Saturday, April 6th, the Canada Running Series will welcome almost 4,000 runners and walkers to High Park for opening day of the nation’s most-popular running series.
This is the Series 30th anniversary and the 42nd anniversary of the race which led the series starting in 1990.
The series includes eight events across Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
The annual local favourite includes an 8K, 5K, and an 800m Kids Run.
This year’s race features competition in both the women’s and men’s events.
Scottish-Canadian Sarah Inglis, who set a national 5K all-comers record of
15:29 just a few weeks ago in the Stanley Park-run St. Patrick’s Day 5K, will be battling Canadian national team member Sasha Gollish and Olympic marathon hopeful, Dayna Pidhoresky, who won the Spring Run-Off in 2011.
The women will also be joined by this year’s Around the Bay champions Mengistu Emebet and Gladys Tarus. Winners of the 30K and 5K distances, respectively.
With an unbroken women’s record since 1990 by Jill Hunter (25:56), it will be a competitive race amongst athletes and against the clock!
On the men’s side, Ottawa’s Tristan Woodfine will have to fight off Toronto local Kyle Grieve in order to claim his hat trick of victories at this year’s SRO. They will be joined at the starting line by Canadian Sports Science author and Masters’ competitor, Alex Hutchinson.
For the 14th year, all registered runners and walkers are invited to raise funds to support any area of cancer research, clinic, lab, fund or patient-care program at The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The fundraising total for the past 14 years has surpassed $3.175 million.
There will also be a $5 pancake breakfast, hosted by the Grenadier Café in support of the High Park Nature Centre. The after-party at Hendersons where a free beer for registered participants awaits. Pancakes will be served in the Party Site from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with beers at Hendersons until 1.p.m.
Member of Parliament Arif Virani will officially start the 5K race while Councillor Michael Colle will be recognized at the start of the 8K race.
Runners can still register online until April 5th. Community members and spectators are
invited to cheer and support the runners and walkers in High Park.
What: Race Roster Spring Run-Off
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019
10:00 a.m. 8K Race Start
11:15 a.m. 5K Race Start
11:45 a.m. Kids Run
Who: Start Line – Councilor Michael Colle (8K) MP Arif Virani (5K)