What is the green bib for Ottawa Race weekend?

Green Bib allows participants who don't want or need a medal to direct part of their registration fees to a charity of their choice in lieu of receiving a medal when crossing the finish line .

How many people run Ottawa Race weekend?

The two-day running event includes seven races, including the Ottawa Marathon, all of which start and end at Ottawa City Hall. The marathon was first held in 1975, and is categorized as an Elite Label Road Race by World Athletics. Over 40,000 participants take part in the races each year.

What does "green bib" mean?

The Green Bib Program gives participants with the choice about whether to receive a race shirt and medal as part of their race day experience . If a participant chooses the Green Bib option, a donation will be made to a participating sustainability charity in lieu of a race shirt and medal.

What are the colors for Ottawa race weekend?

To help spread the field out at the start, participants will be sent off in a series of waves starting with the blue corral, followed by orange, yellow, green, purple and red corrals .

When was the first Ottawa race weekend?

Since the inaugural marathon was held in 1975, more than half a million runners have participated in the event. Race Ottawa says the marathon doubled its registration numbers from 2023 and sold out in early April.

How many people participate in a relay race?

At the Olympics and other World Athletics-sanctioned tournaments, a relay race is an event where a team of four athletes run equal predetermined distances in a sprint race, each passing a rod-like object called the 'baton' to the next person to continue the race. The last runner in a relay is called the 'anchor'.

How many people attend the Great North Run?

The AJ Bell Great North Run is the world's biggest and best half marathon, with 60,000 runners taking on the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields each year.

What is a race day bib?

A race bib is one of the most important items that you wear while participating in a running race . It is used to track your running time. The tracker in the bib is recorded by race mats, which are placed at certain distances in the racecourse.

What is a run Ottawa member?

Run Ottawa is a running club that is dedicated to promoting running as both a recreational option and a competitive alternative for men and women in Canada's National Capital Region .

What is the Tamarack Ottawa race?

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is one of the only running events in the world to host two World Athletics Gold Label events: the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon and the Ottawa 10K .

Here's what you need to know about Ottawa Race Weekend this weekend (2024)

Thousands of runners will lace up their sneakers this weekend for the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

The popular event on Saturday and Sunday features the kids marathon, 2K, 5K, 10K, the Canadian 10K Championship, half-marathon and the 50^th edition of the Marathon.

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Organizers say registration has increased for the 2024 edition of the event, with 6,000 more participants this year compared to the 2023 event.

Here is everything you need to know about Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

Race Schedule

Saturday

Start/finish lines

The start line for all races during Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is located at Ottawa City Hall.

The finish line for the 2K, 5K, 10K, Marathon and Half Marathon is on Queen Elizabeth Driveway, near Laurier Avenue.

To find the route for each race, click here.

Race Kit Pickup and Health and Fitness Expo

The race kit pickup and the health and fitness expo will be held at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne.

Early start for the O-Train

OC Transpo says O-Train Line 1 will start at 5 a.m. on Sunday so participants and spectators can get to the start line for the marathon.

The O-Train will begin service at 5 a.m.

Organizers say participants will also be able to use OC Transpo service for free on Friday and Saturday to travel to the Aberdeen Pavilion for the Health and Fitness Expo. You can use your May 9 Race Director's email as proof of participation.

Bike parking

Ottawa Race Weekend says free monitored bike parking will be available at Ottawa City Hall for the races.

The secure bike parking is open Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I push a stroller during the race? Organizers say with the exception of the 2K, baby joggers and strollers are not permitted.

Can I run with my dog? Dogs, with the exception of service animals, are not permitted.

Can I run with headphones? Organizers say while headphones are not recommended, runners can use headphones on the course.

