The Ottawa Race Weekend (also known as Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend for sponsorship reasons) is an annual weekend of road running events held the last weekend of May in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The two-day running event includes seven races, including the Ottawa Marathon, all of which start and end at Ottawa City Hall.[3] The marathon was first held in 1975, and is categorized as an Elite Label Road Race by World Athletics.[4][5] Over 40,000 participants take part in the races each year.

Ottawa Race Weekend
Date4th weekend of May
LocationOttawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, Half marathon, 10K run, 5K run, 2K, 1.2K Kids Marathon
Primary sponsorTamarack
Established1975 (49 years ago) (1975)
Course recordsMarathon:
Men:
 Andualem Shiferaw (ETH) 2:06:04
Women:
 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:22:17
10K:
Men:
 Deriba Merga (ETH) 27:24
Women:
 Gladys Cherono (KEN) 30:56
Official siteOttawa Race Weekend
Participants2,776 marathon finishers (2019)[1][2]
9,755 (2019)
3:15 marathon pace rabbit in 2011

The Ottawa Race Weekend also includes Canada's largest health and fitness expo, which opens on the Thursday before the weekend. In addition, each year, participants in the Ottawa Race Weekend raise close to $1 million for approximately 25 local and national charities affiliated with the event.

The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.[6]

Races

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The race weekend includes seven races: a 1.2 km kids marathon, 2K, 5K, 10K, half marathon, wheelchair marathon, and marathon.[3] All of the races start and finish at Ottawa City Hall.[3]

The signature event of the weekend is the Ottawa Marathon, which was first held in 1975. Today it is the largest marathon event in Canada and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The event is also home to the Canadian Marathon Championships and the Canadian Forces Marathon Championships.

The Ottawa Race Weekend was at one point the only road racing event in the world to host two IAAF Silver Label events: the 10K and the Ottawa Marathon. In 2014 the 10k became the first IAAF Gold Label road race in Canada.[7][8] On October 22, 2015, the Marathon also became an IAAF Gold Label road race.[9][10] In 2023, the race was reclassified by World Athletics as an Elite road race (one level below Gold).

History

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2011 and 2012 winner, Laban Moiben, leading the race through the 18 km mark during the 2012 event
  • 1975: 146 runners, 143 men and 3 women, participate in the inaugural Ottawa Marathon.
  • 1986: 10K distance is added.
  • 1995: Inline skating is permitted on the marathon course.
  • 1996: Jim Robinson joins as the Race Director.
  • 1998: 5K distance and half-marathon are added. Ottawa becomes the first running event in Canada to be chip-timed.
  • 1999: 2K distance is added.
  • 2005: Inline skating is no longer permitted.
  • 2006: Fourteen runners accidentally cut 400 m (1,300 ft) off the course because a motorist moved a barricade after a group of high school student volunteers had left their post to talk to some friends.[11] Amos Tirop Matui of Kenya crossed the finish line first, but the fourteen affected runners were marked as "non-ratified results".[11] Some runners were given places, including Matui, who was placed third, and some runners were financially compensated.[4][11][12]
  • 2010: Rick Ball breaks world record for a single-leg amputee in a marathon.
  • 2012: Jim Robinson retires and two-time Olympian, and previous Ottawa 10K course record holder John Halvorsen is named Race Director. The event took on the name "Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend" when Ottawa-based Tamarack Homes joined as title sponsor.
  • 2013: Close to 44,000 people participate in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, making it the largest multi-race road racing event in Canada.
  • 2014: Ottawa Marathon celebrates 40 years; 48,000 people expected to participate in the weekend’s seven events.
  • 2016: A heat wave caused temperatures during Ottawa Race Weekend to exceed 30 degrees at times. The start times of some events were modified.[13]
  • 2019: A closure of Elgin Street for construction[14] and a closure of the Chaudière Crossing due to flooding forced Ottawa Race Weekend to modify its route.[15]
  • 2019: Ian Fraser is appointed race director.[16]
  • 2020 and 2021: The Ottawa Race Weekend was cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which had postponed or cancelled nearly all large races, closed most places of commerce and worship, and shut down most gatherings of 10 or more people. Organizers declined to refund participants. Although many people who had paid for the races questioned the choice, organizers said they had already spent a large percentage of revenues prior to Race Weekend.[17][18]

