The Ontario fall Marathon lineup has some interesting races including the fastest race (Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon) and one of the largest (Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) races in Canada.
Whether you are a seasoned marathoner or you’re feeling ambitious and participating in your first marathon, there are a number of things that you should consider before deciding to run a marathon in Ontario.
Marathon Race timing
Many people enjoy fall races because of the cooler weather. Fall races in Ontario can lead to better results because of the weather. The typical race day temperature and humidity levels are the closest to optimal marathon performance for many Ontario fall races. In a country where the winter months can make outdoor training difficult, fall races can offer you the most time to train.
The time of the year is not the only factor to consider, but also time of day. When do you perform the best? If you want your best performance, consider the time of day that works best for you. There are a few other timing factors to consider. Make sure you know the race cut off time. Make sure you have enough time to finish the race. If you have been training to keep a certain pace, tagging along with a pace group might be helpful during the race. Some fall marathons offer pace groups.
Here is a list of Ontario fall marathon start times, cut off times and pace group information.
| Date | Race | City | Start Time | Cut off Time | Pace Groups |
| September 9 | MEC Toronto Road Race 6 Marathon | Toronto | 9:00am | 5H | No |
| September 15 | That Dam Hill Marathon | London | 8:00am | 24H | No |
| September 30 | Kitchissippi Run Marathon | Chalk River | 8:00am | No | |
| September 30 | The County Marathon | Prince Edward County | 8:00am | 5.5H | ? |
| October 7 | Ottawa Fall Colours Marathon | Ottawa | 10:00am | No | |
| October 14 | Niagara Falls International Marathon | Niagara Falls | 9:00am | 7H | ? |
| October 12 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto | 8:45am | 6H | Yes |
| October 28 | MEC Ottawa Road Race 4 Marathon | Chelsea | 8:30am | 6H | No |
| October 28 | Stato’s Haunted Hustle Marathon | Temiskaming Shores | 9:00am | 6H | No |
| November 4 | Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon | Hamilton | 8:00am | 4H for 29K | Yes |
Traveling to an Ontario Marathon
Marathons are a great reason to visit a different city or country. You can see new sights and experience a different and unique race atmosphere. Make sure you plan carefully. Travelling to a different city can make training more difficult. Whether you are getting used to a different time zone or simply trying to orient yourself in a new city, running in a new city has its challenges.
Travelling also incurs additional costs including flights, gas, accommodation and meals. You may also experience extra stress navigating unfamiliar streets, eating different foot or dealing with the effects of time change. Depending on how far away from home you decide to go, the climate may change, which can be a shock when running. Running a local race means sleeping in your own bed, no travel stress and eating your regular foods. You are also more likely to be familiar with the course if the race is in your community.
Here are average weather conditions for Ontario marathons on race day
| Date | Race | City | Temperature (in degrees C) | POP |
| September 9 | MEC Toronto Road Race 6 Marathon | Toronto | 22/14 | 40% |
| September 15 | That Dam Hill Marathon | London | 20/9 | 37% |
| September 30 | Kitchissippi Run Marathon | Chalk River | 15/4 | 53% |
| September 30 | The County Marathon | Prince Edward County | 16/8 | 27% |
| October 7 | Ottawa Fall Colours Marathon | Ottawa | 15/4 | 47% |
| October 14 | Niagara Falls international Marathon | Niagara Falls | 15/6 | 33% |
| October 12 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto | 13/7 | 37% |
| October 28 | MEC Ottawa Road Race 4 Marathon | Chelsea | 9/1 | 40% |
| October 28 | Stato’s Haunted Hustle Marathon | Temiskaming Shores | 7/0 | 23% |
| November 4 | Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon | Hamilton | 10/2 | 47% |
Ontario Marathon Size
Ontario has a variety of marathons to offer. Races as big as the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon have large fields and large crowds. Large crowds can give you the motivation to get through the race. However, if you are someone who isn’t a fan of large crowds, big can be bad. Also consider that the start of a larger race might take you 15-20 minutes to cross the start line after the starting gun if you are starting at the back of the pack. You might also spend your energy during the first few miles avoiding being stepped on and shuffling with the crowd until it thins out. In a smaller race you are more likely to get into a rhythm early on.
