Very cool!  Now I have 3 races to try and qualify for London.      

Are you involved with the U of W triathlon club? 

Anne

Yes yes I am!

I am the head coach of the club.

A few of our members log their training and spend time here on BT.

I was thinking of joining, but thought maybe it's just for younger, university students??

Hi Mark,

No, it is not us, nor do I think it is Trisport. I hope that a new race director can execute a well run race in a setting like Toronto. There are a lot of logistical issues that are very different in an urban centre. It will certainly be a challenge for someone who has not put on a race before. If they can do a good job it is a good thing for triathlon. I wish them the best of luck.

I'm really surprised this got approved!  This is the route that was proposed for the 5150 event but Ford caused such a ruckus about it that my understanding was it wasn't going to happen!  Or perhaps the price tag was too bothersome for 5150 but this organization is willing to pay... ?  Odd. 

After some Googling it turns out that the race is being organized by Sports Focused Consulting "headed by Jeff Chong, son of former councillor Gordon Chong, Mayor Rob Ford’s right-hand man on the subway issue." (quote from the Toronto Star).  

I'm not sure what their race organizing resume looks like but if this is their first triathlon then it seems like they just jumped into the deepend without a wetsuit or safety kayak.

For the most part (90% of our members) it is younger students between 18-30yrs old. I am a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering and have been at Waterloo since my undergrad. University policy requires that one must be a student, staff, faculty, or alumni to join. Let me know if you have any questions.

What is frustrating is the butting of heads between WTC and ITU.

The Muskoka 5150 is on the same day!

I want to do both races, for qualifying purposes. It is likely that I will do Muskoka 5150 this year, aim on qualifying for the 5150 US Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Then in 2013, do the Toronto event since it is the host of the National Championships, where apparently 10 spots per AG are available for the 2013 ITU Worlds in London.

Now I just need the most important thing of all... a bike.

This city... I wonder if the money will still go to charity...

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/cityhall/article/1220608--triathlon-turned-down-in-toronto

I was one of the founding members of the UW triathlon club back when I was in gradschol in 2005.  Pretty cool that it has grown so much (at that time, there was like 6 or 7 of us.)

This looks like it will be an awesome race! The Warrior Dash in Barrie is the day before...so it will be a packed weekend for me but definitely doable.

Sold - I just need to verify dates, etc. with my better half - oh wait, that's my anniversary weekend....

Looking at this article is appears that WTC bailed on the event and now it is just SFC running the festival.

Wonder what the background of that split is?  I've read elsewhere that WTC demands a lot of concessions to run the event and wonder if that is what held up the event.

Why would you turn this thread into a hate on for Ford and make such wild assumptions? (which are pretty much 100% false) Only for the rich? anti cyclist? I don't even know why you would comment on his weight/lifestyle.... 

Egads man....its another Triathlon venue.....two big events in Toronto now.  What more can you ask for?  Lets be thankful for that!

I believe she was just paraphrasing what he himself has said.  She just forgot the quotes...

Anyway - While there's a part of me that's curious to try it (I live downtown and train in this area) I'm hesitant... I wonder how well organized it will be.  I've never heard of this company and think with Toronto there will be a lot of logistics.  The price tag is also higher when compared to Multisport ($80) and Subaru.  It's more than the 5150 event in Muskoka!?  Not sure what justifies that except maybe the cost of running such an event in Toronto is offloaded to the racer...?

He's proven in the past that he is anti-bike:

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110713/toronto-mayor-rob-ford-jarvis-bike-lane-battle-110713/20110713/?hub=TorontoNewHome

I just generally try to avoid listening to anything about him.

Me too.  Especially after he made those remarks about how all the marathons should be in the city parks, not roads.  I am also surprised this got through based on that ...  i guess it was just spouting off to make some cranky people happy.

Erg.

But i will be curious to see how the event turns out - should be great! I won't be participating (I am in for IMMT this year) but may try to make it out to spectate since this isn't too far.

My blood boils when I read your quotes, etc. How can we live in a city where the mayor dispels and talks down on the advantages of biking?! In a day and age where obseity and global warming are such prevalent AND apparent problems, shouldn't we be encouraging bikers/biking? It truly boggles my mind. I don't mean to get into this discussion but I recently moved downtown and don't have the nerve to venture out biking in the midst of the traffic so have been training indoors and to hear this perspective of the representative/figurehead of our city is well.. insert your own choice phrase here.

On a more PLEASANT note, I've signed up for the race! I'm excited to be racing in the heart of Toronto and I think it will be an awesome event. I think it encourages more people in the city to try the sport out since it requires little to no effort in terms of travelling. However, definitely weary of the hilly bike ride!