Everything you need to know about Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

From race times to road closures, and even a bit of history, here’s what you need to know about Ottawa Race Weekend.

Published May 19, 2025

Last updated May 22, 2025

6 minute read

Runners made their way up Elgin Street at the start of the 50th annual Tartan Ottawa International Marathon at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Sunday, May 26, 2024. Photo by Ashley Fraser /PostmediaArticle content

Not long from now, Michael Vieira should be able to sit back and replay the madness of planning and preparing a world-level running event.

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“The dominoes are all set in the right order,” the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend director said in an interview.

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“Just waiting for the right time (to knock the first one down).”

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But there’s still work remaining to prepare for Canada’s biggest running event.

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Vieira, an Ottawa native and Lisgar high school graduate, is the former executive director of the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre and manager of Paralympic performance at the Canadian Paralympic Committee. He also previously ran in Race Weekend, but since taking over his new role he has become more keenly aware of its place among signature Ottawa events.

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“In Ottawa, there’s Winterlude, Bluesfest and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.”

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Runners cross the start line of the Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Sunday, May 26, 2024. Photo by Ashley Fraser /PostmediaArticle content

This year’s race

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Vieira says the number of racers in all events this year should total about 36,000. Sunday’s marathon and half-marathon events are sold out, while few spots remained for Saturday’s 10k, 5k and 2k runs.

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More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend the two days. Visitors have lauded the event’s festive atmosphere, with live entertainment, a beer garden and a health and fitness expo.

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How to get around on Race Weekend

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Road closures will be extensive through downtown Ottawa.

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On Saturday, May 24, roads including Elgin Street, Colonel By Drive, Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Wellington Street will all experience closures. Road closures begin at 11 a.m. and continue at rolling times throughout the day. All roads are expected to be reopened by 9 p.m.

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Sunday’s closures are more extensive for the full running of the marathon. Roads will be closed through downtown, from Tunney’s Pasture in the west to the Rockliffe Park in the east. Closures along the Rideau Canal stretch as far south as Hog’s Back Park and in the north through Gatineau, crossing the river at the Alexandra Bridge and the Chaudière crossing.

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The major routes closed include the Kichi Zibi Mikan, Sussex Street, Colonel By Drive and Queen Elizabeth Driveway, George Étienne Cartier Parkway, and Wellington Street. Closures in both Ottawa and Gatineau begin at about 6 a.m. and most should be reopened by 3 p.m., with the exception of a stretch of Queen Elizabeth Drive, which will stay closed until 6 p.m.

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Organizers recommend using Waze or Google Maps if you’re looking to get around.

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For a full list of closures and an interactive map, see the Race Weekend website.

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Good news for transit users: OC Transpo is starting service on the LRT early on Sunday, with trains on Line 1 and Line 2 beginning service at 5 a.m. to give racers plenty of time to make it downtown for the marathon’s 7 a.m. start time.

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Runners made their way along Colonel By Dr. at the start of the 50th annual Tartan Ottawa International Marathon at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Sunday, May 26, 2024. Photo by Ashley Fraser /PostmediaArticle content

If you’re running in Race Weekend

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You can pick up your bib this week at the Carleton University Fieldhouse. If you plan to pick up your bib on the same day as you’re running, the organizers recommend giving yourself four hours between pickup to race start.

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Pickup is available:

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Thursday, May 22 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.Friday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.Saturday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Article content

The races start Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

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Saturday, May 24

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Ottawa Kids Marathon: 2 p.m.Ottawa 2K: 3 p.m.Ottawa 5K: 4 p.m.Ottawa 10K: 6:30 p.m.The elite women’s 10K begins at 6:15 p.m.Article content

Sunday May 25

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Tartan Ottawa International Marathon: 7 a.m.Ottawa Half Marathon presented by Desjardins: 9 a.m.Article content

A bit of Race Weekend history

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Ottawa’s first taste of marathon competition was in 1975, when 146 runners, including three women, showed up at Carleton University for the first Ottawa Marathon. Mehdi Jaoubar won the men’s division, while Eleanor Thomas was the fastest woman.

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The event continued to grow, with registrations hitting about 4,000 in the late 1970s, but hit a speedbump in the 1980s.

