Ottawa Marathon (National Capital Race Weekend) - Race Reviews

Ottawa is a great destination for a race and long weekend trip because it lines up with our Memorial Day weekend in the US, and as Canada's national capital, it's a showcase of Canadian history, government, and culture, with numerous museums, parks, and activities for the whole family. For those who want to run a race abroad, Ottawa is an excellent choice given its relative proximity, English-speaking population, favorable exchange rate, and the numerous race distances available. Ottawa Race Weekend is an inclusive event with 6 race options: 2K, 5K, 10K, half marathon, kid's marathon, and marathon, so anyone can participate. This made it ideal for a family running weekend. There are also Voyageur and Lumberjack Challenge options for those who want to run multiple events. The race courses are scenic and fair (from a difficulty perspective). However, as with any race at the end of May, there is a significant risk that it will be hot, so if you're looking at the Ottawa Marathon as your "goal race" then you need to be prepared for the possibility of the weather wrecking your time goal. I'd recommend Ottawa to anyone who wants to try racing in a foreign country and looking for a pleasant long weekend getaway. The marathon and the 10K are both IAAF gold label events and attract a strong elite field of runners from around the globe. As such, the race organization is top-notch, and that's true for each race of the weekend. Pre-race communication was excellent, especially if you follow the Ottawa Marathon on Facebook or Instagram. Even if you don't, you will receive timely email communications, and the race website is routinely updated. We were notified weeks in advance about route changes that had to be made due to flooding and construction, and they prepared interactive maps where you could see the km markers, aid stations, porta-potty locations etc. There is a free bus tour of the marathon route available on Saturday morning. Each race went off on time, which is really impressive given that there are 6 events over 2 days. There are corrals at the start line based on predicted finishing times, but it's an honor system. The 5K, 10K, and half marathons have wave starts that go off approximately every 2-4 minutes. Since the waves are close in time, there isn't a big incentive to start your race in a faster corral since you're just going to get run down by the faster runners coming up from behind you. Marathon Course: A scenic tour of Canada's capital, with a crossing into Gatineau, Québec. If you don't have any familiarity with Ottawa (like me), I highly recommend taking a bus tour of the city the day before the race. Then you'll be able to recognize and better appreciate the sites that you'll run past on marathon day. What does "scenic" mean here, in the context of a city marathon? My general impression of Ottawa: downtown Ottawa looks like any major city with commercial office buildings, but it's punctuated with buildings that look like European castles (e.g., Parliament Hill, Fairmont Chateau Laurier), as well as more modern and sleek edifices surrounded by public works of art (e.g., National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum). The Rideau Canal is a beautiful artery that runs through the city, which is lined with bike paths and flowers, and the course also takes runners by several parks and green neighborhoods, including Dow's Lake, Commissioner's Park, and Rockcliffe Park. Ottawa Race Weekend takes place the weekend after the Canadian Tulip Festival, so there are still thousands of blooming tulips all over the city on race day. The Ottawa Marathon is one of the top qualifying races for Boston. They capped the race at 3,500 participants this year so it's not a large or crowded race. The course is fair, and it is possible to run fast here but I wouldn't characterize it as flat. I'd say first half is mostly flat, there are hills in the middle, and then it flattens out again until the 400m incline to the finish. In sum, I thought the course itself was enjoyable and fair. I think I could have made my time goal if I had had better weather. I'd be willing to do it again, but I would only plan this as a back up marathon and not a goal race, given the risk of hot weather. Support/Supplies: Fluid stations were located approximately every 2-3 km - further apart in the first half of the race and closer together in the second half, thankfully. Water and Nuun, the official sports drink of the race, are served. On a cool day, it probably would have been enough, but on a hot day, I found it impossible to run at goal pace and get enough fluids without slowing down or walking. So carry your own water and gels. At certain stations, gels, bananas, oranges, or gummy fruit chews were available but I don't remember at what intervals. Misting stations and sponges are located at strategic points throughout the race. Porta-potties were plentiful; I didn't see anyone jumping into the woods. The volunteers were amazing! Numerous, helpful, and enthusiastic.However, what impressed me the most is that the marathon provides an "Extra Mile Crew" in the last 10K -- volunteers who will run you if you're having a rough day and need extra help getting to the finish line. I've never seen this in a race before, and it gave me the warm fuzzies. Swag: The medals were BEAUTIFUL and scream CANADA! The medals for the other race distances were similar but smaller than the marathon medals. I really liked that they took the time to design special-looking medals so that every participant could feel that they had achieved something significant, no matter the distance. The finisher shirts were awesome short-sleeve tech shirts with a silhouette of Parliament on the back. Most of my race finisher shirts end up in the throwaway pile but I'm actually going to wear my Ottawa shirts. The drawstring bag was standard fare.

