Thousands lace up for Scotiabank’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Oct 18, 2013 | News

By Charlotte Anketell

Get your shoes dusted off and start warming up!

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is happening this Sunday.

25,000 runners from 60 countries around the world are heading to Toronto.

For all races, participants will cross the finish line at Queen and Bay, at the southeast corner of Nathan Phillips Square.

This one day event is expected to bring in an estimated 30 million dollars for Toronto’s economy, while raising millions more for charity.

The Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon is happening this weekend! Imagine courtesy of Vlad Litvinov on Flikr

The Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon is happening this weekend! Imagine courtesy of Vlad Litvinov on Flikr

Gord Anderson, an economics professor at the University of Toronto, however, said he doesn’t believe the race will bring in this much money.

“I mean people may come to Toronto this weekend or have plans in the city, but I do not think that this single marathon can produce this much for Toronto’s economy on it’s own.”

Morley Gunderson, professor at the centre for industrial relations and human resources at the University of Toronto said the numbers are often based on one way calculations to favour the organizers.

“The inconvenience this marathon is causing to people with the road closures and detours needs to be factored in,” Gunderson said.

Gunderson told Humber News, people may come to Toronto and support their families and friends taking part in the race, and they may even spend money at local venues but that alone will not generate 30 million dollars.

Jacqueline White, director of transportation for the city of Toronto recommends that those coming this weekend should take public transit, come early and have an alternate route planned.

“Be prepared for delays. A lot of the road closures don’t happen until the actual race starts. We don’t close the road until we need to.”

“I think it’s a good thing for the city. It’s a big event a lot of people involved. Businesses are getting involved with cheering sections. Brings people to the city, and it is only Sunday, so there are some impacts.

Kelly Snider, a Humber graduate, said her motivation to participate is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“I have been doing 5k races in the Ottawa Race Weekend, the Army Run, fathers day runs-pretty much tons of 5ks,” Snider said. “And then I moved up to doing 10k races and I figured its time to step it up so now I’m onto half marathons.”

Snider  told Humber News she is not focused on raising the highest amount of money.

“My biggest goal is to finish. I want to finish between 2 hours and 2.5 hours. Create a personal best.”

“I think for people who have no care for the running world will just be grumps about road closures,” Snider said. “But those who have participated in these running events or are part of a running community will want to come out and support because they know how it feels to accomplish such a huge goal.”

For any of those in the area, Snider said don’t hesitate to have a bottle of wine ready for the finish line.

The 5k race is starting at 8 a.m. at the Exhibition Place. Both the marathon and half-marathon starts at 8:45 a.m. on University Avenue, north of Queen Street West.