The 2022 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is only a couple of months away, and runners across the country have already begun their preparations. After pandemic restrictions, convoys and protests disrupted everyday life in Ottawa for weeks and months, there are more reasons than ever before to make the trip to run the streets of our nation’s capital.
Support local businesses
Local businesses and attractions in the city’s downtown core have been hit particularly hard over the last several months. Just as pandemic restrictions were lifted to allow them to resume operations, protests took over the area and forced them to close their doors yet again. When you participate in the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, you can support these businesses by staying at hotels in the area, eating at local restaurants and visiting the local attractions as a part of your pre- and post-race celebrations.
Support the community
Tamarack Ottawa Race weekend has several charity partners, many of which support the downtown core’s most vulnerable people. More than $1 million was raised last year, and participants in the 2022 event can choose to donate to one or more of the event’s charity partners, or set up their own fundraising page to collect donations from family and friends.
Similar to the area’s businesses, many of the local charities struggled through the pandemic and recent events, and need support to get back on their feet. Check out Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s charity partners here.
Get lost in the natural beauty of Canada’s capital city
Ottawa in the spring is a runner’s delight. Take a leisurely run along one of the many hiking trails just outside the downtown core, enjoy a jaunt along the Ottawa River, and of course, no trip to the capital would be complete without a jog along the Rideau Canal.
For those who really want to experience the natural beauty of the area, Quebec’s Gatineau Park is only a 20-minute drive across the river from downtown Ottawa. There are plenty of trails to explore in the area, including the Sugarbush Trail–an easy, short walk through the forest and a great way to gently stretch out your tired legs the day after your race.
Take a tour of the city
Now that the downtown area has opened back up, it’s the perfect time to take yourself on a sightseeing run around the city and visit the historic landmarks that are unique to the capital. Plan a route to hit all the major sites, including the Parliament Buildings, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Famous Five monument, Rideau Hall, Dow’s Lake and many more.
Celebrate togetherness
No matter where you live in Canada, the past two years have been tough. The theme for this year’s Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is “Together we achieve,” and what better place to celebrate returning to in-person races than our nation’s capital? Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is an opportunity for runners to gather with like-minded people from all over the world and enjoy the sport we all love.
Register today at runottawa.ca.
