, unlike here in Toronto.

I will be running the Toronto in spring 2011 and possibly try the Hamilton, PEC or Niagara as a fall alternative.

By: Stewart

Stewart — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:14:09 +0000

I think the traffic problem is helpfully solved for Toronto drivers. Four months between events will be a welcome break in terms of disruption to city streets. However, I agree that Toronto’s solution is Mississauga’s new problem.