Around the Bay Road Race
The Around the Bay Road Race is the oldest long distance road race in North America, held in Hamilton, Ontario since 1894. It is not marathon length, nor has it continuously run (thus the Boston Marathon, founded in April 1897, is the longest running marathon. The longest continually-running footrace in North America is the Bemis-Forslund Pie Race, founded in 1891. The 30 kilometre race is also known as the Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. It is also called the 30K Around The Bay.
The 2007 addition of a 5 kilometre walk or run allows for more participants.
All races start on York Boulevard, one block west of the Copps Coliseum. All races finish inside Copps Coliseum. On Sunday, March 29, 2007, over 9000 participants crossed the finish line.
In 2005, the Around the Bay Road Race partnered with St. Joseph's Healthcare Foundation and, for the first time became a fundraising event.
History
The Hamilton Herald Newspaper and cigar store owner "Billy" Carroll, originated and sponsored the first "Around the Bay Road Race", run on Christmas Day, 1894. The race tested the abilities of the finest long distance runners, but was also an avenue to lay down some bets.In the early 20th century, Jack Caffery and William Sherring battled it out and won two "Bay" races each. Famed Canadian-Onondaga runner Tom Longboat also took the first major victory of his career here, in 1906.
Scotty Rankine holds the distinguished honour of seven wins, established in the late 1930s and early 1940s, while Peter Maher won his fifth Bay race in 1996, tying the record of local Gord Dickson, who had five wins in the late 1950s.
Top fundraisers
| Year | Participant | Funds raised |
| 2008 | Ted Michaels/ Connie Smith | $60,000 |
| 2007 | Ron Foxcroft | $55,000 |
| 2006 | Brian Mullan | $50,000 |
| 2005 | Dave Andreychuk | $30,000 |
Past winners
Key:| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 2019 | 1:32:57 | Mengistu Emebet | 1:45:56 | |
| 2018 | 1:35:11 | 1:49:39 | ||
| 2017 | 1:34:51 | 1:47:27 | ||
| 2016 | 1:35:17 | 1:47:38 | ||
| 2015 | 1:33:48 | 1:50:47 | ||
| 2014 | 1:35:35 | 1:47:14 | ||
| 2013 | 1:35:45 | 1:44:40 | ||
| 2012 | 1:33:21 | 1:47:04 | ||
| 2011 | 1:37:15 | 1:50:45 | ||
| 2010 | 1:32:22 | 1:48:59 | ||
| 2009 | 1:35:29 | 1:50:26 | ||
| 2008 | 1:33:06 | 1:48:28 | ||
| 2007 | 1:32:50 | 1:46:51 | ||
| 2006 | Nourddine Betchim | 1:37:38 | 1:55:10 | |
| 2005 | 1:38:46 | 1:58:06 | ||
| 2004 | Mustapha Bennacer | 1:33:28 | 1:46:04 | |
| 2003 | Joseph Nsengiyumva | 1:35:02 | 1:52:50 | |
| 2002 | 1:33:13 | 1:46:18 | ||
| 2001 | 1:36:39 | 1:54:20 |