If you want to know more about The Big Canada Run, you are in the right place.
We have prepared a comprehensive FAQ section for you to find all the answers to your questions.
However, if you can’t find what you are looking for, we are more than happy to help; just shoot us an email at race@thebigcanadarun.ca
Questions About Registration
Q. How do I register/join a team for The Big Canada Run?
To register please go to The Big Canada Run Registration Page and create a new account or log into your existing account for a simple and secure registration process:
https://race.mychallengecanada.ca/register/thebigcanadarun2023/
A team can be as little as 1 runner or as big as your imagination.
You will register as an individual. During the registration process, you can select which team you want to be added to or create your own.
Q. What/When/Where is The Big Canada Run?
TBCR is a team virtual challenge across Canada. You can choose to run/walk/hike 8,000km, 10,000km or both.
You can also select the 18,000 km cycling challenge. To be completed exclusively on a bike.
Your team has from July 1st, 2023 (Canada Day) to June 30th, 2024 to complete the chosen challenge.
Teams and participants can run from anywhere in the world.
Q. How many km per day is this craziness?
For a team of 10 runners, it’s just 2.2km per day to finish in 1 year. The more you run, the more team members, the faster you can finish.
Go to: https://race.mychallengecanada.ca/register/thebigcanadarun2023/ and get your team ready.
Q. Which are the supported charities for Celebrate Canada Challenge 2023?
This year the supported organizations are the CHEO Foundation (Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research) and Discovery House (Support care to women and their children fleeing domestic violence).
Since 2020, My Challenge Canada’s participants have raised over $100,000 for the supported charities, making a remarkable impact in our communities. With gratitude for their unwavering commitment, we continue to work together towards creating positive change in important areas such as research, health and housing services.
Q. How does The Big Canada Run Work?
Team up with your friends and family to run across Canada virtually on a pre-determined course.
The Big Canada Run is a virtual team challenge across Canada with two different routes:
- Leg #1: Run, walk or hike the classic east-to-west route that follows the Trans-Canada Highway. From St. John’s, N.L. to Victoria, B.C., covering 8,000km.
- Leg #2: Run, walk or hike the west-to-east route that starts in Victoria, BC, goes up to Whitehorse, Yukon, and finishes on the coast of N.L., covering 10,000km.
- For those teams who want a bigger challenge, the Maple Challenge includes Leg #1 and Leg #2, exploring 26 iconic Canadian cities.
- The new Cycling Maple Challenge (Leg #1 + Leg #2) will take you East to West, then North and back East on an 18,000 km biking journey with your team.
Track your run on one of the many GPS tracking systems, upload your run, and watch your team move up the leaderboard. You can also opt to post your runs manually on the app or website.
Q. How much does The Big Canada Run cost?
- Early Bird pricing is $75 CAD (until July 1st), including free SWAG shipping to Canada and the USA.*
- Regular price rom July 2nd $100 CAD*
Registration will close July 31st at 11:59 PM PT., or until the event is full. Whatever happens first!
*PACIFIC TIME
Q. Do I get a finisher’s medal?
Yes of course! We will ship your beautiful medal in the fall.
Q. What do I get when I register? Do we get any SWAG?
YES! All runners that register will receive:
- Limited Edition Finisher’s medal
- Multi-Functional Neck Gaiter
- Conmemorative vynil sticker
- Official Virtual Race BIB
- Access to a participant-only Facebook Community
- Virtual badges to celebrate and share your accomplishments
- Pre-mapped courses across the country
- Finisher picture to celebrate and share your accomplishment
- Innovative and user-friendly tracking platform to register your km and follow the journey.
- World-class customer support
- Virtual travel experience through fun facts and photos of what you would see along the route.
Q. Are there shipping charges?
No – shipping is included within Canada and the USA.
For international shipping, there is a $15 CAD nominal surcharge.
Q. Can I participate Internationally?
Absolutely! Of all the runners, about 15% live outside of Canada.
We just ask for a nominal $15 CAD for additional shipping charges if outside Canada or USA.
Q. Can I change my address?
We will ask you for your shipping address during registration. Please be careful. If you need to change your address, please email us at hello@mychallengecanada.ca to update it.
Q. Can I register after July 1st?
Yes, but… price increases after July 1st and registration will close July 31 at 11:59PM PT., or until the event is full. Whatever happens first!
- Early Bird pricing is $70 CAD (until July 1), including free SWAG shipping to Canada and the USA.*
- From July 2 to July 30 $100 CAD*
*PACIFIC TIME
Q. How do I download my bib number to share on social media?
After registration, you will see a confirmation page with your BIB number and a link to download the printable. You can also find the download link in the registration confirmation email.
Q. How to redeem a gift registration?
If you purchased gift registrations, you will find them on your account settings page here. There, you will see which codes have been redeemed and which ones are still available. To redeem a gift registration, share the code with the person that will use it to register and enter it during the registration process. It is essential for each participant to have their own account.
Q. How to apply a discount code?
If you have a discount code, you can apply it on the checkout page. Discounts can not be applied retroactively.
Q. I purchased Special Edition socks; when will I receive them?
Your socks will be shipped along with your medal and SWAG in the Fall.
Q. I purchased a strength training program when registering; how do I access it?
Your strength training program access appeared on the confirmation page when you registered. If you need the access link, please email us at hello@mychallengecanada.ca
Q. Are there refunds or transfers?
Registration for The Big Canada Run is non-refundable, non-deferrable and non-transferrable. Discounts are not retroactive.
