Runs

ON THE RUN IN … TORONTO

October 7, 2009
By Michal Kapral

Canada’s largest city offers some surprisingly convenient running routes near the downtown core, giving visiting runners the chance to embrace the excitement of Toronto’s bustling neighbourhoods or escape the hubbub by ducking into one of the city’s quiet trails.

Toronto has a large community of runners, from casual joggers to running clinic groups to elite teams of track racers. Even in the busy downtown core, you can see them all year round, enjoying routes through quiet neighbourhoods, along the waterfront or on one of the paved or wood-chip trail paths that loop through the city. The city has a storied running past. The West End YMCA was Tom Longboat’s training base leading up to his 1907 Boston Marathon victory. University of Toronto’s Varsity Stadium hosted notable meets, including Bill Crothers’s win over world champion Peter Snell in an 880-yard race in 1965 and David Bailey’s first Canadian sub-four-minute mile on Canadian soil in 1967.

Canadians visiting the city for the first time might be shocked to discover that most of the city’s residents are friendly, the streets are relatively clean, the pollution is not too bad and that the metropolis’s pockets of diversity give it a much more approachable feel that you might expect.

We picked three running routes that begin near downtown, each providing a different running experience.

SHORT - 9.9K  The Hipster Tour

Start at Bloor St. W. and Avenue Rd. in front of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. Head west along Bloor past the Royal Conservatory of Music and Varsity Stadium, and turn left at St. George St. Run south through the University of Toronto campus to College St. Turn right and run west on College through Little Italy and Little Portugal to Ossington. Turn left on Ossington and go south along the latest hipster hangouts to Queen St. W. Turn left on Queen and run east past shops, clubs, bars, tattoo parlours and art houses to University. Veer left on University up and around Queen’s Park Crescent to Queen’s Park and back to the start at Bloor.

www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3176496

MEDIUM - 16.8K  Runner’s High in High Park

This route takes you from the west side of downtown to the Martin Goodman Trail along the waterfront and loops around High Park before doubling back. Start at King and Bathurst and run south to Lake Shore Blvd. On the south side of the street, follow the paved path left through Coronation Park and stay on the trail as it winds past Ontario Place, through Marilyn Bell Park and Sunnyside Park. Follow the signs to Colborne Lodge and turn right to cross the Gardiner Expressway. Take the road north into High Park and stay on the main road until you hit the Bloor St. exit at the top end. Take the road to the right on the way back until it rejoins the original road out of the park. Stop for some refreshments at the Grenadier restaurant, then take the road back out of the park and double back along the lakeshore to the starting point.

www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3176710

LONG - 20K A River Runs Through It

Just east of downtown, the Don Trail’s paved path follows the Don River, an ancient waterway inside a valley that creates a natural border between the city centre and the “East End.” This 20K route is a true urban escape. From downtown, head east along Queen St. until you hit the starting point beneath the bridge that crosses the Don Valley. Go down the staircase on the south side at the start of the bridge to the Don Trail. Run north along the Don Trail and keep going all the way across Pottery Rd. until you hit an intersection where a sign will point straight to Taylor Creek or left across a bridge to Sunnybrook Park. Keep going straight to Taylor Creek and continue running east along this narrow, scenic paved trail to Dawes Rd. Turn right at Dawes past the parking lot and run south down to Lake Ontario. Take the paved path in the Beach area and continue along Lake Shore Blvd. Cross the street to the north side of Lake Shore and follow the signs to the Don Trail. Take the Don back to the starting point at the Queen St. bridge.

www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3156602

To Stay - Hotel options in Toronto are almost endless, from tiny boutiques to the ritzy King Edward to the Delta Chelsea. A few choices:

The Cosmopolitan (8 Colborne Street) - Named one of the world’s hottest new hotels in the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List, the Cosmo is tucked in a narrow high-rise in the financial district.

Pantages Hotel and Spa (200 Victoria Street) - A boutique hotel near the Eaton Centre.

The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen Street West) -Queen West cool, with a happening bar scene.

To Eat

It’s nearly impossible to narrow down Toronto’s dining experience, but runners looking for some quality long-run fuel might want to check out these options:

St. Lawrence Market (at King and Jarvis St.) - Stalls offer just about every kind of sandwich you can dream up. Try the veal and eggplant on a kaiser at Mustachio’s in the lower level or the peameal bacon on a bun at Carousel Bakery.

Café Diplomatico (594 College St.) - A great spot to hang out in the centre of Little Italy, “The Dip” serves home-style Italian food.

Kom Jug Yuen (371 Spadina Ave.) - For a true Chinatown experience, what Kom Jug lacks in décor - think Formica tables and menu items scrawled on neon bristol board signs taped to the wall - it more than makes up in food quality and value. Try the hot-and-sour soup, pork fried rice and Singapore noodles.

Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington Ave.) - True to the real-deal, flat-crust pizza from Naples, Chef Rocco Agostino bakes each pie for 90 seconds in a 900-degree wood burning oven.

To Drink

Crush Wine Bar (455 King St. W.) - A newly refurbished, upscale wine bar with a nice selection of wines to taste by the flight. They serve delicious food as well.

Bar Volo (507 Yonge St.) - This cozy retreat on busy Yonge St. serves a dizzying array of beers, including a regular cask selection. They have a good wine list, too.

Bulldog Coffee (89 Granby St.) - Bulldog’s owner, Canadian regional barista champion Stuart Ross, pours a mean cappuccino.

Running Shops

The Running Room There are nine Running Room locations in Toronto, all of which operate clinics in different parts of the city. Each has its own personality, depending on the location and the clientele, from the bustling financial district store (30 Wellington St. W.) to the relaxed atmosphere of the location in the Beach (1977 Queen St. E.) to the neighbourhood institutions in Rosedale (1087 Yonge St.) and North Toronto (2629 Yonge St.).

The Runners Shop (180 Bloor St. W.) - Olympian David Ellis founded the Runners Shop in 1975 and current owner Elaine McCrea took over in 1977. Buried in the basement of a non-descript building on Bloor St., it’s not the easiest store to find, but is well worth seeking out.

Adidas Sport Performance (10 Dundas St. E.)

Bigfoot Wear (516 Queen St. W.)

New Balance Toronto (1510 Yonge St.)

Nike Store (110 Bloor St. W.)

Puma Toronto (2532 Yonge St.)

Sporting Life Toronto (2454 Yonge St.)

Sport Chek (218 Yonge St.), Eaton Centre