Dreaming about moving up to the marathon?

For many runners, the marathon is a goal that’s always there in the back of their minds. Maybe they started with a 5K, then a 10K, then upped the training and tackled the half marathon. But now, there it is. The full 42.2K. It’s daunting, compelling, even a bit mysterious.

We know that sometimes it takes a little push to make that jump from the half to the full marathon, but we know you can do it. And that it’s worth it.  As iRun blogger Andrew Chak writes in an amazing post:

“I’ve come to appreciate just how emotional the marathon distance is. It is a distance that has the capability to break you and bring you to incredible lows. It is also a distance where the spirit within you can come alive and experience the immeasurable joy at pushing through what was once impossible. It is for this reason that I run.”*

Yes, there is something special about the marathon. And there is no better place to experience it for the first time than in Ottawa.

So will you make the jump?

To give you a little push, the first 100 first-time marathoners who sign up starting today will receive a free copy of  Canada’s Magnificent Marathon, a book celebrating 40 years of the Ottawa Marathon.

To get a free book:

  1. Register for the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon.
  2. Send an email to media@runottawa.ca with the subject line “Going the distance” and a message telling us why you are running your first marathon.
  3. We’ll confirm your entry and include your book in your race kit in May.

Want to tell us why the marathon distance is special to you? Tweet @ottawamarathon with the hashtag #goingthedistance

Look out for more “Going the Distance” posts in the coming months about training for your first marathon.

*Andrew Chak will be running the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in May.