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Apr 28, 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 31 to 41]

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S. D. from Montreal,Qc (9/1/2010) "Lives up to its reputation." (about: 2010) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very interesting race route: it winds through residential neighborhoods, landmarks, farms, and parks. The spectators are present all along the way and are very encouraging. Extremely well organized. Nice athletes' village and family area at the finish line.
R. L. from Ottawa (8/31/2010) "A good race, with a scenic Ottawa route" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I live in Ottawa, so I know this route well. The first 10K go through Gatineau over rutted and pot-holed streets - not attractive (though going over the bridge back to Ottawa offers a scenic view of parliament and the museums). It is too bad that the race does not run along the better roads along the river before coming back to Ottawa. The spectators were fun, with some wild ones at the plentiful water stations around the 20K point, and a large crowd along the final part of the route that really adds that needed energy. The only real downside was the lack of pace bunnies. Unfortunately, the advertised pace bunnies for 4:15 and 4:30 were doing a run/walk training workout from the Running Room and were unable (or unwilling) to actually run the whole distance. If the organizers want to make this an international event, they should ensure that they have pacers who can actually keep a steady running pace - and aren't there just for the Ottawa Running Room crowd. On the whole, it was a good race. I have run some big races in Europe and hope this one gets even bigger in the future.
T. C. from Ottawa, ON (6/12/2010) "Gets better every year!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 3 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend)s COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my 3rd Ottawa Marathon and finally I enjoyed the experience! The new course route was terrific and I hope they keep it for next year, but it seems like it changes from year to year. Crowd support was good. In the sections where it is dead it might help to have music stations set up; many of us don't listen to iPods when we run and a distraction is always welcome, especially when you are running up Colonel-By (at 27K) and then after the Heron Bridge (at 33K). Running as a pace bunny was a positive experience for me and I just want to thank all of the runners who ran with me for parts or the entire race and shared their stories (struggles and triumphs); I found all of you so inspiring. I am already looking forward to next year!
J. K. from CT, USA (6/3/2010) "Polite and orderly; a well run, small marathon." (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The expo gets high marks for ease of packet pick-up, but there was no bag for the schwag and very close quarters. I love the staggered start of the marathoners and half-marathoners. The course was pretty, but often tight and difficult to maneuver past slower runners. Not too hilly, but around 34K, the incline sure felt like a hill. As an American runner, I must say that seeing the "24" sign and realizing that you are only just past the halfway mark is a little disheartening. Great volunteers, nicely supportive crowd (writing your name on your shirt always helps), and I easily found my cheering friends. The end could definitely use some improvement. I would have to agree that the finish seemed a bit farther than 26.2. Towards 41K, I was a few minutes off of my time goal and at the finish, my watch had me off by about three minutes. I was disappointed to find that the chip time had me off time by 11 seconds! The volunteers handing out the medals were asking whether you had run the full or half-marathon and not checking bibs. The food after the race is pretty spartan - bananas, oranges, yogurt and bagels running low. Complementary bag check is nice, but bag pick-up was a disaster, with really long waits. Don't get me wrong - organization is great when it counts, during the race. I'd definitely run again.
B. D. from Calgary, AB (6/2/2010) "Great except one important detail" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend)s COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Really a great show - the organization was precise. I had zero problems with the race expo, the organization of the start, the run, water (etc.) stations, and the finish area. Probably the best organized race I've run; I could not find a flaw. The course was interesting but not very hilly really (yes, there are hills, but they're mostly short and gradual). Perfect running weather this year too. However, according to my Garmin, it was 240 meters long! I thought that odd, so I checked with 2 other friends who said they stopped their watches after walking around a few meteres after the race and they had 42.5K. So either the satellites weren't working accurately or it was long. Not a huge deal to most, but I was 12 seconds from beating an 8-year-old PB, which I would have broken even if it were only 100 meters too long.
