Jeff Lui · Avis

Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish (well, except for the last 5 km when I started questioning every life decision that brought me here).

Crowd support was incredible, aid stations were plentiful, and there were medics on bikes everywhere, which was reassurin...

Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish (well, except for the last 5 km when I started questioning every life decision that brought me here).

Crowd support was incredible, aid stations were plentiful, and there were medics on bikes everywhere, which was reassuring given the state of my legs by the end. The medal was awesome and satisfyingly heavy, exactly what you want after running 42.2 km!

Post-race organization was equally impressive. Plenty of volunteers directing exhausted runners where to go, zero lineups, and everything ran like clockwork. Honestly, the logistics were smoother than my final 10 km.

Huge kudos to the organizers, volunteers, and spectators. Would absolutely run it again once I regain the ability to walk normally!

This was my first trail race, and overall it was a great introduction to trail running. Held in Alliston, about an hour from Toronto, the race had a small, intimate feel with fewer than 50 runners tackling the 12K loop. I was surprised by the size of the field, but the relaxed...

This was my first trail race, and overall it was a great introduction to trail running. Held in Alliston, about an hour from Toronto, the race had a small, intimate feel with fewer than 50 runners tackling the 12K loop. I was surprised by the size of the field, but the relaxed atmosphere made for a welcoming and friendly experience.

The organizers did an excellent job with the course. The trail was well marked, signage was clear, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. As a first-time trail runner, I never had to worry about getting lost and could simply focus on enjoying the run.

The course itself was scenic and enjoyable, winding through beautiful forested sections and reminding me that trail running is a very different sport from road racing. Instead of obsessing over pace, I spent most of my time watching my footing and trying not to trip over roots. My watch became more of a decorative accessory than a pacing tool.

One thing future runners should know: the final climb is no joke. Just when you think you’re cruising toward the finish, the course throws in a steep hill that feels determined to collect one last entry fee from your legs.

My only criticisms are that I wish the finisher medal had been personalized for this year’s event, and that the post-race BBQ offered higher-quality burgers and snacks. After conquering the trails, I was hoping for a finish-line meal that packed a little more punch.

Overall, this was a well-organized and enjoyable event that I’d happily recommend to anyone curious about trail running. Beautiful scenery, great organization, and a welcoming atmosphere made for a memorable first trail race experience.

This was my second Shoppers Run for Women event, and for those who have run (or plan to run) multiple races in this series, you’ll either love or hate the consistency. The pre- and post-race experience felt almost identical to the Markham Run for Women. From the tent layouts a...

This was my second Shoppers Run for Women event, and for those who have run (or plan to run) multiple races in this series, you’ll either love or hate the consistency. The pre- and post-race experience felt almost identical to the Markham Run for Women. From the tent layouts and stage setup to the swag bags, drinks, washrooms, and overall event flow, everything was remarkably familiar. If you’ve done one, you’ll pretty much know exactly what to expect at the next, like the Tim Hortons of race events: reliable, predictable, and comfortingly Canadian.

The course itself was a highlight, featuring a scenic double loop through downtown Toronto with plenty of city views and great spectator energy. The route was easy to follow, although the organizers could do a better job of separating the 5K walkers from the 10K runners. There were a few spots where weaving through traffic felt less like a road race and more like trying to navigate Costco on a Saturday afternoon.

As with my review of the Markham event, my biggest complaint remains the finisher award. The charm bracelet concept is certainly unique, but I would much rather receive a traditional finisher medal. There’s just something satisfying about hanging a medal on the wall afterward, whereas the bracelet tends to end up in a drawer wondering what it did wrong.

That said, Shoppers Run for Women continues to deliver a well-organized and professionally executed race experience. It may not have all the bells and whistles of some larger events, but it gets the fundamentals right: smooth logistics, friendly volunteers, a welcoming atmosphere, and a worthwhile cause. Sometimes consistency isn’t a bad thing, especially when it means you can focus on running rather than wondering where the start line, water station, or nearest portable toilet might be.

Overall: A solid, dependable event that does the basics very well, even if I’d still trade the charm bracelet for a medal in a heartbeat.

