Toronto Waterfront Marathon Course Guide (2026)

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon course starts on Yonge St, loops through downtown, runs two long out-and-backs along Lake Ontario, and finishes on Bay St by City Hall. The 2026 race is on Sunday, October 18, with the marathon starting at 8:00 a.m.

This guide breaks the Toronto marathon course into six sections, with what to expect and how to pace each one. Kilometre ranges are approximate, taken from the official 2026 course map. The organizers note the course is subject to change, so check the official event page in race week.

Course at a glance

• Start: Yonge St, north of Gerrard St, facing north.
• Finish: Bay St, just north of Queen St.
• Time limit: 6 hours for the marathon.
• Aid stations: roughly every 3 km, with electrolyte drink and gels.
• Shared road: the half marathon runs the same route until Bay St near km 20, then turns north to finish.

Section 1: Yonge St and Bloor St (start to about km 3)

You start heading north on Yonge St and reach Bloor St around km 1. The course turns west along Bloor St past the Royal Ontario Museum to Bathurst St.

Pacing: The start is crowded. Let the first kilometre be slow. Weaving to gain a few seconds costs more energy than it saves. Aim to settle into goal pace by about km 3.

Section 2: Down Bathurst to the lake (about km 3 to 7)

The course turns south on Bathurst St and follows it all the way to Lake Shore Blvd W, reaching the lake near km 7.

Pacing: This is where early excitement shows up as pace creep. Check your watch against goal pace here, not against the runners around you.

Section 3: The western out-and-back (about km 7 to 20)

The course runs west on Lake Shore Blvd W, past Coronation Park and Exhibition Place, to a hairpin turnaround near Ellis Ave around km 12. It then comes back east along the lake to Bay St near km 20.

The official course notes for this stretch list:

• a hairpin turn at Lake Shore Blvd and Ellis Ave
• an incline on Lake Shore Blvd just before Jameson Ave
• a steeper rise and fall over the Spadina fly-over

This section is right beside Lake Ontario with little cover. If it’s windy on race morning, this is where you’ll notice it. One direction may feel easier than the other.

Pacing:

• Slow down into the hairpin and build back up over 100 to 200 metres. Braking hard and surging out adds strain for little gain.
• On the inclines, keep the effort even and let the pace drop a little.
• In a headwind, tuck in behind a group running your pace rather than running alone.

Section 4: Downtown east and the Bayview hairpin (about km 20 to 27)

At Bay St the half marathon turns north to finish. The marathon keeps going east through St. Lawrence Market and past the Distillery District. It then turns north on Bayview Ave to a hairpin near River St, comes back south, and heads onto Eastern Ave.

The official notes list:

• a hairpin turn on Bayview Ave near River St
• a steeper incline and decline on Eastern Ave over the Don Valley Parkway

The Eastern Ave bridge is an out-and-back section of the route. You cross it heading east in the high 20s, then again on the way back late in the race. The organizers also note construction on Eastern Ave reducing it to one lane in each direction.

Pacing: Watching the half marathoners turn off to finish can be hard mentally. Expect it. Take the Bayview hairpin the same way as the Ellis Ave one. On the DVP bridge, hold effort, not pace.

Section 5: Leslieville and the Beach (about km 27 to 35)

The course runs east along Eastern Ave through Leslieville, then turns down to Lake Shore Blvd E and follows it east to Woodbine Ave. It turns up to Queen St E and runs east through the Beach to a hairpin at Maclean Ave, then comes back west on Queen St E and down Woodbine Ave.

The official notes list:

• streetcar tracks along Queen St E between Woodbine Ave and Maclean Ave
• a hairpin turn on Queen St at Maclean Ave

The Lake Shore Blvd E stretch is open to the lake again.

Pacing: This is where most marathons are decided. Keep fuelling on schedule even if you don’t feel like it. Watch your footing on the streetcar tracks, which are harder to step over cleanly on tired legs.

Section 6: The run home (about km 35 to the finish)

The course heads back west along Lake Shore Blvd E and Eastern Ave, crosses the Don Valley Parkway bridge again, and follows Front St E back downtown. The last turn is north onto Bay St, with a gradual incline to the finish just north of Queen St.

Pacing:

• Over the DVP bridge the second time, shorten your stride and keep your arms working.
• Save something for Bay St. A gradual climb in the last kilometre feels steeper than it is.
• If you have anything left at km 40, that is the time to use it.

Where runners tend to hurt late in the race

The last 10 km is where fatigue changes how you run. Common late-race problems include:

• Calf cramps or strains
• Hamstring cramping, especially if you have been running faster than planned
• Outside-of-knee pain, which may fit an IT band presentation
• Front-of-knee or hip pain as stride control fades
• Foot and heel pain, including blisters and hot spots

Most of these settle with rest and recovery. Pain that stays in one spot, makes you limp, or keeps getting worse after a few days needs a proper look.

For the race-or-rest decision, red flags, race-day management and recovery, read the Toronto Waterfront Marathon injury guide. If you’re dealing with something now, see how Endura works with runners or book a 50-minute first visit at our clinic at Yonge and Lawrence.

Sources

• TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon: event information and course notes
• TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon: 2026 event notice and road closures (PDF)
• TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon: 2026 course map (PDF)