A friend who has taken up running in the past year was in town on March 13th. We’d hoped to run a race together for a while now so we decided to register for Achilles Canada’s 17th Annual St Patrick’s Day 5k Run/Walk. This race was well organized, flat and fast, and with a great post-race celebration. Most importantly, it supported a great cause.
St Patrick’s Day 5k
The Course:
This out-and-back race started and ended in the heart of Toronto, between the Steam Whistle brewery, Rogers Center, and CN Tower. It goes west on Bremner Blvd, north on Spadina Ave, and then east on Wellington St. The turnaround point was on Wellington St between Bay St and Yonge St. The course felt fast and flat, with the only “hill” on Spadina Ave where the road goes over the train tracks. Once you make the final turn to get back on Bremner St, it is a slight downhill to the finish!
Post-Race Celebrations:
For a relatively small race, I would say the post-race celebrations were great! After receiving our medal, a Steam Whistle bottle opener, we were able to go into the Steam Whistle brewery where we were fed chili and beer. Non-runners were also able to join in the celebrations and able to eat and drink for $5. Inside the brewery, a band was playing. On a cold March morning, we appreciated being able to stretch and refuel indoors.
A Practical Medal
A Great Cause:
I had never heard of Achilles before and honestly didn’t pay much attention to it until we were at the race that morning. After reading up on the non-profit organization on the race website, I was happy to have registered. Achilles supports individuals with various disabilities to enable them to participate in, and benefit from, the sport of running. The organization has sponsored athletes, many of whom were racing the St Patrick’s Day 5k. I really sensed a feeling of inclusion in this race, something I haven’t really felt before. A great family event. I have a special interest in running for people with disabilities so I may look to get involved in Achilles events in the future.
One word of caution for those considering running this race competitively. It is a fast course so probably good for a PR. However, make sure to line up toward the front. There are several walkers, wheel chairs, strollers, etc. that will affect the first kilometer or so.
An Unexpected Bonus:
A few days after the race, I was happy to find out that official race pictures were available and free! I think this is a great bonus to any race, especially when unexpected. Since this was my first race in Team RF gear, I will be able to use the pictures for my team profile picture and future posts.
The Verdict:
I really enjoyed this race and would definitely do it again. I highly recommend it. It’s also a great excuse to go downtown on a Sunday morning and maybe spend the rest of the day walking around. As for my results, I was happy to pace my friend to a huge PR.