I loved this incredible Gold Award winning Marathon. The Water Stations were every 3k there were plenty of portable toilets. There were Hundreds of smiling and Helpful Volunteers. The Spectors were amazing (Those North Americans can really shout loud) The course was very beautiful and also flatish. But 2 toilet stops messed up my time. But still this has to be my all time favourite Marathon. Thanks to the Organization, all the Volunteers and to all the loud Spectators. There were plenty of goodies at the finish. The Expo was very Good 3 days before the Marathon at Shaw Centre. Race Starts 7am by Ottwa City Hall Cut off time 7 Hours. If I had to be critical I don't like v neck T shirt for the women. Men had crew neck. I was confused with half marathon and marathon kilometres flags. (The half mararathon started at 9am 2 hours after the Marathon) Some runners were given whole bananas, I and some runners were given a third of banana at the finish. NB in London we are 5 hours ahead of Canada.

I ran this race nearly a dozen times and this year there were a few snags. The misting machines were not always working and I could have had more water stations during the course (every 2 km). I really enjoyed the last mile angels who were running with runners from 35k on. Great support at the right time. Took a long time after crossing the finish line to get my medal. Lots of food left for late finishers. The baggage check should be closer to the finish as well.

This was my 6th Ottawa Marathon, and 26th Overall. This race is a must for all runners, with great fans, volunteers and scenic views. The course is nearly flat. On the positive side, the fans really came through with their sprinklers and hoses to cool the runners down from the high humidity. Also, the medal and participant shirt have greatly improved over the last couple of years. Areas for improvement: First, the race felt very congested, especially the last 4km where the half marathoners joined the marathoners. Colonel-by drive is too narrow to handle massive crowds. I have run lots of large marathons (i.e. Chicago 40000+ runners) and I have never felt that congested as this year. Better organization for the finish. The lineup to receive your food and drink was crazy. Confederation Park is too small to handle 18000+ runners. Trying to exit the park after the race was very frustrating. Lastly, Nuun was not sufficient as an energy drink. All the marathons use Gatorade for a reason....it provides carbohydrates, which you need for a marathon. Ottawa is a great marathon, but improvements are greatly needed.

This is my 6th Ottawa Marathon and 23rd overall marathon and I am never disappointed with the organization and crowd support. Despite the high humid temperatures, the community came together and support the runners with their water hoses! The only comment is that I have ran in many big events (Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Athens) and they should provide free public transit to the runners to enjoy the city as its a destination marathon for many people. I found the last 5 km very congested and I am a 3:40 marathoner and I would like to enjoy the last few kms but couldn't move. Overall, happy with my time and I was lucky not to overheat!

Remember the movie Jaws? There was a scene where Roy Schneider had to decide whether or not to close the beach because of shark attacks. Well, imagine the RD was Roy and the shark was heat. Were there more water stations to fight the heat? No. Did water stations run out of water at the end - yes! It would be like Roy Schneider having more seafood restaurants built along the beach that serve shark fin soup to fight the sharks. Residents were asked turn on sprinklers for the runners. A lot did and it was very welcome and needed. The race course changed a bit but I think having water stations every 3k is insufficient. Lots of gels and the Extra mile crew was a nice touch. Overall a good race with all things considered.

Dear Race Organizers: Runners take home a medal a shirt and memories from a race. Ottawa shirts were terrible, but they have improved the past three years. The Ottawa race medals I own are probably the worst in my collection. Other than the maple leaf, there is nothing to identify the race being from Ottawa. Look at Detroit for inspiration. You clearly know what race you ran and the medal nails the whole Canada/US cross border marathon. It would also be nice for this race course to change a bit too.

My family and I have run various races during National Capital Race weekend over the years: Family 2K, 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon and marathon. The marathon is, for the most part, a beautiful course, passing by many Canadian landmarks, through residential areas, along the canal and across the river. The streets are lined with enthusiastic spectators of all ages, bands, DJs, signs, high fives and more. Having the opportunity to watch the elite world class runners in all of the races is a bonus!

The race featured bands the nights before which was different the last time I did it. It was a nice touch. The whole city gets behind race weekend and although it features mostly runners from Ottawa and Montreal it was good to see runners from India, Australia and the US. The course was a bit flatter this year but water stations were advertised every 3 km. A race this far into May should have stations every 2 km. The food was just there and considering the price you pay to run it would have liked to have seen a better selection or at least some water bottles for the runners. With the University so close I would have also liked to have seen free use of showers as well. Not a bad race - a bit overpriced. The crowds were good although the new course did have some areas where no one was cheering us on. More gel stations as well.

I have participated in the Ottawa Race Weekend for 10+ years, but this was the first year I ran the full marathon. The course is beautiful with lots of variety - residential, canal, river, treed areas. Relatively flat. Lots of spectators. The only issue is the heat - the race started at 7am, and by my finish at 10:30 it was already 18C and I had a sunburn. Longer runners would have suffered a lot!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%

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.

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.

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.

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.

One of my better marathon experiences, definitely. The expo was large and well- represented, colorful bibs with runner names were great, tech T was great and race info for runners and spectators was plentiful and easily accessible. Actual race was nice - crowd support was outstanding and medals were nice. 10K and marathon on different days helped multiple family members participate. Fluid stations were well stocked. Minor improvement possibilities: Chip was old fashioned, nowadays chip in bib is standard. Walk after end of race was a little long (meeting place was convenient).

