Edmonton runners keeping up momentum with winter around the corner

Less than half of Canadian adults meet the recommended weekly requirements for physical activity, according to a new report. Miriam Valdes-Carletti reports.

While many might slow their exercise routines down during the winter, one group of Edmontonians are keeping up the momentum.

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Every week, the Sunday Social Group meets at a different park in Edmonton, no matter if it’s 30 C or -30 C.

“They say all you really need is a pair of running shoes and a good attitude,” said Jen Hamel, co-founder of the Edmonton Running Community who often leads the Sunday Social Group run. “There’s no bad weather – only bad clothing choices.”

She said they started the end-of-the-week run as they saw a lot of groups that ran on Saturdays, but rarely on Sundays.

“It’s a great way to round off your mileage at the end of the week,” said Hamel.

People of all ages are welcome to take part in the Sunday runs that go all year long, running 12 to 15 kilometres a week.

“Some of us train for big things. We have a lot of ultra runners that are in the group, or maybe there’s a spring race that you’re training for, or you’re just trying to stay consistent throughout the year, trying to get out in the winter when it’s really dark and gloomy,” said Hamel.

A new report revealed that less than half of Canadian adults meet the recommended requirements of physical activity.

ParticipACTION, a non-profit organization promoting healthy lifestyle and physical activity, said 46 per cent of adults between the ages of 18 and 79 meet the weekly guideline of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in its 2025 Adult Report Card of Physical Activity, a decline from 49 per cent in 2021.

University of Alberta kinesiology, sport and recreation professor John Spence took part in ParticipACTION’s report and says people are typically more active if they spend time outside, but where you live can be a barrier.

“No question for Alberta, especially north-central Alberta, that it will impact the amount of time people are spending outside,” Spence told CTV News Edmonton.

The report also said step counts are declining from 49 per cent in 2021 to 32 per cent in 2025.

“From my perspective, that’s not too bad, but definitely we would like to see more Canadians meeting guidelines,” he said.