Around the Bay brings thousands out, marking last race for 'a while' at FirstOntario Centre

For Eddie Wilson, this year's Around the Bay experience wasn't as he originally expected, but he still had lots of love for North America's oldest road race on Sunday in Hamilton. 

Wilson had wanted to run the race as a three-person relay with his daughter and her partner, but a loss in his family changed his plans and meant he wasn't able to train as much as he intended.

Instead, he ran a bit with them during a section of the course near LaSalle Park in Burlington and then cheered them on the rest of the way.

"This is the type of community stuff we need to be doing in Hamilton," he said. "And all over actually because this is what brings a community together."

Wilson and his wife Sharon Wilson cheered along York Boulevard, hoping their daughter and her boyfriend would run by and see their sign. 

"She's doing something that she likes, she loves, and we're proud of her," said Sharon.

Last for 'a while' at FirstOntario Centre

The 129th annual event was sold out with 5,860 participants — 4,019 people registered for the 30-kilometre route, 295 for the two-person relay, 204 for the three-person relay and 1,816 for the five-kilometre race.

It raised over $350,000 for St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation. 

Race director Anna Lewis said she was happy to come back to the FirstOntario Centre — where the race started and ended — for what she expects is "the last time in a while" as the venue is set to undergo lengthy renovations starting later this year. 

"We really do feel like home here, like they give us the keys [to the venue]," she said.

She said she's looking forward to celebrating the 130th anniversary of the race next year at the Tim Hortons Field, with a modified course.

There's 'a love of life... I had forgotten'

Although the lake wind still came in throughout the morning, the weather on Sunday was warm and sunny.

Supporters were seen throughout the course holding signs for family and friends, but also for all participants. People yelled words of support, rang bells and blew whistles.

Torontonian Sasha Gollish came in first for the women's 30km race at 1:48:03 and said it was an honour for her to take part in one of the "most historic races in the world."

She said she prepared by taking up Nordic skiing.

"I'm really hoping there's still snow left so I can ski tomorrow and Tuesday," she said on Sunday.

She said this was her first 30km on the road, and as the first "real season start, post-pandemic," where she's not feeling anxious about getting sick, Gollish is feeling grateful.

"I think there's a lightness to that and a love of life that I had forgotten."

Rachel Hannah, a Port Elgin, Ont., resident, came in second at the women's race at 1:50:41. This was her third time running the race.

"It's great to be back here," she said.

Teagan Roberston was third in the same category, at 1:58:11.

'A bucket-list race'

Despite only finding out about the race last week, French immigrant Roman Carette came in third in the men's 30km race.

"I had a surgery in my kidney in November last year. So yeah, I really didn't expect to be at this race today in the third place of this amazing race. So yeah, for me, it's just amazing."

The Toronto resident has only been in Canada for two years. He said he wanted to finish in less than one hour and 45 minutes, which he did at 1:41:42.

Hamilton resident Blair Morgan came in first in the men's 30km, at 1:37:46 and said this was "a bucket-list race" for him.

"The goal was to come out here and win, so it was nice to do that," he said.

The race started at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, just a few days after the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge reopened following two months of maintenance, allowing the use of the route past runners were familiar with.