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Apr 27, 2024

Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) Runner Comments

Back to Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.3

Spectators 4.3

Number of comments: 193 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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S. C. from Portland Oregon (6/4/2014) "Great run!" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is a must do for many reasons: Beautiful course. Excellent support. Cool medal. Ottawa is a great city to visit. My hotel was excellent, had a nice post-run food spread in the lobby, a runners comment board. ( Delta Inn). Hats off the the team that put this one on!
O. S. from Montréal, QC, Canada (10/14/2013) "Great race, hotel racket" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 POSITIVE: Excellent overall organisation, lots of people supporting. NEGATIVE: The hotels operate a cartel on that weekend and oblige you to book two nights at an expensive fare. It is ridiculous. I live in Montréal and wanted to stay only one night in Ottawa... not possible even booking 6 months in advance. This is the sole reason why I will not be running Ottawa next year!!! The organization should take action to solve that issue.
R. E. from Washington, DC (7/3/2013) "Really nice Spring marathon" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Signed up for Ottawa because it offered good temps, flat race course, and pacers. It delivered on all those accounts. I was trying to run under 3:05 to qualify for Boston, but I faded at the end to miss a PR by a few minutes. In retrospect, the pacer did not do many of us favors by surging right through some second-half water stops. The change in tempo eventually dropped me. The expo is not at a Chicago or Boston level, but it had most things. Although no one (and I mean no one) could confirm whether a 3:05 pacer group existed because the website had promised that and yet the promotional information only listed 3:10. I was bummed, but then on race day there was a 3:05 group. It was a fun course around the city. Loved the stretch in the beginning by the canal and the final few miles back in the main city. It was also great to be able to have my hotel a few blocks away from expo and start/finish. The only other odd thing about the race was that the runners really didn't communicate or converse many pleasantries with each other. This went against my Canadian stereotype, but it was noticeable that everyone stuck to themselves.
M. N. from Canada (6/14/2013) "Some Good, Some Bad and Some Ugly" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 Some Good, Some Bad and Some Ugly. Condition: Race day was 5C to 12C / 41F to 54F GOOD 1)Nice race shirt by gender and different for all distance. The marathon (42.2 km/26.2m) is quite sharp and wearable after; navy with orange stripes on the sides. 2) On course medical bike team and paramedic Visible, in good number, and professional. Thank you to all members of the medical staff part of the event. 3) Announcer at the finish line Named runners coming in great fashion for all. 4) Photographs Fine job by the Cie who covered the event to take pictures of the runners. 5) Course Mostly flat, Ottawa (Ontario course part) is enjoyable. BAD 6) Very disappointing expo (for this race size) No sweat bag handed by the organization, concession booth not ready for runners, almost no tasting or free sample handed, small. 7) No porta-potti at the start line on Elgin Street. UGLY 8) Road course security 8.1 A police officer in Gatineau let a car enters and crossover the 'closed' road while approaching the intersection ending up 1 meter and 1/2 from being hit. 8.2 No famous 'blue' line painted on road to fallow. 8.3 Gatineau roads conditions are mostly disastrous. 9) Crisscross 1/2 and full marathoner course with separate departure This cause 1/2 marathoners to catch-up slower full marathoners resulting both being in each other way, leading to crash (on right side of the road). One departure for both events? 10) Water-Gatorade stations Starting at 26 km Sussex Dr. part I many water stations were either out of Gatorade or simply closed with table fold (Sponge/Gel station volunteers were present) Thank you to the residents of the 30-36km New Edinburgh course part for giving Mr. Freeze and home lemonade. 11) After the race 11.1 After crossing the finish line volunteer handed cold wet aluminum blanket and knew about it (told so) // had to hunt dry one. 11.2 NO FOOD, NO WATER / NO Gatorade / NO Entertainment / NO staff event at the finish area (FTR Finished way under the 7hours limit of this event). The Ottawa marathon tent event was CLOSED. Note: Volunteers at sweat bag tent had pizza box all over while runner starved. The Medical Students tent was the only one open at finish. OVERALL: For 107.35$ You make your own mind.