Register Here! https://race.mychallengecanada.ca/register/thebigcanadarun2023/
Questions About Teams
Q. When does my team have to complete the challenge?
All teams must finish by June 30th, 2024.
For a team of 10 runners, it’s just 2.2km per day to finish in 1 year. The more you run, the more team members, the faster you can finish.
Q. What happens if my teammates are not putting in the work and do not finish the race? Will I get my SWAG?
YES! you will receive your swag and medal.
Q. Do I have to be fast?
No! The goal is to team up with your friends and run this incredible journey together! Just run, have fun, and finish the race.
Q. How far do teams run/walk?
Teams will travel the full course of the leg they choose.
- Leg #1 = 8,000km.
- Leg #2 = 10,000km.
- Maple Challenge Leg#1 and Leg #2 = 18,000km.
- Cycling Maple Challenge Leg#1 and Leg #2 = 18,000km.
Q. How big can a team be?
Minimum 1, max is your imagination. Every team of over 100 runners will receive a commemorative plaque.
Q. Do teams receive a discount?
Yes! If your team is ten runners or larger, contact us. We can hook you up with a discount for each participant.
It is important to ask for the discount code before registering the team, as discounts are not retroactive.
Please write to hello@mychallengecanada.ca before registering your team to provide you with the discount code before registering.
Q. What if I don’t have a team?
Solo runners can join the provincial teams and add their distance to the team’s goal.
If you plan on running the full distance (8000, 10000 or 18000 km) by yourself you can register as an individual.
Register Here! https://race.mychallengecanada.ca/register/thebigcanadarun2023/
Questions About Tracking
Q. How do I track and report my run?
Once registered, you can access the general leaderboard and your individual challenge dashboard. You have from July 1st, 2023 and until June 30th, 2024, to complete and post all your kilometers.
In there, you will be able to post your activities manually or sync your activities from your sports watch and track your progress and accomplishments.
To post your kilometres:
1. Go to race.mychallengecanada.ca
2. Log into your account
3. Click on “My Challenge Dashboard” on the Big Canada Run 2023 event.
4. Click “Add Activity Manually” to post manually or “Connect your watch” if you want to submit your activities automatically from your sports watch or fitness tracker.
5. When adding manually, enter your activity date, kilometres and duration, then click the “Submit” button. Your activity will be posted immediately. You will see your totals below.
Using the tracking system is simple and straightforward, but if you have any issues, we are happy to help; send us an email at hello@mychallengecanada.ca
Q. How do I sync my sport watch to upload my kilometres automatically?
To connect your sports watch or fitness tracker and post your activities automatically follow the next steps:
1. Go to race.mychallengecanada.ca
2. Log into your account
3. Click on “My Challenge Dashboard” on the Big Canada Run 2023 event.
4. Click “Connect your watch”
5. This will open your Personal information page, then click on the orange link that says “Connect your watch”
6. Read the instruction is the grey box and then click on the orange CONNECT WITH STRAVA button
7. Log into your Strava account or create a free Strava account
8. Click on the orange Authorize button
9. It is essential to back to your challenge dashboard and toggle the Connect your Watch button to post all of your subsequent activities automatically towards your Celebrate Canada Challenge
Q. Can I run on a treadmill? What about Trail miles?
Yes, you may run either outdoors or on a treadmill. Yes, for Trail miles.
Q. Does walking count?
Yes! Running, walking, hiking, skipping, galloping, trotting – anything completed on foot can count! For the Cycling Maple Challenge, only biking counts.
Q. Do I need a GPS watch/tracker or Strava? Will I need to show my watch or device for proof of running?
You can use one if you wish, but it is not essential.
If you use a GPS watch or fitness app, your kilometers can be added automatically through Strava, if not you can enter your activities manually.
Q. Do I have to run a specific distance each day, or can I break it up and run more over the weekends?
You can run or walk as much or as little as you want on a given day. Just add distance to move along the course.
Q. If I register after the race starts on July 1st, 2023, can I include my kms since July 1st, 2023?
YES. If you register after July 1st you can log all your kms from July 1st, 2023 and up until June 30th, 2024, remember this challenge is within the Honor System.
Q. How will I report my kilometers?
Refer to the “Tracking” section for full details.
Q. I don’t have time to log km on a regular basis. Is there an option to not have to do this?
Yes! Since it’s the Honor System, if you decide that you don’t want to enter your km regularly, and you don’t care about watching yourself vs. others on the leaderboard, you can log weekly, monthly, or you can keep up with your own km, and when you finish, send an email to us, and we’ll send your medal to you.
Remember that you can sync your sports watch or fitness app to add them automatically.
Q. What stops participants from cheating?
We do have many ways to identify cheating. However, we acknowledge that no matter what we do, some people will always cheat, as they do at in-person events, if that’s what they want to do. There are no prizes for finishing faster. If someone wants to cheat, they are fooling themselves and wasting their money.
Questions About Support
Q. How do I contact you for customer support?
We are always one email away to help you during your challenge. Please write us at hello@mychallengecanada.ca. We’d be happy to help.
Q. What’s your phone number?
We discontinued phone support in 2022. We believe email is the ideal support channel for detailed inquiries, making it straightforward to consider and respond to your questions thoughtfully.
We strive to provide clear and concise answers to your questions, but sometimes we need to research and review with coworkers before responding, which may require putting you on hold or calling you back. Phone support is not documented, so any special arrangements made may be inaccurately recorded. Email inquiries are associated with your account and visible to our entire team. We review every customer interaction, documenting and addressing issues to prevent recurring problems and support you better.
