The 2023 edition of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is set to take place this weekend, May 27-28!
And what a weekend it’s going to be! Over 30,000 participants and volunteers will be taking to the streets of Ottawa and Gatineau to celebrate hard work, dedication, and achievement!
Here are a few highlights and stories to watch out for this weekend:
The Canadian 10K Championship showdown between the two best distance runners in Canadian history: Cam Levins, North American record holder for the marathon and the Canadian record holder for the half marathon, and Mohammed Ahmed, Olympian and World Champion medalist. Watch it LIVE on Rogers 22.
The 49th edition of the World Athletics Elite Label Tartan Ottawa International Marathon will also be a nail-biting race to watch. In addition to a star-studded Canadian and American line-up, this event will determine the fate of 11 japanese runners using the event for their Olympic Trials. Here are twelve to watch at this year’s Tartan Ottawa International Marathon.
You can also watch it LIVE on Rogers 22 here
Over 200 teams participating in the Desjardins Charity Challenge
In 2022, the Desjardins Charity Challenge set a record fundraising total of $1,067,612.00. These funds went directly to the charities to provide services to the people (and animals!) who need it most. This year, organizers have set an ambitious fundraising goal of $1,500,000. With 74 charities signed up for the challenge, their dedicated fundraisers and generous donors are striving to reach that and their own personal goals.
People like Sindy Hooper and her MEMC crew fundraising for the pancreatic cancer (PC) research at the Ottawa Hospital, Graham Wright who will be pushing his daughter across the Ottawa 5K finish line in support of first-time charity Ronald McDonald House, and Daria and Ariella Kimmel who are raising money for the team F*ck Cancer. There are so many profound and heartfelt stories to be found within the charity challenge.
Please see the complete list of charities and teams here.
96 year-old Rejeanne Fairhead: out to set a new World Record
She’s back! In 2022, Fairhead set a Canadian Record in the 5K for her age category and this year with help from Ottawa running coach Richelle Weeks, she’s determined to set a World Record at the Ottawa 5K presented by ASICS Runkeeper, while raising funds for Perley Health!
See Rejeanne Fairhead’s story on the Run Ottawa blog.
Wendell Lafave running his 200th marathon
A two-time member of the 50 States Marathon Club and six-star medal holder, having completed the 6 major marathons around the world, Cornwall resident, Wendell Lafave has chosen the Tartan International Ottawa Marathon to run his 200th Marathon.
84 kilometres for 84 donors
The Shanahan Sisters are running their first marathon at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend to register 84 new organ donors in memory of their mother. See their story on the Run Ottawa blog.
The Health & Fitness Expo returns to Aberdeen Pavilion
Lansdowne Park is a hot spot for sports and entertainment and is a natural location for Ottawa’s biggest running, fitness, and wellness expo. Starting Friday, May 26 through Saturday, May 27, local and north american exhibitors and sponsors will be showcasing new products, introducing new events, and For the first time, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will partner with City of Om to provide a day of Wellness in the Horticulture Building. Admission to the expo is free.
See a complete list of vendors.
Road closures: Getting around Ottawa-Gatineau
On Saturday, May 27 and Sunday May 28, several road closures will be in effect. The organizers of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, the City of Ottawa, and la ville de Gatineau work together to minimize road closures, and keep traffic moving.
See road closures and exit strategy details.
More cowbell!
In addition to the thousands of cheering families, friends and fans there are 26 cheer stations along the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon and Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins courses. The public is welcome to make their way to the nearest cheer station to pick up a Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend cowbell and join in the fun!
See the locations of all 26 cheer stations here.
All media is invited to attend the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Media Launch and Elite Conference on Friday, May 26, 2023, 10 a.m. on the main stage at the Health & Fitness Expo, at the Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park, 1000 Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON.
Please see the complete schedule of media events. If you require accreditation, please contact Morgan Hunter at morgan.hunter@runottawa.ca.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s biggest race weekend and will run on May 27-28, 2023. You can learn more by visiting runottawa.ca.
Media relations contact:
Lisa Georges
media@runottawa.ca
About Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is Canada’s largest running and walking festival with six races, including the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins, Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa, Ottawa 5K & Ottawa 2K presented by Runkeeper, and Ottawa Kids Marathon, as well as three multi-event challenges. In 2022, runners and walkers in the event raised a record-breaking $1,067,612.00 for local and national charities through the Desjardins Charity Challenge. The 2023 edition of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will take place May 27-28.
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, and in 2020, its title sponsor Tamarack Homes won Sport Tourism Canada’s Canadian Sport Event Sponsorship Initiative of the Year Award.
For more information or to register: www.runottawa.ca.