The Waterloo 10 KM Classic

Courses will be confirmed for 2024.

5 KM | Saturday 6:00 p.m. | Interactive map

10 KM | Sunday 8:30 a.m. | Interactive map
3 KM | Sunday 8:30 a.m. | Interactive map
200m | Sunday 10:15 a.m. | The kids 200m is a small loop from the Finish line.

Notes:

• The 10k is has a slight but significant change from 2023; the start/finish line is pushed west away from Hagey Blvd. and the two loops don’t use Frank Tompa Dr. between the loops (no turnaround at 5k).
• The 3k diverts from the 10k on Columbia in the first kilometre. It uses a scenic section of the Laurel Trail before joining up with the 10k on Hagey.

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 of the 10k, 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.

Active Transportation: We encourage various methods of active transportation. You can arrive to campus from offsite by walking or lock your bike up at CIF.
Grand River Transit: Use this route planner to make your way to CIF. The closest ION stations are Research & Technology (from north) and University of Waterloo (from south).
Parking and carpooling: We strongly recommend carpooling. Parking this year is different than for every race we’ve hosted previously at CIF because on March 20, 2024, the University of Waterloo announced new parking fees that will go into effect on May 1, 2024. Parking in Lot X on weekends will cost $7 per vehicle per day. Considering this, there are two main parking options:

• If you want to have no restrictions on time you can enter and leave with your vehicle, you can park in Lot X because the lot is outside the race course. Be prepared to pay, and please carpool!! We understand that families who are already using their vehicle seats don’t have the carpool option.
• If you want to park for free, we have good news. The Cora Group has generously made two parking lots (google map) on Hagey Blvd available for race participants and spectators. These lots (which are connected for pedestrians but not cars) are slightly closer than Lot X to the Start Line. Please be mindful that because they only enter and exit from Hagey Blvd inside the race course, the entry and exit times are restricted. On Saturday, June 15, entry and exit are completely restricted for only 15 minutes (5:50 p.m. – 6:05 pm) which won’t affect runners very much. On Sunday, June 16, the course and logistics are much different and entry and exit are completely restricted from 8:15 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. (almost two hours). This is not only for the safety of all participants but also a strict requirement of our closure of the southbound lane of Hagey Blvd. This closure makes the race experience safe and possible, and completely blocks the only entry and exit for the lots from 8:15-10:10. If you want to use these great, free lots, you must understand this restriction. The option to pay $7 in Lot X with no restrictions is available to you.

Registration Options and Policy

Online through Race Roster. No refunds. Entries can be transferred or deferred for a $15 fee. Deadline is June 11th at midnight. E-transfer to [email protected] to get it started. More information is available in the participant waiver.

Kit pickups and race weekend registration

Friday, June 14: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Runners’ Choice Waterloo
Saturday, June 15: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Runners’ Choice Waterloo
Saturday, June 15: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at North Campus Field House
Sunday, June 16: 6:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. at CIF

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. Contact [email protected] to learn more about our entry standards and apply for elite entry here.

Note: deadline for elite entry to this race is June 2, 2023.

The Waterloo Classic 10 KM Road Race is the oldest continuing race of it’s kind in Waterloo Region.

Its long and storied history is one of sporting and community tradition since the inaugural event in 1978. It was held at University Stadium (formerly Seagram Stadium) every year from 1978 – 2014 except for 2014 and 2007, when it was displaced by stadium construction. Since 2015, it has been displaced by LRT construction. We are currently sifting through the boxes of newspaper clippings and black & white photos to share these stories; for example, did you know that once in the early 1990s, it snowed?

Rich Hughson won the inaugural running in a time of 31:39. Through various course changes, the event record today is 29:46 by Paul Lockhart in 1985 (which beat his brother Greg Lockhart’s 1981 record by ONE second!) Jackie Mota holds the female record at 33:47 in 1997. Overall, we have seen 5 sub-30 times throughout the years, and with 5, Clive Hamilton holds the record for most victories.

One of our favourite stories comes from 1988, when two runners who would represent Canada in Seoul later that fall ran the Classic. Doug Consiglio (Canadian 1500m champion) and Peter Maher (Canadian marathoner) competed in the 10 KM. Of the two Olympians, who would come out with the win? Explore the full records here.

The 3 KM (1996) and 5 KM (1997) events were added in the 1990s to meets the modern needs of families and all types of runners. But the 10 KM distance remains the signature challenge of The Waterloo 10 KM Classic.

For the past 43 years, The Classic has raised money for such worthy organizations as Child Find, Red Cross, Food Bank, Canadian Diabetes Association, Lung Association, Crohn’s and Colitis, K-W Habilitation Services, The Waterloo Recreation Complex, K-W Firefighters Defibrillation Program, The Betty Thompson Youth Centre, Citizens Concerened with Crime against Children, the Hospice of Waterloo Region, C.O.D. Riding Program, K-W Counselling Services, K-W Special Olympics, Books for Birthdays, Freeport Hospital, Heartwood Place, Extend-A-Family, University of Waterloo Women’s Sport Initiative, and local amateur athletics.