Race participants and the marathon director himself were appalled at the disorganization and behavior at the Toronto Marathon on May 7, according to the Toronto Star.
The event hosted multiple races, including the marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. One half marathoner, Robyn Fennell, told the news outlet that there was a lack of water and medical personnel, and that the finish line was disorganized and unsafe. According to the Toronto Star, she’s not the only participant to feel that way.
Fennell said that in some places, there were cars that cut through the small orange cones that separated the runners from oncoming traffic.
The race director, Jay Glassman, told the Star that while there was disorganization in some aspects of the race, there were 60,000 to 70,000 unused water cups by the end of the race and that there were medics all over the route, “top to bottom.” He also said the city had 13 transportation officers in place for traffic management and that “event organizers provided paid duty officers to support traffic management,” bringing the number of officers from 60 to 90. He went on to say there were barricades along the course to keep runners and cars separate.
But Glassman and the runners can agree that the race expo and the finish line were disaster zones.
He told the Star that the expo was “traumatizing,” for himself, volunteers, vendors, and sponsors. He said he saw attendants grabbing boxes from off-limits areas, which contained water and post-run snacks, preventing all runners from receiving those items.
“It was just pure greed—that mob mentality,” Glassman told the news outlet.
He noted that older women who were working for him were told to, “Get out of my way you f——g c—t,” and that high school students who were volunteering experienced racial slurs.
“I have never been more disgusted in my life,” Glassman told the Star.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a nine-time marathoner with a best of 3:23. She’s also proud of her 19:40 5K and 5:33 mile. Heather is an RRCA certified run coach.
