Best and worst places to run in Canada this weekend

March is about to hit and many runners are wondering when they can start to shed the layers for daily runs. It’s been a cold one in many parts of Canada with Ontario shattering many cold weather records over the past couple of weeks. With spring looming (not really though), weather talk is dominating conversations in many Canadian running groups where runners are sick of running in cold weather. Here are some of the best and worst spots to run in the country this weekend:

Rural communities across Canada: The Weather Network is telling us that the Northern Lights can be seen across Canada this weekend. Many runners might want to think about planning night runs with cameras. Urban areas are out of luck though. The lights aren’t visible in light polluted cities.

North Newfoundland: Ouch. Runners here have been battling extreme cold warnings with temperatures around -30. Our heart goes out to runners here who won’t be shedding masks and outer layers any time soon. While many parts are expecting a warm up early in the week, these guys have more snow and high winds to (not) look forward to.

Southern Ontario: Yesterday morning wasn’t so great for this section of the province. Arctic air brought windchills down to -35 and -40 with extreme cold warnings. Saturday saw milder air, however it was still below the norm for this time of year. At least many Ontarians can expect temperatures closer to 0 early this week– runners are sure to flock to the sidewalks in with pre-spring fever.

Ottawa: Our capital city has been freezing this month and last but that brings runners a different kind of gift: the Rideau Canal has been open for 47 consecutive days. That’s the longest in its history. For Ottawa runners getting sick of battling the cold, opting for a pair of skates is a totally valid option this winter.

Vancouver: No surprise here. In Vancouver, the skies are clear, the sun is shining and runners can get away with one layer in 11C temperatures. Don’t shoot the messenger.