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It's back: the Beaches Spring Sprint - 5Km. (Certified)

3/18/2026

From Coach Pimm:

Well, not exactly a "Sprint" - but this is a scenic gem of a fast and Athletics Canada CERTIFIED route, that I had the pleasure of measuring in 2024.

The route (see map below) is on one of my favourite venues for my own training. And I'm very pleased that this year I intend to be with the leaders...on a Bike.

Here's an article about the event:

By COLE HESSION
(BEACH METRO Community News)

The Beaches Spring Sprint will be back again in the East End this April. Hosted by the Beaches Recreation Centre Advisory Council, the Spring Sprint is a five-kilometre run along the Boardwalk.

It will start at the pavilion at the foot of Lee Avenue, near the Leuty Lifeguard Station, on the morning of Saturday, April 5.

The run raises funds for programs at the Beaches Recreation Centre and has been doing so since 1987.

Along with the main five-kilometre run for adults, there are also two-kilometre walk/runs for children and seniors as part of the Beaches Spring Sprint.

The five-kilometre run, and the seniors two-kilometre run/walk start at 9:30 a.m. The two-kilometre walk/run for children will start at 10:30 a.m.

The registration fee to take part is $30 for all participants, via cash or cheque only.

Those wishing to take part must register in person at the Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd. Registration dates at the centre are April 1, 2, 7 and 8. Registration times on those days will be 7 to 9 p.m.

Each year the event is supported by the work of about 70 volunteers who organize the registrations and also help out on the day of the run.

For more information on sponsorship or registration, please contact the Beaches Recreation Centre at 416-392-0740 or contact the Beaches Recreation Centre Advisory Council via email at [email protected]

5K Course Map

Toronto Island's 10K Course Change in 2025 is Certified

7/31/2025

The historic Toronto Island 10 km. is back! Historic? I’ll say.

In 1976, the then co-race directors, Peter Pimm and Corey Gibson, created the event as a vehicle to raise funds for the University Track and Field Club (UTTC). The funds raised helped to underwrite the travel and accommodation expenses for athletes competing in various meets.

However, with the booming road race scene, a growing number of the club's athletes coached by Pimm, including Corey Gibson, Jack Friel, etc. were mainly participating in road races, and not profiting for their contributions to fundraising.

And so, in 1980, this group decided to establish a separate club named the Longboat Roadrunners (on good terms by the way).

So it made sense that this offspring club would offer the same popular Island event, as their fundraiser, but on a different date.

Subsequently the UTTC turned to other fundraising efforts (e.g., alumni donations), leaving the Longboat club to solely continue the event, starting in 1980.

[Check out the history of the Longboat club HERE].

Course Changes

Naturally, over the years, there have been several island renovations with new pathways, and now the route is completely on paved surfaces (except for to the last 57 metres which is on grass to the Finish line located between 2 iconic century+ old willow trees). .

As a matter of fact, in the earlier years, substantial portions of the 10 Km. route included running on grass.

And Coach Pimm would often lead the race's runners on a bike. However, one year, a main grass portion of the course was quite soggy due to an unusual level of rain, and (due to weak quad strength) Pimm was almost passed by the race leader!  Embarrassing.

Anyway, this year's route has a very small change due to the installation of a new asphalt path between the 3.5 and 4.5 km. So Pimm has remeasured the route in order to maintain the Athletics Canada Certification.

Running to the Finish Line

Below, is a link to a terrific video that was produced for the event in 2016.

To register for the Longboat Toronto Island go HERE

Remembering the Great Jerome Drayton

4/9/2025

Coach Pimm remembers...

I am terribly saddened to learn of the recent passing of Canada’s greatest marathoner, Jerome Drayton. He was truly an inspiration to all Canadian distance runners due to his accomplishments, as documented by the Sports Hall of Fame HERE.

