With record participation for the 13^th year in a row, the Ottawa Race Weekend was a great success again this year. From a competitive perspective, the weekend was also one for the record books as a new course record in the women’s field of the ING Ottawa Marathon was reached by Morroco’s Asmae Leghazoui, while the Canadian Marathon Championships crowned two new champions with Giitah Macharia and Tara Quinn Smith. 2007 marathon champion David Cheruiyot completed a running hat trick with his third ING Ottawa Marathon title in four years. In the MDS Nordion 10K, Julius Kiptoo of Kenya kicked it at the finish to beat Emebet Bacha of Ethiopia by 0.15 second in the most exciting finish ever recorded at the MDS Nordion 10K . Read more.

Ottawa Marathon on par with the great ones!

The ING Ottawa Marathon had a record of 20 marathoners finishing the race under a time of 2:20 this year. In 2008 season so far, only Boston had less than 14 finishers under 2:20, while London had 21. In 2007, Berlin had 24 while New York had 13 and Chicago 7.

Monsignor Paul Baxter Elementary School Wins Nortel Kids Marathon Challenge

With over 1,200 participants, SpartaCat and a six-foot tall bunny, the inaugural Nortel Kids Marathon was declared an overwhelming success. Monsignor Paul Baxter Elementary School – with over 90 participants – won the school challenge for most participation. They will be the recipient of a Nortel LearnIT package including a multimedia camera bag with five digital cameras and tripods as well as a customized multimedia Nortel LearnIT training opportunity for the school. Second and third place winners - A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School & St. Anne Elementary School – will take home a gift certificate to Tommy +Lefebvre. Read more about the Nortel Kids Marathon.

Crichton Community Lands Community Spirit Award for the Second Year in a Row

They had coffee. They had their own queen. Residents of New Edinburgh rose up to the challenge again this year to cheer on the runners of the ING Ottawa Marathon and won the Race Weekend’s Community Spirit Award for the second year in a row, including a $2,500 bursary to be invested in community projects. Runner-up goes to Velo-Services INC. of Gatineau which will receive a $1,500 bursary.

Get Your Finish on Photo or on Film

Get your photo finish pictures of your race including frame for this year’s Race Weekend thanks to Action Sports International (ASI). You can check out your photos by at clicking on:

ING Marathon/Half:http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=31317

MDS Nordion 5K/10K: http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=31318

Nortel Kids Marathon: http://www.asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=37985

To get a DVD of you crossing the Finish Line at the 2008 Ottawa Marathon or Half Marathon! Click on http://www.goactionvideo.com/core.asp?main=splash&id=143

In the meantime, don’t forget to check our photo gallery for this year’s Race Weekend.

Fundraising update

Every year, thousands of people in the Ottawa/Gatineau community run for a reason by raising pledges for The Ottawa Hospital during Ottawa Race Weekend. This year being no different, Ottawa Hospital’s Run for a Reason Race Weekend Challenge raised half a million dollars for the Ottawa Hospital. Read more.

Mark your calendar

The 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend is May 24^th and May 25^th. Registration begins today.