News

Services For Runners

The Bimbo Global Race by Dempster’s

9/24/2024

The Bimbo Global Race by Dempster's presents a 10km., in Toronto, Ontario, on September 29, 2024.

This event is part of an unique global effort presented by Grupo Bimbo, and brings together more than 120,000 runners in 22 countries and 36 cities, taking place on the same day worldwide!

This year, participants will be able to challenge themselves on a scenic and accurate 10K route, by Toronto's gorgeous Ashbridges Bay, alongside Lake Ontario, while contributing to bread donations with every kilometer completed.

Coach Peter Pimm has assisted in designing, and by measuring the route (below), which has been Certified by Athletics Canada.

Grupo Bimbo's initiative ensures that every step taken by runners helps provide food for those less fortunate, making the race both meaningful and impactful.

The event also incudes a 5K Run and a 3K walk/run. For more information, go HERE.

The Sunset Shuffle 5K onToronto Island - August 8/24

7/25/2024

Below is the The Runners Shop's event description. Coach Pimm recently measured the new 5K route that has been Certified by Athletics Canada.

It's happening THURSDAY AUGUST 8TH 2024 at 7PM on TORONTO ISLAND (WARDS ISLAND)

The Runners Shop is pleased as punch to welcome you to our newest race, The Sunset Shuffle
Hey wait! You may say. That race isn't new .....and wasn't it a 6k?

You're right 😉The Sunset Shuffle 6k, directed by Longboat Roadrunners had been on the summer racing calander for many years. And we thank them for entrusting The Runners Shop to take over as the lead. We're excited to put our spin on things and bring you a memorable race!

Now, if you have run this race in the past, you'll notice a few changes in 2024.

The distance is an Athletics Canada Certified 5k
In a return to the race roots, it will start and finish at Wards Island.
There will be finishers medals for all!! Design reveal coming soon

Picnic under the stars post race (we'll provide the picnic) and then enjoy a breathtaking ride back to the mainland enjoying the lights of the city.

Come and enjoy an evening on Toronto Island. Stop saying, "I hardly ever go to Toronto Island" or "I've never been to Toronto Island" Enjoy the quiet, beautiful surroundings. The lake, the trees, the green grass, the flowers .....and best of all... it's DEAD FLAT! Can you say 5k PB?!!

We look forward to having you join us. For more information Phone 416-923-9702

Our Charity partner

Founded by Canadian Olympian and long time Canadian women's marathon record holder Silvia Ruegger (February 23, 1961 – August 23, 2019).

Silvia's vision for seeing transformational change led to her creating the charity Hopes Rise, before passing away from cancer in August. Audacious hope, which fuelled Silvia’s Olympic dream and the birth of the Running & Reading Club, fuels the dream to see all children in Canada hopeful about their future and equipped with the skills and qualities they need to flourish and be leaders in their community and nation.

The Runners Shop is committed to playing an active role in keeping Silvia's dream of a bright future for all children alive.

Coach Pimm appointed Race Director for Toronto’s Bumrun – Sunday April 28/24

3/25/2024

In 2012, Dr. Ian Bookman established a Toronto 5K road race, naming it the Bumrun.

Since then, the Bumrun has become an annual charity organization whose mission is to increase participation in screening programs for colon cancer and to raise funds for colon cancer charities.

This successful event has grown to the extent that others have been established in Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver.

As for the Toronto event, this year, due to the seemingly never ending downtown construction, the route has had to be modified. Accordingly, newly appointed Race Director, Coach Pimm has designed a route that starts and finishes on the driveway in front of the Ontario Legislative Building (closeup shown below).

Since there’s no guarantee the new route will not undergo further changes, it will not be formally submitted to Athletics Canada for a 10-year certification. HOWEVER, Pimm is measuring the route to insure it will be an accurate 5 km., using certification principles.

Check out the pics below, and to find out more about this event click on this logo

5K Route Map

Location of Start & Finish

Closeup of Start & Finish

Closeup of Ursula Franklin turnaround

Beaches Spring Sprint - a fast new 5K on Toronto's Boardwalk - April 6/24

2/19/2024

The Beaches Spring Sprint is pleased to announcenew, flat, fast route happening in Toronto at the Beaches. Coach Pimm was contracted to measure the route and it has been granted certification by Athletics Canada.

As shown on the map below, the route combines the recently renovated Boardwalk with the Waterfront Trail. For a much closer view click HERE.

And here are the Event's details:

Coach Pimm to measure the 2024 Around the Bay Road Race

11/12/2023

A Coach Pimm report:
Got to tell you, I am deeply honoured to have been contracted to measure the 2024 edition of Hamilton’s Around the Bay Road Race, happening on March 24.

This historic race began in 1894, making it the oldest race on the continent – 3 years older than the Boston Marathon (see Wikipedia post HERE).

This commission is particularly special for me, as it will be 54 years ago that I won the race – (gulp - ½ Century ago – I must have been 5). Below, is a then and now posting on the Event’s Facebook page,
after my recent visit to Hamilton for a route tour with
the effervescent Race Director, Anna Lewis.

You can listen to Anna talking about the event on a recent Women Run Canada podcast, hosted by Kirsten Parker HERE.

And, by the way, this website has over 170 interviews with Canada’s outstanding women in the running field. You can listen to the interviews HERE.

ATB’s Theme Song

And here’s a cool element: The ATB has its own official theme song, entitled “Around the Bay”, composed and song by folk singer, Abigale.

To listen to the song, click on this photo of Abigale:

As noted, on the event's Facebook page, the 30K is already SOLD OUT. However, as noted on the page, you may be able to arrange a transfer.

