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Well-known Toronto beer label designer gives trendy spin to city’s fall marathon shirt

Matt McCracken is the brains behind one of Toronto's favourite beer label designs. Now, he's giving the city's marathon shirts a cool, fresh look

Toronto’s big-shot marathon is fast approaching and this year, the design of its souvenir t-shirt matches the city’s trendy, cool vibes.  

This year’s shirt for the marathon is likely to earn runners a double take or two, because let’s face it: it’s a road race tee that doesn’t look… like a road race tee. If finisher’s swag from past road racing events generally just collect as clutter in the back of the drawer, this one’s not likely to. Breathe a sigh of relief, this one can definitely work it’s way into your day-to-day wardrobe. 

RELATED: Toronto artist Mango Peeler puts fresh spin on race shirts

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is set to run on Oct. 22 and hosts a marathon and half as well as a 5K. The date has been marked on many a Canadian’s calendar for months and now, it’s a mere six weeks away. This route that takes distance runners on a tour of urban views has earned IAAF gold label status. To the visiting tourist or proud Torontonian though, its ability to reflect the city’s unique culture may hold an even greater importance. 

The marathon and half-marathon shirt:

Hiring local artists to design the official race day shirt is one-such way that the marathon is bringing out that Toronto personality (in 2016, artist Mango Peeler revamped the look from years past).

This year’s designer, Matt McCracken, owns the design company Doublenaut with his brother Andrew and artist Ross Proulx. The trio create posters, beer labels, editorial illustrations and other commissioned design work. Where Toronto folk would perhaps best know them for their work creating the Bellwoods Brewery bottle designs, they’ve also worked for a long list of clients including everything from Toronto restaurants, to The Globe, to fitness apparel household names like Adidas and Nike.   

The print on the 2017 shirt gives several nods to Toronto icons that one would see along the route from start to finish. The one way sign points in the direction of Nathan Phillips Square to the Royal Ontario Museum around the the Humber Bay Bridge and waterfront (duh!). Each race has a separate colour with the volunteer shirt coming in grey. 

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