Fall 5 KM Classic

Known for over 25 years as a fun and fast fall event, this race has it all: a pancake-flat, certified, paved 5k course through a great park, great food, finisher medals, and much more. It’s a race for families, first-time runners and walkers, and elites alike.

For more information about this race, contact Lloyd Schmidt, Race Director.

Key 2023 info


Venue: Riverside Park, 1935 Rogers Dr. (enter off Speedsville Rd.), Cambridge, ON N3H 1B5
Date: October 22, 2023
Start time: 8:00 a.m.
Events: 5k | 200m kids fun run starts at 8:55
Recent event recaps: 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | 20172016
Race records: OA: 13:57 and 16:07. Masters: 16:09 and 17:26.

This race is sanctioned by Athletics Ontario the course is certified by Athletics Canada.

Event categories and awards

Individual event categories

One per participant

  • 5 KM – up to 9 | 10 – 12 | 13 – 15 | 16 – 19 |  20 – 24 | 25 – 29 | 30 – 34 | 35 – 39 | 40 – 44 | 45 – 49 | 50 – 54 | 55 – 59 | 60 – 64 | 65 – 69 | 70+ | Weight F160+ / M190+lbs | Weight F185+ / M215+lbs

Team event categories

Participants can be on one team per category, but as many categories as they choose.

  • Spouse (2 person team)
  • Parent-Child (2 person team)
  • School (min 3 person team)
  • Corporate (min 3 person team)
  • Open (min 5 person team)

Awards

In the 5k, without duplication, recognition goes as follows:
Individual award medals

  • To the top three overall, then to the top three masters, then to the top three in each event category.

Team award medals

  • To the first place team in each team category.

All unclaimed medals will be available for pickup at Runners’ Choice any time from Tuesday, October 25, to Friday, November 25, 2022.

Prize money

  • 5 KM Overall, Men and Women:
    • 1st – $450 | 2nd – $300 | 3rd – $200 | 4th – $150 | 5th – $100
    • Potential overall prize money winners not under 15:00 (men) and 17:00 (women) are discounted by 50%.
  • 5 KM Masters, Men and Women:
    • 1st – $200 | 2nd – $100 | 3rd – $50
    • Potential masters prize money winners not under 17:30 (men) and 20:00 (women) are discounted by 50%.
  • Open Team:
    • 1st – $100 (minimum 5 eligible teams in the official results)
  • Time-Based Incentives:
    • Time-A: Sub 13:57 (men) and 15:29 (women)
      • $300 for the first athlete under these times. Athletes who win Time-A awards do not count for Time-B.
    • Time-B: Sub 14:15 (men) and 16:15 (women).
      • For up to three athletes who beat (not tie) these times, the winner would receive $100, a second place result would receive $75, and a third place result would receive $50.

Note: Prize money distribution will differ from medal distribution in cases where the Overall placing priority reduces prize money earned for a faster runner.

Course maps

This is the 2023 course interactive map. The park is closed to traffic. There is one water station on the course. This course will be certified by Athletics Canada in 2023.

Course Preview

A narrated stroll through the 5k course. Although this was filmed in late September, by October 22 the part will have a considerably less green and more autumn!

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: 10 minutes per kilometer. 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.

Participant swag
  • All finishers earn a finisher medal, including the 200m kids. 5k medal design is below, and we are recycling unclaimed medals from 2020 for the kids.
  • Every participant has the option to purchase a short sleeved technical t-shirt through the registration process or afterwards in the Race Roster store.
  • Every participant has the option to purchase an official race BUFF through the registration process or afterwards in the Race Roster store.

Post-race

Post-race

What’s not to love about this post race?
8:30 – Hot food and cold drinks.
8:55 – Kids’ 200m fun run! Starts at the finish line.
9:05 – Winner presentation.

Registration and kit pickup

Registration

Online only, through Race Roster. Paper forms are not available.
No refunds or deferrals. Entries can be transferred through Race Roster for a $7.50 early transfer fee until the transfer deadline of September 20 at midnight, at which point they can be transferred only in person at kit pickup for a $15.00 late transfer fee.

Kit pickups and race weekend registration

Friday, October 20: kit pickup at Runners’ Choice 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 21: kit pickup at Runners’ Choice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 22: kit pickup at Riverside Park 7:00a.m. – 7:45 a.m.

Accessibility info

Run Waterloo would like to assist in breaking down barriers faced by runners with disabilities. For 2019, we have 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.

Elite info

We are still accepting elite applications to this race. Check out the 2019 elite list

At Run Waterloo, we value elite and sub-elite athletes that contribute to strong fields. There are a limited number of elite entry spots available for this race and they go quickly every year. Contact our Elite Coordinator Alex Ullman (Instagram or email [email protected]) to learn more about our elite program.

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.

Race history

This race began in the 1980s as a 10k during Oktoberfest. Fast forward decades later, and in the 26th year of the rebooted event, we are dropping the original 10k to focus on what has become the signature 5k distance.

Race results and records