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Now Available - Club Running Gear

The Run Ottawa Club is pleased to announce the launch of its line of club apparel. Club members are now able to order a variety of performance clothing through the Club's supplier, Race Merchandise.

Ordering is easy! Simply click here (1) select the piece(s) of clothing, corresponding colour and sizes you want; (2) tell them where to ship the items; and (3) arrange for payment.

Club logos will be automatically added to the front of each item and a maple leaf with "Run Ottawa Club" will be added to the back of certain of the items.

Area Running Getting Stronger

Ottawa has a healthy running community, perhaps the strongest in Canada. No matter the weather or the time of day, it's almost impossible to go for a run on a major road or path without encountering another runner coming in the opposite direction.

Unlike Toronto, which is engaged in a divisive debate about its two marathons three weeks apart, Ottawa has one strong annual running festival and weekend of races that unites runners, is celebrated by the city and is supported by thousands of volunteers.

Change in leadership at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Robinson retires; Halvorsen welcomed as new Race Director and President

January 29, 2013 – OTTAWA – The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Board of Directors today announced its long-time Race Director and President Jim Robinson will retire effective February 28.

Ensuring a smooth transition in leadership, the Board welcomes John Halvorsen to the role effective January 28. Halvorsen is a familiar and respected figure on the Ottawa road racing scene and has been actively involved in volunteer roles in Race Weekend for more than a dozen years, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors.

“I look forward to the challenge of this new job,” says Halvorsen, who leaves a long career in the high tech sector to join Run Ottawa. “The Race Weekend team is the best in Canada, and having Jim Robinson helping in the transition period will ensure we deliver the high quality Race Weekend events that everyone has come to expect.”

Robinson leaves after 17 record-setting years in the job. He is credited with growing the race from a modest 4,000 runners to the largest road race event in the country and a major race destination. Last year, the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed 42,600 participants in seven races and generated nearly $28 million in economic activity in the region. “It has been a privilege to contribute to Ottawa’s running community for so many years,” says Robinson. “I know John will bring his own vision and energy to the job, and I am happy to help him during the transition.”

While the jobs of the former and new Race Director overlap by one month, Halvorsen is hopeful that Robinson will agree to stay on in advisory capacity. “The Ottawa running community owes Jim a debt of thanks for being the driving engine of growth and success behind the Ottawa Race Weekend and developing it into a truly world-class event,” he says. “We anticipate that he will continue to bring us invaluable guidance beyond his retirement date.”

About the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

The 2012 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed more than 42,600 participants in seven races, including the Marathon, the Half-Marathon, the 10K, HTG Sports 5K, 2K and Y Kids Marathon. The Ottawa Marathon and Ottawa 10K are both designated Silver Label IAAF events by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). An economic impact assessment produced by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance in 2012 estimated that the event generated $27.8 million in total economic activity for the region. Run Ottawa, the organization behind the Ottawa Race Weekend, is dedicated to promoting the sport of running and enhancing the health and well-being of our community by organizing distinctive world-class and local races, and managing an active, membership-based running club. Information: www.runottawa.ca.

Information:
Annie Boucher
Media relations
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
613-863-3702
[email protected]
@runfuse | @ottawamarathon

volunteer with the run ottawa club

Make the Run Ottawa Club's 2010 Bushtukah Canada Day Road Races a success!

Volunteers are needed to assist with advance registration, kit pickup and on race day. This includes finish line, water stations and course marshalls.

If you can't run, please give us a hand.

Please contact:

Joe Du Vall
Race Director
[email protected]
613-292-7102.

run ottawa club trip to marine corp marathon

Washington, D.C. October 23-26th Entered in the Marine Corps Marathon set for Sunday, October 25. Why not book a spot on the Run Ottawa bus leaving on Friday, October 23rd and come home the day after the race. If you have not made arrangements for accommodation, there may still be a chance to grab a room through the group booking but to get all details, contact Ross MacLachlan at 613-596-0906 ext. 100

interested in improving your running?

The Run Ottawa Club's weekly training sessions will resume Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 6p.m., open to members of all abilities. We will meet at the Arboretum Parking lot off Prince of Wales Dr. Our group is primarily made up of half and full marathoners of a variety of abilities, but 5 and 10k runners are also welcome. Come on out! All members are welcome.

For more information, please visit the Training page

richmond road races - 28 years running

The first Richmond Road Race was staged in January, 1983 as part of the village’s annual winter carnival. The 10K attracted 87 runners and one of only a handful of races a runner could find during the winter months in the Ottawa area. It was a sunny day, not too cold and many runners hoped that the race returned for a second edition.

In 1984, a balmy three degrees Celsius greeted a field double in size of the inaugural event and continued to stay at that number for the next three years until the 5K was added in 1988. The race grew gradually until it reached a peak of 505 runners in 2001.

The race was organized under the auspices of Goulbourn Township with support from Motionware Sports. This arrangement continued until 2003, after which the National Capital Runners Association took over the event. It is now a property of the Run Ottawa Club. In 2007, Bushtukah Great Outdoor Gear came on board as a partner. The Richmond Lions Club has been involved since the race’s inception and provides vital volunteer support on race day.

Needless to say, despite some nasty conditions, including frigid temperatures, thick snow and the odd mild spell (that no one complains about!), the race continues to thrive. After twenty six years of using the same courses, a change was required by the city of Ottawa and the new route premiered in 2009. It’s as flat as its predecessor.

Richmond comes at a great time for local runners for a myriad of reasons. Firstly, everyone comes out to dust off the cobwebs as another year of races gets underway. It’s also a day where people put in a hard effort, then catch up with one another at the post race scene. Runners sit at tables enjoying the hot soup and other grub that is served then await the awards ceremony and draw prize giveaways. Things wind up at noon and within minutes the crowd disperses as quickly as they descended, many making a final stop at the Richmond Bakery before heading in all directions.

Race information can be obtained at www.runottawaclub.com with links to online registration and if you want to get a glimpse of who ran in 2009 check out the race results on the same site. Contact Joe Du Vall, race director through [email protected] or 613-234-2221.

ncra merging with national capital marathon

At the NCRA Annual General Meeting on February 16, 2009, it was agreed that an email would be sent to the membership informing them of the merger of the NCRA with the National Capital Marathon, the Board positions, and asking that anyone interested should contact the NCRA. It was also agreed that the profiles of two members from the existing NCRA Board would be placed on the NCRA website. If other interested members come forward, a vote will be held and the results announced at the NCRA Awards Reception on March 22nd at the Clocktower Pub on Bank street. Invitation to NCRA Members

The transition process is underway as the NCRA merges with the National Capital Marathon Incorporated (Ottawa Race Weekend) to form Run Ottawa. As stated in the agreement referred to above, the NCRA will have 2 representatives on the new organization for the first year. Dan Roach, whose biography is posted on this page (see link below), has agreed to be one of these persons. We are looking for one more person. This individual should be familiar with the background and activities of NCRA and willing to play a role in how Run Ottawa conducts business in terms of membership services.

Please submit your name and background to Tim Scapillato ([email protected]) by Sunday, March 15, who will post this information on this site. Should we get three candidates, an online election will be conducted and our two new board members will be announced at the Sunday, March 22/09 Awards Reception at the Clocktower Pub on Bank Street at Isabella.

Contact Joe Du Vall at [email protected] if you have any questions

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