Run Info
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- Run Day Schedule
- Race Course Description & Map
- Course Restrictions / Limitations
- Packet Pickup Information
- ChampionChip© Timing: new single-use chips
- NEW Corrals and Wave Starts
- Getting There & Parking
- Entertainment and Cheering Centres and Post-race Party
- Finisher Medals
- Fitness Walkers Welcome
- Aid Stations / Water & Gatorade
- Baggage Check
- Port-o-Lets
Run Day Schedule
Start Time 8:00am
| 6:30am–7:40am | Baggage Check, on Yonge Street at Sheldrake |
| 6:30am–7:30am | Run day Packet Pickup for out of towners, Sporting Life Main Store |
| 8:00am | SPORTING LIFE 10k Start, south of Sporting Life store @ Yonge & Castlefield |
| 8:10am | Fitness Walkers Start, south of Sporting Life store @ Yonge & Castlefield |
| 9:45am | Awards Ceremony @ Fort York |
Race Course Description & Map
Click on mini map to see full-size image.
10k Course — New for 2009!
Canada's EASIEST and one of the fastest downhill 10k's, it runs right down the middle of Canada's most famous street—Yonge Street!
Whether you are a novice looking for the easiest course around to complete your first 10k or a seasoned veteran setting that new PB, this is the event for you! Sign up today and join 10,000+ fitness enthusiasts in the dash down Yonge Street.
Course details: The start line is four blocks south of Sporting Life (at Yonge & Castlefield). From there, the course heads south on Yonge Street all the way to Richmond Street. It then turns west on Richmond, south on Peter/Blue Jays Way past Gretzky's to Front St. The course then goes west along Front, south on Bathurst, west on Fort York Blvd. to finish! Then into the Fort for a bang-up post-run celebration with red-coat soldiers, War of 1812 re-enactment, "live" band and more!
For a sneak preview of our fabulous venue at Fort York, see www.fortyork.ca. Admission FREE on race day to runners, families, friends, spectators (reg. $8).
- ALL lanes of Yonge Street open to runners from Start to Richmond
- Finisher's Medals!
Course restrictions / limitations
Owing to the popularity and large numbers of participants in the Sporting Life 10K, we regret that Baby Joggers, strollers, rollerblades and pets are not allowed in the run, as they are not safe for fellow participants.
Packet Pickup Information
You must have your bib # to pickup your packet! You can find your bib # on our online confirmation list
- Thursday and Friday, April 30th & May 1st, 10:00am–8:30pm; and Saturday, May 2nd 10:00am–5:30pm; at the Sporting Life store at 2665 Yonge St (East side of Yonge St. just south of Blythwood).
- IMPORTANT! Please know your bib # and bring a printout of your registration email confirmation OR a piece of photo ID to packet pickup.
- If someone is picking up for you, they will need your bib #, a letter of permission from you OR your email confirmation (if your email confirmation is not available, check to make sure your name is on the online confirmation list, then all your friend needs is the letter of permission).
- Run day kit pick-up is limited to those living outside 416/647 area code. Make sure to bring your bib # with you (written down) on race morning — it will be very busy with 12,000+ people. Pick-up will be in the Sporting Life parking lot, 2665 Yonge St., 6:30am until 7:30am.
ChampionChip© Timing & Results by SportStats.ca
New Recyclable Single Use Chips From ChampionChip for the Sporting Life 10k!
You must have a chip in order to have a recorded time.
NO CHIP = NO TIME, No exceptions!
Important: You must wear the white ChampionChip provided in your package envelope on your shoelaces as indicated or you will not be timed. Timing and scoring is determined using the chip; therefore you must cross the mats at all points in order to be eligible for a finishing time. AWARDS ARE DETERMINED BY GUN TIME (official time).
How to attach the chip to your shoe laces
- This is a new single souvenir ChampionChip. You can only use the chip for this event. After the event you can keep it as a souvenir.
