TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Toronto, Canada · October · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat, with 138 m (453 ft) of gain; elite times are fast, with a 2:05:00 men's record.
- Strong crowds in the first half, shared with the half marathon.
- Well run: plentiful aid, volunteers and a quick expo.
- Downtown start and finish, easy by subway.
Watch out for
- Start toilet lines reached about 30 minutes for some runners.
- Lake Shore wind can be strong and the second half is quieter.
- The cutoff is 5.5 hours; streetcar tracks are slippery in rain.
- Long out-and-backs, with turnarounds near 12.5 km (7.8 mi) and 33 km (20.5 mi).
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
RaceRaves shows 4.0 of 5 from 11 ratings and MarathonGuide 4.4. Praised for production and atmosphere; scenery is only middling. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.3
Reviewers across years call it well run, with many volunteers and a quick expo. Complaints: 30 minute start toilet queues and a 2025 course mix-up. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
Flat, with 138 m (453 ft) of gain and big support, but the 5.5 hour cutoff is tighter than most big-city marathons. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
An elite label race with a 2:05:00 men's record and 138 m (453 ft) of gain. Lake wind, tram tracks and turnarounds cost some time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryPleasant3.2
Reviewers split: some enjoy the waterfront and downtown, others say you barely see the water. A long Lake Shore out-and-back pulls it down. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.2
The half shares the first 20.5 km (12.7 mi), then out-and-backs near 12.5 km (7.8 mi) and 33 km (20.5 mi) add turns. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Asphalt, but a winner and a RaceRaves reviewer noted slippery streetcar tracks and potholes on one stretch in 2022. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Run on closed city streets, including a Gardiner Expressway ramp in 2014. Closures are otherwise not described. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.0
138 m (453 ft) of gain per Marathon Index; runners measured about 125 and 137 m (415 and 450 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Start and finish are both near downtown, so effectively no net drop. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
The start moves quickly, but toilet lines near the corrals took about 30 minutes and some runners faced long walks and crowded chutes. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.8
Reviewers advise a pace band because tall buildings disrupt GPS. Markers are in km only; pace groups are not described. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Strong in the shared first half and the Beaches, thinning after about 22 km (13.7 mi) and on the industrial Lake Shore stretch. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
RaceRaves reviewers report plenty of water and sports drink stations, toilets and a gel station mid-race. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.0
Reviewers mention wind along the exposed waterfront and a windy final stretch in 2024. · Medium confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.3
A typical start is about 8 °C (46 °F) with highs of 10 to 15 °C (50 to 59 °F). Humidity can be high. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.4
Mid-October brings sun, cold wind or rain depending on the year; 2025 had grey skies and gusty lake wind. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Downtown start, finish and transit make the first half easy to watch. Out-and-back sections allow repeat views. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Lake Ontario shore, roughly 75 m (245 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 availabilityGood4.4
A major city with thousands of downtown rooms near the start. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
Race-weekend downtown hotels can be costly, but direct evidence is thin. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
The start on Yonge Street and the finish on Bay Street are in the downtown core, with the subway nearby. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeVery easy4.5
Pearson airport is about 27 km (17 mi) away with a rail link; Billy Bishop is about 5 km (3 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Quick expo pickup reported. Parking at Exhibition Place cost about USD 10 to 15 and race-day traffic was a hassle. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
A large, varied dining scene, though reviewers say little about it. · 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 inEasy3.6
Open registration, typically April to September. Sell-out years are not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
CAD 149 to 190 (about USD 108 to 138) plus fees. RaceRaves rates the swag 4.1 of 5. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 18 October 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 7,500 athletes
- First held
- 2000
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Climbing
- 138 m (455 ft)
- Descent
- 138 m (455 ft)
- Start time
- 08:00
- Cutoff
- 5.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt with some streetcar tracks
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $125
- Air temperature
- 8–14 °C (46–57 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate to high (about 72% typical; 87% at the 2024 start)
- Altitude
- 75 m (245 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ), 27 km (17 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown core, Financial District, Entertainment District
- Booking
- Book downtown hotels early; the start is in the core.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (11 ratings)Raced 2015-2026 · aggregator · Positive
Eleven runners rate it 4 of 5. They agree it is flat, well produced and strongly supported at the finish, with tram tracks slippery in rain. Scenery scores only 3.2 of 5; GPS drifts downtown.
- Ashley Mateo, Substack race recapRaced 2024 · blog · Positive
PR of three minutes on a mostly lakefront course with about 137 m (450 ft) of gain. Crowds strong early, thin after 22 km (13.7 mi), and 30 min toilet queues at the start. Course shares half marathon route to 20.5 km (12.7 mi).
“I showed up with a plan, and I executed it almost perfectly”
- BibRave reviews (Toronto)Raced undated · aggregator · Mixed
Reviewers call the course pretty flat with about 126 m (415 ft) of climb, mostly early. Some say you barely run beside the water, find lonely spots after the half split, and report a cold windy second half. Organization and volunteers praised.
- MarathonGuide event pageRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Event rated 4.4 of 5; one displayed review gives 5 stars for atmosphere. Course described as mostly flat with gentle hills on asphalt, 08:00 start.
“Wonderful race, wonderful atmosphere!”
- Watch Athletics 2025 race reportRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Cool, grey, breezy day with stiff lake wind; the women's winner finished 20 seconds off the course record. A course mix-up caught several runners.
Show 4 more
- Letsrun 2025 race coverageRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Elite coverage confirming the course produces fast times (2:08:04 men, 2:21:03 women) in 2025.
- Globe and Mail 2014 reportRaced 2014 · article · Positive
About 26,000 runners across distances; enthusiastic spectators on Bay and Queen streets and a Gardiner Expressway ramp closed for the event.
- TCS Race Report 2022 (Canada Running Series)Raced 2022 · article · Mixed
Elite recap noting streetcar tracks and potholes on one stretch as a concern for the winner (as relayed by search summary; PDF not opened).
- Marathon Index course pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · neutral
Lists 138 m (453 ft) gain, easy rating 11 of 100, fee CAD 149 to 189 and 5.5 h limit.
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Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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