There was pure excitement in the air this morning, and our runners were lapping it up! We’ve been looking forward to this event for months, and after a super fun and successful morning, we can all agree it was worth the wait. Today we proudly launched the 1st Annual Lakeside Laps, our newest community collaboration which raises money and awareness for the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington (BIAWW), who brought out an impressive group of over 30 dedicated volunteers who joined our crew to keep things running smoothly.
Participants were treated to a sunny sky and a beautiful course encircling Columbia Lake in Waterloo, where we were joined by close to 200 walkers, joggers and runners of all ages and abilities. Today’s race featured a 4k, 8k, and the ever popular fun run for kids. Whether you came out today to run competitively, jog leisurely, or walk meaningfully, we celebrate the unique achievements and contributions of every participant. Here are the race results; click through for 4k and interactive results:
We take pride in bringing the community together, and when it’s for a good cause, it’s even more rewarding for all involved. Thanks to the collective efforts of today’s Lakeside Laps, we are thrilled see over $10,000 raised for the BIAWW, whose Executive Director, Lynda, was happy to describe how this fundraising will support their organization. Lynda said that this money will help strengthen their infrastructure by meeting day to day needs, with a focus on support groups, and assisting people, both survivors and caregivers, to access the technology and resources to succeed. To find out more about the important work BIAWW does for the brain injury community, visit their website at www.biaww.org/
Today we were inspired by the story of one of our participants, a brain injury survivor named Tiffany Rowan (@thetenaciouswanderer), who due to the afflictions of her traumatic injury, was told she was unlikely to ever walk unassisted again. Incredibly, 8 years later, today Tiffany raced in the 4k. She shares her story as an inspiration for others on a similar journey to keep taking those next steps forward, being encouraged by her belief and personal mantra that “the body, mind, and spirit have a miraculous capacity to heal.” Thanks for joining us today Tiffany and keep up your amazing progress!
Don’t forget to tag us in your posts and stories of the event, so we can share with the RW community! As always, on our website you can find information about our many upcoming races, RW membership, and the photo gallery for this race, which will be updated throughout the week.
Thanks for joining us today at Lakeside Laps, and for your enthusiasm and generosity, we love to see it! If you enjoyed this event, you will be happy to know we’re officially locked in to get our laps in again next year. Mark your calendars for June 6, 2026 for the 2nd Annual Lakeside Laps. See you at the start line!
Enjoy the first 300 of many more photos to come!
