Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Registration opens today!

More than 50,000 runners expected in 2016

Ottawa, September 1, 2015 – Registration for the 2016 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and the countdown to Canada’s largest marathon and weekend of running has officially started.

More than 50,000 participants are expected to take part in one of six events over the May 28-29, 2016 weekend – a major milestone for an event that started with 146 runners in 1975.

While the half marathon and 10K are the perennial favourites, averaging 14,000 runners in each distance, organizers are hoping to attract more runners to the marathon distance in 2016.

“With its close to 6,000 runners, the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon has already grown to be the largest marathon in the country,” said John Halvorsen, President of Run Ottawa and Race Director of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. “Our goal is to hit 10,000 marathoners for Canada’s 150th in 2017. To do that, we need some more runners to tackle the distance in 2016.”

Organizers are also encouraging teachers and parents to start thinking about registering their children in the fun Kids Marathon. For this event, children in grades 3 to 8 are encouraged to log the equivalent of 40 kilometres in the months leading up to the event, and complete the last 1.2 kilometres on the morning of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon.

“It’s a great way for kids to stay active throughout the year and to experience the excitement of an organized race,” says Halvorsen.

World-class runners racing through the streets of the capital

The 2016 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will again be home to the only IAAF Gold-label 10K in Canada, and to the Silver-label Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon. The 2016 10K Canadian Championships will also be held during the popular Race Weekend.

“Road racing is the only sport where amateurs compete alongside Olympic and world-class level athletes,” says Halvorsen. “We think that’s pretty special and we plan to again give runners and spectators a great show by recruiting Canada’s and the world’s best athletes to run through the streets of their capital.”

$1 million for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge

More than a running event, the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is also a fundraiser for many local charities. Last year, more than $800,000 was raised for 41 charities who took part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This year, organizers are expecting that number to top $1 million dollars.

Share your journey to #RunOttawa2016

This year’s campaign is #LoveEveryMoment and all runners are encouraged to share their favourite moments on the journey to #RunOttawa2016 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“The journey to the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend begins at the moment of registration,” says Halvorsen, who held the Course Record for the Ottawa 10K from 1998 to 2009. “We love that the community of runners share this journey with us, and one another, on social media. It makes it special all year round.

About the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

The 2015 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed more than 49,400 participants in six races, including the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, the Scotiabank Half-Marathon, the Ottawa 10K, the HTG Sports 5K, the 2K and Scotiabank Kids Marathon. Two of the weekend’s events have received top honours from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). The Ottawa 10K is one of only four Gold label 10K races in the world, and the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon is designated Silver label. The 2016 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 28-29, 2016. Visit us at www.runottawa.ca.