Thousands of runners will take to the streets starting early Sunday morning as the annual Mississauga Marathon returns to town.<\/p>\n
The 23rd Beneva Mississauga Marathon, dubbed by organizers \u201cthe GTA\u2019s best spring marathon,\u201d starts at Celebration Square in the city\u2019s downtown core and takes participants on a 42-kilometre course that ends at Lakefront Promenade Park, beside the Mississauga Sailing Club.<\/p>\n
Start time for tomorrow\u2019s race is 7:30 a.m. and time limit for the course is six hours.<\/p>\n
The half-marathon event also begins at 7:30 a.m. at Celebration Square while the 10K gets underway at 9:30 a.m. followed by the 5K race at 10 a.m. The start line for the latter two events is on Burnhamthorpe Road West, between Duke of York Boulevard and Living Arts Drive, directly behind the square\u2019s main stage.<\/p>\n
Organizers say marathon day, which also includes several other events, \u201cis set to be an exciting event that brings the community together in a celebration of fitness, friendship and the spirit of Mississauga.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you\u2019re a runner, a supporter or someone interested in engaging with the local community, this event offers distances for everyone from the experienced to the newcomer,\u201d they said earlier.<\/p>\n
Organizers describe the 42-kilometre race as \u201cthe GTA\u2019s best spring marathon\u201d and note that once again it serves as a qualifier for the prestigious Boston Marathon the following year (2027 Boston Marathon takes place next April 19). The 2026 Boston event was staged last Monday.<\/p>\n
The Mississauga Marathon course is a net downhill route that\u2019s both \u201cscenic and fast,\u201d event organizers say.<\/p>\n
\u201cStarting at \u2018Spectator Village\u2019 (Celebration Square) in the heart of Mississauga and finishing along the scenic shore of Lake Ontario, this certified course will take you from the City Centre over and past the Credit River and through the prestigious University of Toronto Mississauga campus before heading through the beautiful neighbourhoods of Mississauga Road, south Mississauga and past the iconic Port Credit lighthouse,\u201d organizers explain.<\/p>\n
After dropping the 42-kilometre full-length run from its program in 2023 for the first time in its two-decade history, a revamped and rebranded Mississauga Marathon put the \u201cmarathon\u201d back in its name and into the mix for the 2024 event<\/a>.<\/p>\n City of Mississauga officials remind residents to check MiWay bus schedules<\/a> ahead of time as several changes are in store for the day of the marathon. Road closures along the marathon route will also be in place.<\/p>\n (Cover photo: City of Mississauga)<\/p>\n