Runners in last weekend’s Toronto Marathon are calling out organizers for a “lack of safety” after some are reporting close calls with vehicles that could have resulted in serious injury.
The alarming concerns were raised in a post on Reddit, where one runner detailed their experience during the marathon that they called “shocking.”
“The number of open cross streets along Yonge was honestly shocking. Multiple intersections had minimal police presence or officers barely paying attention,” the user said. “At two different points, cars darted across right in front of me.”
The user went on to say that at one point a driver even slammed on their brakes in the middle of an intersection causing runners to run around the vehicle, despite the marathon route being “closed” to cars.
“The course felt way too accessible to cars with almost no one actively directing traffic. And in light of what happened in Vancouver, it’s hard not to think about the risks,” the user said.
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Dozens of users responded to the post, many agreeing with the user and offering their own experience running in the marathon, while some said they would never run it again.
“Very similar experience, at one point a car was fully in the ‘blocked’ lane for runners, immediately in front of me. Two strides closer and I could’ve tapped their back bumper,” a Reddit user said.
“This is why most strong local runners avoid this run. It’s [terrible] at best, and happens every year,” another user said.
“I live on Lakeshore and I too was shocked at the lack of safety/police presence compared to the Waterfront Marathon,” another user said.
One Reddit user said they were also shocked by the lack of paramedics at the finish line where people tend to push their limits the most.
“Won’t be running this ever again,” the user said.
Many users said that the concerns have been raised many times before, and have become well known within Toronto’s run community.
Now Toronto reached out to Toronto Marathon for a response to the criticism and concerns but did not hear back in time for publication.
In a statement to Now Toronto TPS says that it plans carefully for major events like the Toronto Marathon with safety for participants and the public as a priority.
“We work closely with the City and event organizers to ensure appropriate security measures are in place, including managing traffic, maintaining public safety, and responding to any incidents that may arise,” the statement said.
TPS says that although it has not received any concerns related to last weekend’s marathon, it will work in collaboration with organizers to strengthen safety at future events when concerns arise.
The Toronto Marathon consisted of a full marathon, a half marathon, a 10K run, and a 5K run/walk. The event drew in more than 18,000 participants, according to the website.
The marathon is one of two major marathons hosted in the city each year alongside the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which will take place from Oct. 18-19.