Here is a list of race sizes for this falls races based on previous years data.
| Date | Race | City | Marathon Runners |
| September 9 | MEC Toronto Road Race 6 Marathon | Toronto | Less than 50 |
| September 15 | That Dam Hill Marathon | London | Less than 50 |
| September 30 | Kitchissippi Run Marathon | Chalk River | Less than 50 |
| September 30 | Prince Edward County Marathon | Prince Edward County | 100-150 |
| October 7 | Ottawa Fall Colours Marathon | Ottawa | 50-100 |
| October 14 | Niagara Falls international Marathon | Niagara Falls | 1000 |
| October 12 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto | 3500 |
| October 28 | MEC Ottawa Road Race 4 Marathon | Chelsea | – |
| October 28 | Stato’s Haunted Hustle Marathon | Temiskaming Shores | Less than 50 |
| November 4 | Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon | Hamilton | 750 |
The Ontario Marathon Course
Of course, the course is important! Although a marathon is a standard distance, each race is unique. Make sure to consider the features of the race that you are considering.
Start-finish: Is the course a loop, point to point, out and back. The type of course is important when considering the track, scenery and logistics.
If you are running a Point to point race make sure you figure out where to leave your gear. How do you get back to the start? Are there shuttle buses? How will you meet up with family and friends after the race?
You may find an out and back course boring if you see the same scenery twice, three times, or more.
Other things to consider are: How far away is your car or hotel? Is it easily accessible? These are good things to consider because you will be tired and may not feel well once you finish.
Flat or hilly: Make sure you have a good idea of the course profile, terrain and elevation through the race. Note the hills and their incline. If the race starts with a long uphill, you don’t want to waste a bunch of energy from the get go. Do you want to run on city roads or in a rural setting.
Altitude: Ontario is relatively flat, and elevation is not a major concern if you are planning to run in a marathon. Most of Ontario is under 250m from sea level. Now if you decided to travel to Denver at an altitude of 1600m above sea level, that might be a different story.
Scenery: Do you want to look at skyscrapers or trees and nature.
Most course websites have the information that you need before beginning the race. Check out the course map for porta potties and aid stations. Check out the aid stations to see if they all offer fluids and food. Some may only have water, while others may have energy drinks or other beverages, gels or other food to get you through the race. This can help you to determine if you need to carry any with you.
| Date | Race | City | Course type | Boston Qualifier | Profile | Surface |
| September 9 | MEC Toronto Road Race 6 Marathon | Toronto | Out and back |
No |
Mostly Flat | Road/ Pavement |
| September 15 | That Dam Hill Marathon | London | 2.25 km loop | Yes | Mostly Flat | Road/ Pavement |
| September 30 | Kitchissippi Run Marathon | Chalk River | 2 loops | No | Mostly Flat | Road/ Pavement |
| September 30 | The County Marathon | Prince Edward County | Point to Point | Yes | Mostly flat | Road/
Pavement |
| October 7 | Ottawa Fall Colours Marathon | Ottawa | Out and Back | Yes | Rolling Hills | Road/ Pavement |
| October 14 | Niagara Falls international Marathon | Niagara Falls | Point to Point | Yes | Mostly Flat | Road/ Pavement |
| October 12 | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | Toronto | Out and Back | Yes | Mostly Flat | Road/ Pavement |
| October 28 | MEC Ottawa Road Race 4 Marathon | Chelsea | Loop | Yes | Hilly | Road/ Pavement |
| October 28 | Stato’s Haunted Hustle Marathon | Temiskaming Shores | Point to Point | Yes | Mostly Flat | Road/ PAvement |
| November 4 | Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon | Hamilton | Point to Point | Yes | Downhill | Road/ Pavement |
The most important is to train for the race. As long as you put in the miles you should be able to accomplish your goals. Ideally if you live close to the race course, practice on it. If you don’t have a chance to check out the course ahead of time some larger races have video tours by the race organizers, fans or running websites and group.
