Toronto man to run 100th marathon at STWM

Chuck Oatman has run 99 marathons and will be rounding that number off to 100 this weekend at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

“It’s pretty emotional,” said Oatman. “I never started out with the goal of running 100 marathons. It never occurred to me I would end up running this many so I figured I would do my 100th here in Toronto with all my friends. And it’s been pretty amazing all the support. They’re having a party for me and I think about 45 people are going to come out.”

Oatman, a Torontonian, first ran the Ottawa Marathon in 2002 and was hooked. The most marathons he ever ran in a single year was 20.

The marathon veteran claims to not have a favourite race but notes there are many memorable ones, such as a race through Tuscan wine country or marathons through the forest.

“I’ve done Big Sur twice. You’re running between the mountains and the ocean and you’re overlooking the water. It’s really spectacular,” said Oatman.

It’s no surprise then that he loves trail running. He claims trail marathons have been his toughest, but likes the challenge. Notoriously difficult, he noted, was the Monster Marathon in Virgil, NY.

He’s also an ultramarathon runner and has run Western States Endurance Race, a legendary 100-mile trail run from Squaw Valley to Auburn in California. Oatman enjoys downhill skiing during the winters.

With all these races behind him, Oatman is still always impressed by the events.

“I’m always amazed how well the large marathons are run,” said Oatman “At the Disney Marathon, the Goofy Challenge they call it, you run a half-marathon on Saturday and a marathon on Sunday. The half-marathon had 45,000 people, and it was amazing how well it went. I find that amazing.”

Even after racing Chicago last week and Scotiabank this weekend, Oatman won’t be done for the season after Sunday’s race. He plans to run the Sacramento Marathon in December.