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.

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
operations@runottawa.ca
613-292-7102.

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

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 operations@runottawa.ca or 613-234-2221.