Community support in Manitoba isn't a race — it's a marathon

When Rachel Munday took over as Executive Director of the Manitoba Marathon a decade ago, she inherited an iconic provincial event but one that only took place once a year.

“When I started, we did one race a year, now in 2025, we have nine,” Rachel says. “We’ve gone from a once-a-year event to a year-round community contributor.”

Founded in 1979, the Manitoba Marathon has become the largest mass-participation sporting event in the province, attracting between 12,000 and 14,000 runners annually. It’s more than a race, it’s a tradition that marks Father’s Day each June, drawing participants from across Canada and beyond. From the beginning, the event had a mission: to raise funds to support Manitobans with intellectual disabilities. Over the decades, proceeds have helped individuals move out of institutional care and into independent living, provided respite for families, and funded programs that allow people to thrive in their communities.

“Our commitment hasn’t wavered since day one,” Rachel says. “Every runner who signs up is helping make life better for someone in Manitoba.” 

That mission is as important today as it was in 1979, but the scope of the Marathon’s work has expanded dramatically. While the flagship 42.2 km race remains the crown jewel, Rachel and her team have worked tirelessly to build a year-round calendar of events designed to engage runners of all levels and ages. 

The Hot Chocolate Hustle, held in January, is a 10k winter trail race capped off with a pancake breakfast and steaming mugs of hot chocolate, a perfect antidote to the prairie cold. In April, the Fast and Furry invites participants to bring their dogs for a fun run that supports a local pet rescue. “We get about 500 people running with their dogs,” Rachel says. “You can imagine the scene, it’s pure joy.”

There are also three brewery runs each year, micro-events that combine a casual run with local craft beer, food trucks, and DJs. A 40-year-old school program draws 1,500 kids to a free park event each May, planting the seeds of a lifelong love for active living. 

“We want people to know that running is for everyone,” Rachel says. “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to get involved.”

Rachel’s own journey began with a pair of running shoes and a desire for a little “me time.” 

“I started running at 30,” she recalls. “I wasn’t sporty growing up, but my kids were young, and running was an easy way to get out of the house for 20 minutes. It doesn’t cost much, all you need is a pair of shoes.” 

Running soon became more than a hobby. She joined a group of friends for marathons and half-marathons, then took a job with The Running Room, managing retail operations and supporting 60 events a year across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. “Running changed my life and the trajectory of my career,” she says. “It opened the door to everything I’m doing now.”

Rachel’s role today blends big-picture leadership with boots-on-the-ground coordination. As Executive Director, she manages accounting, payroll, HR, and permits, while also serving as race director for all events. That means overseeing budgets, designing merchandise and medals, ordering supplies, and working closely with charity partners and sponsors. The work is relentless in the months leading up to race weekend. 

“We usually need 12–15 vehicles before, during, and after the race,” Rachel says. “There’s equipment to move, aid stations to set up, signage to install, and then everything has to be taken down and stored afterward.” 

And that’s where Two Small Men with Big Hearts comes in.

“Two Small Men are known for their philanthropy and community involvement,” Rachel says. “When we reached out, they immediately understood what we were trying to do and how they could help.”

Since 2022, Two Small Men has been the Marathon’s go-to partner for transportation and logistics support. They move the event’s equipment to various locations in the weeks before the race, get it to the expo for runner pickup, and help bring it all back afterward. 

“As a registered charity, every dollar we can save goes back to the runners’ experience and the community,” Rachel says. “Two Small Men makes that possible.”

In 2024, the partnership was put to the test when the Manitoba Marathon needed to move its offices in December, in Winnipeg, in minus 35°C weather. “Moving a warehouse isn’t like moving a house,” Rachel says. “It’s 400 Gatorade jugs, inflatable arches, miles of signage, 200,000 compostable cups… a completely random assortment. Some things are heavy, some are light, and nothing fits neatly in a box.” The move took two full days, loading and unloading in bitter cold and snow. “Their team handled it like troopers,” Rachel recalls. “It was above and beyond their call of duty.”

The new location is a huge improvement, closer to the Marathon’s event site and far safer than the old space, which had suffered from mold and asbestos issues. “Now I can see the event site from my window,” she says. “It’s a much better fit for us.”

For Rachel, partnerships like the one with Two Small Men are essential to the Marathon’s sustainability. “Our community partners are the lifeblood of our event,” she says. “Registration fees alone could never cover the cost of putting on something this size. Partnerships are a win-win, our partners get visibility in a great community event, and we get to save money and put it back into the cause.” Two Small Men’s involvement isn’t just about trucks and manpower, it’s about aligning values. “They believe in giving back, just like we do,” Rachel says. “That shared commitment makes them more than a vendor. They’re part of the team.”

With the 50th anniversary of the Manitoba Marathon on the horizon, Rachel is already thinking about how to make the milestone unforgettable. But she knows that behind every big idea will be the need for solid logistics and for partners who are ready to step in and help. “Every dollar we don’t spend on logistics is a dollar we can give back,” she says. “Two Small Men’s support makes that possible and keeps us moving forward, literally.”

For Rachel, running the Marathon is about far more than start lines and finish medals. It’s about building something that strengthens the fabric of the community year after year with the help of people and partners who understand that giving back is the ultimate win.

If you'd like to make a donation or want more information regarding Mamas for Mamas, visit https://manitobamarathon.mb.ca/

To find out more about Two Small Men with Big Hearts Moving and the many organizations they have given back to over the years, click here.