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TORONTO, June 23, 2011 /CNW/ - While Canada's top runners are training for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), the road is paved for runners of all levels to join them and train during the next four months.  Whether goals are to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics, for the Boston Marathon, or to challenge a record or a personal best, now is the perfect time to register and join more than 22,000 runners from around the world at Canada's big city marathon.

"This year's STWM message is to dream big, set goals and see them through," says Alan Brookes, STWM Race Director. "Whether a top Canadian athlete is striving to qualify for their moment at the Olympics, or a runner is hoping to achieve a personal best, a fundraising goal, or to complete the entire distance - every runner has a dream. We encourage runners to register today and set a goal and start their training for one of North America's premier running events."

"At Scotiabank, we support every athlete in their quest for success at this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, whether the dream is crossing the finish line of the full marathon, the half or the 5k," says John Doig, Senior Vice-President, Toronto Region, Scotiabank. "Through the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, we've set a record goal to raise more than $3 million to help 150 Canadian charities achieve their dreams of providing better opportunities for those in our community."

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon includes a 5k, half-marathon (21k) and full marathon (42k). Last year, Toronto's fast and flat course was identified as the 6^th fastest marathon in the world after Kenneth Mungara of Kenya ran the fastest time on Canadian soil in 2:07:58. This year's event will attract about 22,500 runners from over 40 countries to Toronto's waterfront and will benefit more than 150 Canadian charities including this year's Toronto-based feature charities, The Geneva Centre for Autism Foundation, Matthew House and Muki Baum Treatment Centres.

Canadian Olympic Dream
The 2011 STWM features Reid Coolsaet and Eric Gillis of Guelph, Ontario, Dylan Wykes of Vancouver, BC and Simon Bairu of Regina, in the strongest field of Canadian elites in the Marathon's history. Gillis, Wykes and Bairu are all striving to achieve the dream of a lifetime by qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics and running under the qualifying standard of 2:11:30. Coolsaet qualified at 2010's STWM when he ran the fastest marathon by a Canadian in 24 years and the fastest time ever by a Canadian on Canadian soil with a time of 2:11:23.

Record Breaking Dreams
While the top Canadians will vie to win Scotiabank's $36,000 cash bonus for the first athlete to break Jerome Drayton's 36-year-old Canadian marathon record of 2:10:09, local STWM favourite Ed Whitlock will prove that age is no barrier to competing.  Whitlock of Milton, Ontario will be attempting to realize his dream of setting yet another World Record, for fastest person aged 80+ in the marathon distance (sub 3:25:43). This follows his 2010 World Record for fastest 79yr old in the half marathon (1:34:27) 

About Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) is Canada's premier Marathon, the country's number one big-city marathon and a place where dreams come true. In 2010 the STWM was ranked as 6^th fastest marathon in the world, 3^rd fastest women's race in the world and holds the record for both the fastest men's and women's marathons on Canadian soil (2:07:58 run last year by Kenneth Mungara & 2:22:43 by Sharon Cherop). For the fourth consecutive year, the event has been awarded a prestigious Silver Label by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). This designation makes the STWM one of only five internationally recognized IAAF Label marathons in North America, and puts Toronto on the map within the international athletics community. The race attracts participants from over 40 countries and this year's goal is to raise more than $3 million for 150 charities. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon includes the 5k, half-marathon (21k) and full marathon (42k) events. For more information or to register, visit www.stwm.ca

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $44 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.