T. S. from Newark, OH USA (6/8/2013) "Great shirt and medal!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I just read the comment about the 2012 race having crappy medals/shirt. Someone must have heard you. This year's stuff was awesome! Lousy expo, but otherwise a great weekend.
M. E. from San Juan, Puerto Rico (5/30/2013) "Best organized race anywhere" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a fantastic race. The course is a good mix of city, suburbs and natural scenery. It is flat and well supported. The oasis were superb; both sides of the road with sports drinks and water. They even gave gels at two or three points in the route. The community of Ottawa and Gatinau really support this race and it shows by the numerous volunteers and lots of cheering public. The city itself is small, therefore most hotels are within easy walking distance to the race site. Awesome experience this year with temperatures around 10C (50F). Recommended 100%
D. W. from Ottawa, Ontario (10/29/2012) "Fans are Spectacular" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Well organized and improves every year. Half marathon fills up quickly. Course is Scenic, but the Spectactors make this race memorable. The spectators are everywhere and they inspire you at every mile. Two things that race organizers can improve on: 1)Half Marathon has too many participants and they would be better making Sunday a Marathon only race. 2)The shirts and medals are horrendous. Every runner I know who got one of the shirts or medals made a point of commenting how little effort went into the cheap unappealing race gear and finisher medals.
J. L. from Duluth, Minnesota, US (6/19/2012) "Always a great time in Ottawa!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend)s COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my second Ottawa Marathon, and the course was slightly altered this year. I don't mind, because the best part of travelling to a new city marathon is learning the layout on foot. The people were genuinely friendly (unlike some places that are friendly for the sake of marathon shoppers as well as runners invading the city for a couple days). I stayed at the historic Jail Hostel, which meant I had a two block walk to the start, and a block walk back to my room. I found the place by accident; did I luck out or what?! What I liked best about the marathon: so many different people running this event. What does a marathon runner look like? Never assume. I saw people of all sizes, ages, and abilities doing very well. Crowds were very motivational, because at some point your music can only do so much. Those of us who travelled to Ottawa alone and didn't know anyone were thrilled to have people cheer for us. Those are the memories I will always have of Ottawa. If you go, give yourself an extra day to take photos of the Parliament buildings and downtown. It's a beautiful city.
M. M. from Milton, ON (5/30/2012) "Great organization, fans and overall experience" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very well organized race kit pickup process, and expo was also very good. Easy to access, quick to pick up, and decent deals and exhibitors. Bag drop was very well run, and took no time at all for drop-off and pick-up after the race (however, I ran sub-2:55, making bag pickup less busy). Lots of volunteers on hand, and you can tell the city truly embraces the race weekend, in contrast to others where such races are seen as a nuisance. Start area was well organized, and hopping the barricade to get into the front Blue corral was easy :) Plenty of porta-potties at the warmup area, and also included hand-washing stations, and excellent idea, not usually found at many races. Well done, Ottawa. Marathon course itself was well done, with plenty of water, gatorade and other stations. Sponge stations were excellent to have as well. Road conditions were very good, except for a number of sections on the Gatineau, QC side, where roads were in lesser state of repair, and one later section on the Ottawa side in 30km+ area under construction. Nonetheless, very good overall setup and choice of route. Fans were outstanding overall - some quiet sections, but understandable given the 42.2km nature. In particular, the final 5km-7km had incredible fan support, when runners need it most. Best race experience I've had to date - will definitely return.
David Murphy from Orlando, Florida (5/29/2012) "Great Early Summer Marathon!" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is only my second marathon. My wife and I decided to run it based upon the likelihood of cooler weather in Canada and the great reviews of previous races. As has previously been noted, the weekend was very well organized and the crowds were plentiful and enthusiastic. I am a little biased because I ran a BQ 3:14:59 and made it by one second, so I might be looking through rose colered glasses, but everything about my experience with both the event and the city of Ottawa was top shelf. I will be making the trip north from Florida to race this again.

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