Record Setting Toronto Waterfront Marathon

A runner makes a last minute pit stop before the race begins.

Rick Madonik - Staff photographer - @Rmadonik

 

Runners love it. Motorists put up with it. And charities reap the rewards.

The annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon winds its way though the lower part of the city as its 25,000 participants disrupt the normal flow of business for about a 24 hour period. Approximately $4 M is raised, and over 180 local charities benefit.

While the event has its detractors, it also has a lot of support. The race itself is a qualifier for others. A number of elite runners from around the world participate and in fact, Deressa Chimsa, of Ethiopia, crossed the finish line in a course record time.

A few minutes later, TWO elite Canadian women both broke a long standing record by a fellow Canadian woman. First across was Lanni Marchant who shaved almost half a minute from the 28 year old record of Sylvia Ruegger. Krista Duchene also broke the mark.

For the majority of the other runners, it was a beautiful fall day to spend a few hours travessing the 26.2 miles of pavement.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon takes over the majority of the downtown.

With the Elite runners at the head of the crowd, the race is about to start.

 Spectators line University Avenue near the Start line as Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon takes over the majority of the downtown as 25,000 runners.

Shoes are frozen during a long exposure as runners head north on University Avenue.

Runners early pace as the pack begins to spread out.

Four legged runner? Hardly, but with a lot of feet flying by sometimes you find something unusual.

A woman manages to catch the attention of a runner in the crowd.

And some opt for an unusual approach to their running gear!

Endless waves of runners head north along University Avenue. Well,not endless.

Deressa Chimsa, of Ethiopia, crosses the finish line in a course record time.

Flomina Cheyech, of Kenya, takes the women's title.

Lanni Marchant, (left) the first Canadian woman to finish, clocked an official 2:28:00 and a new women's record for the course. She and Krista Duchene (right) both broke the 28 year old women's time record held by Sylvia Ruegger.

Krista Duchene hugs fellow Canadian Lanni Marchant (back to camera) after both finished breaking Sylvia Ruegger's time which held for 28 years.

Lanni Marchant, the first Canadian woman to finish, not to mention establish a new record.

Inside City Hall runners get some much needed massage after coming off the course.