The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is hosting the 131st Festival virtually this year, to help keep communities safe and stop the spread of COVID-19. The annual 10 Mile, 5K and 1 Mile running races will be offered in a virtual run format for 2020 as part of the Festival celebrations.

Virtual races allow participants the chance to compete for prizes (and glory), while enjoying the flexibility of choosing a time, date, and route to run that works best for them.

Runners can register now via our race page and will be provided information on how to track and submit their run times using a specialized running app between noon (CST) on Friday, July 19th and noon (CST) on Sunday, August 2nd to be considered for judging. Winners will be announced Monday, August 3rd during the Islendingadagurinn weekend.

As part of the 2nd Annual 5 Kilometre, 29th Annual Jan’s Memorial One Mile Fun Run, and 52nd Annual 10 Mile Road Race, participants will receive a digital race kit, a custom-designed medal or ribbon (1 mile entrants), a chance to enter exclusive contests and purchase limited edition 2020 Islendingadagurinn race gear.

Race Director, Brett Lamoureux, has also provided optional run routes in Gimli and Winnipeg with Icelandic significance. “I’m really excited about this year’s virtual run. It’s a different format than we’re used to but runners will still get the chance to compete and take home one of our beautiful medals.”

The Iceland Festival of Manitoba is grateful to all of its sponsors, participants, and volunteers who will make the running races a memorable part of their summer festival experience.