The Around the Bay Road Race (ATB) is a long distance road race annually in Hamilton, Ontario. The event features a 30 kilometer race, a 5 kilometer race, a 10 kilometer race, a 15 kilometer race, and virtual races. First held in 1894, it is the oldest long distance road race in North America. Since it began, the race has been held every year except for 1917 to 1919 (due to World War I), 1925 to 1935, 1962 (due to construction), and 2020 and 2021 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

History

The Hamilton Herald Newspaper and cigar store owner "Billy" Carroll, originated and sponsored the "Herald Road Race", the first Around the Bay Road Race, run on Christmas Day, 1894. Thirteen racers ran the 19 mile and 168 yard course around Hamilton Harbour. Billy Marshall won the race and was awarded a $25 silver cup and some boxes of cigars. In the early 20th century, Jack Caffery and William Sherring battled it out and won two "Bay" races each. Famed Canadian-Onondaga runner Tom Longboat also took the first major victory of his career here, in 1906. Scotty Rankine won a record seven races in the 1930s and 1940s, while Peter Maher won his fifth Bay race in 1996, tying the record of local Gord Dickson, who had five wins in the late 1950s. Women were first allowed to enter in 1979. In 2005, the ATB partnered with St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation and, for the first time, became a fundraising event.

Recent history

2020

In February 2020, race organizers announced that the 30k race route would change to exclude the signature trek up the Valley Inn Road hill after the city of Hamilton closed the road's pedestrian bridge due to safety concerns. This ultimately didn't matter as, on March 13, the race was cancelled due to the rapidly progressing COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

In 2021, the ATB held a virtual race in lieu of the regular in-person event due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to ATB's 5k and 30k race distance, the virtual race included 2k, 10k, and 15k race distances as well as The Hammer challenge that honoured runners who completed all five race distances.

2022

The ATB returned to in-person racing in 2022 following two years of COVID-19 related restrictions. The 30k race featured 3,362 participants and the 5k race 777 participants. The race raised $275,000 for the St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation. Construction work on the Valley Inn Road bridge was completed less than a month before race day, allowing for the road's iconic Heartbreak Hill to be included in the 30k race route.

2023

The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge, historically the ATB's 15-kilometre mark, was closed on January 5 for major maintenance and scheduled to reopen on March 20, less than a week before race day. The bridge did reopen on March 20 as scheduled, allowing the race to proceed. Race day was March 26 with more than six thousand participants. The men's 5k race had an unusual finish as several leading runners took a wrong turn onto Queen Street, missing out on their chance to win the race.

2024

Due to upcoming major renovations to FirstOntario Centre, race organizers announced that the start and finish for the 2024 race would move from FirstOntario Centre to Tim Hortons Field. The move was later confirmed after the FirstOntario Centre renovations were later rescheduled to begin after race day. The change in venue required changes to be made to the race routes, resulting in the 30k race being extended to a 34k race. This modified route was later changed just days before the race when a sinkhole unexpectedly opened on Burlington's North Shore Boulevard, resulting in a final race distance to 35.4k. The event also featured 5k, 10k, 15k, and virtual races.

Race

For years, races started on York Boulevard, one block west of the FirstOntario Centre, and finished inside the arena. Due to upcoming major renovations to FirstOntario Centre, the start and finish for the 2024 race moved to Tim Hortons Field. The 30 kilometre race is also known as the Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. It is also called the 30K Around The Bay. On March 29, 2007, over 9,000 participants crossed the finish line.

Winners

Key:

30k

The 30 kilometre course was certified in 1982. Prior to then, the race was contested over a few different distances.

5k

Top fundraisers