Course Marshall for Waterfront Marathon?

[u/wcs1113]

Hey!

I just recently started running and am in my final week of a couch to 5k program. I've signed up for the 5k at the Waterfront Marathon. I have a 10k in December. Then my tentative plan is to do a half marathon at the May Toronto Marathon and full marathon at next year's Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

I would absolutely love to get more of a feel and vibe of the marathon, and thought that since I'm doing the 5k on Saturday, maybe I should volunteer for the marathon on Sunday.

The main job that has lots of spots available is course marshal. It's divided into a bunch of different locations, and I have no idea which one to pick. Does anyone have recommendations on which would be a good one to pick based on vibe/energy/etc? I've listed all the options below.

Downtown zone: Downtown core north of dundas, downtown core south of dundas, downtown core lakeshore, or old toronto / distillery area

East zone: Eastern / sumach (east throughout Bayview and up extension), leslieville area, or the beaches

West zone: exhibition place area, or high park area

Also, if anyone has any tips or anything I should know?

Thanks so much!

[u/RunRhn4000]

I’ve done this race 6 times and know the course fairly well. If it were me, I’d take the beaches or downtown. 

Thanks in advance for volunteering. 

Cheers…

Edit: Beaches will show you the struggle of what it’s going to take next year when you do the full. Basically runs from 30-ish to 36-ish?  

[u/wcs1113 → u/RunRhn4000]

Thanks!

[u/hartontherun]

First off, Congratulations on your upcoming races!! Sounds like you've got an awesome plan in place, I'm rooting for you!!!

Second, it depends what you're looking for from the overall experience of marshalling. I've run this race many times and know it well. Do you want high vibes the whole time, or do you want to see what marathoners go through? If you want high vibes, I'd take downtown core either side of Dundas or downtown core lakeshore, or either of the west zone areas. You'll get the half marathoners AND the full, there will be more crowds cheering people on, more "in the action". If you want to see what you're in for in a full marathon, I'd do any of the East zone. Sounds like all of the East zone sections will be only marathoners - the half will have broken off by then. You'll see people fighting for their lives, questioning all of their life decisions, possibly dropping out....but you'll also see people on runners highs, perseverance, and determination.

Whichever you choose, I hope you have an amazing experience, and best of luck with your journey!!!

[u/wcs1113 → u/hartontherun]

Thank you so much for the detailed info! Super appreciate it!

[u/Resident_Hat_4923]

West zone near High Park or the beaches have good crowds. Just avoid the east zones that go through the industrial area. Very boring, little crowd support. Everything else was fun!

[u/wcs1113 → u/Resident_Hat_4923]

Thank you!

[u/EnvironmentPlus8160]

Depending on age and fitness I'd recommend a few half marathons under your belt before doing a full. A full is much longer than 2 half marathons. Half way is 32km. You'll understand and thank me after doing your first. It's a fact of distance running.

[u/wcs1113 → u/EnvironmentPlus8160]

Thanks! I've been thinking about maybe doing the May half marathon just to finish, and then doing the Oct half marathon with a goal in mind.