Toronto Marathon - behind the scenes

If you want to read about the marathon - have a look at this web site


Toronto Marathon (goodlife)


BUT if you really want to see how the marathon works - well I have pictures. Now this is my third year volunteering for the marathon. Initially I signed up to be a bike marshall, but when they learned that I would and could drive a truck - well we haven't looked back. It is a dirty, physically demanding job, but someone has to do it!!!!  

We are on the same channel as the medical team and there were MANY MANY calls yesterday of people collapsing or needing assistance or just needing to be picked up. I do believe the hotter temperature and people not hydrating properly was a big problem. And unfortunately there was a death with a young teen. Very sad, but let's wait to see what the circumstances of her death are. At least there was NOT a repeat of what happened in Boston.

Anyway - my job along with three other trucks was to drop off the supplies for the water stations and when the race starts - we follow it and pick up the garbage, tables and other supplies. Here goes...........


We started the day at 5:30 AM (after I picked up my helper - yeah - I got a helper this year). He took all of these pictures. A very nice young man from Berlin who is here on a work visa - although he is still looking for a job.

Once we dropped the water station stuff - we headed north to get to the start of the marathon. The pictures start as we are just about at the start -

The marathon has started

HUGE crowd of runners

This is me talking to the cop. "But officer - I just want to park the truck in a safe place!!!!!"   We got a nice location in a church parking lot for the truck and we were fine until it was time to work. But you see the cyclist - this is what I was SUPPOSED to be doing, but not any more.

Uploading to Facebook

The runners assembling for the half marathon

Portapotties - very important

The truck - I can't believe how nervous people are about driving a truck. It is the same as a car - just bigger. But our coordinator admitted that his backup sensors in his own car have made his backing up skills weak. Those and cameras should be BANNED. People need to rely on their skills and get a spotter or whatever. What will they do when they get in a vehicle that doesn't have the toys??????

Go leafs GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (The Maple Leafs mascot started the half marathon)

Video camera in the middle of the median

Crap - me taking more pictures for Facebook - I didn't even know he was taking pictures of ME!!!!!!!!!!!

The half marathon 

See the sign - that is a pace bunny to help people who want to finish in a certain time

The half marathon - a LOT of runners

Me - texting again - I am as bad as a teen

The spectators as the half starts

A sea of runners

We arrive at one of the first stations and it was "fairly" clean

Cups and stuff not packed up - we had to do the clean up at this station and several others - NOT a fun task. 

Our truck convoy as we followed the marathon

There was a Blue Jays (baseball) game as we went through down town (to add to the confusion) and everyone was decked out in their Blue Jays outfits. Let's just say that traffic was UGLY - really really UGLY. But because we were following the runners we had no problem - the cops kept the intersections open so our convoy could pass. They wanted the roads open as quickly as possible - so anything to make our job easier - they did!!!

More Blue Jays fans

 Because we were official vehicles - we were able to take a few liberties - but not many. Not with police escort the entire way.

Picking up the barriers (not our job - thank god)

Picking up the pylons (again - not our job)

The police escort

Then we had to stop at Ontario Place because the garbage truck was FULL. We off loaded the garbage into the dumpster

Off loading the garbage

Yes - we FILLED TWO HUGE dumpsters with garbage

That is me rinsing out the Gatorade containers   (and this is just a small part of the total amount of Gatorade containers)

A quick lunch of COLD pizza

Rolling hoses for the next event

That is me with my lovely fashionable safety vest!!!!  It was only at this point that I realized that Heiko (my helper) was taking pictures of me!!!!!!!!!!

After we off loaded the trucks - we had to pick up the supplies from the parking lot in the finish area and get it in its proper place. I think they need a LOT of help in getting the organizers organized to make that happen. I had to load and practically unload my truck by MYSELF. I was tired and hot and not happy. Anyway - then I drove two vehicles (not at the same time of course) to the rental company and finally got to leave at 6:30 PM.

It was a very hot, dirty, STICKY day. I like volunteering and since I am NOT about to volunteer for a more involved job - I will be quite happy to keep my mouth shut and do the one day. I am NOT getting on a committee because I can't imagine the work involved in that.


On that note - I have to get ready for Monday Motivators.  (and if the above sounds muddled - well my brain is still half asleep)


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!