Building a Marathon

iRun Magazine ran this article in their May 2026 print edition.

It was early 2021 when Ontario was locked down from the Covid pandemic, and outdoor gatherings were restricted to six people. Athletes continued to run to maintain their fitness, get out of the house and deal with the mental and physical weight of social isolation, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated by the cancellation of races and events that gave them motivation.

“Since big events can’t happen, why don’t we make our own race?” asked Cindy Lewis.

“Sure!” said Sandie Orlando, not realizing that this would become a turning point in both of their careers.

In April, they approached the town of Georgina about putting on a race along the shores of Lake Simcoe, where they had both cycled so many times before. Fast forward to October 17th where over 630 runners lined up, wearing masks and having gone through the process of showing proof that they had been vaccinated, to participate in the first Georgina Marathon & Half-Marathon. It was a Boston qualifier and in spite of the rain and wind that blew the finish arch down, it was considered a success!

“Building that race was a huge learning curve for us and for the town of Georgina,” says Cindy. “Fortunately, we discovered the race directors and course crews from other events were generous with their expertise to help us learn the inner workings of a race, and the town of Georgina had a progressive team to work with.”

Dynamic came on board in 2021 and has remained the title sponsor, thanks to the connection with one of the athletes Cindy coaches for running, and the interest of their active leadership. Over the course of the last five years, the race has grown with the addition of a certified 10k and a 5k run/walk, an additional 1500 participants and a sister race in May with the Georgina Spring Fling.

"Our six-year partnership with the Georgina Marathon reflects Dynamic’s long-standing commitment to supporting communities and fostering the alignment between personal health and financial health," says Mark Brisley, Head of Dynamic. "We’re very pleased to continue our support of an event that promotes active living, resilience, and connection while helping create memorable experiences for runners and their families."

“Becoming a race director has given me a whole new appreciation for what running means to people,” says Sandie Orlando. “Every race bib we assign represents someone who has spent hours training, thinking about their pace and their nutrition, given up family time for their Sunday long run, worried about injuries and shoes, and brought their supporters along with them on their journey. It’s a privilege to create an event that runners can bring their story to - and a huge thrill to catch them at the finish line!”

The Georgina Marathon brings to the town of Georgina more people than any other event in their calendar year. While their economic development team is happy, that growth can feel uncomfortable for residents in what was originally a cottage community when 2,000 people come thundering down their quiet roads. Maintaining a good relationship with the residents remains a priority for Cindy and Sandie, and they work closely with the town to consider complaints and mitigate their concerns. After all - one of the most charming and scenic courses on the race circuit in Ontario deserves to continue making people happy, whether they race, cheer or volunteer.