We rate Toronto Waterfront as a PB course first: about 40 meters of climb along Lake Ontario, the Athletics Canada marathon championship, and the spot where Canadian records keep falling. Around 26,000 run the weekend across the 5K, half and full, so the marathon sells out fast. The honest catch is the exposed lakeshore, where a cold mid-October wind, 5 to 13 degrees, can turn a still day into a grind.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 3 fields on this race.
Why we'd pick it
- The 40 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- The organizer reports the field sold out; direct entry is no longer available.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 4/5.
- Race day usually sits 5–13°C, about 35% chance of rain.
The course
The 2026 race starts on Yonge Street near Elm Street, facing north. A fast, flat route along Lake Ontario with roughly 40 meters of total climb, long the Canadian record course and a reliable Boston qualifier. It is the Athletics Canada national marathon championship and a World Athletics Elite Label race. Mostly lakeshore with one out-and-back; the only real complaint is the exposed waterfront wind off the lake on a cold day.