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There was talk of cancelling one year, but instead organizers added a 10K race to the program in 1986.

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The faster-paced 10K event drew good crowds and led the organization to recovery.

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The organization managed another strong rebound after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the weekend altogether in 2020 and 2021.

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After all the work and excitement, Vieira says a favourite spot on race day is near the finish line.

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“It’s for people who have suffered health setbacks, who are making lifestyle changes, who are raising money for charities,” he said in an interview. “That’s what it’s about.”

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In keeping with the multi-generational spirit of the event, more than 2,500 runners will be 60 or older.

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Rejeanne Fairhead (centre) and her team took part in the 5K at the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend on May 27, 2023.Article content

A tribute to Rejeanne Fairhead

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Vieira confirmed plans are in the works for a tribute to Rejeanne Fairhead who, in 2023 at the age of 96, set a 5K world record for women aged 95 to 99, posting a time of 58 minutes 52 seconds. Among other honours, in December 2024 Mayor Mark Sutcliffe named her a Hero of Ottawa, an honour that highlights people who make Ottawa a better community. She died in March at age 98.

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Elite runners in head-to-head challenges

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The running world is buzzing over a few of the personal competitions during the weekend, especially at the Ottawa 10K sponsored by Otto’s Ottawa.

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In the women’s division, two of Canada’s most successful distance runners, Natasha Wodak and Malindi Elmore, face off Saturday for the Athletics Canada 10K Canadian Championship.

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Among the men, Olympians and record holders Cam Levins and Ben Flanagan are looking for the men’s Athletics Canada 10K Canadian Championship title.

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And on Sunday, Canada’s Rory Linkletter and fellow elite runner C.J. Albertson of the U.S. are hitting the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon. The men competed in the 2025 Boston Marathon in April, finishing sixth and 14th, respectively. Linkletter’s time of 2:07:02 made him the second-fastest Canadian marathoner ever after Cam Levins, who registered 2:05:36 in Tokyo in 2023.

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“We are in a golden age of Canadian distance running,” Stephen Andersen, Run Ottawa’s elite athlete coordinator, said in a release.

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“Between the men’s and the women’s 10K events, as well as Rory Linkletter in the marathon, we have five of the greatest Canadian distance runners of all time toeing the line in Ottawa. Ben and Cam have traded different Canadian records for so long, and we are looking forward to having them race each other on Canadian soil for the very first time.”

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2025 Running and Fitness Expo moves

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The popular running and fitness expo has moved to Carleton University Fieldhouse, 85 University Rd.. Open to the public, the three-day expo is sold out to exhibitors, with brands such as Garmin, Marsquest, Running Room, Balmoral, and Praise showcasing the latest in technology and apparel.

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“We’re thrilled to unveil this exciting new venue,” executive director Mike Vieira says. “It offers more space for vendors, features a dedicated track for testing out new shoes and is easily accessible via the O-Train — making it our most interactive location yet.”

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The starting point for all events remains at city hall headquarters at Laurier and Elgin.

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Lencho Tesfaye Anbesa of Ethiopia was the first finisher in the 50th annual Tartan Ottawa International Marathon at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Sunday, May 26, 2024. Photo by Ashley Fraser /PostmediaArticle content

A few facts and figures about Ottawa Race Weekend

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Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is the biggest multi-day race event in Canada.

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It is estimated that Race Weekend pumps approximately $14 million into the Ottawa economy.

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Each year, the Drill Hall is converted into a satellite site of The Ottawa Hospital — a fully equipped medical area complete with 250 medical volunteers, including emergency room doctors and nurses, paramedics. There are also 10 medical stations on the route and a mobile medical team on bicycles.

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Race Weekend has about 2,500 volunteers in support positions.

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There are about 39,000 out-of-town visitors who travel to Ottawa for Race Weekend.

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Approximately 200,000 spectators will be cheering on runners along the Rideau Canal at official cheering stations and along the course throughout the weekend.

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About 555,000 drinking cups will be diverted from the landfill thanks to a partnership with Cascades Recovery.

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In 2023, 75 charities participated in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Desjardins Charity Challenge and raised $1,125,974.03 for their causes.

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