The Toronto GoodLife Marathon is a fast, net downhill course from Mel Lastman Square to Ontario Place. It one of the fastest courses in Canada and is a very good course for PRs and Boston Qualifiers.
The course drops about 105m (350 feet) from the start to finish. However, there are some rolling hills in the first 7+ miles of the race. After the long descent from just past mile 7, the second half of the course is almost completely flat.
The Toronto Marathon was the 5th largest marathon in Canada last year and was the 6th largest in 2022.
This year 12.3% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 12.2% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the Toronto Marathon the 16th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in Canada last year and the 10th highest percentage so far in 2024.
Its Course Score of 99.60 ranks it as the 6th fastest marathon course in Canada and the 1st fastest course in Ontario.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Toronto Marathon a PR Score of 99.60. This PR Score ranks it as the 5th fastest marathon in Canada and the 1st fastest in Ontario.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Toronto Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 597 feet (182m) Min Elevation: 246 feet (75m)
The race was delayed by 30 minutes so instead of the 10k starting at 8am and the 5k starting at 8:20, both started shortly after 8:30. It was cold and rainy so this delay made everyone cold and stiff. There was no water on the 10k route and it inners were packed into either the path or by pylons on the road. Given there were so many walkers, as there are no corrals, this was very frustrating. Trying to get water, a banana and a medal after was nearly impossible as the expo area was chaos with nobody guiding where people should go.
Race Tips
Bring your own water especially for longer races than 10k.
The 2024 Goodlife start was great. First half was staffed with cheer crowds and water, even in the slightly rainy and very overcast weather. Couldn't have been better. Even with the Yorkmill Hill. But man - just like the race tagline itself - it was all downhill after that! The second half, while mostly flat terrain, was also a flat out mess!! The out and back course on MGT was criss-crossed at more than a few points and runners were running into each other?! Tried legs. No balance. No one telling you this way or that way. Such a terrible way to run your race after months of training?! No water stations between the Humber bridges - so - what was that, like 8K? No cheer crowds on last 5K to finish. And this year, they put a surprise steep hill right at the end. Fun. Anyways - at the end, your name should be called. You should be congratulated. You should be medaled by someone, get your bag, bagel, banana, water, granola, space blanket and exit into a big park to find your family and friends. Not Goodlife. This year, you finished and you stood. In a big long crowded line to … enter a building. No one tells you what line you're in. What you're corralled and waiting for. Outside. Losing body heat and body temperature like crazy. In rainy weather. I spent 30 minutes outside after finishing just to go inside a building. With thousands of other runners who have just come in from the rain. Smelled worse than wet dogs. THEN you were unceremoniously HANDED your MEDAL. Distasteful. Got water. OK. Finally. But no food. NO FOOD. NO SPACE BLANKETS. NO BAGS not even plastic ones to carry all your stuff. Or vomit into. IDK. Just a thoughtless finish and finish area. There were pylons and curtains and aisles but NO ONE was offering directions or help. NO signs or arrows on the floor. I got my bib mailed to me beforehand but still had to go down to the NON-expo to pick up my t-shirt. Which was WAY TOO BIG for a women's small. NO one outside or inside telling you how to get home. I am from Toronto but not everyone running was?! These fantastic but oh so tired athletes deserved so much more as guests of our city. If this was your first time in Toronto, and your first marathon - OMG, please do Scotiabank Waterfront and experience top-notch organization.
Race Tips
Train with hills in your training block if you're preparing to run this course. Don't expect frills and thrills. But Goodlife is a better bet to PR than at Scotia by a minute or a few. Net downhill helps for sure. But the weather is cooler in May than October which can help your performance too.
If you want a big heavy and 2024 was actually a beautiful medal - this is your marathon.
Rob's review of 2022 Toronto Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
This was the first in person on this course in 3 years. The course is very favorable, with one small hill in mile 3, then downhill for the rest of the first half, and very flat for the second half. Great time of year in Toronto. The previous reviews had concerns about organization, but in my experience the water stations were well organized and supplied. Buses to the start line and expo worked out well. Not enough buses back. Race was responsive to feedback and I think it may be even better in 2023. I ran my PR there, and would return if looking for another PR because it's a great course.
Race Tips
Don't start too fast! 1st half is downhill, second half is flat, leave some energy for the end.
Race had buses from the Hilton Toronto Downtown to the start, and back to there. Cost $10, worth it.
AN's review of 2019 Toronto Marathon.
1 /
5 Stars
Review
I've run the half marathon before and had a great experience, however the marathon was a mess. First half of the marathon was great. Second half of the race had very few water stops (definitely fewer than advertised and poorly staffed). People who didn't carry their own water got screwed. The out and back section on a paved trail was OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. I'm talking cyclists (?!??!), people doing a Sunday stroll, etc. These people seemed oblivious to the fact that a marathon was going on and didn't move out of the way. I had high hopes for this marathon and was disappointed. Will not be returning.
Race Tips
Expect that there will not be enough water on the second half of the course. Expect cyclists and people on their Sunday stroll to be sharing the road with you during the second half of the race.
There were many issues with this race organization. The expo was more for packet pickup with only few small vendors so nothing special there. The first 10 miles of the course has rough cracked roared to contend with, a long 1000 meter steep hill at mile 3. The last half of the course is flat but runners were constantly faced with bikers, dogs, strollers, and walkers sharing the running paths. At the final finish the full marathoners had to dodge the half runners to the finish big time. The finish area after the race did not have proper fluids like Gatorade, etc. They said they ran out, but why since I ran close to 3 hours. Finally there was a runner in major major distress after the race and no race team crew came to his aid for nearly 20 minutes despite clearly seeing him from just feet away. Runners with trying their best. All said pass on this race unless you live in the area, and even then may be pass too
3.4 Stars from 14 Reviews