Toronto Marathon

Location: Toronto
Country: Canada
Website: https://www.torontomarathon.com/
2025 Marathon Date: 04/05/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 03/05/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:23:58
% Sub-3s: 2–5%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 3k–10k

The Toronto Marathon is a well-established spring race held in Canada’s largest city, typically taking place in early May. With a start in the north of Toronto and a finish in the downtown core, the race offers a point-to-point layout that appeals to many sub-3 aspirants looking for favourable conditions and a chance to run fast. It’s one of several major marathons in the Greater Toronto Area, but distinguishes itself with its combination of city landmarks, urban greenery, and generally cool weather.

The course begins at Mel Lastman Square in the North York district and travels south through residential areas, parklands, and long straight sections along Yonge Street before merging with wider boulevards as it approaches the city centre. It finishes at Queen’s Park, near the University of Toronto campus, providing a well-supported finale. While not completely flat, the Toronto Marathon features long descents early on, followed by steady and manageable gradients that can favour well-prepared runners. The layout allows for efficient pacing, with minimal sharp turns and no significant congestion points.

Weather in early May is typically cool and dry, often ideal for endurance running. Morning temperatures tend to sit comfortably in the low teens Celsius, and wind exposure is limited for much of the route. Organisation is generally efficient, with pacers for key time goals and well-placed aid stations. Crowd support varies across the course, with larger gatherings as runners near the downtown finish.

The Toronto Marathon is a solid choice for athletes targeting a sub-3, particularly those who respond well to slightly rolling courses and prefer a race with a more low-key feel than the city’s larger autumn counterpart. Its combination of fast early sections, dependable weather, and urban finish makes it a good spring option for serious amateurs.