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
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.