The world’s largest race series designed for women is coming to Toronto this summer.
The Nike Women’s 15K is a 20-city series with races all over the world. The race invites more than 200,000 women from cities including London, Hong Kong and Mexico City. It takes place June 14 on Toronto Island.
“The Nike Women’s 15K Toronto is really about challenging our athletes to outdo themselves,” Nike spokeswoman Claire Rankine says. “The race is designed around speed, so we’re anticipating a lot of personal bests for athletes and a lot of athletes participating in their first long distance run.”
The race is part of the Nike Women’s Event Series, which pairs the women’s race series with their worldwide N+TC Tour. It will be the first Nike race in Toronto.
“There has never been a better place or time to host a race like this,” Rankine says. “This year, if you look at everything going on in Canada and Toronto; Women’s World Cup and Pan Am Games, it’s an exciting time to celebrate women in sport.”
Runners are offered a variety of distances ranging from 5 Kilometres to half a marathon, in various countries. It was Nike’s decision to limit the Toronto race to 15K.
“We spent a lot of time researching the Canadian market and the results show that the 15K is a compelling challenge for women, and that a half-marathon is too much of a commitment for a first long run,” Rankine says. “The goal of this race is really to challenge athletes to go faster.”
The non-refundable, non-transferable registration for the race does not come cheap. It costs $120 for adults and $100 for students. Rregistration includes a race kit, a Tiffany & Co. finisher’s pendant and a return ferry ticket.