STWM releases medal design for 2020’s virtual races

A month after cancelling the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and moving to a virtual race format, event organizers have released the medal design for 2020. The medal has a simple, cool design, with a gold face and red writing around the rim. It features the Bell Clock Tower at Toronto’s Old City Hall, which runners see in a normal year’s in-person race as they make their way up Bay Street and approach the finish line. 

This year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Virtual Race Medal! ?

The Bell Clock Tower at Toronto’s Old City Hall, located near the finish line of the in-person race, was chosen as the featured image to represent a beacon of hope in these challenging times. pic.twitter.com/A2xSFP4vnh

— Toronto Waterfront Marathon (@TOwaterfront42k) August 18, 2020

The design

The STWM team posted the design to social media on Tuesday morning, writing that the Old City Hall’s clock tower was chosen “to represent a beacon of hope in these challenging times, helping us to move forward and achieve our goals.” The medal was created by Inge Johnson, the designer for the Canada Running Series, who says she sees the medal as “a joint collaboration” between her and the runners. 

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“My role is to create a beautiful, meaningful design that will motivate you to train, and to encourage you over those last few kilometres of the race,” she says. “Yours is to fill the medal with memories of your training and race experience. Then, every time you look at your medal, you are reminded of your accomplishments and experiences. A unique, well-earned treasure.”

We are excited to reveal the @newbalance souvenir shirts for this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Virtual Race, designed by Toronto's @underlineinc

Read more about the design at – https://t.co/H7uEUxyajt pic.twitter.com/eXYluX8PJE

— Toronto Waterfront Marathon (@TOwaterfront42k) August 10, 2020

The race t-shirt design was also recently released by STWM organizers. They are New Balance shirts designed by Underline Studio in Toronto. The inspiration for the shirt’s design is explained on the STWM Facebook page. “For these shirt designs, we wanted to centre the experience of the runner: the many paths that can be taken to the finish line, the feeling of adrenaline that comes from committing to a race and the different points of entry that are so unique to each runner. We liked the idea of creating a symbol that points forward in a burst of movement and energy.” All participants will receive a t-shirt and everyone who finishes one of the event’s races will receive a medal.

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The virtual event 

Runners interested in racing the virtual STWM this year have a few options to choose from, with a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, full marathon and marathon relay being offered. Participants have the entire month of October to complete their runs, and they have the opportunity to follow a training program offered by the Running Room. To sign up for one of the five STWM virtual races, click here.