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Ottawa Marathon

May 30, 2027 · 7:00 AMOttawa, Ontario, Canada

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Race snapshot

Race Day

59°F

54–73°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

492ft

Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +164 ft

Participants

3,500

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

6/ 10

Good crowd energy

The Lowdown

The Ottawa Marathon is the headline event of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, held annually on the last weekend of May in Canada's capital. One of the most celebrated road marathons in Canada, it draws thousands of runners through iconic Ottawa landmarks including Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and the historic ByWard Market. The flat, fast, AIMS-certified course is a popular Boston-qualifier. The full weekend includes a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids' races, creating a festival atmosphere across the city.

The course threads together some of Ottawa's most iconic sights — rolling along the Rideau Canal, passing Parliament Hill and the historic ByWard Market, and running beside the Rideau River with views toward the Gatineau Hills. Runners experience a net-flat to gently rolling profile with long, runnable stretches ideal for fast times and Boston-qualifying attempts. Aid stations are frequent and well-staffed, and the finish area features music, local food vendors, and medal ceremonies.

Organized by Run Ottawa, the event meets high standards for competition and certification: the marathon course is measured to national standards and is AIMS-certified and Boston-qualifier eligible, making it attractive to athletes chasing time goals.

Course Highlights: 01Parliament Hill – Iconic Canadian Parliament buildings overlooking the Ottawa River and a focal point on the course
02Rideau Canal – Scenic, tree-lined canal pathway that runners follow for several flat, fast kilometers
03ByWard Market – Historic market district with lively streets and spectators cheering runners on
04Major's Hill Park – Elevated greenspace offering views of Parliament Hill and the downtown skyline
05Dow's Lake – Popular waterfront section with views of the lake and surrounding parkland
06Alexandra Bridge / Mackenzie King Bridge vicinity – Crossings offering panoramic views of both Ottawa and Gatineau
07Lansdowne Park – Redeveloped sports and cultural precinct near the finish area
Also on this race weekend: Half marathon · 10K · 5K
Time Limit: 06:00
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Minimum Age: 18 years
Entry Methods: online
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old on race day
All entrants must complete and sign the official race waiver/registration agreement
Race organizers reserve the right to remove participants who cannot maintain required pace or who exceed the course cut-off time (6 hours)
Required Documents: Government-issued Photo ID (driver's license or passport)
Signed Race Waiver/Release
Cancellation & Refund Policy: No refunds permitted

01: The course is AIMS-certified and Boston-qualifying, taking runners on a predominantly flat and fast route through downtown Ottawa with long stretches along the Rideau Canal and scenic riverfront views.
02: Finishers receive a custom finisher medal and a technical race shirt, with post-race food, hydration, medical tents, and a beer garden.
03: Race weekend includes a runner expo with packet pickup and multiple distances (marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids runs).
04: Aid stations with water, electrolyte drink, and gels are located approximately every 2–3 kilometres.
05: Organized by Run Ottawa (runottawa.ca). Part of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer492ft gain, 59°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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