K. G. from Syracuse, NY (6/2/2010) "Really nice experience!" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Great crowd support, scenic race, only minor hills. Only complaint was that the water stops seemed too far apart at the end of the course. Otherwise a fantastic experience!
Alekxandra Loeblich from Montréal, QC CANADA (6/2/2010) "FABULOUS course and race; needs more bathrooms!!" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I had an AMAZING experience! I can't wait to come back again next year to run it again! PROS: -VERY friendly staff and city, police, everyone! -Crowds were wonderful -First aid seemed plentiful -BEAUTIFUL COURSE -I had no expectations of entertainment along the course, but there were A LOT of wonderful acts - from belly-dancers to mariachi, to jazz bands, and everything in between. It was just so GREAT! -Passing parliament was one of the most memorable moments for me! -The countdown signs really helped me rev up the last 750 meters to go to the finish line! -The road of flags leading up to the HALFWAY HOME archway was really exciting! -The medal is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD! :) CONS: -There were NOT enough bathrooms on the course. They were ESPECIALLY limited between the halfway mark and where we split from the half-marathoners, as now marathoners were competing against the halfers for bathrooms. -Fluid stations ran out before I got to them, and there were many people behind me; also, 2 gel stations were advertised, but I only saw 1, so I assume it ran out also. -As it did for most of the first-timers, it felt like a VERY hilly course to me! The WORST thing is that the tour guide on the bus tours of the course explained that the marathon would NOT be going over the hill this year, so even taking the bus tour did not prepare me for the big hill! I felt really discouraged when I came upon it and realised I WAS going to have to climb it. By the time I was done, I was mixed with the half-marathoners and there was the lack of bathrooms. -I thought the experimental farm portion of the run was quite pretty, but it felt VERY long and you can't even SEE Ottawa from there. At points, this part of the race felt ENDLESS to me! :P -The U2 cover band with the female vocalist HAS TO GO. It was TRULY AWFUL! -Generally, the entertainment speakers were WAY TOO LOUD. -I was SO HAPPY to see that they used paper cups, but very UPSET that they did NOT recycle anything! Everything was thrown into black plastic bags. We can do better! I saved all my trash for a garbage, and wore Camelbaks to reduce my waste, but certainly we can recycle paper cups! These are MINOR complaints, which hopefully can be corrected by next year! Overall, this race gave me the biggest sense of pride I have ever felt in my life!!! Definitely, please add more toilets and straighten out the tour guide/bus situation! :) THANKS FOR AN AMAZING WEEKEND!
j. m. from ottawa (6/2/2010) "Poor Expo" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend)s COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The course was quite hilly, not as was advertised. I was completely disappointed with the expo. My quadriplegic nephew and mother went to the expo with me . They could not even explore what was there. They had to turn around and wait outside for me as they could not enter; what's with that? No bags to carry stuff in; what's with that? The expo was very crowded, hot and extremely difficult to move around. Getting to the expo on Saturday was draining, as the streets were congested. If you want your marathon to grow, so must the facilities.
L. B. from Saskatoon Sask. (6/1/2010) "I was impressed with all aspects of this marathon" (about: 2010) 3 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my third marathon and by far the best. I didn't find it hilly - slight ups and downs only. The crowd was awesome; in the last 500 meters I thought my legs were going to give out, but the crowd encouragement was beyond my expectations. What a great day. Yes, I did need medical attention and was extremely pleased and appreciative of the care. I will be back for another marathon in Ottawa.
L. S. from Ottawa, ON (6/1/2010) "Ran out of food AGAIN!" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend)s COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I've run this event since 2000, and every year it keeps getting bigger (which the organizers love to brag about). But the cost is that, over the past several years, they've run out of food! I'm not the fastest runner, but there are lots of people who finish after me, and if there are no bagels for me, there are no bagels for thousands of full and half marathoners who follow. Otherwise, it's a nice event. But it's really nothing special - no better than other events in other cities.

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