The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is here again, and for most of us that means an afternoon spent watching other people exert themselves. This year's event, the 25th anniversary of the original Coors Light Toronto Half-Marathon, is expected to draw more than 150,000 spectators and raise at least $4 million for local charities, according to the event's organizers.

As the name suggests, the route of the marathon will closely follow the waterfront, from High Park in the west to the Beach in the east, via downtown. For spectators, 12 official "cheering zones" will be set up at various intervals on the course where there will be neighbourhood themed music, food, and other events.

The scale of this year's marathon will mean significant disruption for motorists and TTC riders, the full details of which are outlined below.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

HOW TO WATCH

25,000 people are expected to take part in this year's Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and that could make finding your friend or family member among the jogging hoards a challenge. Luckily, there's a special web tool that predicts where any given participant will be based on their start time. Fill in the form and choose a location.

Spectators are encouraged to spread out along the route because the start/finish line at Nathan Phillips Square is expected to be crowded. Dedicated cheering zones, which will feature live music, food, charity events, and other family activities, will be set up at:

• The Annex (2 km mark)
• Bathurst and Dundas (5 km)
• Lakeshore and Princes' Gates (7.5 km and 17 km)
• Ellis and Lakeshore (12 km,) Boulevard Club and Lakeshore (14 km)
• Queen's Quay and Sherbourne Common Park (21 km)
• Corktown Common Park (23 km)
• Bayview and River (between 24 km and 25 km)
• Broadview and Eastern (26.5 km and 39 km)
• Eastern and Jonathon Ashbridge Park (29 km and 36 km)
• Kew Gardens Park (between 31 and 32 km and 33 and 34 km)
• Front and Church in front of Berczy Park (before 41 km)

The event is also going to be streamed live on YouTube.

ROAD CLOSURES

The marathon is due to close or partially close numerous roads in Toronto, starting Saturday at midday until the early hours of Sunday morning, depending on the location. Bay from Queen to Dundas will be off limits to drivers Saturday, October 18 at noon to Sunday, October 19 at 7 p.m. to allow for construction of the start/finish area.

Other road closures will be in the area bound by Bloor in the north, Victoria Park in the east, Lake Ontario in the south, and Windermere in the west. Click here for a full list of closures and times. There's also a neat interactive road closure tool.

Organizers recommend taking the Gardiner from the west, exiting at Spadina, and using either Dundas, Queen, or Adelaide to get downtown, depending on the time. From the east, take the DVP south to Richmond and park east of Yonge.

TTC DIVERSIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

The marathon will have a significant impact on the TTC, too. At least 20 different bus and streetcar routes will be affected, including the 501 Queen, 504 King, 506 Carlton, 509 Harbourfront, 510 Spadina, and 511 Bathurst, which is closed for track repairs. At the same time, Line 1 will be closed between Bloor and Eglinton on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19 for track and signal work.

Affected bus routes include: 5 Avenue Road, 6 Bay, 22A Coxwell, 64 Main, 65 Parliament, 75 Sherbourne, 83 Jones, 92 Woodbine South, 94 Wellesley, 172 Cherry Street, 300 Bloor-Danforth, 310 Bathurst, and 320 Yonge, the TTC says. Click here for full details.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Greg's Southern Ontario/blogTO Flickr pool.