TCS TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON BACK ON THE ROADS AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2022 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

TORONTO (14-Oct) -- It's been nearly three years since runners have been able to take to the streets of this vibrant, international city and run the TCS Waterfront Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race.  The 2019 edition was one of the race's best.  Over 20,000 athletes finished one of the three distances offered by race organizers (3852 in the marathon), and spectators got to witness the fastest-ever marathons run in Canada: 2:05:00 by Philemon Rono and 2:22:16 by Magdalyne Masai, both of Kenya.  Trevor Hofbauer (2:09:51) and Dayna Pidhoresky (2:29:03) won the Athletics Canada titles and both qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.  It was an incredible day.

"Everything just came together," said Masai, who took home CAD 80,000 in prize money and time bonuses.

But after the pandemic struck in March, 2020, the marathon had to be suspended for both 2020 and 2021.  Long-time race director Alan Brookes was only able to get city approval for a 10-K last year, and that event had to be capped at 5000 runners.  The marathon would have to wait for better times, and that day will finally arrive on Sunday.  Brookes, 72, could barely contain his glee.

"We're absolutely thrilled, absolutely delighted, so excited, and pumped for the weekend," Brookes told Race Results Weekly in an interview here today.  "It's a new era, post-pandemic, back in full stride with an exciting new partner in TCS."  He continued: "You just feel that everyone is back, bringing a new energy.  When new partners start something their presence is everywhere, particularly with TCS."

TCS --which is also the title sponsor of the Amsterdam, London and New York City Marathons-- came on board here after previous title sponsor Scotiabank bowed out.  TCS, which has over 600,000 employees in 40 countries, committed last January to sponsoring the race through 2026, and that provided Brookes and his full-time staff of 18 a solid platform to build on for the future, including the special race app which TCS built.  The app includes a unique sustainability scorecard for both participants and spectators, part of the race's commitment to fighting climate change.

"Running a marathon makes you believe that you can accomplish anything," said Soumen Roy of TCS, the Canadian country head and executive director.  "We can't wait to channel the spirit of building on belief by enhancing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon experience with innovative technology and trailblazing
sustainability initiatives in our local communities."

Brookes said today that his event has a total of about 22,000 entrants, including about 700 from the USA and 500 from Mexico.  Every Canadian province and territory is represented, he said, and this year's race will raise about CAD 2.75MM for affiliated charities and will surpass CAD 50MM in charitable fundraising life-to-date.  It also has a top-notch elite race, and will again host the Athletics Canada Championships.

"Hopefully it will be an exciting race up front," said Brookes.

On the women's side, Masai is back to defend her title.  Masai, 29, hasn't run a marathon since her victory here in 2019, and in 2020 she and husband Jake Robertson had a son, Jake Jr., in Robertson's native New Zealand.  She prepared for Sunday's race in Iten, Kenya.

"I am really excited because that was my last race that I did until now," she said before leaving for Toronto.  "I lost (races) with the pandemic and now with Jake Jr. my training has been going well.  We have got a lady who helps us take care of Jake Jr. when we are tired because we need to nap sometimes. And also, Jake Sr. has been helping out.  He takes care of him when I am tired.  So we get to help each other by sharing duties."

Among Masai's strong rivals will be Ethiopia's Gelete Burka (2:20:45 PB) and Bedatu Hirpa (2:21:32), and Kenya's Ruth Chebitok (2:21:03) and Pamela Rotich (2:22:43).  

On the men's side reigning champion Rono will not be competing.  Instead, the top man is another Kenyan, Barselius Kipyego, who comes to Toronto with a 2:04:48 personal best, the fastest in the field. Kipyego, 29, has never won a marathon.

"I am coming to win the race," Kipyego said earlier from his training camp.  "Then, I want to break the course record.  That is why I sacrifice by staying in the camp so I can give my best to this race, so I can come fully [fit]."

Three other Kenyans who have run sub-2:07 are also in the race: Felix Kandie (2:06:03), Felix Kibitok (2:06:28), and Kiprono Kipkemoi (2:06:45).  Brookes's field also features two fast Ethiopians, Yihunilign Adane (2:05:53) and Kebede Wami (2:06:03).

"There's a lot of pressure on Barselius Kipyego," said Brookes because two of his training partners, Amos and Benson Kipruto, just won the TCS London Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon, respectively.  The group presents a ceremonial cake to athletes when they win.  "Barselius is hoping to get a cake this weekend," Brookes said.

In the Athletics Canada Championships, both Trevor Hofbauer and Dayna Pidhoresky are set to defend their titles.  Hofbauer will face the USA-based Rory Linkletter (2:10:24 PB), while Pidhoresky will tangle with former Canadian record holder Malindi Elmore (2:24:50 PB).  Elmore, 42, lost her national marathon record to Natasha Wodak in Berlin last month where Wodak ran 2:23:12.  Elmore, a former middle distance runner and triathlete, said she's not really thinking about the record.

"I'm thrilled to be here," Elmore said at a press conference here today.  "I've wanted to run this marathon since I retired from the track in 2012.  It took ten years.  My focus is to come here to race; I'm not a big 'chase times' kind of person."

The overall winners of Sunday's race will receive CAD 25,000, and if the winners better the course (and all comers) records of 2:05:00 and 2:22:16 respectively they will receive a CAD 15,000 bonus.  There is separate prize money for the Athletics Canada Championships with CAD 8,000 going to the winners.


PHOTO: The top contenders for the titles at the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (left to right): Magdalyne Masai, Barselius Kipyego, Ruth Chebitok, Felix Kandie, Gelete Burka, and Yihunilign Adane (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)

PHOTO: The top contenders for the Athletics Canada Marathon Championships at the 2022 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon (left to right): Dayna Pidhoresky, Rory Linkletter, Malindi Elmore, Trevor Hofbauer, and Sasha Gollish.  Race director Alan Brookes is on the right (photo by Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)