Management

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The event is organized by Run Ottawa, a not-for-profit organization. More than 2,000 volunteers, including a volunteer race committee, support a team of nine full-time staff in organizing the event.

Winners

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Key:

   Course record (in bold)
   Canadian championship race

Marathon

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Ed. Year Men's winner Time[a] Women's winner Time[a]
48th 2024   Tesfaye Anbesa 2:12:41   Maeregu Hayelom 2:32:20
47th 2023   Yihunilign Adane 2:08:22   Waganesh Mekasha 2:24:47
46th 2022   Andualem Shiferaw 2:06:04   Kinsey Middleton 2:30:09
2021 Event canceled due to COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic [19] [19][6]
2020
45th 2019   Albert Korir 2:08:03   Tigist Girma 2:26:34
44th 2018   Yemane Tsegay 2:08:52   Gelete Burka 2:22:17
43rd 2017   Eliud Kiptanui 2:10:14   Guteni Imana 2:30:18
42nd 2016   Dino Sefir 2:08:14   Koren Jelela 2:27:06
41st 2015   Girmay Birhanu 2:08:14   Aberu Mekuria 2:25:30
40th 2014   Yemane Tsegay 2:06:54   Tigist Tufa 2:24:30
39th 2013   Tariku Jufar 2:08:04.8   Yeshi Esayias 2:25:30.1
38th 2012   Laban Moiben 2:09:12.9   Yeshi Esayias 2:28:46
37th 2011   Laban Moiben 2:10:17.9   Kebebush Haile 2:32:14.0
36th 2010   Arata Fujiwara 2:09:33.4   Merima Mohammed 2:28:19
35th 2009   David Cheruiyot 2:13:22.6   Asmae Leghzaoui 2:27:40.9
34th 2008   David Cheruiyot 2:10:59.8   Asmae Leghzaoui 2:28:43.9
33rd 2007   David Cheruiyot 2:10:35.4   Lyudmila Korchagina 2:31:56.6
32nd 2006   Abderrahime Bouramdane 2:12:18.2   Lyudmila Korchagina 2:29:42.1
31st 2005   David Cheruiyot 2:14:20.3   Lidiya Vasilevskaya 2:31:52.7
30th 2004   Elly Rono 2:11:47.4   Lyudmila Korchagina 2:30:53.0
29th 2003   Joseph Nderitu 2:15:29.2   Sandy Jacobson 2:33:51.9
28th 2002   Joseph Nderitu 2:14:04.0   Lyudmila Korchagina 2:33:13.3
27th 2001   Joseph Nderitu 2:15:50.5   Danuta Bartoszek 2:37:58.9
26th 2000   Bruce Deacon 2:17:12.5   Veronique Vandersmissen 2:36:45.1
25th 1999   Bruce Raymer 2:22:24.7   Veronique Vandersmissen 2:39:56.4
24th 1998   Malcolm Campbell 2:31:16   Leslie Carson 2:49:06
23rd 1997   Nick Tsioros 2:25:16   Laura Ruptash 3:01:46
22nd 1996   Jean Lagarde 2:26:02   Kimberley Webb 2:52:03
21st 1995   Jean Lagarde 2:26:53   Noeleen Wadden 2:58:51
20th 1994   Jean Lagarde 2:19:00   France Levasseur 2:50:52
19th 1993   Jean Lagarde 2:23:14   Noeleen Wadden 2:52:31
18th 1992   Michael Petrocci 2:20:03   Betsy Kneale 2:47:55
17th 1991   Michael Petrocci 2:23:44   Laura Konantz 2:51:00
16th 1990   Gord Christie 2:18:38   France Levasseur 2:49:33
15th 1989   Gord Christie 2:14:33   Lise Bouchard 2:44:58
14th 1988   Gord Christie 2:18:40   Margarita Galicia 2:52:08
13th 1987   Peter Maher 2:12:58   Dorothy Goertzen 2:40:59
12th 1986   Bruce Wainman 2:18:24   Joan Groothuysen 2:54:25
11th 1985   Ric Sayre 2:16:18   Marian Teitsch 2:47:56
10th 1984   Dave Edge 2:13:19   Silvia Ruegger 2:30:37
9th 1983   Mike Dyon 2:21:37   Celia McInnis 2:54:13
8th 1982   Greg Leroy 2:21:04   Margo Elson 2:50:50
7th 1981   Mike Dyon 2:16:07   Kathryn Tanner 2:48:54
6th 1980   Patrick Montuoro 2:22:54   Christine Lavallee 2:42:50
5th 1979   Jerome Drayton 2:18:05   Jacqueline Gareau 2:47:58
4th 1978   Brian Maxwell 2:16:03   Christine Lavallee 2:47:37
3rd 1977   Mike Dyon 2:18:05   Joann McKinty-Heale 3:02:22
2nd 1976   Wayne Yetman 2:16:32   Eleanor Thomas 3:09:27
1st 1975   Mehdi Jaouhar 2:26:39   Eleanor Thomas 3:27:28
  • Bouramdane was declared the official winner. A number of faster runners, led by Amos Tirop Matui, were disqualified after a route error caused them to cut 400 m off the true marathon distance.[4]

