Meet the 2025 Run Ottawa Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!
Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew is a dedicated group of runners and walkers who share helpful workout tips, excitement about their upcoming races, and details of their training—yummy food pics, cool routes, and more! They are seasoned participants of all levels that engage, encourage and promote their community, helping to spread the word about Run Ottawa events, our partners, and the physical and mental benefits of movement!
Run or walk with this year’s Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew at one, or all, of these upcoming Run Ottawa events!
Check out our 2025 members below!
Braiden Bhindi
Ottawa, Ontario
Braiden Bhindi was born in Ottawa and has lived in the nation’s capital all of his life. He got into running during his time at university after being inspired by some of his fellow classmates and he hasn’t looked back. Bhindi has completed dozens of road and trail races, including two ultra marathons.
When he is not running, Bhindi enjoys travelling, taking in sunsets, live music, and other endurance activities like kayaking and cycling.
Bhindi is excited to be a part of the 2025 Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew and he looks forward to sharing his training, whether it is on the roads and paths around Ottawa or the trails of Gatineau Park.
Francis De Souza
Ottawa, Ontario
Francis De Souza was born in 1975 in Schiedam the Netherlands, she immigrated to Ottawa in 2006. She is a mother to three teenagers who keep her on her toes. De Souza really enjoys being active outdoors, she also has a passion for good food. She started in 2023 and completed several 5km races and progressed to completing the Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 2024 and then the Ottawa 17K Challenge at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 2025.
De Souza never relies too hard on a race day plan. “I just show up and make it work and try to have as much fun while doing it.” As a member of the 2025 Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew she plans to motivate, encourage, and support others the way she received support from the 2024 Otto’s Power Crew.
Stéphanie Eikenberry
Ottawa, Ontario
Stephanie Eikenberry discovered her passion for running in 2022, inspired by her husband, an avid runner. After navigating a challenging health journey, she sought an activity that would support both her physical and mental well-being. Beyond that, she aimed to inspire others to embrace movement.
Over the past three years, her running has steadily progressed, along with her enthusiasm for motivating those around her. She has cherished becoming part of Ottawa’s vibrant running community.
A proud middle-of-the-pack runner, Eikenberry has typically favoured shorter distance events. However, she is now setting her sights on a new goal, completing a marathon. She is excited to be a part of the 2025 Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!
Dustin Gavin
Ottawa, Ontario
Dustin Gavin, a Prince Edward Island-born runner, recently completed his 37th marathon at the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, and he’s thrilled to return for his second year with Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!
A healthcare professional by trade and a runner by passion, Gavin leads the Somerset Runners. He enjoys pacing friends and capturing their photos during group runs. For Gavin, running is an escape, a challenge, and a pathway to better health. He thrives on pushing his limits and finds that friendly competition fuels his pursuit of excellence. He’s also looking forward to participating in Run Ottawa events throughout the summer and fall and seeing familiar faces at these events.
Chris Huddleston
Ottawa, Ontario
Chris Huddleston began running as part of his involvement in soccer and rugby, but he took a stronger interest in the sport after participating in the Army Run in 2012 and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in 2013.
In recent years, Huddleston has become more engaged with local running groups, discovering its large social aspect. He finds the running community incredibly welcoming, how easy it is to be able to join a running group or race anywhere, and to connect with supportive, inspiring people.
For Huddleston, running is a blend of physical and mental well-being, a sense of community, a love for the outdoors, and the motivation to compete and grow as a runner. He also hopes to set an example for his two teenagers, even though they’re not runners (yet!). Huddleston is excited to share his running journey as part of the 2025 Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!
Sheridan Hunt
Ottawa, Ontario
Back in 2010 Sheridan Hunt signed up for the Ottawa Half Marathon at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend on a bet and caught the running bug. She signed up again for the Ottawa Half Marathon the following year and when her race day didn’t go as planned she took a break from running for six years. During that break she got married, became a mother, and started teaching.
In 2017 her husband, Charles, was starting to take up running again. He knew if Hunt just got back out there and started running again she would really enjoy it. One day on maternity leave, Hunt’s husband suggested that she go out for a run, and she did just that!
