September 11, 2024

What to Expect at the 2025 Around the Bay Road Race

Dubbed Hamilton’s Race supporting Hamilton’s Hospital, over the past two decades, participants in the Around the Bay Road Race have raised more than $5 million to support patient care, equipment and research at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton ($1.13 million of that tally has been raised by Team LiUNA Lending a Hand – further demonstrating their commitment to the Bay Race, St. Joe’s and the health of Hamiltonians). 

This year, funds raised will support the Hospital’s internationally renowned robotic surgery program. Robotic surgery is helping patients heal faster and go home sooner. But seven of the 10 types of robotic surgery performed at St. Joe’s, including hip and knee replacements and surgeries for cancers of the head, neck, lung, bladder and more, remain unfunded by the province. Pledges made to Bay Race runners will help to ensure every patient who may benefit from robotic surgery can have access to it at St. Joe’s. 

Registration for the race will open during the week of September 16, 2024 online at www.bayrace.com. Past participants and subscribers to the Bay Race’s emails will receive advance access 24 hours before registration opens to the public. Last year, the 30K event sold out in one month and Race Director Anna Lewis says she expects a similar response this year. 

The 131^st edition of the Around the Bay Road Race will also feature some exciting changes. Here’s are some highlights of what Bay Racers and residents of Hamilton can expect: 

A New Venue:  

Race organizers have selected Liuna Station as the host venue. “It’s the perfect partnership,” says Race Director Anna Lewis. “This building was formerly the Hamilton Railway Station, built to design specifications created by CN – and CN happens to be the Bay Race’s presenting sponsor, too. Beyond that connection, Liuna is the sponsor of our Bay Race volunteer crew, who are truly the backbone of this event. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to expand our longstanding relationship and bring the Bay Race back to the downtown core.” 

New Routes:  

30K Course: The 30K start line will be at the corner of James and Simcoe Streets. From there, 30K participants will head north and follow the traditional race route until they hit the 26K mark on York Blvd, just past the Grim Reaper. At that point, similar to last year, the route will follow Rolph Gate into Dundurn Castle to head back to Liuna Station. 

10K & 15K Courses: For these distances, participants will take a shuttle bus out to start lines along the race course. The 15K will start on the north side of the lift bridge while the 10K will start near LaSalle Park in Burlington. Once participants hit York Boulevard, they will follow the same route as the 30K to the finish line.  

5K Course: The 5K will start at the corner of James St. and Simcoe St., just like the 30K, but the shorter distance runners and walkers will follow the 30K route backward in an ‘out-and-back’ fashion that turns around at Dundun Castle and finishes in the Liuna Station parking lot. 

No Relays in the 2025 Race: Relay spots will not be available for any race distance. 

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View Media Coverage Using the Links Below

Around The Bay finds a new finish line at Hamilton landmark (thespec.com)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/around-the-bay-2025-announcement-1.7317612

https://www.chch.com/changes-announced-for-hamiltons-131st-around-the-bay-race/