The Markham edition of the Shoppers Run was very well organized, with passionate volunteers, accurate route distances, and well-spaced pre- and post-race festivities. The overall experience felt very controlled and polished, and you could tell the organizers paid close attenti...

The Markham edition of the Shoppers Run was very well organized, with passionate volunteers, accurate route distances, and well-spaced pre- and post-race festivities. The overall experience felt very controlled and polished, and you could tell the organizers paid close attention to detail.

I do wish the route allowed for more spectators along the course. After the start, you’re pretty much left alone with your thoughts and questionable pacing decisions for most of the race, although the volunteers along the route were friendly and engaged throughout.

The race fee was fairly standard compared to similar events, so I was a little surprised there wasn’t a traditional finisher medal. Instead, participants received a sponsored charm bracelet. Not quite the dramatic “I survived this race” medal moment, but at least the swag bag had a few decent goodies inside.

Overall, despite the rainy weather, I really enjoyed the race atmosphere, and the route was very well organized and managed. I’d definitely consider doing it again.

First time running the Toronto Marathon. I raced the Half Marathon, and overall, despite all the negative reviews from previous years, I thought it was an enjoyable experience overall. The route was scenic, tons of crowd support along pretty much the whole route, adequate aid ...

First time running the Toronto Marathon. I raced the Half Marathon, and overall, despite all the negative reviews from previous years, I thought it was an enjoyable experience overall. The route was scenic, tons of crowd support along pretty much the whole route, adequate aid stations and the finisher's medal is gigantic which is nice. Volunteers were friendly and the overall vibe was very position. I wouldn't mind running this race again in the future.

Having said that, there are a few things that the race could definitely improve on. First, what's with reusing the same souvenir shirt from last year? At least change the colour if you will reuse the same design. Reusing the exact same shirt from last year was simply not a good decision. The start corrals could have been better organized, they are too close together, so when it gets close to race start time, it's literally impossible to get to the right corral that you want to get to which puts you immediately at a disadvantage in terms of navigating the start of the race. Aid stations were plentiful, but I think having garbage cans a little further down the road from each station would have helped the garbage pile that would quickly accumulate from runners dumping the cups on the floor. This caused a potential safety hazard too from runners tripping over all the cups. The post race was also nice, but they ran out of water right after the finish line which caused a massive backlog... took about 5-10 minutes before I could exit the finish line area and get a cup of water, it seems like this could be easily prepared for in advance. But again, overall, I'd say the race was worth it for a very scenic race route through many neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Challenging hilly race through High Park! Well organized, and lots of support/volunteers/signage all over the race course. If I could improve one thing, the post-race festivities could have been better managed. It would have been nice to have multiple photo backdrops instead o...

Challenging hilly race through High Park! Well organized, and lots of support/volunteers/signage all over the race course. If I could improve one thing, the post-race festivities could have been better managed. It would have been nice to have multiple photo backdrops instead of having to line up after a tiring race just to take a photo. Also, wasn't sure where to go after the race in terms of getting water or snacks so ended up just leaving. But other than that, a very well managed race.

Well organized race. Appreciated the very smooth shuttle from Broadview Station to the race site. Bib pickup at The Runners Shop is a little inconvenient for those who don't live downtown and they should tell you that you can simply pick it up on race day. It would have been n...

Well organized race. Appreciated the very smooth shuttle from Broadview Station to the race site. Bib pickup at The Runners Shop is a little inconvenient for those who don't live downtown and they should tell you that you can simply pick it up on race day. It would have been nice to have more crowd support along different parts of the race (not just at the start/finish), but loved all the volunteers to help you throughout race day. Post race festivities could have been more organized, didn't know where to get food/drinks/etc. But overall, enjoyed the race and vibe. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Great little 5K race before the main Tokyo Marathon. Everything was well-organized, and nice location through the park in Asakusa. I only wished that they actually mapped out a 5K route. The actual distance was closer to 4.7K, not that big of a deal, just little details. Overa...

Great little 5K race before the main Tokyo Marathon. Everything was well-organized, and nice location through the park in Asakusa. I only wished that they actually mapped out a 5K route. The actual distance was closer to 4.7K, not that big of a deal, just little details. Overall, great experience and vibe!