Waterloo 10 KM Classic is now virtual

We hear you loud and clear: this 43 year old tradition is worth preserving. We hope we’ve found a responsible and creative solution for 2020, and that you will join us!

Facebook event | Event webpage | Ticket link

Even though we can’t celebrate together, through this virtual event we will use running to achieve our goals: connecting with each other, supporting our important causes, getting active, and rewarding ourselves. Read on below.

What is a virtual race?

A virtual race has no physical event space; you run on your own and connect with others virtually. You can choose to run your own course at your leisure during the event days. After the race days end, we will publish results, but with no awards. Because the operational costs of this race have been essentially eliminated, we have slashed prices and let you choose what works for you.

This virtual race starts June 21st (Father’s Day), and runs for 10 days ending June 30th. Participants can participate any day, but results submissions are due at midnight on June 30. Results will be published on July 1.

After your race, send in your time through Race Roster, and your photos through Facebook. Participants will be emailed specific instructions on how to participate in the virtual aspect of the race.

Registration and pricing

Registration is open for two weeks (June 11 – June 25). Events are 10k, 5k, and 3k. We have a number of entry options:

• Free – everyone is welcome to participate in the online fellowship, but it does not include results
• $10 – includes results
• $25 – includes medal, bib, and radler
• $25 – includes t-shirt, bib, and radler
• $40 – includes medal, t-shirt, bib, and radler

Delivery

Three options:

• $15 to anywhere in Canada only
• Free pickup at Runners’ Choice Waterloo, with any in-store or online purchase. Participants will be emailed a 20% code for their entire purchase; more on that below.
• To a single address in Waterloo Region, families of 2+ have one shipping fee waived, and families of 3+ have all shipping fees completely waived – this only applies to families who register on one transaction with one single address.

The swag

We Run Together, even if we can’t assemble together. Vote on your choice between white and navy; all men/unisex, all women, and all youth sizes will go with whichever is most popular.

This first-of-a-kind suncatcher design for Run Waterloo uses light as a metaphor for brighter days ahead. The light blue is transparent.

Purchases of either shirt, medal, or both will also include:

• A printed, personalized bib
• All entries (19+) that include a swag item (shirt, medal) also include one Pineapple Radler from Waterloo Brewing! This specialty item sold out last summer before Waterloo Classic, so we’re making sure we get them for 2020!

We are going to order the swag items after registration closes on June 25, to eliminate waste completely. You can expect your swag package at the end of July at the earliest.

The funds

This race supports two great causes at the University of Waterloo: the Women’s Sport Initiative Fund, and two cross country scholarships. We hope that this race can still meet our projected contributions. Donations will be accepted, and proceeds will be split between these causes and some Run Waterloo operational costs. We have spent the spring processing enormous quantities of refunds, and while our operating costs aren’t large, they do add up, especially since we have no idea when we will be able to host events again. Thank you for your support!

Notes from our sponsors

Runners’ Choice. This race typically drives a lot of traffic into the Runners’ Choice store. Since that is not an available option right now, we are supporting the store in a different way. The promo code participants will be sent is valid June 21st – 30th, both online and in-store for 20% off your entire purchase (excluding nutrition, electronics, and specialty racing items). After June 30, we will have a full list of people who redeemed the code (online and in-store), and all of those people will have their package delivered when ready. Any participant who selected the free option who does not redeem the code will have their package held until the next kit pickup, which will be a future and undetermined point in time. Worth noting: the free pickup at Runners’ Choice would involve you vising the store twice: first when you pickup your online order / go to the store to buy something with the code, and the second time will be when the swag is ready and you can drop in to claim your kit.

My Next KW Home – Michael Hewitson free entry contest – We haven’t ran this contest in a few months, so this one’s simple: to enter, just check in to the Facebook event with a new post of any kind. We miss you, and want to say hi! Two facebook entries will be chosen on June 15 for the complete package of swag and shipping.

Waterloo Brewing – if you go to retail store during race days (June 21 – 30), you can show your email confirmation for a few TBD small gift items. Plus you can take advantage of their Canada Day sale – 30 tall cans of their core brews for $60!

The bonuses

10 heats

We are going to sponsor 10 mini-runs of exactly 4 or 5 people. Each mini-run will be supported with food, drinks, swag, and possible photography support. These are ideal for families in the same bubble, or alternatively, a small group of 5 could get together if protocols are followed, which will be determined closer to your date. Protocols could involve starting with masks and passing with masks, but we will wait to see.

Apply for funding here from now until June 16 at midnight. Please indicate who you are and why you are a great candidate family or group. We are especially looking for families who have Waterloo 10 KM Classic traditions!

Two of the 10 heats will be composed of local elite athletes, one for women and one for men. The lack of racing opportunities for our local elite runners is a huge loss and we are excited to make a small contribution to that end.

10 themes

We don’t just host events for you. We host them to build strong community bonds, and that is tricky when done virtually. So we are going to explore ten themes of our community, one on each day of the race.

• June 21: inclusion – what belonging to the running community means
• June 22: women in sport – opportunities and successes
• June 23: families – the building block of our organization
• June 24: fathers – male allyship and lessons about caring from our dads
• June 25: COVID-19 response – coping and thriving in challenging times
• June 26: road racing – what does it mean to you?
• June 27: tradition – why has this race lasted 43 years (and counting)
• June 28: physical fitness – connecting running to physical health
• June 29: mental health – connecting running to mental health
• June 30: friendship – bonds formed through running events and clubs

Each day, we hope to have a rich online conversation (through various social portals) on each theme. We can talk about what is working well, areas we can improve on, and by doing this, establish some even stronger bonds than we might in a typical post-race environment.

Important details

Swag – will be delivered after the race. We are not going to order the medals until after registration closes, to completely eliminate waste. So expect your package later in July at the earliest.

For the T-shirt, participants can vote which colour they like, between white and navy. The three shirt cuts (mens/unisex, female, and youth) will independently go with whichever colour has the majority of the votes.

For RW members

The discount has been changed from 20% to $10. This race counts for Boost with the Classic booster. The Boost program will be revitalized this summer with an innovative series of virtual runs – stay tuned.

For participants already signed up as of March 14

By email, you have been given the option to defer to the 2021 race, be refunded (net of Race Roster processing fees), or join the virtual race. If you choose to enter the virtual race, you will be counted as having purchased a medal and delivery, and whatever your shirt selection was. Contact us if there are any case-by-case questions. You can request a refund and later sign up for the virtual run, if that works for you. The deadline to choose date is June 18, which is when refunds will immediately be processed.