The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon returns this weekend. After months of intensive training, some 26,000 runners from around the world are preparing to take part. The sheer scale of the event means much of the downtown core and parts of the waterfront from roughly High Park to Victoria Park Avenue will be affected by road closures or transit diversions.

Here's a guide to getting around during the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

HOW TO WATCH

12 "cheer sites" will be set up at various points along the marathon course for friends, relatives, and supporters. Marked with stars on the map above (full size version,) each one will have unique features, such as live music, dancing, DJs, snacks, and coffee. They are as follows:

• The Annex, Bloor St. (after 2k)
• Alexandra Park, Bathurst St. & Dundas (at 5k)
• Liberty Village -- King West, Lakeshore & Princes' Gates (at 7.5k & 17k)
• High Park, Ellis Ave. & Lakeshore Blvd. (after 12k)
• Parkdale-Roncesvalles, Boulevard Club & Lakeshore (at 14k)
• Harbourfront, Queen's Quay & Sherbourne Common Pk (at 21k)
• Corktown, Corktown Common Park (at 23k)
• Cabbagetown, Bayview at River St. turnaround (between 24k and 25k)
• Greek Town, Broadview & Eastern (at 26.5k and 39k)
• Leslieville Farmers Market, Lakeshore at Coxwell (at 30k and 36k)
• The Beach, Kew Gardens Park (between 31 and 32k and between 33k and 34k)
• St. Lawrence Market, Front St. & Church St., in front of Berczy Park (before 41k)

Wheelchair users will be able to make use of an accessible seating platform at the finish line on the west side of Bay, north of Queen.

Download this PDF for the full Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon spectator's guide. The race will also be shown live on YouTube.

ROAD CLOSURES

As the name suggests, the route of the marathon generally stays close to the downtown waterfront. From noon on Saturday, October 17 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, Bay will be closed from Queen to Dundas to accommodate the start/finish line activities for the race.

The race itself will require a more complex series of road closures in the area bounded by Bloor, Victoria Park, Windermere, and the waterfront from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. This interactive map has every road closure and diversion on the day of the event.

To access the downtown core before 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, organizers recommend using the Gardiner or east/west streets north of Queen and north/south streets west of University. After 8:00 until 11:00 a.m., east/west streets north of King St and north/south streets west of Bay St. should be serviceable.

TTC DIVERSIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Due to the lengthy route of the marathon, TTC service on a total of 21 routes will be on diversion at various times on Sunday, October 18. Affected routes will include:

• 5 Avenue Rd
• 6 Bay
• 22A Coxwell
• 64 Main
• 65 Parliament
• 75 Sherbourne
• 83 Jones
• 92 Woodbine South
• 94 Wellesley
• 300 Bloor-Danforth
• 310 Bathurst
• 320 Yonge
• 501 Queen
• 504 King
• 505 Dundas
• 506 Carlton
• 509 Harbourfront
• 510 Spadina
• 511 Bathurst
• 512 St Clair
• 172 Cherry Street

In addition, the 501 Queen and 505 streetcars will be diverted on Saturday and Sunday due to scheduled track work. The 501 Queen will divert via Broadview Ave., Gerrard St. and Cowell Ave. and the 505 Dundas will divert via Broadview Ave, Gerrard St. E. and Parliament St.

On Sunday only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the 506 Carlton will be on diversion via McCaul St., Dundas St. and Parliament St.

Unrelated to the marathon, Line 1 will be closed between Bloor-Yonge and Lawrence stations on October 17 and 18 due to scheduled signal work. Replacement buses will stop at all stations. Wheel-Trans buses will operate between York Mills and Bloor-Yonge stations on request.

Follow Chris Bateman on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Photo by asianz in the blogTO Flickr pool.