Home > Runs & Races

Destination Race: Beat Beethoven

The Kingston Symphony plays Beethoven's Third, which takes an hour, runners try and beat Beethoven, hence the name of the race.

When: June 5, 2011

Registration: www.beatbeethovenkingston.com. Organizers encourage pre-registration, but you can also register the day of the race onsite if space is available.

Cost: 8K $40; 4K fun walk/run $35. The 4K isn’t timed.

When Todd Pearson investigated bringing a Beat Beethoven race to Kingston almost two decades ago, he looked into how other cities brought the composer’s music to life. Oh, sure, a string quartet at the starting line was quaint, but it just didn’t seem like enough.

This is the home, after all, of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald; Fort Henry, a British fortress built in the 1800s; and the acclaimed Canadian rockers, The Tragically Hip. For the city chosen to be the first capital of Canada in 1841, a mere string quartet was not going to cut it. But how about a full orchestra?

Each June, 50 members of the Kingston Symphony assemble (in T-shirts and shorts) in the heart of the downtown, to play Ludwig van Beethoven’s Third Symphony, nicknamed “Eroica,” which takes almost an hour to play.

The orchestra takes its position at the starting line. And so do the runners, hoping to finish 8K in 50 minutes or less – hence, Beat Beethoven.

“People always have a smile when they cross the finish line,” says Pearson, the long-time race director.

Kingston’s town crier Chris Whyman proclaims the commencement of the race. Next, an officer with the Fort Henry Guard in a bright-red tunic fires a rifle (the 19th-century version of a starter’s pistol) and then a runner dressed as Beethoven leaps into the pack.

Runners see many landmarks along the route. Kingston Penitentiary, the oldest and most notorious prison in Canada. From there, you’ll take a few steps along Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard. The course takes you onto Queen’s University campus and then circles back to the finish line, downtown in front of City Hall.

“We try to make it more a Kingston event than a race – although the competitive spirit sure comes out on race day,” Pearson says. Not every runner makes it to the finish line before the symphony finishes, but everyone gets clapped in. “It’s a big thing that we don’t leave anyone behind. That’s really important to us,” Pearson says.

The race, which has raised $200,000 for the Kingston Symphony over its lifetime, attracts local heroes like triathlete Sharon Donnelly, but it’s also a favourite with casual runners. Pearson says a big draw is the distance, since it’s sandwiched between an easy 5K and a more demanding 10K. There’s also a 4K fun run/walk if you’re looking to take part, but aren’t interested in beating the composer.

Sarah Crosbie has ‘beat’ Beethoven twice and she’ll be back for more this year.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget