If you’re heading down to the water this weekend, be sure to bring your sneakers
Close to 12,000 runners are expected to arrive in Toronto this weekend for the 15-kilometre race taking place Sunday June 14 on Toronto Island. Part of the popular Nike Women’s Race series, Toronto is the first and only Canadian city to take part in the series this year drawing runners from all across the country as well as overseas.
The course for Sunday’s Nike Women’s 15k Toronto.
Sunday’s course will snake around the island passing through Ward’s Island, Hanlan’s Point as well as along the runway at Billy Bishop Toronto City airport. Instead of a typical medal, runners will receive a Tiffany’s necklace designed specifically for the Toronto event.
To amp up the excitement for the race, Nike has concocted a 30,000 square foot village on the waters edge between Lower Simcoe and York with everything runners could possibly need — or simply want — to prepare themselves for Sunday. In the main tent, visitors will find a massive retail space packed with running and training gear, including Toronto-specific clothing as well as an exclusive preview of the Nike fall women’s collection, which won’t hit regular stores for another two weeks.
There’s also an area where you can do a run/gait analysis, try out shoes and speak to special guests throughout the weekend including professional athletes, trainers and coaches—we chatted about our favourite running tights with Canadian snowboarder Spencer O’Brien at the preview.
Image: Nike Women
If you don’t catch the athletes in the tent, two panel discussions will take place during the weekend including a “Race Day Ready” talk at 5 p.m. on Friday June 12 and Nike Athletes panel at 3 p.m. on Saturday June 13. Athletes expected to attend include Sarah Reinersten, Spencer O’Brien, Paula Findlay and Lakey Peterson.
But the real excitement happens on the water where a massive barge called “the Crystal Coliseum” invites runners (and others) to participate in free workouts inspired by Nike’s N+TC training app. The barge holds between 75 and 100 people and is surrounded by clear plastic walls that allow you to take in the beauty of the waterfront while you sweat it out with your fellow women (and men). Workouts run from as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 8:30 p.m. with trainers brought in from New York, L.A., Chicago, Texas, Washington D.C and Portland. For anyone who’s never tried the app, N+TC offers something for everyone with high intensity drills, dance, cardio, yoga and pilates. A full schedule of the classes can be found here.
The Village will be open today until 5 p.m. on Sunday and is located next to Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay W. For more information visit their website.
