About the Weekend

In 1975, 146 runners lined up at Carleton University to take part in the first ever Ottawa Marathon. 42 years later the race has grown into Canada’s largest multi-day running event, but the spirit has remained the same: to build a community that is dedicated and passionate about the sport of running, and to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

IAAF Gold Label Marathon

Today, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend brings together tens of thousands of runners from across Canada and around the world. The Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon on Sunday morning is a IAAF Gold Label event attracting top Canadian and international elites. Other events include one of Canada’s biggest half-marathons, the 10K Canadian Championships, a family-friendly 2K, a speedy 5K, and an awesome marathon for kids.

An Ottawa Spring Tradition

Every year, dozens of sponsors, charities and community partners, over 2,000 volunteers, and as many as 200,000 spectators make the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend one of Ottawa’s biggest annual celebrations.