A small group of intrepid pioneers decided to form a running club for adults over 30 so that adults could also enjoy the thrill of competition. It began as a suggestion at the quarter-mile track of a Toronto High School on Dominion Day where the four founding members Sy Mah, Don Farquharson, John Raymer and Roger Whittaker were competing with other adults. And so the Toronto Metro Fitness Club (MTFC) was born. It wasn’t long before there were 30 plus members meeting twice a week at parks and plazas all over Toronto.
Eventually, Parks and Recreation granted the MTFC permission to use the facilities of the Pavilion across from the playing fields in Sunnybrook Park as their base. Members would meet in the parking lot early Sunday morning to begin their exercise and then return to the pavilion afterwards for refreshments and to socialize.
Over the next four decades the Club grew rapidly. In 1998, a small group of power walkers were invited to join. In recent years the numbers of walkers have increased from 6 to 60, and racewalkers also have recently been welcomed into the fold.
From the very beginning, the MTFC was a place to exercise while socializing, hence the club tag-line phrase, “MTFC, Home of the Social Mile.” This is still true today. Members start the first mile walking slowly and talking, and then split off to run or walk whatever distance and route they have chosen.