10K race

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Ed. Year Men's winner Time[b] Women's winner Time[b]
37th 2024   Ben Flanagan (CAN) 28:09   Malindi Elmore (CAN) 32:50
36th 2023   Mohammed Ahmed (CAN) 28:21.1   Natasha Wodak (CAN) 32:51
35th 2022   Ben Flanagan (CAN) 28:39   Natasha Wodak (CAN) 32:41
2021 Event canceled due to COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic [19] [19][6]
2020
34th 2019   Mohammed Ziani (MAR) 28:12   Dorcas Kimeli (KEN) 31:09
33rd 2018   Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 27:48   Alia Mohammed (UAE) 31:36
32nd 2017   Leule Gebrselassie (ETH) 28:42.1   Netsanet Gudeta (ETH) 31:34.1
31st 2016   Mohammed Ziani (MAR) 28:36.5   Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) 31:29
30th 2015   Nicholas Bor (KEN) 27:55   Gladys Cherono (KEN) 30:56
29th 2014   Wilson Kiprop (KEN) 28:00   Mary Keitany (KEN) 31:22
28th 2013   El-Hassan El-Abbassi (MAR) 27:36.6   Malika Assahah (MAR) 31:45.7
27th 2012   Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 27:41.4   Lindsey Scherf (USA) 33:12.8
26th 2011   Deriba Merga (ETH) 28:30.3   Dire Tune (ETH) 31:43.2
25th 2010   Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 28:08.9   Dire Tune (ETH) 32:11.5
24th 2009   Deriba Merga (ETH) 27:23.9   Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 31:50.4
23rd 2008   Julius Kiptoo (KEN) 28:37.0   Emebet Bacha (ETH) 32:42.1
22nd 2007   Simon Bairu (CAN) 28:29.1   Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 33:01.2
21st 2006   George Misoi (KEN) 28:29.5   Tetyana Hladyr (UKR) 32:05.0
20th 2005   George Misoi (KEN) 28:55.7   Grace Momanyi (KEN) 31:24.4
19th 2004   Duncan Kibet (KEN) 28:59.8   Aster Demissie (ETH) 32:30.3
18th 2003   Yevgeniy Bozhko (UKR) 28:23.6   Lyudmila Biktasheva (RUS) 32:16.4
17th 2002   Enos Keter (KEN) 28:29.8   Uta Pippig (GER) 32:57.7
16th 2001   Julius Nderitu (KEN) 28:28.3   Uta Pippig (GER) 32:31.7
15th 2000   Paul Mbugua (KEN) 29:32.1   Grace Momanyi (KEN) 33:36.2
14th 1999   Paul Mbugua (KEN) 29:54   Danuta Bartoszek (CAN) 34:16.4
13th 1998   Paul Mbugua (KEN) 29:06   Isabelle LeDroit (CAN) 34:28
12th 1997   Rachid Tbahi (MAR) 29:41   Sarah Dillabough (CAN) 33:26
11th 1996   Steve Boyd (CAN) 29:55   Tania Jones (CAN) 34:54
10th 1995   John Halvorsen (NOR) 29:25   Tania Jones (CAN) 35:29
9th 1994   Jeff Lockyer (CAN) 29:52   Lisa Presedo (CAN) 34:32
8th 1993   Steve Boyd (CAN) 30:03   Lisa Presedo (CAN) 34:16
7th 1992   John Halvorsen (NOR) 28:56   Carole Rouillard (CAN) 33:20
6th 1991   John Halvorsen (NOR) 29:21   Odette Lapierre (CAN) 35:03
5th 1990   Paul McCloy (CAN) 29:22   Odette Lapierre (CAN) 34:28
4th 1989   Alberto Maravilha (POR) 29:08   Albertina Dias (POR) 32:11
3rd 1988   John Halvorsen (NOR) 28:12   Sheryl Reid (CAN) 34:24
2nd 1987   Paul Williams (CAN) 30:18 ? ?
1st 1986   Robert Rice (CAN) 29:30   Maureen de St. Croix (CAN) 35:37

