Downtown Toronto Marathons

I have lived in downtown Toronto for 15-years, primarily on King St West. I have worked in the downtown core for 25 years. I know of what I speak when it comes to centre of Canada's largest city.

Let me start with another pet peeve for residents of the core. The Bank of Nova Scotia Marathon takes place next weekend. It runs through the downtown streets, making it impossible to drive out of the downtown. I rent cars on weekends and I'm not able to do so next weekend. It is near impossible to get around.

Now I understand that every city has a marathon and they are most likely going to use the downtown streets. Who wants to run through the suburbs? Anyone? The problem is that this is not the only marathon in downtown Toronto. In the Spring they run the Good Life Marathon. Again they shut down the downtown streets. They told the two marathons to get their act together and have one marathon. Instead they just split the dates. Boston and New York do not have two marathons. To top it off neither of the Toronto marathons is considered a prestigious race. At least take one of the marathons and hold it Scarborough, or Mississauga. They also shut down the streets for numerous 5k and 10k runs. Don't get me started on the bike-a-thons that shut down the Gardiner & Don Valley Expressways.

Give the taxpayers in the core a break and take some of these events to the suburbs. Or at least the Martin Goodman Trail along the waterfront.