2024 Toronto Waterfront Marathon Vlog - HARDER than expected

In today's vlog, I documented my trip to run the 2024 Toronto Waterfront Marathon. From packet pickup, to the race, to the breakfast I had the next day; it was an eventful weekend, with some highs, some lows, and even a running celebrity appearance.
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[@kofuzi]

great work!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!!

[@ovelmo]

I also ran this race this past weekend (my fourth time as I live in Toronto) and I had the same experience as you, missing my goal by 10 minutes, but the end is so brutal (and it's like that *every* time) that I always feel just happy to PR when I cross the finish. It was nice to re-live the race through a tourist's--and much faster runner's 😅 --perspective. Thanks for the video!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks for watching! I thought I was prepared after reading people talk about the last 15K or so, but it was so much harder than I expected! Glad I ran the race though!

[@morningcoach]

Hey man, huge inspiration love your videos! I am heading to Indy tomorrow and will be running my first marathon on Saturday. At 55, I am trying to qualify for Boston and run a 3:30 - lots of inspiration. Keep posting!!!! Thanks, brother! Found your video from last years INDY! Ready to roll - thanks man!!! (Congrats on your new PR!!!!) Keep us informed!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Have a great race tomorrow!!!! Let me know how it went!

[@morningcoach]

@@FreshBrewRunClub wow, humbling was following the 3:20 pace group feeling amazing - pulled a groin at 17 - last 9 miles where the hell - got goal C FINISH 4 hours. But I was off for 30 mins!!! HAAHAHAH, keep us inspired. I will get that 3:30 in the spring. Marathons are beasts. What a lesson - Looking for what I am going to run in the Spring and, this time, more training and figuring out why I had groin issues, never stretched it, trained it, etc... but WHAT a great experience would try again today if I could walk. Keep up the great work - 6 months back at it again LOL

[@thejeffinvade]

I run last year, my first and only marathon, did it in 3:19:55, very similar to yours. But this year I am on cheering duty only. It is less windy than 2023, but just a little bit too much sun.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks for cheering!

[@runwithbritters]

Stellar job especially not giving up when you felt like crap. That finisher's shoot looks like my nightmare lol. Fran's breakfast looks legit! Great job capturing the city and the race. Cheers! ☕

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks! I’m overall happy with the race, but feeling motivated already for next year

[@timtrenholm3698]

Your whole race experience gave me flashbacks to Chicago '24, just on a smaller scale. It's uncanny, well except for the start/corral situation....even though Chicago was CRAZY it was organized chaos with corral assignments. Toronto looked like a tire fire on that part. And I guess the finish area wasn't great either. I crashed and burned at Chicago and finished at 3:19:53 after having aspirations (and half the race) of running sub 3:10hr. Learned a lot of hard lessons going into Boston 2025, and feel better mentally ready for my 2nd BIG marathon (6th overall). Take pride in any marathon that results in a PB was a good day. Thanks for the Toronto race experience, I had considered doing this race next year so this vid and your follow-up will help!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I’m going to talk about this in my race recap video, but I think this is a trend with big city marathons; they’ve gotten a little too big and logistically challenging. Same happened at Berlin from what I saw. I also feel like I learned a lot, and I’m already thinking about my training for fall 2025.

[@SenaLee]

I also started at 8:05; we may have run the same pace at the beginning. I found multiple clips from this video, lol. Thanks for sharing!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

That’s awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@alvinvillanueva911]

Congratulations Aaron for your PR, thanks for the superb effort I enjoyed the series. I Also Ran that day, it's my first Marathon Ran here in Toronto Canada. Thanks for Sharing 👍

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks for watching!

[@crunseverywhere1247]

Congratulations! You ran in my hometown. Don’t be hard on yourself, PRs are hard to earn and should be celebrated. Great video as always!

[@topoisomerace]

Excellent vlog -- I really enjoyed it! I know several runners who ran well but missed targets in this race. I think the sun was sneaky impactful. You did great.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! The sun was definitely a factor.