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b h:m:s
  2. ^ a b m:s

References

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  1. ^ https://archive.today/20201030040701/https://www.sportstats.ca/display-results.xhtml?raceid=100807&status=results&bib=230#selection-1273.0-1273.4
  2. ^ https://archive.today/20201030035731/http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?MIDD=24190526#selection-689.12-689.16
  3. ^ a b c Race Weekend Event Schedule. Run Ottawa. Retrieved on 2012-06-04.
  4. ^ a b c Ottawa Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2012-05-30). Retrieved on 2012-06-03.
  5. ^ "World Athletics Label Road Races". World Athletics. World Athletics. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Ottawa Race Weekend 2021 in-person event cancelled due to COVID-19 | CTV News". ottawa.ctvnews.ca. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ^ "The Ottawa 10K gets the gold!" (Press release). Ottawa, Ontario: Run Ottawa. November 4, 2014./
  8. ^ Robb, Peter (May 20, 2015). "Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 10K gets a golden label". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon awarded prestigious IAAF Gold standard" (Press release). Ottawa, Ontario: Run Ottawa. October 22, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2016./
  10. ^ Holder, Gord (October 22, 2015). "Ottawa Race Weekend marathon gets a golden glow". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c CBC: Runners compensated for marathon mishap
  12. ^ "Sportstats | Results". www.sportstats.ca. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Runners battle heat during Ottawa Race Weekend". 29 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Start Line changes at the 2019 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend".
  15. ^ "Chaudière Crossing closure forces route changes for Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon and Half-Marathon".
  16. ^ "Ian Fraser appointed Executive Director of Run Ottawa".
  17. ^ "IRun.ca - Ottawa Marathon race director responds to criticism over not refunding cancellation fees (Home to Canada's running community and iRun magazine)". 31 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Ottawa Race Weekend cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns".
  19. ^ a b c d https://www.runottawa.ca/news-item/2020-tamarack-ottawa-race-weekend-canceled [dead link]
Winners lists
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