Toronto is one of the few major North American cities offering two world-class marathon experiences every year: a fast, net-downhill spring marathon in May and Canada's largest fall marathon in October.
Together, the Toronto Marathon and the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon attract over 45,000 participants annually from more than 70 countries. Both are certified Boston Qualifiers. Both are World Marathon Majors Age Group qualifiers. And both offer unique experiences for different types of runners.
🏃 Training for a Toronto marathon? The Crewa running app matches you with training partners at your pace, in your neighborhood.
Find Training Partners →Quick Comparison: Both Events at a Glance 📊
Not sure which race is right for you? Here's a side-by-side comparison of Toronto's two major marathons.
| Feature | TCS Toronto Waterfront | Toronto Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Date | October 17-18 | May 3 |
| Course Type | Flat, Out & Back | Net Downhill, Point-to-Point |
| Elevation Change | ~41m (134 ft) | ~105m (350 ft) DROP |
| Participants | 30,000+ from 70+ countries | 18,000+ from 72+ countries |
| Distances | Marathon, Half, 5K | Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K, Relay |
| Start Location | Yonge St. near Elm St. | Mel Lastman Square |
| Finish Location | Bay St. north of Queen St. | Ontario Place |
| Time Limit | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Boston Qualifier | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Typical Weather | 8-15°C (46-59°F) | 5-18°C (41-64°F) |
| World Athletics Label | Elite Label 🥇 | N/A |
| Marathon Fee | $155+ | $130 + HST |
| BQ Success Rate | ~8% | ~12.3% (2024) |
TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon — Canada's Premier Race 🌊
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada's largest and most prestigious running event, featuring a flat waterfront course and World Athletics Elite Label status.
Established in 2000, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon serves as the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships and Canadian Olympic Marathon Trials. The 2024 event generated $50.3 million in economic impact and raised $2.5-4 million for 150+ charities.
🏆 Course Records
Men: 2:05:00 — Philemon Rono (Kenya), 2019 • Women: 2:20:44 — Waganesh Mekasha (Ethiopia), 2024. In 2018, Cam Levins broke Jerome Drayton's 43-year-old Canadian men's record with 2:09:25.
2026 Event Details
- 5K: Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 AM
- Marathon & Half: Sunday, October 18 at 8:00 AM
- Time Limit: Marathon 6 hours • Half 3:30
- Finish: Bay Street near Nathan Phillips Square
Registration & Pricing
- Marathon: $155+ in-person / $55+ virtual • Entry limit: 9,500
- Half Marathon: $125+ in-person / $55+ virtual • Entry limit: 12,500
- 5K: $55+ in-person / $55+ virtual • Entry limit: 8,000
⚠️ Sells Out Early
The 2025 marathon and half marathon sold out over 3 months before race day. Register early. Fees are non-refundable and non-deferrable.
What's Included
- Finisher Medal & ASICS Souvenir Shirt
- Race Bib with Timing Chip (Sportstats)
- ASICS Runkeeper Go™ premium training plans
- On-course Nuun hydration and GU nutrition (every ~3km)
- Pace Team support (3:05 to 4:30 for marathon)
- Post-race recovery food
Race Expo & Kit Pickup
Location: Enercare Centre, Hall A, 100 Princes' Blvd
- Friday, October 17: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday, October 18: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- 5K participants: Friday pickup ONLY
- Bring photo ID or Race Roster confirmation
Toronto Marathon — Canada's Fast BQ Course ⚡
The Toronto Marathon is one of Canada's oldest and fastest marathon courses, with a net-downhill profile that makes it a favorite for PRs and Boston Qualifiers.
Originally called the Canadian International Marathon (1977), the Toronto Marathon has raised over $8 million for Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation since 1995. In 2024, 12.3% of finishers qualified for Boston.
2026 Event Details
- Marathon: 7:30 AM from Mel Lastman Square
- Half Marathon: 8:30 AM from Mel Lastman Square
- 10K / 5K: 8:00 AM from various starts
- Finish: Ontario Place / Exhibition Place
⏰ Marathon Cutoff
Participants must reach the 27.5km water station by 11:20 AM or face removal from course. Course closes at 1:30 PM (6 hours).
