Course Map
Route based on 2025 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada's premier road race and its de facto national record course, a flat, fast route hugging the shoreline of Lake Ontario through the heart of the city. The terrain is gentle and the roads smooth, with out-and-back sections along the waterfront that make for efficient, rhythmic running. Held in October, it delivers crisp autumn conditions ideally suited to quick times, and regularly serves as the stage for Canadian records and Olympic qualifiers. The main variable is the lakeside wind on the exposed stretches rather than any meaningful climb. It suits the PB-focused runner who wants a fast North American course in a clean, well-organized package.
Course Insight
Toronto's waterfront course is Canada's fastest: flat, smooth and hugging Lake Ontario, it's where national records fall and personal bests are made. The level profile and autumn cool are ideal, leaving self-control as the only real challenge on the long lakeside straights. That same exposed shoreline is the catch, since wind off the lake can build on the out-and-back stretches and quietly tax anyone running alone, so share the work in a pack. October usually obliges with crisp conditions. There's no hill to enforce patience here, so supply it yourself early and the flat, fast back half is yours.
Difficulty Breakdown
A fast, runner-friendly course.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 115m
- Elevation loss
- 115m
- Highest point
- 138m
- Lowest point
- 74m
- Net elevation
- 0m
- Start
- Yonge St.
- Cutoff time
- 6h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:05:00 — Philemon Rono (Kenya), 2019
- Women's
- 2:20:44 — Waganesh Mekasha (Ethiopia), 2024
Race History
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon was established around 2000 and has grown into Canada's premier road race and de facto national-record course. Run on a flat, fast route along the shore of Lake Ontario, it has repeatedly hosted Canadian records and Olympic-qualifying performances. From its founding it expanded into the country's most competitive marathon, drawing strong elite fields alongside a large recreational turnout. Held each October, it now welcomes tens of thousands of finishers in crisp autumn conditions.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Billy Bishop Toronto City (YTZ) & Hamilton (YHM)
- Best area to stay
- The Financial District for finish proximity and full hotels, the Harbourfront for lakeside stays near the course, and West Queen West for hip, characterful digs.
- Getting to the start
- The start is near University Avenue downtown; take the TTC subway to a central station like Queen's Park or St. Andrew and walk to the start.