26km to 2026

Runners' Choice Waterloo and Altra have teamed up to celebrate going into the new year in style with 26km to 2026! A fun, social event happening on, you guessed it, New Years Eve, Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 at 8:30am. Best of all, this event is a fundraising initiative to support Sanguen Health Centre, making your participation count even more!

Plus, enjoy an exclusive collaboration with Wave Maker Craft Brewing for our participant swag this year, along with draw prizes from our friends Altra, Stance, and Fractel!

LIMITED TO 200 PARTICIPANTS

ROAD CLOSURES: This isn't a sanctioned course/race—it's a social run/walk. No road closures will be provided by Police or volunteers, so please practice caution when crossing roads throughout the event loop.

The run/walk will be completed on a 5km loop starting and ending at Runners' Choice Waterloo (105-55 Erb Street East, Waterloo, ON). The 26km to 2026 route can be found further below on this event page or here via Strava.

Please Note: You don't need Strava to participate in this event.

The first 180 registrants will receive a limited edition 26km to 2026 16oz. Ale Glass Can and one collaboration beer called The Celebratory Cerveza courtesy of Wave Maker Craft Brewery, Runners' Choice Waterloo, and Altra.

Please Note: Registrants under the age of 19 will not receive The Celebratory Cerveza.

Please Note: You will only be able to pick up your merchandise at the store, in-person. This merchandise will only be available for pick-up between the following dates: Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 (event day) to Saturday, January 31st, 2026. No deliveries will be available for this merchandise.

Kyle and Ciara from Altra will be bringing a demo fleet featuring the FWD VIA 2, Torin 8, Experience Flow 2, and Escalante 4. These models will be available to all participants to use on event day to complete their preferred distance.

There will be draw prizes from Altra, Stance, and Fractel!

We will be hosting a shoe drive in support of Sanguen.

Feel free to bring lightly-used running shoes, boots, casual wear, etc. to donate to Sanguen's Waterloo Region Mobile Community Health Van program.

WINS Peer Outreach Workers are out on the streets daily and often in harsh weather. Peers rely on their own personal gear to stay safe and do their job. Many have served for years, braving rain, snow, cold, and long shifts to care for communities often forgotten and underserved.

With Gear for Peers, Sanguen wants to make important work a little bit easier. This campaign aims to raise money to provide essential winter gear (boots, insulated gloves, jackets) for all 15 WINS Peers. With the right gear, WINS Peer Outreach Workers can continue to work safely, with comfort and regardless of weather conditions. By equipping peers properly, we not only protect their health and safety—we also ensure outreach work continues uninterrupted, which means consistent support for hundreds of community members relying on harm reduction and support, all while fostering a more professional, sustainable, and caring workforce.

Sanguen is a community-based, not-for-profit health agency dedicated to promoting dignity, health and safety for people who use drugs, people who are unhoused, and historically underserved individuals across Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington.

Learn More

Post-run you are able to pick up your 16oz. Ale Glass Can and The Celebratory Cerveza in-store at Runners' Choice Waterloo.

We will also have snacks and coffee for your enjoyment!