As a past young member of the Toronto Olympic Club, I had the pleasure of being one of Jerome’s club mates and even ran with him - on a few of his easy days. And of course his 3 victories between 1969 and 1975 of the most prestigious Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship over the world’s best, made him my hero. Here’s an excerpt of some of that race's results:

 Note – Drayton’s 1975 time of 2:10.09 stood as the Canadian record for 43 years until Cam Levins broke it in 2018.

Drayton in the Fukuoka Marathon

WORLD RECORD

Needless to say, all of us were in awe of his accomplishments, including his 1977 Boston Marathon victory. But for me, the pièce de résistance was when, in 1970, he set the World Record for 10 miles on the track with a time of 46:47.6. And this record, was set in Toronto on the old CNE 440 yard track.

AUDIO

I was a privileged participant in that race, and in 2013, I made an Audio commemorating Jerome’s performance. You can listen to that Audio by clicking HERE and scrolling down to the one titled, Reflections about Jerome Drayton: Canadian marathon record holder...still. The portion of that Audio re: Drayton begins at 2:00 minutes.

JEROME DRAYTON : Thanks for the inspiration !

2025 Georgina Races change the location of the START/FINISH &TURNAROUND

3/23/2025

Endurance Event Productions present several races in Georgina, Ontario, in the Spring and Fall. All of the races run alongside scenic the shore of Lake Simcoe.

Previously the races have started and finished in De La Salle Park; however this year the start/finish, and turnaound locations have been moved due to the increase in participation. The new location for all races are about 50 metres east of the entrance to the Park,

Coach Pimm was contracted to measure the impact of the slight change in order to obtain Athletics Canada Certification.

For more information about these events see HERE and HERE.

Toronto's 2025 Bumrun 5K is now certified by Athletics Canada

3/9/2025

The Bumrun is a charity whose mission is to increase participation in screening programs for colon cancer and to raise funds for colon cancer charities.

Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death for men and 3rd for women. On average, 68 Canadians are diagnosed with colon cancer every day, and 26 die from it.

In fact, 1 in 14 Canadian men, and 1 in 18 Canadian women, will develop colon cancer during their lifetime. It’s likely someone you know is walking around undiagnosed right now.

(In 2012, Peter Pimm was contracted to measure a 5K route that started and finished in front of the Legislative Building in Queen's Park, Toronto. This route was Certified.

However, in the past couple of years, due to extensive roadwork, a non-certified route was used. The roadwork has now been completed and Peter has remeasured the slightly changed route which been certified by Athletics Canada.)

Across Canada, Bumrun hosts the following 5K walk/run events dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging screening to prevent colon cancer. The events are:

Toronto Sunday, April 27th, 2025
Calgary Saturday, May 10th, 2025
Halifax Saturday, May 24th, 2025
Vancouver Sunday, June 1st, 2025

And there's also offer a
Virtual, Sunday, June 1st, 2025

100% of their proceeds from these events are donated to charities proven to raise awareness for colon cancer screening.

For more information, and to register, go HERE.

Runners head out from the START in 2024

Niagara Falls Marathon

10/10/2024

Want to run one of the most scenic courses ever? Well then, consider the Niagara Falls Marathon.

The route runs along the Niagara Parkway offering one of the most iconic backdrops in the world, offering amazing views of the Falls during the first few kilometres.

THE ROUTE

The course RUNS entirely within Canada starting at Rapidsview Park, before turning left onto the Niagara Parkway, heading towards Niagara Falls!

Runners will see the roar of the iconic Horseshoe Falls, before turning around by Fallsview Casino, giving you some of the most amazing views you will find on any racecourse in the world!

You will then head back the same way towards Rapidsview Park, where you will pick up the former route and head out through Kingsbridge Park into Chippawa, along the flat, Niagara River Parkway. Runners will enjoy views of the Niagara River through this entire section, before turning around and finishing back where you started, at Rapidsview Park!

Runners lined up at the START/FINISH line

By the way, Coach Pimm measured the route which has been granted Certification by Athletics Canada.

For more information about this spectacular event see HERE.

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: