About Beat The Cold

 

Beat the Cold is an annual triathlon hosted by 1JustCity and TriFactor Triathlon Club where weekend warriors, super athletes and fun-letes will run, bike, and skate in the frigid February weather.​​​ Since 2019, the wildest Winnipeggers have beaten the cold so others don’t have to. This year's race will be in-person only. The event starts at 9 AM, and is a 5 km run, followed by a 5 km bike, and then finishes with a 5 km skate, all at the River trails at the Forks.  However, depending on the weather conditions at the Forks, the event may need to be modified. This race is sanctioned by Triathlon Manitoba.  ​

​

The Cause

​​

100% of the Beat The Cold profits will go toward Just a Warm Sleep, 1JustCity’s overnight emergency warming centre in our newly-renovated Oak Table space.

 

Every night from November through March, Just a Warm Sleep invites up to 30 people experiencing homelessness into its outreach site at 107 Pulford Street to get a safe, warm sleep.​​

​

Join us in all your layers, with all your friends, and help us raise funds for 1JustCity and their emergency overnight shelter, Just a Warm Sleep.

​

​

​

Registration Options & Pricing

​

You can choose to enter this event as an individual or get together with friends and form a relay team.

Please note: participants must be 16 years old as of race day (Jan. 31, 2026) to participate.

 

​Solo Entry

Challenge yourself to run, bike, and skate on your own. 

 

​Relay Team Options

Relay teams may have 2 or 3 people.

In a 3-person relay, each person completes one leg of the course.

In a 2-person relay, one member will complete two of the legs.

 

Early bird registration November 1 - 30:

• Solo entry: $50

• Relay entry: $100 per 2 or 3 person team​

​

Regular registration December 1 - January 19:

• Solo entry: $60

• Relay: $120 per 2 or 3 person team

​

Late registration January 20 - 26:

• Solo entry: $70

• Relay: $150 per 2 or 3 person team

​

Registration is non-refundable:

• in the case of poor weather

• due to injury or illness.

• transfers may be available (between relay and solo, or to another participant; please email to inquire)

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Gender Inclusivity at Beat The Cold

 

TriFactor Triathlon Club, together with 1JustCity, welcomes everyone to participate in Beat The Cold. 

 

In an effort to balance fair competition in sport with an individual’s deeply held knowledge and sense of their own gender identity, we are modifying competition categories for Beat The Cold.

 

Beginning with our 2025 event, and in line with inclusion policies of Triathlon Manitoba, we are structuring competition categories as follows:

 

Women: The Women’s category is for those who are biologically female and who continue to identify as women, as well as for trans women.

 

Open: The Open category is for biological males, non-binary folx, trans men, those who are queer or gender non-conforming, two-spirit individuals, and everyone else who considers this the appropriate category.

 

These finisher categories are separate from the box you check on your CCN profile when you register; there you will be asked to state your gender as male, female, or unspecified. If you choose female please note you will be placed into the women’s category, and if you choose male you will be placed in the open category. If you choose unspecified we will reach out to ask you which competition category is the best fit for you. 

 

This terminology is a limitation of the registration platform and we are doing our best to create an inclusive environment despite the less-than-ideal word choice. We apologize in advance to anyone who feels these checkboxes do not accurately reflect their identity. Should you have any questions or want to adjust how your registration is categorized please let us know at BeatTheCold@1JustCity.ca.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Steam Donkey Racing out of Cumberland, BC, for their leadership on this approach to inclusive competition, implemented in 2023 at the Dodge City X with great success. We invite you to read their Diversity Kicks Ass statement here, as well as a recent Triathlon Canada article supporting this move.

​​

​

Race Swag & Prizes

​

We'll have prizes for the top individual and relay team fundraisers, and awards for top finishers.

 

Race Kit Pickup

​

There are two days for you to pick up your race kits. Please have your confirmation email handy. You may pick up a friend’s race kit by getting them to forward you their confirmation email. Only one team member has to come for relay teams, just make sure that person has the team confirmation email. We strongly advise against waiting until race morning to pick up your kit.
 

Thursday, January 29

​

• Bikes & Beyond, 227 Henderson Hwy

• 4 - 6 p.m.

• ​

Friday, January 30

• Race HQ, Room 201, 1 Forks Market Rd.

• 6:30 - 8 p.m.

 

Saturday, Jan 31 2026

Race Day Schedule

​

(very slight changes may be made closer to race day)

​

7:30 a.m. – Racer check-in open
7:45 a.m. – Transition opens 
8:30 a.m. – Racer check-in closes
8:40 a.m. – Transition closes
8:45 a.m. – Pre-race briefing with the head referee at the start line
9:00 a.m. – Race begins! Solo and relay runners start at the same time
11:00-ish a.m. – Awards in Room 201 

​

Note: the course is subject to change and may be shortened or altered due to weather conditions. We will provide as much notice as possible should this be the case.

 

Volunteer

We are grateful for the crew of volunteers who make Beat The Cold happen! Volunteer sign-up is now open here. 

​

Interested in being a sponsor for 2026 Beat the Cold Triathlon, to support 1JustCity and their programming?  Please email beatthecold@1justcity.ca to discuss options. Thank you!

​