Beneva Mississauga Marathon
Mississauga, Canada · April · Independent
Why people love it
- Point-to-point net downhill, about 80 m (250 ft) drop, certified Boston qualifier.
- Starts at Celebration Square and finishes at Lakefront Promenade Park on Lake Ontario.
- Passes the Port Credit lighthouse and lakefront near the end.
- Nine aid stations about every 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 mi); coach buses return runners to the start.
- Six hour cutoff and a small field of about 615 finishers.
Watch out for
- Marathoners share the first 16 km (10 mi) with half marathoners and relay runners.
- A 2024 runner found the newer route repetitive, hilly and dusty around miles 17 to 19 (27 to 31 km).
- Water stops are widely spaced and gels are only at 29 km (18 mi).
- Only a handful of reviews exist, so the picture is thin.
- Course and ownership changed in 2023, so older reviews may not match.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
RaceRaves 4.3 from only 3 ratings and MarathonGuide 4.5 from 2 reviews, with scenery complaints on the newer route. Very thin evidence. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
RaceRaves production 3.7 and one runner called it relatively well organised; traffic police and the finish praised, aid widely spaced in 2024. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
A 6 hour cutoff, net downhill of about 80 m (250 ft) and a small field, but shared early roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Net drop of about 80 m (250 ft), but rolling hills reported by one runner and early roads shared with half marathoners. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.0
RaceRaves scenery 2.7: plain first 5 km (3 mi), repetitive suburbs, a dusty industrial stretch, then the Port Credit lighthouse and lakefront. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.3
Marathoners share the first 16 km (10 mi) with half marathoners and relay runners per a 2018 reviewer. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
City roads and waterfront trail; no surface complaints, dust in an industrial section. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
Traffic police at intersections are praised, implying managed rather than fully closed roads. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.6
Net downhill 80 m (250 ft) with small inclines; one runner called it rolling hills. Gain not published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillDownhill4.0
About 80 m (250 ft) drop start to finish per Wikipedia, with a certified Boston qualifier. Organisers call it net downhill. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Central Celebration Square start, baggage tent loading before 7:15 am, free parking noted in 2016, coach buses return runners. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
A 2016 runner mentioned pacers; marathon pacing details not published. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
A 2018 runner praised spectators and volunteers; a small suburban event so crowds are modest. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Nine stations with water and electrolyte drink every 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 mi), but gels only at 29 km (18 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Strong northerly winds at times in 2017; lakefront exposure near the finish. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Highs of 8 to 13 °C (46 to 55 °F) and lows of 1 to 6 °C (34 to 43 °F): close to ideal. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
April in southern Ontario; 2017 was cold with strong northerly wind and a 2018 runner had ideal weather. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Point-to-point from city centre to the lakefront; spectators need transit to see runners at two places. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.7
About 75 to 150 m (250 to 500 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
City Centre and airport hotels plus Toronto within 30 km (19 mi). · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No race-specific pricing evidence; suburban hotels near Pearson. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Start in City Centre, finish at the lakefront with return buses to the start. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Toronto Pearson about 15 km (9 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Bag drop to the finish, coach return and kit pickup; no complaints found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Port Credit village near the course; the finish is a park rather than a food area. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inOpen entry4.5
Open entry, 615 finishers in 2026, no sell-out reported. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
RaceRaves swag 3.0; a 2024 runner disliked having to pay for a shirt. Fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Mississauga, Peel Region, Canada
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 615 athletes
- First held
- 2004
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 07:30
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City roads and the Lake Ontario waterfront trail
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Rarely
- Air temperature
- 2–12 °C (36–54 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 110 m (360 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ), 15 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- City Centre, Port Credit
- Booking
- Hotels around City Centre and near Pearson; downtown Toronto is about 30 km (19 mi) east.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Three ratings between 2016 and 2024, 4.3 overall; scenery 2.7, production 3.7, swag 3.0. A 2018 marathoner praised ideal weather, supportive spectators and volunteers and a quick finish; a 2024 half runner found the newer route repetitive and hilly and disliked paying for a shirt; a 2016 runner liked the fast downhill course and free parking.
- MarathonGuideRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Two reviews averaging 4.5: Peter M. (2024, 4.0) called it relatively well organised for a smaller suburban event, with widely spaced water stations and a dusty industrial stretch around miles 17 to 19 (27 to 31 km); Jevone Henclewood (2026, 5.0) wrote about a first marathon finish.
“Relatively well organized for a smaller suburban event.”
- Running MagazineRaced 2017 · article · neutral
2017 weekend recap of about 5,000 participants: fast net-downhill course from Celebration Square to Lakefront Promenade Park, cold overcast start at 7:30 with strong northerly winds at times.
Raced Beneva Mississauga Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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