National Capital Marathon

National Capital Marathon, or Ottawa Race Weekend, is one of Canada's largest marathons. It is held in the city of Ottawa, Ontario. The 42.195 kilometres event features many races, including: the MDS Nordion 5K Run/Walk, the MDS Nordion 10K Run/Walk, the ING Ottawa Marathon Walk, the ING Marathon Inline Skate, the ING Half-Marathon Inline Skate, the ING Ottawa Marathon, the ING Ottawa Half Marathon Run/Walk, and the ING Family 2K Run/Walk.

Starting from 1975, the event has grown over the years. It now attracts thousands of participants and over 38,000 runners took part in the racing weekend in 2010.^[1]

The ING Ottawa Marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and is also used for the Canadian Masters Marathon Championship and the Canadian Forces Running Championships.

Route

The Marathon route begins at Ottawa City Hall, then goes north on Elgin Street and then west on Wellington Street and then crosses the Ottawa River via the Chaudiere Bridge, it then travels through downtown Hull, Quebec north several kilometers before turning south to downtown Hull again, crossing the Alexandra Bridge into Ottawa, then it goes north east along Sussex Drive into Rockcliffe Park and New Edinburgh before turning back along Sussex, then south along Colonel By Drive until Hog's Back Falls where it turns left to Riverside Drive, left again over the historic Heron Road Bridge, north along Prince of Wales Drive, and beside the Central Experimental Farm to Dow's Lake, and continuing north on Queen Elizabeth Driveway along the historic Rideau Canal to Ottawa City Hall.

2006 Confusion

Fourteen runners cut 400 m off the course after volunteers arrived at their post after a local resident had moved the barricades. As a result of being supplied by old maps by the organization, the barricades were not moved back by the volunteers which incorrectly directed runners straight North Sussex Drive, instead of West. Amos Tirop Matui of Kenya placed first but was disqualified (even with his record time) along with the other thirteen runners. Some runners were financially compensated.^[2]

Past winners

References

External links

• Race Weekend Homepage
• Race Events