Wednesday, 11 January 2012 16:18

Well, what did you do last year? Probably some sort of party where you ingested good food, good drink and the only calories you burned were laughing about all the mishaps of the year, while crossing fingers for a better year to come.

This year, in Liberty Village, more calories were burned and for a better cause than just inebriated reminiscing. The MyNextRace.com Midnite Run Toronto had people literally springing into the New Year. Inspired by New York City’s well established Central Park Run, trendy city spot Liberty Village in Downtown Toronto has become the Toronto’s new most talked about run.

The Midnite Run is an accurate up to 5km run that occurred over New Year’s Eve, 2012 this year, for the very first time. It followed a unique course in the King Liberty Village neighbourhood, providing super views of the Toronto Skyline. Due to the City of Toronto permit restrictions, this first attempt at hosting the event had to be kept small, so anyone who signed up for it had to get in quickly to keep the run at a manageable number. Due to the success of the run, however, the exclusivity of this event is not expected to be maintained should the event run again. Plans are underway to both grow the Toronto edition and expand nationally in 2012 and beyond.

Does exercise sound like a horrid way to ring in the New Year? Look at this as a way to get kick started on your New Year’s resolutions! Or if you are the type that understands resolutions are made to be broken, the after-party provides a perfect opportunity to be social, while bringing the New Year in with new friends that also achieved completion of the run right along with you. The party was held at the hip King West Fitness Center. It’s not all work – it’s more play. Runners were encouraged to dress in costume for contests. Also to be expected were swag bags, personalized race bibs, collector's item finishers' medals, finish line food and drinks, entertainment (music, costume contest, drinking contests!). There were prizes for the top 3 males, females and costumed finishers! As well, there was a Master's Top 3 Male and Female finishers, and prizes for the top fundraisers who brought dry foods and imperishable items for the Food Bank.

Participants from all over Ontario were attracted to the event, easily demonstrating its success, much to the delight of founder and Race Director Peter Donato, a 5-time Boston Marathoner and owner of MyNextRace.com. Initially a Canadian based website, MyNextRace.com / All Sports Marketing Inc. has since grown and expanded internationally. The website and member communication informs athletes about races in key markets around the world.

Liberty Village has officially been put on the map with the Midnite Run on New Year’s Eve. Looking forward to the return of the event!

Emily Karpazis