Around the Bay 2015 road closure, race info, weather

Around the Bay, the oldest road race in North America, will send thousands of runners on a gruelling 30 kilometre route around Hamilton’s waterfront on Sunday. Whether you are a runner, a spectator or a commuter, here is the information you need to know.

Race information

About 9,000 participants have signed up for the 30K run, and 2,500 for the 5K run. Both components still have space available for more runners.

The spots for three-person and two-person relay teams were sold out earlier this year, but there are still charity spots available as of Friday afternoon.

• Not running? Here're some other things to do this weekend
• Firefighters running Around the Bay race wearing 70 pounds of gear

The 30K run will start at 9: 30 a.m., at York and Caroline and then continue east on York, north on James and east on Burlington. Runners will then exit Burlington to Woodward and continue with the route that has been used in previous years., except that the race this year will not take runners up Valley Inn Road. Construction there is diverting that segment of the race to Plains Road. Runners will carry in into Hamilton along York Road as usual.

Registration for the 30K runners will begin at 6 a.m.

Here's the map of the 30K race.

The 5K race will start at 9:45 a.m., on Bay, south of York. It will then proceed north on Bay, turn west on Cannon/York, looping just before the high level bridge and east on York to MacNab to finish inside First Ontario Centre.

Here's the map of the 5K race.

If you are coming from out of town, the race’s hotel host Sheraton Hamilton is sold out. You should find alternative accommodation.

For more information, visit the race’s website here.

Who to watch

For the spectators who will cheer the runners on, here are some of the race's biggest stars that you should keep an eye on, as suggested by Around the Bay aficionado​ Graydon Stephens. 

In the men's 30K race, Terrence Attema and Paul Kimugul, winners of the race's 2013 and 2014 editions, are both returning to this year's race and are strong contenders for a repeat win. 

In the women's field, keep your eyes locked on Lioudmila Kortchaguina, former course record holder, as well as Dayna Pidhoresky, who placed second in the 2012 edition of the race, 

The 5K, however, is "anyone's race."

"It could be an elite runner who wins it, or it could just as easily be your classmate or neighbour," Stephens said. "That’s what makes it exciting,”

Weather      

Brace for a sunny but chilly morning on the day of the race. Environment Canada calls for an overnight low of –11 C on Saturday. It is then expected to warm up to a daytime high of 4 C.

Road closure

Here are the road closures as a result of the 30K race:

• James between Cannon and Barton will be closed for about 15 to 20 minutes at the start of the race while runners clear the intersection,
• York Boulevard (between Hess and MacNab) will not reopen until the race finishes around 4 p.m.
• York Boulevard (between Dundurn and Hess): Eastbound lanes will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• York Boulevard (between MacNab and James) will be closed between approximately 9:15 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• Bay Street (between York and King) will be closed to all traffic between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• James Street (between York and Burlington) will be closed to all traffic between 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Burlington Street (between James and Hillyard): All eastbound lanes will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Burlington Street (between Hillyard and Woodward): One or two eastbound centre lanes will be closed to all traffic between 9:30 a.m. and noon. The south curb lane will be maintained. While the race is on the upper portion of Burlington, local access will be maintained in both directions on the lower level.
• Woodward Avenue: the northbound lanes will be closed to all traffic from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
• Beach Boulevard: the Burlington-bound lanes will be closed from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. during peak times of the race, police may close the Hamilton bound lanes as well.

All of the roads inside the course of the 5K race will be closed to all traffic between 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

For more information on road closures and bus detours, visit the city's website here.