This year’s Winterlude festival will include the Embrace Winter charity run, challenging local runners to brave the February cold for a good cause.
The run will take participants through winter landscapes for a distance of their choice. There will be categories for marathon and half marathon runners as well as 10, 5, and 3-kilometre distances and a 1-kilometre run for children. The course will be on a closed, paved road, ensuring as much safety as possible. The course will also include on-course nutrition and post-race refreshments, including snacks, hot chocolate, non-alcoholic beers, as well as there being a discounted post-race brunch at Mill St. Brewpub.
The course will run along the Ottawa River, through downtown Ottawa, with the start and finish line at the Canadian War Museum LeBreton Flats Park. Runners will also raise funds for the Imerman Angels charity, which provides one-on-one support for people undergoing cancer treatment. Participants can also receive a commemorative bib, shirt, and finisher’s medal. The fastest three finishers for each distance and gender will also receive recognition, with the race also acting as a Boston Marathon Qualifier.
Runs like this often use methods like poster printing and social media to help attract participants. The race is designed to coincide with the Winterlude Festival, which also includes concerts, cultural events, activities for children, ice carving and more.
The 2025 Embrace Winter race will take place on the morning of February 16 throughout downtown Ottawa.
