Canada Day Family 5K

Canada Day Family 5K

JULY 1st-5th, 2020

Lace-up! Let’s celebrate CANADA DAY together, apart, as a ‘family’ through a VIRTUAL 5K supporting SENIORS!

COVID-19 does not affect everyone equally. Not only are seniors more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19, they are also at higher risk of food insecurity and social isolation. As Canada progressively opens up, citizens over the age of 70 are being cautioned to continue to self-isolate.

Please join us Canada Day and Canada Day weekend as we host a virtual 5K in support of seniors self-isolating. By participating you will be able to stay active and healthy while safely social distancing. You can choose to run, jog, bike, or walk wherever works best for YOU, solo or with a team.

Registration is FREE, but we are kindly asking for donations that will support "Seniors Can Connect!", which include programs designed to help seniors connect with loved-ones and community through training and technology. See below for more information.

Included:

Virtual Customizable Bib

Social Media Completion Medal

Race Roster Completion Certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it work?

1. Register for the Canada Day Family 5K virtual run.
2. Receive your bib to print and customize at home.
3. Sign-up for our Facebook event page for more information and training tips.
4. Reach out to your friends and family to try and get them to support you with a donation to The Seniors Can Connect! program. We have a goal of raising $5000 for the organization through this run - and ALL funds raised go towards the cause.
5. Complete your virtual run any time between July 1st and 5th, 2020.
6. Post your results on your social media channels using the #CanadaDayFamily5K
7. Remember to have fun and share a photo of yourself using the hashtag #CanadaDayFamily5K on our Facebook Page and/or your social media accounts.
8. With the photo you share on your social media channels using the #CanadaDayFamily5K we'll edit your photo and add a finishers medal.

What is a Virtual 5K?

Choose your own route. Then run, walk, bike, or jog the appropriate distance to complete the virtual run, being mindful of social distancing guidelines.

You can:

• Run / Jog 5K
• Walk 2.5K
• Bike 10K

What are the benefits to a Virtual 5k?

• Flexibility. You can run, bike, or walk whenever and wherever you are able... outside, on a treadmill, in your neighborhood or park, in the grocery store... your choice!
• Virtual community. There’s a virtual community in it with you. Share how you are training, why you’re running, what your route looks like, your finishing photos - whatever you do connected to the event! Post online on our Facebook page and/or your social media accounts using the hashtag #CanadaDayFamily5K.
• Personal health. Running, walking, and biking are great catalysts for your health. Participating in this virtual event is a great motivator! But please, observe proper social distancing guidelines however you choose to participate.

What are some apps I can use to clock my time and distance?

Apps are not required, as you are welcome to use whatever tool you wish to use, but here are a few we suggest:

• Nike Run Club: A favourite amongst the Canada Day Family 5K organizers. This app is 100% free and comes with built in coaching programs suited for motivating any level of runner.
• Strava: Top choice of many runners both casual and serious, because it shows how you compare to your friends. Strava is also compatible with the latest GPS watches.
• RunKeeper: Tracks your runs and helps keep you motivated. Each time you reach your goal, RunKeeper celebrates with a trophy and confetti!
• MapMyRun: Great if you’re traveling and will be completing your run off your usual routes. With MapMyRun you can map out your own course or follow a course that someone else has created.

Where do I post my results?

Upon registration, you will be sent a link with a survey where you can post your results. Also, feel free to share your results on social media using the hashtag #CanadaDayFamily5K.

Who do I contact if I need help or have questions?

Our Virtual Fun Run team is here to help:

Phone: 416-558-2720
Email: canadadayfamily5k@gmail.com

How do I select a course?

Selecting a good course while observing proper social distancing is a very important part of having a successful virtual run.

We suggest taking a practice run of your selected course a few times before running on race day to make sure there are no dangerous road crossings. Be sure you have identified a landmark for your start and finish, as well as your mile markers. For example, when you reach the white fence, you know you have completed one mile. Using apps to record your distance can help make sure you get the most accurate time possible. And again, be sure that you pick a suitable time when there are not many people around.

COVID-19 has given many of us a taste of isolation and loneliness, a reality that older people in Canada face every day. We have awakened to the terrible truth that seniors face serious barriers to participating in community and the experience of quarantine has created inhumane conditions for many, often facing the palliative journey alone.

The Seniors Can Connect! Programs are designed to help seniors connect with loved-ones and community through technology. HelpAge Canada and Connected Canadians are working together to provide access and support to technology for seniors across Canada.

Seniors Can Connect! Toll Free Tech Support Hotline provides free training and support for seniors and the devices they currently own. Through a rigorous volunteer training program and IT support, the call centre connects seniors with volunteer technical mentors in multiple languages currently in Ontario and Eastern Quebec.

Seniors Can Connect! Tablet Lending Program loans ICT devices, such as tablets, to Canadian seniors who otherwise would not have access to them, to allow these seniors to communicate with their loved ones and the outside world. We work with local community partners, currently in the Ottawa area

Connected Canadians is a federally incorporated non-profit organization based in Ottawa, with a mandate to connect older adults with free technology training and support. Many Connected Canadians volunteers are new Canadians who are highly skilled technology workers, collectively they speak 12 languages. Volunteers benefit from the cultural awareness and conversational practice opportunities that come from their interaction with clients, and clients feel a sense of pride and connection in helping to welcome newcomers into the community.

“Although technology with no human connection offers little, technology that’s used to directly enable human connections can make a world of difference—especially to those enduring isolation and loneliness. That’s why all Connected Canadians’ programming has improved human connection as it’s driving force. Our mission is based on the simple truths that people need other people and that digital literacy is essential for engagement in today’s world.”

- Emily Jones Joanisse, CEO, Connected Canadians