Having an active lifestyle as a mother can be hard but Hunt finds that running makes her feel mentally stronger and makes her feel that she can handle the curveballs of life better. It’s important to her that her children see how important staying active is even as an adult. Running has given Hunt so many different opportunities that she would have never dreamed of back in 2010.
Hunt is looking forward to sharing her training and is excited to be part of the 2025 Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!
Stefanie Kotschwar
Ottawa, Ontario
Stefanie Kotschwar started running in 2010 while completing her Masters in Plymouth, England. Running was a great way to get outside more often and increase her activity. That was just the beginning.
In 2010 she ran her first 10km road race in Toronto and she loved her experience so much that she then began training for her first half marathon that winter! Training over the winter was tough, and Kotschwar decided after completing her first half marathon in 2011, that she would stick to training in nicer weather. A few years later she started to embrace winter running and Kotschwar trained for and completed her first marathon in Berlin in 2015!
2015 was also the year that Kotschwar moved to Ottawa and has since discovered its great and varied running community. Running is what helps her stay grounded and allows her to come back refreshed for her busy day job as a Registered Veterinary Technician.
Kotschwar is looking forward to spending this year as a member of Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew and sharing all the ups and downs of her training.
Hannah Manning
Ottawa, Ontario
Hannah Manning started running in 2012 as a way to commit to making time for herself and her fitness. Over the years, she has found support, motivation, and friendship within the Ottawa running community. Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is one of her favourite weekends of the year. Manning has run everything from the Ottawa 5k to the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon and loves to cheer on others when she’s not participating.
Manning was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and took a break from running while undergoing treatment, focusing on other ways to be active. Daily movement has been amazing for her physical and mental health.
At the 2025 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, Manning ran the Ottawa 17 km Challenge, tackling the three shortest distances in a single day: the Ottawa 2K, the Ottawa 5K and the Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa. She raised over $2000 for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation as part of the Desjardins Charity Challenge, her way of giving back to those who supported her throughout treatment.
Her return to running has been a big milestone in her recovery and she’s excited to keep the momentum going. She’s excited to share her journey as a member of the Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew and connect with others chasing their goals!
David Merino
Ottawa, Ontario
David Merino began running in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Running was a way to get out of the house and it went from a necessity, to a habit, to a lifestyle quickly!
Merino balances running with other aspects of his life by appreciating the natural rhythms of training cycles. The ebbs and flows can be hard but he stays secure knowing that it all balances out over the course of a year. He likes to do his easy runs along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River. That’s where Merino makes time for some reflection on the other areas in his life.
He advises new runners to gain experience, and with that experience you’ll gain knowledge about what works and what doesn’t in your training and on race day. The first two races Merino ever participated in did not go as well as he had planned, and resulted in disappointment. He used that as an opportunity to work on his strategy, training, and execution.
Getting more experience allowed Merino to complete three races in 29 days in the fall of 2024, where he was able to achieve a personal record at each event. This year, he wants to repeat his best and worst races, and see how much he’s improved!
Merino has a lot of love for the running community, especially on race days. He is looking forward to being a part of this year’s Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew.
Patricia Silva-Roy
Ottawa, Ontario
Patricia Silva-Roy has been running for as long as she can remember. Growing up you could find her running outside and participating in school track and cross-country events. Silva-Roy first became hooked in the Ottawa running community after running her first 10K in 2018 at Tamarack Ottawa Race weekend. Since then, she has gotten into running longer distances, completing her first marathon in 2023 and her second in 2024.
For Silva-Roy, running is more than a sport, it’s a way to care for her body, mental health, and connect with the community. She has met many people through running and has been inspired by many to accomplish new goals. Whether she’s aiming for a new personal best, trying a new race for the first time, or training for her next event, you can always find her smiling and enjoying every run. Outside of running, Silva-Roy enjoys cooking new recipes and spending time outside with her family, friends and dog.
She is excited to share all the excitement of the summer and fall racing season as a member of Otto’s Ottawa Power Crew!