Marathon runner's hopes dashed by Toronto traffic congestion

He was registered to run in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. But now, a Kitchener resident is left frustrated with downtown road closures that prevented him from making the starting line in time. Catalina Gilles reports.

[larkiess]

The route is identical to last year's and Google Maps will also show you road closures before you leave the house. Nobody to blame but himself and pretty ironic because his registration contributes to this event.

[EmoBf-tjoe]

after driving around the downtown core for an hour? Buddy, there's more that one parkade downtown.

[jothampeters]

Haha! New headline: “First marathon runner, in history, complaining about road closures for a marathon.”

[ohmygeeve]

this is ridiculous.. park further away and walk buddy.

[XiangYu]

lol I left my apartment at 6:00 AM near Yonge / Bloor, and after gently walking there, washroom, stretching and getting properly ready it was basically 7:45 AM which was 15 min before corral lineup. So this dude thought he had ample time leaving Kitchener a mere half hour before I left my apartment downtown…

[jackize]

that's a you problem buddy, leave earlier next time.

[b]

There is literally a GO train from Kitchener. How you can complain about road closures when your massive marathon is literally the reason they exist is beyond me. I adjusted my plans around taking the GO train because of these closures and I was perfectly fine! If you are going to drive, plan your route better and have some pity for the residents who have to put up with the road and transit closures 2x a year because of these events!

[sean]

Sounds like a " him" problem. Everybody else made it. Was probably looking for an excuse because he didn't train for it

[CBanter-ls]

An event that brings millions of dollars to the city and raised 3 million for charity. And city news focuses on the one guy who clearly didn't plan. Kitchener is at best a 1.5 hour drive meaning at best he'd arrive at 7am. Guess he didn't read thr hundreds of notifications stating road closures start at 6am. And guess city news didn't notice either on the big orange sign behind your reporter. This man clearly didn't plan at all. How about focusing on the tens of thousands who made it and focus on their story

[johnmoh]

His own fault. I live in Brampton and know better. Going to Toronto is a 2 hour journey.

[MultiBrodeur]

How is this news? Same venue as previous years. Get to the venue earlier next year.

[TheCutCartel]

His clock radio prob has separate knobs.

[maureenmclafferty]

Why not drive to Aldershot take Go train and subway- why would you drive into Toronto on a marathon day?!!

[jazw]

Reminds me of the people at the gym that drive around until they get a close spot to the gym doors cuz they don't want to walk too far. 😉
Check your Google maps, buddy! That's easily a 2 hr drive from Kitchener without delays these days.

[wlbu]

You'd think he'd know roads would be closed for the marathon as he signed up for the marathon.

[JoachimwGermain-cozw]

Wow Close the roads for the marathon First world problems stop closing roads

[stocktechnicalanalysis]

The race started at 8am but it was in different waves. I guess you can even start to run from the starting line near 9am for the last wave. As long as the starting gate is there and you have your bib (with chip inside), your time will be counted. If you arrived at Bloor or Bathurst street, you can even joggle to the starting line as a warm up. No need to blame traffic, we always need plan B as a resilient runner.

[prosarbadhikari]

We left at 630am and we are in the city. It said to be there one hour early. Seems sus.

[quonslecn]

Maybe you should have RAN to the marathon?

[InvisibleHotdog]

Ironic considering all the roads that these marathons close