ATTENTION! Due to major downtown construction, and consequent road closures, the downtown portions of the tradional route are having to be altered.

Consequently, in order to have an Athletics Canada Certified 30 km. route, as well as, an accomodating finish line, the 30 km FINISH LINE will be located about 3 km. before the total course FINISH LINE in Tim Hortons Field.

Coach Pimm "leads" field at The County Marathon

11/11/2023

I recently participated in this year’s The County Marathon.

Not as a runner mind you – but as a guest passenger in the lead Car. You see, having been the official measurer of the event’s Marathon and Half marathon routes does have its perks...

And a great bonus for me, was my long time buddy and accomplished runner, Rob Legge, a Picton resident, was also invited along for the ride.

Rob represented Canada in the 1971 Pan American Games in the 10,000metres, and has PB time of 27.55.4 for 6 miles (converts to about 29:00 for 10 km.).

And he has since become one of the world’s top age group road cyclists. This past summer, for the 3rd consecutive year, he won the CHEAHA Challenge Bike Race in Jacksonville Alabama, a Union Cycliste International qualifying event for the 2023 World Gran Fondo Championships in Perth, Scotland.
And check this out: As an added bonus, the lead vehicle we were chauffered in was a 2023 ELECTRIC FORD Mustang. Talk about a quiet drive! Almost eery.

Rob and Coach Pimm and the awesome Mustang

The 5K RUN for the Looneys is Back !

7/26/2023

That's right folks. After a 3 year hiatus, due to COVID, the 5K RUN for the Looneys is back, and group entries are now being accepted.

To obtain the details of this boutique, one-of-kind, event, and HOW TO ENTER, download the following file which even includes a flyover of the route .

5k_run_for_the_looneys_3.doc
File Size:	132913 kb
File Type:	doc

Below is a 2020 article that was never posted due to COVID which caused the abrupt cancellation of further runs.

5K Run for the Looneys begs a Sequel

The recent 5K RUN for the Looneys was a major success. Folks really appreciated having a non-virtual run event with a set date and start time.

Granted it was no frills, given the run was more of a time trial workout than a formal race,with just a few other runners, and without the auxiliary services of medical, food and drink, baggage check, etc.

However, the REALLY FLAT Tommy Thompson straight out-and-back route proved quite popular, offering a flat route - accurately measured by Coach Pimm based on the IAAF protocol. And the the halfway turnaround allowed the runners to cheer (and jeer) the runners who were on the other side of the road.

And each finisher received the "Looney" medallion (a real loonie) and Completion Certificate.

In addition, all participants received a Gift Certificate for a Body Compositon Assessment (value +$60)

Because each run was limited to 4 or 5 runners, it was not surprising that a camaraderie amongst the participants was quickly established. As the Beatles sang, “A splendid time is guaranteed for all".

Here’s one Toronto/Guelph Clan of Kenya and the United Kingdom. Team Captain, Ian Markham (beside Coach Pimm), thought the “workout” was "absolutely brilliant and certainly worthy of a David Attenborough narration:

Georgina Spring Fling 10K is now AC Certified

4/13/2023

The Georgina Spring Fling is happening on Saturday April 6, 2023, along the scenic shore of Lake Simcoe.

All of the race courses are fabulously flat.

The Half Marathon is run on a previously certified route used for the for the fall, the Georgina Half and Full Marathon.

And recently, the event organizers decided to have the 10K certified by Athletics Canada. And so they commissioned Coach Pimm for the measuring, and Athletics Canada has granted the 10K course certification.

Special thanks to Athletics Canada's Bernie Conway and Maxim Chaiasson for the quick review and approval.

It's not too late to register. See HERE.

Mississauga Half Marathon achieves AC Label

3/7/2023

The Mississauga Marathon event is no longer. It has been replaced by the Mississauga Half, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company.

And so, the Mississauga Half event weekend has taken on a new and enhanced look and feel, and in 2023 the runner experience will be second to none. With a newly designed half marathon, 10K and 5K it offers a race for every age and ability

As the website says, “We’re building on the success of the last 19 years as we innovate and plan for the next 20 years!”

Adding to the excitement is the news that the half marathon race has been accepted into Athletics Canada's Label Program 2023 series.

Races included in the series are in full compliance with World Athletics Competition Rules. This allows every Canadian performance achieved at their events to be recognized by World Athletics and included in the World Athletics Rankings. All races in the series will also feature an elite program and prize money.

Coach Peter Pimm is collaborating with world renowned Bernie Conway, (AIMS-IAAF Measurement Administrator for the Americas) to measure the new course. See the course map HERE.

Race Day is Sunday April 30, 2023. Visit the WEBSITE for the deets.

Sporting Life 10K is back!

5/7/2022

The Sporting Life 10K is back and running through the streets of Toronto in support of CAMPFIRE CIRCLE. The event is happening on Mother's Day, Sunday May 8, 2022.

This event is a great opportunity to fundraise for CAMPFIRE CIRCLE and help kids and families affected by childhood cancer.

The city of Toronto continues to grow, and because a new route was required, Coach Pimm was commissioned to work with Canada Runners Series’ Chris Fagel and Scott Jones to measure and and successfully obtain Athletics Canada Certification.

The new route has to be one of, if not the fastest, 10 km. routes in Ontario. The course is almost entirely downhill on Yonge Street, one of Canada’s and Toronto’s iconic streets, starting at an elevation of 158 metres and finishing at 77 metres.

You can see the route Map and details HERE.

Heading down Yonge Street