Sunday’s Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington, Ont., lived as much as its frosty identify. Greater than 2,500 decided runners embraced the bone-chilling temperatures—plunging to -10 C (firstly)—and battled frozen water stations to check their health in Ontario’s first huge street race of 2025.
Race director Kelly Arnott stated she was shocked by the robust turnout regardless of the acute chilly. “We gave runners the choice to defer their entry to 2026 because of the unhealthy climate, and round 700 selected to take action,” Arnott stated.
Regardless of the excessive variety of deferrals, the occasion noticed a report variety of finishers underneath an hour and 45 minutes, with over 950 runners attaining the milestone. “It looks like 1:45 is the brand new two-hour mark,” Arnott joked. “Or possibly folks had been simply operating sooner to flee the chilly!”
The freezing circumstances prompted points on the course, with cups on the water stations turning into blocks of ice, making it tough for the volunteers to supply hydration. Organizers rented out the town’s Performing Arts Centre as a house base to maintain runners heat, and post-run Stag Chili was served at six close by eating places, boosting enterprise in Burlington’s downtown core.
Toronto’s Rob Kanko took the general win for the second consecutive yr, crossing the end line in 66:27. On the ladies’s aspect, the frigid temperatures didn’t deter Port Elgin, Ont.’s Rachel Hannah from setting a brand new course report of 1:13:42, She to interrupt the earlier time set by Canadian Olympian Krista Duchene in 2015.
Arnott informed Canadian Working that whereas the chilly was a problem, she was grateful there wasn’t snow. “We would have liked there to be no snow to arrange the water stations,” she defined. “We had about 150 volunteers serving to out, and my husband and co-race director, Mark, began clearing ice and organising from 5 a.m. The entire crew put in a nine-hour day to make this occasion occur.”
Over the previous three years, Arnott stated the race hasn’t acquired a single grievance. “This yr, we hosted 3,000 runners, and so many individuals reached out to thank us,” she stated. “It means the world, contemplating how a lot effort we’ve put into making this occasion occur for 29 years.”
As for the thirtieth anniversary subsequent yr, Arnott hinted one thing particular is within the works—giving runners one more reason to mark their calendars for the primary Sunday in March 2026.
You may view full outcomes from the race, right here.