Around the Bay pushes race day into April to avoid Junos, Easter

Hamilton’s iconic Around the Bay Road Race is breaking with tradition this year — pushing back the date by two weeks.

It’s just one of several changes to the 132nd iteration of the historic event, but what’s not changing is the race’s commitment to raising money to help St. Joseph’s hospital.

“Running the Around the Bay Road Race has been a bucket list item for me as a Hamiltonian,” said PJ Mercanti, an Around the Bay Community Champion.

Taking a break from his desk job, prominent Hamiltonian Mercanti, known for his work with Carmens Group and the revamp of the city’s downtown entertainment district, is training to run 30 kilometers as this year’s Around the Bay Community Champion.

“One of the key roles of the Community Champion is to help with the fundraising efforts and so I’ve got a challenge to raise $100,000 and ultimately the funds raised go to support new medical equipment,” said Mercanti.

That equipment is for St. Joseph’s Hospital, who has been the charitable partner of the race for 22 years.

“We’ve raised nearly $6 million now through the Bay Race — that goes directly towards the hospital, so without the Bay Race, you know, we would not be able to do a lot of the things at the hospital that we are able to do,” said Mark Brogno with the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.

Before the hospital can get its new equipment, Mercanti and the runners will have to overcome this very difficult athletic event.

“It’s a challenge for sure: you have to train in the winter, you have to endure the weather and then there’s the course — it’s challenging of course,” said Anna Lewis, the Around the Bay Race Director.

“This was a great New Year’s resolution to start a training regimen, so I’ve started to run,” said Mercanti.

Last year, the 30 kilometer race began at Liuna Station on James St. North, but this year the runners will be starting from a new location on Leander Drive near Pier 4 Park at the waterfront.

“We wanted to refresh it, but also because the venues weren’t available,” said Lewis.

WATCH MORE: Here’s what’s changing at this year’s Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton

Lewis says starting closer to the bay makes sense.

“Around the Bay is actually on the water now, starting around the water so I think it’s apropos,” said Lewis.

Another big change is the new date, April 12, instead of the more traditional last Sunday in March.

Lewis says the move avoids the race being run during the same weekend as the Juno Awards, which is being held at TD Coliseum on March 28, and also avoids Easter Sunday on April 5.

Organizers are also making changes to the start times and routes.

“The 15K is going to start a little bit earlier, the 10K right after it, and then our signature event the 30K will start at 9:30 a.m.,” said Lewis.

From the new 30K starting position, runners will head east to Burlington Street before following the traditional route around the bay.

The 15K race will start at the lift bridge on Eastport Drive, the 10K race will start on Northshore Boulevard, and the 5K race will start near Pier 8, but the finish line is the same for everyone this year.

All runners are going to finish at the Hamilton Waterfront Trail at Pier 7.

Registration spots for the 30K and 15K races are already sold out, but there is still room in the 10K and 5K events.

Lewis expects about 10,000 total runners to “lace ‘em up” on April 12.

If you want to donate or raise money for St. Joes through the race you can visit the official link here and click the charity partner link.

Started in 1894, the Around the Bay Race is North America’s oldest road race.

WATCH MORE: Around the Bay Road Race celebrates over a century of tradition