[@kacierucinski2001]

Was looking forward to watching this one. Incredible work out there!! 🙌 Your vlogs have been really inspiring for me leading up to my first Detroit Free Press half. Hope your soaking up recovery time!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@JW_31]

Congrats on the PR man! Really enjoyed your weekly vlogs - keep it up!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!

[@JenniferBBurrows]

Congratulations on the PR! I’ve just discovered your vlog and love it. The scene of you walking through the beds and pillows after the race had me laughing so hard!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! It was surreal walking through that mall haha

[@young-spark]

Randomly came across this video. Well done and ty for capturing the day. I ran 3:19 so we probably shared some miles together. The wizard passed me too towards the end. Haha. I agree that the finish area def needs to be better organized.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I’m sure we did! Good for that wizard, very strong finish haha

[@MrRainman007]

Great video and congrats on your new PR! Found myself looking at shoes at 3:26 😂

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@justskawt1796]

"I want to sit down so bad, but I've got to find my wife first." We had the same exact experience! LOL! Way to go on the new PR. Not the way you wanted it, but you got there, and I'm proud of you, buddy! That was an incredible run!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! I knew if I sat down, I wouldn’t be able to get back up haha. This race was definitely a learning experience, and I’m feeling very motivated for next year already

[@AvinMarv]

hey man. that was me at the 9:14 mark. Glad you had a great time in toronto! Congrats!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!

[@annettedorr547]

congrats, very good race, i love it when you say they are supporting with the inner voice, haha, in some areas in Berlin it is the same

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!

[@handisandi7246]

Thank you for sharing this

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinjohnston3901]

Hahahaha, lost in the Toronto underground PATH tunnels is a right of passage when visiting Toronto. Congrats on the PR! That headwind the last 7k was no joke. Well done. 💪

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! I couldn’t help but laugh at the stationary escalators. Great race overall though, very happy I came to Toronto

[@joe.hsiung]

Looks like you had a blast! Congrats!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks! I did! Very happy I ran in Toronto!

[@lexington476]

Congrads on the PR. Looks like a nice race.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! I’ll say I loved everything about the first half, and did not enjoy the second half. But overall I’m glad I ran there this year.

[@matthiassventoest6800]

PR by 7 minutes.., super dooper sweet. great effort.., into the wind is tough, but you were ready for it. 👏

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Yep, I’m happy with my time, all things considered. Already thinking about next year!

[@wildrachanne]

Congratulations! I ran in the half and finished around the same time as you 😊 thanks for sharing your journey. You put in a lot of work, you should be so proud of yourself!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! I’m happy with my time, although I feel like I have some motivation for next year. Excited to see what’s next. Thanks for watching!

[@cityscapes4165]

Congrats! The second half of the race is always a mental battle. Once you split from the Half Marathon finishers, the crowds thin and the wind picks up.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Yep, it got tough out there! I also think the out and backs made it mentally harder. When I saw the elites coming my way, I knew I had a long way to go before I could turn around haha

[@kcire5006]

Congrats on the PR!! You and Yowanna are my favorite runtubers!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Wow, thank you!! Appreciate that!

[@Micartaa]

12:41 was the face I made too. People keep crossing!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Haha!

[@calebashburn8943]

Awesome video!! Well done on the recap and sharing your post race thoughts. Cool stuff!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@polgara123456]

Great video! This was my first marathon and I had a similar experience, second half of the course was so much harder and miserable than I expected, I was just relieved it was over 😅 If you think that finish area was chaotic you should've seen the finish for the Toronto spring marathon/half this year 😂 Makes this look amazing in comparison!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I have read the horror stories from that race haha!!!

[@kerry_runs]

Congratulations on the PR! Your running continues to improve! Well done nice vid.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you and appreciate the kind words!

[@jfk-q4r]

Congrats Aaron. I really enjoyed the entire series.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!!

[@queuebit]

Thanks for sharing, congrats on the PR.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@stevemckellar4978]

What a great day for PB's! Congrats!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you, and congrats again!!!

