Running: Race Director's Recap - Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon

Monday, October 04, 2004 - 05:00 AM

A big Thank You to all involved with the Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon

Notes from Alan's Journal -

Dear Fellow Runners:

One great course, one great city … more world records!

What a "day for the ages" we had last Sunday at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon [presented by adidas] last Sunday.

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who was part of a day we will all remember for a long, long time! Congrats and THANKS to all 9,007 participants, to all of YOU! A 54% increase from the 5,866 we had last year: and a growth of 106% in the full marathon from 962 to 1,983 … YOU made the day. You were the day, and the day belongs to you!

Congrats to Ed Whitlock and Fauja Singh on their new age-group world records, and to Michal and Annika Kapral on their new Guinness "pram pushing" record!

Congrats and THANKS to all our charities and charity runners, including the many celebrities … to date, you're at $350,000 raised and still counting. Final totals and the announcement of the 3 winners of the cash prizes from Scotiabank in the Charity Challenge will be announced in 2 weeks.

Congrats and THANKS to our marvelous City Councilors, their charities and supporters who helped re-vitalize the Waterfront in the Neighbourhood Challenge - what bands, belly dancers and cheering!

Hats off to Councilor Sylvia Watson [Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park] and Councilor Olivia Chow [Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina], who were selected as joint winners of the $5,000 cash prize for their charities Romero House and PARC [Ward 14] and Harbourfront Community Association's Music Garden Enhancement Fund [Ward 20]. But also VERY honourable mentions [and $1,000 each to their charities] to Councilors Bill Saundercook, Joe Pantalone, Pam McConnell, and Sandra Bussin.

Congrats and THANKS to all our wonderful sponsors, volunteers and supporters-over 1,000 volunteers including 500 Cadets, the City, and the Toronto Police.

Congrats to our winner of the TRIP to the HONG KONG MARATHON the name will be announced - the name has been drawn but we have not reached them to confirm they can travel on the dates. If you didn't win, cheer up, you can still go with me and a great group on a marvelous, memorable, running adventure. Check out the trip … it costs less than you think!

Finisher photos are now ready from Action Sports (ASI) please visit their website to search for your photos and order prints online.

Congrats to the draw winner that will be going to Run Barbados 2004 - the name has been drawn but we have not reached them to confirm they can travel. Learn how you can travel and stay free at runs around the world with TNT … think purple!

OOPS! ..and apologies on my part, to those of you who didn't get medals or t-shirts on the weekend. I absolutely promise we'll mail them to you as soon as we can get more made, in the next 6 to 8 weeks. I want you to know how much we appreciate and value ALL our fellow-runners.

I think our finishers' medals are very special. We get them from a company in South Africa that makes the medals for New York, London and Berlin - all the big marathons. They have to be ordered months in advance. I thought I was being smart when I ordered 1,500 marathon medals in April for an event that has had 500, 600, 800, and 962 runners in its 4-year history. Ditto, as I ordered 3,500 medals for the Half, which has consistently had between 2,800 and 3,300 runners over the past few years. We had almost 5,100 in the Half last Sunday, and over 3,000 of you registered in the last 10 days.

We have already re-ordered the medals from South Africa [and the t-shirts from adidas] - and we'll mail each of you your medals and t-shirts the moment they arrive.

Now it's on to BELAIRdirect.com ZOORUN, Saturday 16th October - don't miss the 2004 Canada Running Series' Grand Finale in T.O.

Highlights:

* Fabulous Reebok PlayDry technical t-shirts to all 2,200 entrants in the 10K [there is only room for 800 runners - enter NOW!]
* New course laid out to give you 8.6km of the 10K inside the Zoo, running past the animals and great scenery [versus 6.3km last year]
* Don't forget the 5K Fun run & Walk and the kids' CUBRUN, for the ZOO [ALL inside the Zoo].
* Raise pledges for the Zoo and help save endangered species. EVERY little bit helps a LOT…

See you at the ZOO,

Alan Brookes