How we ran into the New Year - literally!

Party music was coming from all sides. We walked out from the building just before midnight and lined up in the alley. From a terrace overlooking the alley a group of revelers were having a smoke. They looked at us, and a fit-looking young man in white shirt shouted “You guys are amazing! You’re all my heroes!” There was strange longing in his voice, as if he’d prefer being down here with us, in his sweat pants and running shoes, rather than partying up there.

Music from different parties was mixing together in a cheerful cacophony over our heads. The word spread like fire—from all sides people dressed to party poured out on terraces, balconies and windows. Down at the ground level they stepped out in the alley, keeping to the side, giving us space. They streamed from the pub in the alley, from the restaurant with the terrace, from a gym. It seemed that every shop in Liberty Village held a New Year’s party, and now curiosity drew people out to see what is going on with these two hundred party-goers dressed as fairies, angels, clowns, cartoon characters, and mostly—as runners.

Meg was standing next to me in her pink running jacket, with outrageous-blue feather-scarf. There was a headlight strapped on her forehead, and a blinking light on her ankle. Around us runners of all kind, age and size shimmered with blinking lights and mismatched loud colors of their outfits.

Then sparking sticks were lit at the start line, and the countdown started, shyly at first 10...9...8...then the voices from everywhere picked up...7...6...5...the spectators chiming in, turning their backs on their own parties and joining our crazy countdown...4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

There was barely time for a quick kiss, Meg and I wishing something to each other, our voices drowned in the tumultuous cheer of the group, and we were off to the first-ever midnight 5k race in Canada (or so we were told). The course itself was dark, with some muddy patches, but the mood was so festive that no mud could tarnish it. On a stretch heading straight toward the CN Tower, Toronto’s landmark, the organizer surprised us with fireworks, sending flowers of fire right above the tower into the new year’s sky.

Although we decided when we registered that we were not going to race, the excitement pushed us faster than intended. I stayed with Meg and she made it in just over 26 minutes. Considering that we were NOT racing, that was fast. We finished with the first 50 runners.

After race with medals

The organizer brought Canadian long distance superstar Reid Coolsaet to run the race, and I guess it gave the whole race more of an official air. At the end though, he was the only one running fast, the rest of us jogged at a party pace far behind.

Along the way spectators and volunteers wished us happy new year, and we laughed and shouted our wishes back. Back at the gym the party was in full blast. We changed—well, some did—into dry clothes and wiggled on the dance floor with a sandwich in one hand and a drink in the other. This was the best spent New Year’s eve in a long time.

In the race kit, along with the race number which oddly had our LAST names printed on, instead of first, we got the usual number of swag items - flyers for other races, chips, candies, Red Bull, and—a bottle of Prosecco each! Now, which race do you know to do that? And the finisher’s medal at the end was equally inspired, as you can see in the photos.

If you find yourself in Toronto for the New Year’s party next year, you may consider active partying at the Toronto Midnite Run. I would highly recommend it.