- Simply slide the chip on your shoe laces like a paper clip. You can also tie it to your shoe laces as it does not have to be returned at the finish line. If you have elastic laces we recommend you secure the chip with a zip tie.
- The chip must lay FLAT on your foot to register properly; you cannot put the chip on an ankle strap. It MUST be flat on the laces as indicated in the picture.
Finish line option:
- At the finish line you will have the option to walk away with your souvenir chip.
- Throw the chip in our recycle bins. These will be verified and sent back to ChampionChip.
- Important: This chip will only work for this event; do not use it for any other events as it could interfere with the results.
Corrals and Waves at the Sporting Life 10k this year!
If you registered before April 17th you will be placed in the corresponding corral at the start line. Please make sure to arrive early on race morning to get yourselves organized. There will be coloured flags and balloons at the start line that will correspond to the colour stripe on your bib. You will only be allowed to enter the corral that corresponds to the stripe on your bib. However, anyone can enter the 1hr+ open-purple corral.
We will not be changing corrals during packet pickup or on Race Morning!
We will have 3 waves this year:
- 1st wave will be 59 minutes & under (8:00am) (corral: green, red, yellow, blue)
- 2nd wave will be 1hr + (8:05am) (corral: purple)
- 3rd wave will be for walkers (8:10am) (yellow walkers bib)
The 2nd wave will start approximately 5 minutes after the 1st wave. We will release the rope as soon as the 1st wave has cleared the start. Then everyone in the second wave will be allowed to start running. The walkers start will be at approximately 8:10am and we will walk everyone up to the start line, restart the mats so you will have separate walkers’ results and then off you go.
Getting There & Parking
Arrive EARLY! Plan for at least one hour prior to run start. This is the largest run in Toronto and an experience like no other!
- Carpool, cab it or take the TTC Yonge Bus! There is limited parking on the side streets surrounding Sporting Life.
- We recommend parking near Fort York (either at a lot near Bathurst and King, OR at large parking facility at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, off Strachan, by Princes' Gates) and taking a cab with runners to the start area.
- Or, park near the Eglinton Station and then walk up to the Start. After the run, Exit Fort York onto Bathurst St., then either take the Bathurst streetcar [# 511] up to Bathurst Station on Bloor-Danforth line; OR, walk north 2 blocks on Bathurst to King Street and take the King Streetcar [# 504] eastbound to either the University/Spadina line or the Yonge line.
For all TTC info: www3.ttc.ca (please note: the Bathurst, 511 cars will start running after the race is over, at 10:30am onwards). Remember TTC Sunday Subway service starts at 9:00 am, but buses operate on street level.
Entertainment and Cheering Centres and Post-race Party
We have SEVEN Entertainment Centres on the course culminating in a great Post-run party at Fort York! Details here
Finisher Medals
Finisher medals for all 10k finishers! Click image to enlarge.
Fitness Walkers Welcome — 8:10am Start time
Due to course restrictions, all fitness walkers must be able to complete the 10K in 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes per kilometre).
Aid Stations / Water & Gatorade
Water & Gatorade will be available at the race party area, near the finish line and registration area, and at the 4k (Aylmer) and 7k (Richmond) Aid Stations. Canadian Ski Patrol will also be on-site at the 7k aid station, on-course and at the finish line.
Baggage Check until 20 minutes before start time!
You can check your bag at the start for a cost of $2 per bag (all proceeds from baggage go to Camp Oochigeas), and will be transported to the finish. If you paid when you registered or picked up your kit, please present your bib with the paid stamp on it to the volunteers at baggage check.
Baggage check available on Yonge Street at Sheldrake from 1 hour and 30 minutes before start time to 20 minutes before start time. Baggage will then be transported to the finish area at Fort York for pickup. Baggage trucks will leave the start area exactly 20 MINUTES before the start so check your bags in early if you want them transported to the finish line.
Arrive EARLY and check your bag EARLY. 10,000+ runners cannot check their bags at the same time!
Port-o-Lets
Will be located at the start and finish areas, and at 4K & 7K water stations.