What is the Waterloo Running Series?

In some ways nothing is changing, and in some ways, big changes are afoot at RunWaterloo.

Our previous legal name, The Waterloo 10 KM Classic Road Race Inc., reflected our origins in 1978 as a single-purpose organization. As we have grown over the past 37 years, we have used two trade names, “Waterloo Running Series” and “RunWaterloo.” What gives?

We are excited to clarify this branding as we approach 2016. When talking about our organization as a whole, RunWaterloo is the name you’re looking for. RunWaterloo describes everything we do for the running community. RunWaterloo also hosts a lot of events. So many, in fact, that we have a new way of describing them:
– Waterloo Running Series,
– Run For The Fun Of It, presented by YNCU,
– The ENDURrun, and
– “Other” events

Waterloo Running Series

The same name that you know and love is now dedicated to our series of the nine races that have the most in common. They are best described as true road or trail races. While certainly fun and geared towards families, these races are the most competitive and are best presented as a complete set. Included in the Waterloo Running Series are:
– “Re-Fridgee-Eighter”
– Laurier Loop
– ENDURrace
– Baden Road Races
– Waterloo 10 KM Classic
– Kitchener Kids With Cancer Run
– Harvest Half
– Oktoberfest Run
– RememberRun

These events represent the best of what we have to offer to the grassroots running community: a variety of timed and untimed events, events in all three cities and three of the four townships of Waterloo Region, prize money at five of the races, and the same great family rates, entertainment, food and community atmosphere. Each of these events is a fundraiser for one or more charities.

Run For The Fun Of It

Presented by YNCU

Comprised of:
– In Running Colour
– Dirty Dash
– Santa Pur-suit
These events are clearly distinct within RunWaterloo. Although they embody many of the same elements as Waterloo Running Series events (community spirit, volunteers, fundraisers, timing and medals, etc.), these three races have something else in common. In a strict sense of the term, these events are not “true” “races.” They all have a strong theme (colour powder, mud, Santa suit) that make the event what it is – running for fun above any other purpose. These events are a great introduction to RunWaterloo for many runners and non-runners alike. This new classification will be a strong tool for us to be able to expand our reach to more members of the community.

We are also excited about our new partnership with Your Neighbourhood Credit Union. Working with YNCU is a great new feature for 2016, and this new model of sponsorship fits exactly what YNCU is looking for. YNCU is looking forward to supporting this new series this year, and we are too.

The ENDURrun

The ENDURrun is substantially different from other races. A strong part of the local running community, The ENDURrun has also developed its own culture. The ENDURrun is comprised of seven stages:
– 1. Half Marathon
– 2. 15 KM Time Trial
– 3. 30 KM Cross Country
– 4. 10 Mile Hills
– 5. 16 Mile Cross Country
– 6. 10 KM Time Trial
– 7. Marathon

Other events

For now, these ‘other’ events are primarily newer, shorter, and mile-based races:
– The Pancake Mile
– Downtown Kitchener Mile
– The Runway

These events will continue to develop and will carve their own niche within the RunWaterloo community.

How does this affect you?

Not much, at all. It won’t affect cost: the Multi Race Discount still applies across the different series. It won’t affect the way you choose to participate: thousands will run or walk in Waterloo Running Series events with the sole motivation of having fun, while we will continue to see finish-line sprints at Santa Pur-suit and through the mud pit at the Dirty Dash. And it won’t affect the strong community bonds that are building across all series.

Our RunWaterloo sponsors (Saucony, Runners’ Choice, M&T Printing, Michael Hewitson – Royal LePage Wolle Realty, Mike Forgrave and Associates and KW Health Connection) are sponsors of all of the above events.

This is also a token of clarity for our loyal base of runners. If you joined RunWaterloo in 2005 and never really saw how events like In Running Colour and Santa Pur-suit fit into the Waterloo Running Series, then this will make a lot of sense to you.

Going forward

Most could run all year in 2016 and not even notice this change. But clarifying what we do is important as we expand in the community. And we don’t want anyone to be caught off-guard by a (now true) statement like: “Dirty Dash isn’t part of the Waterloo Running Series.”

We are looking for a title sponsor for the Waterloo Running Series for 2017. We have no plans to offer this sponsorship for The ENDURrun.

Look for big changes to our “other” grouping; will one of them join the Waterloo Running Series in the future? That remains to be seen, but Runway is joining the Battle of Waterloo IV this year.

All the best in your running in 2016!