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Chase your Boston qualifying time at Ontario’s new Georgina Marathon

Are you looking for a fall marathon near the Greater Toronto Area? The Georgina Marathon is open for registration for up to 1,000 runners on Sunday, Oct. 17. After a year of virtual racing, the town of Georgina, Ont., will be the site of an in-person marathon, with COVID-19 safety measures in place to ensure safety for runners and volunteers.

A birds-eye view of Lake Drive, which runs alongside Lake Simcoe

The half-marathon and marathon courses are scenic, fast and flat. Starting at De La Salle Park in Georgina, runners will do an out and back, 21-km loop along scenic Lake Drive, which follows the shoreline of Lake Simcoe past beautiful homes and cottages. The half-marathon is one loop of the course, while the marathon is two. Both courses are certified by Athletics Canada, making the marathon course a Boston qualifier and both courses are eligible for Canadian or Guinness records.

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Organizers of the Georgina Marathon are putting this race together quickly in response to the opening of Ontario and are working within the guidelines set out by public health. They know that runners have come to understand that for public health reasons, there will be no pacers or post-race party, and distancing measures will be in effect, but that they consider it a small price to pay to be able to toe the start-line at an in-person race again.

The 2021 Georgina Marathon will run along picturesque Lake Drive

Registrants may run or walk the course, and the final cutoff is six hours after the last wave starts. The start will be staggered in waves of 50 runners.

The course will have aid and water stations every three kilometres, although runners are encouraged to be self-sufficient as far as possible. There will be volunteers along the course to help the event run safely and smoothly. Although spectators are welcome, registrants will be asked to bring no more than one spectator to the race site. There are several parks along the course for more spectators to cheer as runners pass.

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The town of Georgina is only an hour north of Toronto via Highway 404. Parking is available at De La Salle Park (the start and finish line), and overflow parking will be available nearby if needed. For more information and to sign up, click here.

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