Road Closures

Here is the list of road closures for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

Friday to Sunday

Queen Elizabeth Drive from Laurier to Somerset 8:00 a.m. Friday – 8:00 p.m. Sunday

Saturday

Laurier Avenue between Metcalfe and Nicholas 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Elgin Street northbound between Lisgar and Slater 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Elgin Street between Catherine and Queen Elizabeth Drive 3:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Elgin Street southbound between Wellington and Laurier 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Elgin Street northbound, between Laurier and Wellington 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Elgin Street between Lisgar and Gladstone 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Elgin Street between Lisgar and Catherine 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Frank Street between Elgin and Queen Elizabeth Drive 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Laurier Street between Elgin and Metcalfe 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
O’Connor between Laurier and Wellington 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wellington between Bank and MacKenzie/Colonel By Drive eastbound 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Lakeside 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Lakeview 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Bronson southbound between Lakeside and Colonel By Drive 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (lane reductions)
Colonel By Drive between Daly and Hawthorne 2:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Colonel By Drive between Hawthorne and Bronson 3:00 p.m. – 8:30 pm
Hawthorne between Colonel By Drive and Main 3:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pretoria Bridge 3:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Drive between Somerset and Elgin 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Drive between Elgin and Preston 3:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sunday

Laurier Avenue between Elgin St and Metcalfe Ave 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Laurier Avenue between Nicholas St and Elgin St 5:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Drive between Lawrence Frieman & Laurier Ave 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Drive between Elgin St and Somerset West 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Drive between Preston and Elgin 6:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Elgin St north bound between Lisgar and Wellington St 5:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Elgin St between Somerset and Lisgar 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Somerset West between Elgin and Queen Elizabeth Drive 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Colonel By Drive between Rideau St and Pretoria Bridge 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Pretoria Bridge 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Hawthorne Ave between Colonel By Drive and Main St 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Preston between Carling Ave and Queen Elizabeth Drive 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
NCC Scenic Driveway Between Prince of Wales and Tunis Ave 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Prince of Wales Drive between Queen Elizabeth Drive and Baseline Rd 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Morningside Lane Between Queen Elizabeth Drive and Cow Lane 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Cow Lane between Morningside Lane and Ash Lane 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ash lane between Cow Lane and Winding Lane 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Winding Lane between Ash Lane and Maple Drive 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Maple Drive between Winding Lane and Carling Ave 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Carling Ave between Parkdale and Sherwood 7:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Old Irving Private between Carling Ave and Sherwood Dr. 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Sherwood Drive between Old Irving Private and Fairmont Ave 6:15 a a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Fairmont Avenue between Sherwood Dr and Wellington St. 6:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Gladstone Ave between St. Francis St. and Irving Ave 6:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Wellington St. between Merton St and Garland St 6:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Somerset St West between Garland St and Bayswater/Bayview station 6:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Bayview Station between Somerset St West and Stonehurst Ave 6:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Albert between City Center and Bayview Station 6:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Scott between Garland and Bayview Station 6:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Slidell between Bayview Station and Kitchi Zibi Mikan parkway 6:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Kitchi Zibi Mikan Parkway between Vimy Place and Island Park 6:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Booth St. between Albert St and Wellington St (local access only) 6:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Wellington St between Vimy Place and Rideau St (east bound only) 6:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Wellington Street eastbound between Elgin and Colonel By Drive 6:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Rideau St westbound between Sussex Dr. and Mackenzie Ave 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MacKenzie Ave between Rideau St and St Patrick St 6:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
St Patrick St between Parent Ave and Sussex Dr 6:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sussex Drive between Rideau St and George Étienne Cartier Parkway 6:00 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
George Étienne Cartier Parkway between Princess and Aviation Parkway 6:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Princess Ave between Sussex Drive and Lisgar Road 6:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lisgar Road between Princess Ave and George Etienne Cartier Parkway 6:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Sandridge Rd between Birch Ave and Hillsdale Rd 6:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hillsdale Rd 6:45 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
Cloverdale Rd 6:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Mariposa Ave between Cloverdale Rd and Acacia 6:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Acacia Ave between Mariposa and George Etienne Cartier Parkway 6:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.