[@Houlewhip1231]

Congrats on the PR!!!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! The more time that passes, the happier I am with my run

[@uncledave6804]

That finish area was a weird, dystopian scene. 'You've just run 26 miles but you can't leave' Congrats on the PR!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Ha! I’d recommend they add more room for runners only with the food and water, and have the “reunion” section outside of that large plaza. There were too many people converging there. But there’s always more to the story, so who knows!

[@serena8991]

Lol “ keep moving folks” when you’ve just finished a marathon haha great job!! I did the half was a good day!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I’ve been running long enough to know that they’re just doing their job, but it’s hard to resist the urge to yell back “how about you run a marathon and keep it moving!?!?” haha

[@dougmighton882]

Congrats on your PB!!!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!

[@hoppy303]

Beautiful weather for it. Superb effort Aaron, great job on the PR! I've really enjoyed the series, thanks for sharing. Out of interest, have you always used the Hansons Method for your marathons? It's a great method, used their half marathon plan a few times in the past, and I ran my first marathon following their beginner plan last week (Rannoch Marathon in Scotland). Next is an Ultra race (Devil o the Highlands). What's your thoughts on the next race, do you have any plans to go beyond the marathon distance?

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks for watching! I’ve run all my recent marathons using Hansons, and I really like it. I’m looking into some other plans potentially for next year, but I’ll probably keep using what has worked well for me. I’m planning on doing some local 10Ks this winter, and maybe a half this summer. Not sure where I’ll run a fall marathon yet. Maybe Detroit again

[@willsmitt]

Ran this too, really overwhelming finishers area!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I wanted to sit down so badly, but I knew I’d never get back up. Great apple juice though!

[@natakou]

congrats man!! you crushed it! views were amazing, surprised it was so chaotic. houston is in january - pivot to a half? I'm running it with kofuzi!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks! I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do this winter; perhaps train for a half in the spring!

[@Justin-uc8sc]

Congradjewlashions my freid!!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!

[@WorldT]

well done and congrats

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Appreciate it!!!

[@BroPhotography]

congrats on the PR!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!!

[@wesleybrandy7197]

Dude awesome job!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!!

[@Vicshade]

Great job! Way to gut it out.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@kimiefabulous]

Congrats 👏👏👏

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you!

[@alaynabrandt3401]

Not the wizard!!!

[@OURWORLD4EVER]

My home town, when you said the road was good for running I lol 😆 our roads are so bad. Also I wonder how many people rolled their ankles or tripped on the streetcar tracks. I want the raccoons and streetcar shirt

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

The tracks were a little tricky, but that section near the water had the nicest surface!

[@alaynabrandt3401]

I am here for the Amanda cameos

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

A rare treat

[@Aaron_Turnbull]

Hey my name is Aaron! I ran the waterfront marathon! And I am making a vlog about it too! Nice video!!

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

What’s up Aaron! I’ll check out your vlog!

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

Congrats on the personal beCongrats on the personal best! 🎉 How was the vibe during the race?

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thanks! Great vibes on the first half of the course, but the second half was quieter until I got back downtown. Overall very fun event

[@RyanHarney]

Proud of you! How would you rate Hansons now?!?

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Thank you! I’m still high on the Hansons method, although I might make a slight tweak to run more hills, add strength training and tack on a few miles to the long runs without going over to their recommended long run mileage %. Getting sick in July kind of set me back, so hopefully I can come back stronger next fall

[@RyanHarney]

Dude you killed it!

[@Vicshade]

Have you tried any other training plans besides Hansons? I’m curious on what the comparisons are.

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I did a random plan my first marathon ever and it was a disaster. I’m looking into some potential other ones for next year, like the Pfitz plans

[@ingagade951]

Is it your bloodsugar that is bothering when you bonk ? Or is it something else - and what is it ? Inga DK-

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

I probably could have used more mileage in my training. Wind and hills on the back half was just enough to throw me off my goal pace.

[@abbeymcintosh5269]

omg i saw myself at 3:38 😭

[@FreshBrewRunClub]

Nice!