Caron and Fafard to headline 2026 Canadian 10K Championships at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Ottawa, March 3, 2026 – Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend organizers are proud to announce that two of Quebec’s top distance runners, Florence Caron and Thomas Fafard, will compete in the 2026 Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa on Saturday, May 23. Serving as the Athletics Canada Canadian 10K Championships, the race will see Caron contend for the women’s national title and Fafard for the men’s national title.

The Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa once again serves as the official host of the Athletics Canada Canadian 10K Championships, welcoming the country’s top road racing talent to the nation’s capital. Caron and Fafard’s participation adds strength and excitement to an already competitive national championship field.

Caron has emerged as one of Canada’s (and Quebec’s) premier distance runners, delivering standout performances on both the track and the roads. The recent HOKA NAZ Elite signee claimed victory at the 2025 Canadian 10,000m Championships in a winning time of 33:18.84 and followed that performance with a bronze medal at the 2025 Canadian Cross Country Championships, clocking 33:55.6. With national podium experience and proven strength over longer distances, Caron will look to translate that success to Ottawa’s fast, scenic 10K course as she competes against the country’s top athletes for the women’s national title. When asked about her upcoming debut in the Nation’s Capital, Caron shared, “I’m looking forward to my first road 10k at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. I can’t wait to race some of the best Canadian road runners!”

Fafard brings Olympic experience and a proven championship résumé to the 2026 Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa. A Paris 2024 Olympian, he represented Canada in the men’s 5,000 metres, posting a time of 13:49.69. He earned a silver medal at the 2022 Pan American Cross Country Championships in Espírito Santo, finishing in 32:03, and has also claimed silver in the 5,000 metres at the 2022 NACAC Championships in 14:49.41. On the roads, he demonstrated his 10K strength with a victory at the 2024 Vancouver Sun Run in 28:45. With global championship experience and multiple international podium finishes, Fafard enters Ottawa as a leading contender for the men’s national title.

“I’m really excited to race the Ottawa 10K,” shares Fafard. “The energy, competition, and fast course make it special. Racing at home in front of Canadian crowds is always meaningful, and one day I’d love to run a marathon here as well. I hope to see the streets lined with fans, but what really excites me is how events like this bring communities together and inspire more people to get out and run.”

Florence and Thomas represent the next wave of Canadian and Quebecois road athletes.” said Stephen Andersen, Run Ottawa’s Elite Athlete Coordinator. “Both have proven they are competitive on the international stage and we are excited to see them shoot for the Canadian 10K records on Ottawa’s streets.”

The Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa stands as one of the marquee events of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, drawing elite athletes, recreational runners, and spectators from across Canada and beyond. Known for its flat, fast course and electric atmosphere, the race has proven to be a stage for exceptional performances, where Canadian 10K records have been set and previous national standards surpassed. An increased prize purse further elevates the level of competition, continuing to attract the country’s top talent, while the deep community support that defines race weekend in the capital creates an ideal setting for championship racing.

As preparations continue for the 2026 edition, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend remains committed to showcasing Canadian excellence while offering world-class racing opportunities for athletes of all levels.

While the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon is now sold out, registration is open for all other 2026 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend events, including the Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa.

For more information or to register, visit www.runottawa.ca.

Media contact:
Lisa Georges
media@runottawa.ca

Elite athlete contact:
Stephen Andersen
EliteProgram@runottawa.ca

About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s largest running and walking festival with six races, including the Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon, Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins, Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa, Ottawa 5K and 2K presented by Runkeeper, and Ottawa Kids Marathon, as well as three multi-event challenges. Since its inception in 2015, the Desjardins Charity Challenge has raised more than $9.5 million for local and national charities through the Desjardins Charity Challenge.

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is the only running event in Canada to host a World Athletics Elite label marathon and is host to Athletics Canada’s Canadian 10K Championships. The weekend was named Event of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Tourism Awards. In 2020, its title sponsor Tamarack Homes won Sport Tourism Canada’s Canadian Sport Event Sponsorship Initiative of the Year Award.