Registration & Pricing
- Marathon: $130 + HST
- Half Marathon: $110 + HST
- 10K / 5K: $70 + HST each
- 8-Person Relay: $600 ($300 non-profit)
Kit Pickup
Location: Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St West
- NO expo for this event
- NO race day pickup
- Custom name on bib if registered by April 11
- Free shuttles to start at 6:00 AM (register by April 11)
Course Analysis & Race Strategy 🗺️
Understanding the course is key to race day success. Here's a detailed breakdown of both courses with pacing strategies.
TCS Toronto Waterfront Course
The course runs through downtown Toronto and along Lake Ontario, passing the CN Tower, Union Station, Harbourfront Centre, and the Historic Distillery District.
Technical Sections to Watch
- Streetcar tracks on Yonge, Bathurst, Queen, and King Streets — watch footing when wet
- Hairpin turns at Lake Shore & Ellis Ave and Bayview Ave
- Steeper incline/decline over Spadina flyover
- Bay Street finish — gradual incline, save energy
Strategy: Start conservatively (crowded first 5-8km), settle into rhythm on the flat waterfront, save energy for late-race climbs. This course rewards even pacing and patience.
Toronto Marathon Course
Starts at Mel Lastman Square in North York, finishes at Ontario Place. Winds through Forest Hill, Rosedale, and downtown.
Course Character
- Rolling hills in first 11km — don't burn matches here
- Long descent around mile 7 — control pace, don't hammer
- Second half almost completely flat
- Small hills in final km feel bigger on tired quads
Strategy: Run by effort, not pace early. The flat second half feels harder due to quad fatigue. This course rewards restraint and downhill training.
🏃 Key Training Difference
Waterfront: Practice even pacing, late-race climbs. Toronto: Include downhill repeats, eccentric quad exercises. High Park is excellent for hill training.
Boston Qualifying Information 🏅
Both Toronto marathons are certified Boston Qualifying courses. Here's everything you need to know about BQ times and strategy.
⚠️ Important: BQ ≠ Entry
Meeting the BQ time does NOT guarantee Boston entry. The 2026 Boston cutoff was 4 minutes 34 seconds under BQ. Aim for 5-10 minutes under your qualifying standard.
2027 Boston Qualifying Standards
Standards for runners 18-59 were reduced by 5 minutes starting with 2026.
Men's Qualifying Times
| Age | BQ Standard | Recommended Target |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 2:45-2:50 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 2:50-2:55 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 2:55-3:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:05-3:10 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:10-3:15 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 3:20-3:25 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 3:40-3:45 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 3:55-4:00 |
| 70+ | 4:20:00+ | 5-10 min under |
Women's Qualifying Times
| Age | BQ Standard | Recommended Target |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3:25:00 | 3:15-3:20 |
| 35-39 | 3:30:00 | 3:20-3:25 |
| 40-44 | 3:35:00 | 3:25-3:30 |
| 45-49 | 3:45:00 | 3:35-3:40 |
| 50-54 | 3:50:00 | 3:40-3:45 |
| 55-59 | 4:00:00 | 3:50-3:55 |
| 60-64 | 4:20:00 | 4:10-4:15 |
| 65-69 | 4:35:00 | 4:25-4:30 |
| 70+ | 4:50:00+ | 5-10 min under |
Which Race for BQ?
The Toronto Marathon (May) has a higher BQ success rate (12.3% in 2024) due to its downhill profile. But the advantage only helps if you've trained for downhill running and can handle the quad stress.
Weather & What to Wear 🌡️
Toronto's weather can vary significantly between the spring and fall marathons. Here's what to expect and how to dress.
Weather Comparison
Toronto Marathon (May)
- Temperature: 5-18°C (41-64°F)
- Variable conditions — can be cold or warm
- Morning starts cooler, warms up
- Wear: Light layers, throwaway at start
- Arm warmers are a good option
TCS Waterfront (October)
- Temperature: 8-15°C (46-59°F)
- October is Toronto's rainiest month
- Lake effect can add chill
- Wear: Singlet or light long-sleeve
- Secure-grip shoes for streetcar tracks
💡 Pro Tip
Check the forecast the week before and have multiple race day outfits ready. A 10°C swing is common in both seasons.
Training Considerations 🏋️
Your training approach should differ based on which race you're targeting and the season you'll be training through.
