It wouldn’t truly be a Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) without Eric Gillis on the course. Thankfully, today Canada Running Series announced that Gillis is confirmed to run his sixth STWM on October 16th.
Last month, Gillis added the distinction of top ten Olympic Marathon finisher to his already impressive list of accomplishments when he ran a 2:12.29 in the Rio heat to record Canada’s best finish at the event since Jerome Drayton’s sixth place finish at the 1976 games in Montreal.
That Gillis was able to post such an impressive time in hot conditions adds to speculation over whether or not 2016 will be the year he topples Drayton’s now 41 year old record of 2:10.09, set at the Fukoka Marathon. Gillis, whose current STWM PB stands at 2:11.21, says he is indeed hoping to run a fast race and turn in his best performance yet in Toronto:
“I’m sticking to the same formula that worked leading into Rio,” he allows, “focusing on setting up each day to have success the following one, and ultimately the most on October 16th. What that exactly looks like, I won’t know until the finish line. I’m not ruling anything out. I can say, if all goes well, I’d like to have my best Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon to date.”
Prior to STWM, Gillis will lace up in Vancouver on September 17th for the Eastside 10K.
-Ravi Singh
Our Magazine
