This was my 14th marathon, and my best experience to date. The course was just about perfect, flat and fast. If there were any hills, they were inconsequential. My best race to date by far. The people were very friendly and the architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere were enlightening. My experience in Ottawa was super. Our hotel was the Fairmont Laurier. A great place to wine, dine and be pampered before the race. I don't like to repeat what I've already experienced, so I can't say that I'll be back soon...but I'm tempted. This is a must do race. Please be sure to put this on your to do list and if you miss it, it's your loss.

I've run marathons in Toronto and Vancouver in the past and this one is by far one of the best! The crowds the last five miles were amazing! What a great course too! If anyone is planning a trip to Canada, plan it around this race!

This was a great weekend getaway. I ran the beautiful marathon course and my sons ran the 5K the night before. Topnotch organization run. Thank you Ottawa!!!

Always a great race. The city is spotless with lots of great restaurants and the market is an annual tradition for us. It's great to have such a diversity of musical entertainment along the course. Every one of our group from Moncton were finishers. Our thanks to the wonderful volunteers. Well done Ottawa!

This was my 13th marathon and also the site of my first, the site of my first qualifier, and now the first time I have not been able to formulate a suggestion for improvement. The course is as fair and as flat as it gets, folks (okay, except Columbus, Massey, and Vegas, but a PB course nonetheless). Race medical support was abundant. Separation of athletes from spectators in the recovery area was at last accomplished. A medal from the Canadian Mint. The 7 a.m. start was a good try at avoiding the later day heat, although breakfast with Ally Rono the day after at the race hotel confirmed even the best succumb to humidity. (Elite athletes were justing hanging out over there... cool.) I am satisfied, proud, and I'll be back.

This is my second time running the full-marathon, in addition to one half marathon and one year here as an injured spectator. It is just an amazing event and a fun weekend.

I personally preferred the old two-loop course due to the mental benefit in the second half of having familiar milestones. However, I can see why they changed the course to incorporate most of Ottawa's main tourist sites. Ottawa is a very beautiful city and the course is a reflection of this. The first half is somewhat hilly, and the second is virtually flat.

The organization is as good as I have personally experienced or even read about. Good expo, great race t-shirt, perfectly spaced/stocked/manned aid stations, and a large recovery area. There is a small army of excellent volunteers that reflect how much the city appreciates the race.

Spectators are very gracious, if a little bit sparse compared to what you might expect based on the general quality of the race. However the final 2 km are downright Chicago-like, making it a memorable finish!!

I would highly, highly recommend this race to absolutely anyone, Canadian and foreign. One of the best things of this event is that there are 5 different running distances, two inline skating events, and from what I understand the marathon and 1/2 are walker friendly. This would be a good trip for the whole family since there is something for everyone and Ottawa is a city worth visiting. I would also recommend the marathon to people who avoid the crowded megamarathons like Chicago, London etc.., but don't want to sacrifice overall professional organization.

This is the third time I've participated in the NCM weekend. I ran the full marathon in '03 when it was a double loop of the second half, and the half in '04 which was that section again. Last year they changed the first half of the full course, and I have to say that overall the course is spectacular. You see every tourist site in the city and run through some beautiful neighbourhoods. Any minor, little hills happen in the beginning, with the exception of a bridge at 33K. Overall though the course is VERY flat, with the last 9K being either flat or slightly downhill!!
The race organization was first rate. Water stations were well marked and well stocked, and picking up my race kit was easy. They had WOMEN'S SIZES in the shirts (halleluja!!!) AND they were coolmax! VERY nice. One suggestion, after cheering on runners at the Mississauga marathon, would be to put runners' names on the bibs. I would love to hear spectators call out my name, especially in the tough few kilometres at the end!
Along the course, the volunteers and spectators were absolutely fabulous, providing a lot of inspiration.
The weather has even been consistently good over the years!! I think it would have been hot by the end this time for people finishing past the 4 hour mark or so. Most of the time though, it was quite comfortable.
If you haven't done this race, DO IT. It's a fabulous experience in a terrific city. The whole city gets behind the race weekend (there is a marathon, a half, a 10K, a 5K, a 2K as well as walking and wheelchair events) and there's a great energy.
Not to mention I set a PR... :)

2005 marked my 6th time running the NCM Marathon and I believe it to be top notch. Great job to the entire committee for doing such a wonderful event for having the yucky job of making sure it runs smoothly.

During the past 40 years, I have participated in small (less than 100 runners) and large (Rock ?n? Roll Arizona) races. The Ottawa Marathon and its accompanying events have the best organization I have seen. Ottawa is a wonderful and clean city; its citizens were friendly and great hosts; the 2,000+ volunteers were fantastic; the medals were super with free engraving; and the course was fair to the runners. Take the Saturday bus tour from the Expo. It?s a guided tour of the course and the city in a double-decker bus. After taking the tour, my wife and I wished we could stay longer because there was so much more to see and do. This is a must-run event.

The entertainment along the course was very much appreciated. The volunteers at the water stops were the best. The crowd cheering us on was inspirational. The number of people and their cheeing at the finish line were awesome. The course was beautiful. The only down side....not enough port-a-pottys. Thanks for a great race!