Training for Toronto Marathon (May)
Training window: January – April (winter training)
- Long runs happen in winter conditions — snow, ice, cold
- Indoor treadmill running may be necessary
- Layer appropriately for outdoor runs
- Gradually introduce downhill training to prepare quads
- Eccentric exercises: step-downs, slow squats
Training for TCS Waterfront (October)
Training window: June – October (summer training)
- Peak training occurs in summer heat
- Hydration and heat management are critical
- Early morning runs to avoid hottest temperatures
- Seek shaded routes — Don Valley trails offer excellent shade
- Heat acclimatization improves fall race performance
✅ Find Training Partners
Marathon training is hard. Training alone makes it harder. The Crewa running app connects you with accountability partners for those 30km long runs in -15°C. Find your crew →
Finding Marathon Training Partners in Toronto 🤝
Running with others provides accountability, safety, and motivation — especially during grueling marathon training blocks.
Traditional Options
- BlackToe Running: Sunday long runs (12-24km) with pace groups
- Longboat Roadrunners: Performance-focused club for serious runners
- Running Room: Marathon training clinics with structured programs
- Culture Athletics: Sunday long runs with short/medium/long options
See our complete guide to finding running partners in Toronto for 50+ run clubs and other options.
The Challenge
Run clubs are great for social energy, but finding partners who match your exact pace, schedule, and training goals is surprisingly hard. If you're training for a specific BQ time, you need partners running at that exact pace — not just "fast" or "slow" groups.
Why the Crewa Running App is Different from Run Clubs
Traditional Run Clubs
- Fixed times (often don't fit your schedule)
- Fixed locations (may not be near you)
- Large groups with mixed paces
- Can be intimidating for beginners
- No personalized matching
Crewa Running App
- Run when YOU want
- Matched to YOUR neighborhood
- Small crews (2-4 people) at YOUR pace
- Verified runners, less awkward
- Personalized 1-on-1 matching
Which Race Should You Choose? 🤔
Both races are excellent choices. Here's a framework to help you decide based on your goals and preferences.
Decision Framework
✅ Choose TCS Waterfront if:
- You want Canada's largest marathon experience
- You prefer flat, consistent pacing
- You thrive on crowd energy and spectators
- You want elite-level competition
- Fall weather (8-15°C) suits you
- You want World Athletics Elite Label prestige
- Summer training fits your schedule
✅ Choose Toronto Marathon if:
- You're hunting for a PR or Boston Qualifier
- You prefer smaller fields with less congestion
- You want the unique 8-person relay option
- Spring conditions (cooler mornings) suit you
- Winter training fits your schedule
- You want one of Canada's largest finisher medals
- You prefer point-to-point tours through neighborhoods
Consider Running Both
The 6-month gap between races allows for two complete training cycles:
- Spring BQ attempt → Fall celebration run
- Spring tune-up → Fall goal race
- Building a Toronto running tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
Are both Toronto marathons Boston Qualifiers?
Yes, both the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (October) and the Toronto Marathon (May) are certified Boston Qualifying courses. Both are also World Marathon Majors Age Group qualifiers.
Which Toronto marathon is faster for a BQ?
The Toronto Marathon (May) has a higher BQ success rate (12.3% in 2024) due to its net-downhill profile. However, you need to train for downhill running to benefit from the course.
When is the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 2026?
October 17-18, 2026. The 5K is Saturday at 9:00 AM. The Marathon and Half are Sunday at 8:00 AM.
When is the Toronto Marathon 2026?
Sunday, May 3, 2026. The marathon starts at 7:30 AM from Mel Lastman Square in North York.
Can I run both Toronto marathons in the same year?
Yes! They're 6 months apart — perfect for two training cycles. Many runners use spring for BQ attempt and fall for a goal or celebration run.
What is the time limit?
Both marathons have a 6-hour time limit. TCS Waterfront Half has 3:30. Toronto Marathon requires reaching 27.5km by 11:20 AM.
How do I find training partners in Toronto?
Toronto has 50+ free run clubs including BlackToe (Sunday long runs). For pace-matched partners, use the Crewa running app.
Can I get a refund?
No, both events have non-refundable, non-deferrable fees. Consider registration insurance if you're concerned about conflicts.
Go Register 🏁
Two marathons. Two chances to PR. Two world-class Toronto experiences.
Pick your race, register early (especially for Waterfront), and use the Crewa running app to find your training crew. See you at the finish line! 🏃