Runners hit the streets for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Hundreds of young runners hit the pavement for a 2-kilometre run on Saturday, kicking off the 2023 edition of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
"I like running; it gives me more energy," said 9-year-old Lydia Abraham.
Her sister Abigail is also a fan of the sport, especially when it’s next to their mother, Tigest Tilahun.
"Every Sunday, we do the Grasshopper Club from April to January. We do a family run every Sunday," Tilahun said.
A family fun run may be a weekly routine for the family who live in Orleans. But this weekend they turned it up a notch, running along the iconic streets of downtown Ottawa.
"It’s a great opportunity to run. It’s available in our city, it’s a great day. That’s why we’re running,” said Abraham Melesse.
Ottawa Race Weekend draws nearly 30,000 runners, taking them through the streets of Ottawa and Gatineau.
"It’s a nice race! The organization and the place where we pass is really nice. We run beside the Rideau Canal and the river,” said Alejandro Sandoval, who is visiting from Montreal. He has run the full marathon three times in previous years, and this year he’s running the half-marathon.
Saturday’s runs included the Kids Marathon, the 5k and 10k races. All eyes were also on 96-year-old Rejeanne Fairhead. She set a new world record for the fastest 5k time in the women’s 95+ category, with a time of 51:09.
The annual event is also a massive fundraiser for charities. This year, Ottawa Race Weekend's fundraising campaign is expected to surpass $1.5 million.
10K WINNERS
Moh Ahmed of St. Catharines, Ont. and Natasha Wodak, of North Vancouver, B.C. took the top spots in the men's and women's 10K races, resepctively.
Moh Ahmed, left, and Natasha Wodak, right, pose after winning the Canadian 10K Championships at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. May 27, 2023. (Photo credit: Victah Sailer)
Ahmed finished with a time of 28:21. He was neck-and-neck with Black Creek, B.C.'s Cam Levins, but managed to pull ahead for the final stretch. Levins finished second with a time of 28:39. Jeremy Coughler, of London, Ont., took third place at 29:31.
Wodak finished with a time of 32:51. Her first place finish marks her third Canadian Championship victory in a row. Leslie Sexton, also of Vancouver, finished second with a time of 33:13. Montreal's Caroline Pomerleau clocked in at 33:16 for third place.
The heat posed a challenge for many runners, organizers said. When the 10K race began, it was already 28 C in Ottawa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.