Santa Pur-suit is a festive annual run in Kitchener-Waterloo. Running before the KW Santa Claus Parade you will find hundreds of jolly runners and walkers making their way down Weber Street.
This 12th annual event is a fundraiser for programming at the YMCA of Three Rivers. Besides being a fun seasonal event, this is also a timed race.
For more information about this event, contact Lloyd Schmidt, Race Director.
Key 2025 info
Venue: 3k Start: On Frederick St. at Spetz (just east of Weber St.) Finish: Hakim Optical parking lot, 21 Weber St N. Waterloo
Date: November 15, 2025
Start time: 9:55 a.m.
Events: 3k | 1k
Participant cap: TBD. In 2024 we sold out at 425 across both events
Recent event recaps: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016
Run Waterloo is a non-profit that couldn’t provide racing experiences without partners like these. Thank you!
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 Elmira & Elora |
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Participant swag
This swag is from 2024; check back in spring/summer 2025 for the 2025 medal and sticker!
In addition to your Santa Suit, race stickers are available to the first TBD to pick up kits, and every finisher receives a “finisher ornament” (finisher medal).
Choice of two sticker designs which are available on a first-come, first-served at kit pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo.
Course maps
These courses have been used since 2018. Note that the 3k starts on Frederick St. with a quick right turn onto Weber St.
3k map | 1k map
Course Rules
It is every participant’s responsibility to know the course and the race assumes no responsibility for any missed turns. Each turn will be marshaled and signed. Courses are pending approval and may change with municipal needs.
Time limit for running races: 10 minutes per kilometer for the 3k. Starting at the half way mark, if a participant does not reach a km mark by this calculated time, the participant will be asked to move to the sidewalk and finish the race as a pedestrian, unassisted by race support. Participants are asked to familiarize themselves with the course route if this situation might be a possibility to them. We wish to minimize traffic disruption caused by our event, and value the support of Police services regarding participant safety.
Individual event categories and awards
Categories
During registration each timed participant (5k only) must choose to compete in one of these four category types:
- Age Groups: Up to 9 | 10 – 12 | 13 – 15 | 16 – 19 | 20 – 29 | 30 – 39 | 40 – 49 | 50 – 59 | 60 – 69 | 70+
- Weight Categories: F160+lbs / M190+lbs
- Adaptive Athlete
- Walker
Awards
In these categories, without duplication, recognition goes as follows:
- To the top three overall, then
- To the top three masters, then
- To the top three in every other event category.
Notes
- Participants choose this during registration and it is available as editable data in Race Roster until the Tuesday at midnight before the race.
- Within a minute of finishing, participants can visit the results kiosk for a sticker printout of their time and stats, and if applicable, award plate for any of the above categories.
- The engraved plate sticks in the recess of your finisher medal. This kiosk runs while the race is still running and for a short while after, so participants don’t need to wait for anything.
- Any unclaimed stickers and medal plates will be available by participant request at a future Run Waterloo event or for pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo.
Team categories and awards
Categories
During registration, each timed participant (5k and only) has the option to join or create a team in any of these five category types:
- Parent Child (2 person team)
- Spouse (2 person team)
- Open (min 5 person team)
- Corporate (min 3 person team)
- School (min 3 person team)
Awards
- We award engraved plates for top-3 teams in each team category.
- If applicable, participants would choose which earned award they prefer to stick to their medal (individual or team).
- Team awards are only ready after the timed event completely finishes.
Notes
- Any team can only include participants of the same timed event. For example, one spouse in the 5k and the other spouse in the 1.1k can not be counted on the same team.
- Any individual can join one team per category. Any individual can join teams in as many different categories as they want. To join multiple teams, participants can “write-in” the team name in the “Join additional teams” text box found in registration and editable data in Race Roster.
- Any unclaimed stickers and medal plates will be available by participant request at a future Run Waterloo event or for pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo.
Race weekend info
Pre-race
There is no shuttle bus, so for point-to-point races, you need to decide where you are arriving, parking, etc. and if you are picking up your kit on Saturday morning, add extra time for that too.
Post-race
Enjoy hot chocolate and snacks, and relax by taking in the KW Santa Claus Parade!
Registration and kit pickup
Registration
Online through Race Roster. No refunds. Deferrals (same person, next year) and transfers (different person, same year) are limited; by e-transfer to [email protected] for a $15 early transfer fee until midnight on the Tuesday before the race, after which point entries can be deferred/transferred for a $25 late transfer fee until one hour before the race starts. If you have questions about this, please email [email protected] only for a quick response.
Kit pickups and race weekend registration
Thursday: kit pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday: kit pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: no kit pickup.
Accessibility info
Run Waterloo would like to assist in breaking down barriers faced by runners with disabilities. In 2019, we created the position of Accessibility Coordinator, who will answer your questions regarding assistance, accommodations, and venue and course information. Contact Deirdre at [email protected].
We offer discounts for any guide runners. Please contact our accessibility coordinator at this email address for further information.
Photos
Run Waterloo events include hundreds or thousands of photos posted to our Flickr page, all free for download and use. They are also tagged directly to the results.
