nike toronto islands

Nike running race coming back to the Toronto Islands

Fleet-footed Toronto ladies will want to mark their calendars now: Nike has announced their globe-spanning run series is set to touch down in Toronto for a pretty intriguing-sounding race this coming summer. Nike Women's 15K Toronto - one of 20 similar events scattered around the globe - is set to go down on the Toronto Islands on June 14.

As Nike Canada's Claire Rankine explains it, the events are meant to act as "a celebration of women in sport." The 15K distance was chosen to give beginning runners something attainable to aspire to while still spurring experienced racers to train harder. To sweeten the deal for participants, they'll be throwing events over the entire race weekend (June 12-14).

Though it's the first time this race series has hit Toronto, the island run is a return to form for Nike; the company mounted a massive "Nike RunTO" campaign in the early 2000s that featured a series of huge running events, including a 10K event on the Islands in 2003. (At the time, it was touted as the largest running event in Toronto history, with over 8,000 participants.)

The 15K course will reportedly wind once around Centre Island, with gravel, grass and concrete throwing runners a few curveballs. It's not the only running event to take place on the Island, mind you - Longboat Toronto Island Run (a 5K and 10K) and the Island Girl half-marathon are both set for later in the 2015 season - but hey, any chance to run past that skyline view, I'll take. In the meantime, if you're eager to start on race prep, check out their neighbourhood running clubs.

Photo via Nike.


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