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The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be held on Sept 27th, 2009. Not to be confused with the other Toronto Marathon, which is actually called the Toronto Marathon and is held three weeks later in October.The Toronto Waterfront Marathon will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2009. It is also a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. It is estimated that about 20,000 people will be involved in this year’s runs – which includes the 5K and half marathon, besides the marathon. The course begins and ends at City Hall and follows the Lake Ontario shoreline. It has a reputation for being flat and fast.
The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is an IAAF Silver Label Race.
Ninety-eight year old Fauja Singh and 78 year old Ed Whitlock are confirmed to join Joan Benoit Samuelson as “The Legends” at this year’s 20th Anniversary.
Singh will run the Waterfront 5K and Whitlock the Half-marathon [21.1km] along with a record 20,000 participants in the whole event.
Toronto marathon is also identified by a couple of veteran legends. 98 year old Fauja Singh and 78 year old Ed Whitlock will be “The Legends” at this year’s 20th Anniversary. Singh will run the Waterfront 5K and Whitlock the Half-marathon.
The British Sikh and the retired Canadian mining engineer re-mapped the limits of aging and captured the world’s imagination on September 30th, 2003, when they took advantage of Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront’s flat, fast, lakeshore course to set new world records. Singh ran 5 hours 40 minutes 4 seconds for a new 90+ marathon record; Whitlock ran 2:59:10 to set a new mark for 70+ and become the only septuagenarian on the planet to go under the magic 3-hour barrier.
Here are some interesting facts about Fauja Singh (source Sepia Mutiny):
- He rediscovered running at age 81 (because he was bored sitting around his son’s house) and ran his first marathon at 89.
- The next year he set a world record for 90 year-olds
- He has been getting faster as he has gotten older!
- He’s a poster boy for Adidas (like David Beckham) and he gave a large chunk of the money to charity
- He’s a vegetarian, and has been in a PETA ad
As for the elites, this year will see the depending champions Kenneth Mungara and Mulu Seboka will return for more glory.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I did full marathon.. happy to complete but time was not good. Met fauja Singh- I will post a snap with him soon on RFL website. He is a very simple man and speaks only in Punjabi. His trainer interpreted for him in question answer session. I felt pity for the audience as many of the interesting bits were lost in translation.
Keep up the good work of promoting running in Delhi
best wishes
@Rishi: All the best for your run today. What distance are you doing?
Hi Tanvir,
I am running tomorrow in Toronto. In fact waterfront marathon is more popular than October Toronto marathon. Fauja Singh is an inspiration..you have also mentioned about Ed Whitlock..We had the opportunity to hear him last year..he is amazing- as you know, he has world record of sub 3 hour in the above 70 age group.