This is only my third marathon (I've run 1 other, aside from Ottawa) so my experience is limited. Nonetheless, I feel that this marathon is probably among the best organized. Wait times - even during peak period - for race packet pick-up was very short. Expo was extensive - although crowded due to it being a huge 'race weekend' of 40,000+ runners. Plenty of water, gatorade, and at least 3 gel stops on the course. Plenty of porta-potties at the start and I saw at least 5 different places on the course (there may have been more) with porta-potties too. Lots of medical teams both on the course on bikes and at various water stops. Another reason I like this run, is for the family 2k run on the day before. I was able to run a nice short 2k with my 6 year old and with my partner. She ran a 5k later in the day (10k last year). It's a great chance to have all family members involved and everyone can run a race of their liking (they have 2k family, 5k, 10k on Saturday followed by 1/2 Marathon and Marathon on Sunday). Because this weekend hosts so many runners over two days, I think that the organizers have no choice but to run a tight ship. As such the race is very well organized. In some areas at mid distance, the fans were non-existant but in other areas, the crowd support was truly awesome, particularly from km35 onwards - in fact the crowds helped me through my hellish final 3k's. My one criticism is that in some places the road quality was poor and I imagine a few people might have twisted some ankles. Yet, compared to my city - which has notoriously poor roads, it was far better. Ottawa is a marvellous city, lots to see and do and I regret that I didn't have an extra day to enjoy it. I found the people to be rather friendly. Finally, my hotel, was somewhat pricey. I waited a bit long to book a room (December) and my choices were limited. Also, it took a few visits to the front desk to convince them to allow me to check out at 12pm rather than 11pm, so that I could have a nice shower. (National Hotel - I'm not sure I would give it a great rating). To conclude: run Ottawa for a really cool running experience.

New course route was the best ever. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as a pace bunny from start to finish; the runners who ran with me were amazing and I enjoyed our bantering. :) Highlights -water and gel stations were excellent -39km of course dedicated to the marathoners was AWESOME (i.e., we didn't have to share the road or water stations with the ½ marathoners). -spectator support terrific (esp. the orange slices and freezies provided in various spots) Areas for Improvement -Tshirt design better from previous years but still not one that impresses me -name on bib should be in larger font -more music stations on course especially in the 'dead-zones' i.e., Western Pkwy and Aviation Pkwy Definitely a great race and one you should consider (hope to see you next year). :)

This was the second time I have run the full marathon in Ottawa. The course changed from last year, but for the better I think. The stretches along the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal are beautiful and the spectators are second to none. Great support, they were cheerful and encouraging even in the pouring rain. Even though I crashed and burned (managed to finish though) I plan on making this my must do marathon every year.

The Ottawa Marathon was my first and it was simply amazing! The course is great (although I had run most of it in training), and allows for family to meet up several times if they choose to. The support from the crowd was amazing despite the rainy conditions! Having people cheering for you by your first name (on your bib) is really encouraging! The organization was well done. I didn't have to wait to use the washroom before the race and there were many many water stations along the course. The finishing chute is a little busy, but it is to be expected with the marathon/half coming in at the same time. I would DEFINITELY do it again!

This is a great race to run for a number of reasons: - weather was relatively cool for a marathon for this time of year - overall flat and fast course - water stations were plentiful and well placed along the course - Gatorade was not watered down like it usually is in races - volunteers handing out drinks were by far the best volunteers I've come across in a race yet - plenty of porta-potties at the start; didn't have to wait long at all in a line - great finisher's medal - crowd support was good - nice small size for marathon - 4,000 runners - so didn't feel congested at all during the race - half-marathoners start after the marathoners - race directors were quick to respond by email to questions regarding the race Hope to do this one again!

This was a terrific event. The course was wonderful. It was very scenic. The organization superb. Mile (Km) markers at every km. The volunteers did a great job and were extremely encouraging. The best thing about this race were the people. It is obvious that the people of Ottawa take great pride in this event. There were tons of spectators throughout the race even though it was raining fairly hard for most of the event. Especially the second half. They were very enthusiastic and encouraging. Good job Ottawa!!! I would recommend this event to any marathoner in the Northeastern US as a great destination race because of this city and its people.

My 30th marathon! There is nothing like running in your home town. This race was better than last year's with the course changes, increased gel stations and sponge stations. It could do better with cheaper entry fees and more water stations (one every 2 kilometers). Great crowd support (even with the rain) and good runner support at the end. Will do it again but there is room for improvement.

Had a great time in 2010. Everything was extremely easy to get to and the race organization was good. The weather was near 60 degrees and cloudy. If I had any negatives, it was the stinking hill at Mile 22 that killed my shot at finishing in under 4 hours. There wasn't much crowd support during Miles 18-23, but it really picked up closer to the end. Very flat course - definitely a PR-type of course. I never felt as packed in as at other races either because of the marathon-only start.

This was marathon #1 for me. I thought it was great. I have nothing to compare to but there were lots of people cheering and plenty of aid along the route. Everything seemed friendly (I love the Canadians) and the course provided some interesting views at points.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!