Scenes from the 2018 Robbie Burns 8K

Late-January classic goes off in ideal running conditions

Tim Huebsch January 28, 2018

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Winter rust busted.

For many southern Ontario runners, the Robbie Burns 8K is the first significant road race in the area each winter. Sunday marked the 39th annual edition of the late-January road race, which begins and finishes at Burlington Central High School. The course is a fast, single loop.

As the race got underway at 9:30 a.m., the sun was out which warmed conditions to above 0 C.

It was the second race in the unofficial southern Ontario grand slam of winter road events, after the Boxing Day 10-Miler and the Re-Fridgee-Eighter and ATB 30K still to come in February and March.

Blair Morgan, who raced to a 1:05:06 clocking at the Houston Half-Marathon two weeks ago, won the RB8K in 24:32. Reigning Canadian 10,000m champion Victoria Coates won the women’s 8K in 27:31.

According to Enfield Timing, 770 participants ran the 8K on what was a clear and mild winter morning in Burlington, located between Hamilton and Toronto. Kilts are one of the mainstays at the race, which offers a post-race breakfast for recovering runners.

“Come dressed in your best Scottish gear and you’ll be eligible to win the ‘best costume’ award and maybe even become a poster child for the race,” the race encourages.

Below are a selection of photos from Sunday morning in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). (The race is named after Scottish poet and lyricist Robbie Burn, in case you were wondering.) Enfield Timing has the results.