Making Mondor proud

Some 325 women took part in the Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K for Women in Ottawa on June 21. With 19 finishers clocking under 19 minutes, the run is quickly becoming one of the fastest women’s-only races in North America. Race founder Ken Parker says the race offers women a chance to run a quick race – whatever their pace – and to celebrate women’s running and remember the legacy of Emilie Mondor. 

Parker, who was Mondor’s coach when she was killed in a car accident in 2006, says the late distance running star was a big supporter of women’s fitness and running, and would be happy to see the race’s growth and success. Mondor originally planned to run the first edition of the race in 2006, but because she was battling a rare bone disorder at the time, Parker advised her not to race. After Mondor’s death at age 25, Parker says it was an easy decision to rename the run in her honour.   

“I think of her every day when I run or cycle on the route where she would do her long runs from my house along the Ottawa River and Parkway,” says Parker, “very close to the course for Emilie’s Run.”

Parker says he wants to see the race continue to grow – both at the competitive level and at the recreational fitness level – “to the point where we would have to run the race in waves to allow everyone to run as fast they are able to without experiencing the overcrowded conditions many shorter races now have. I would like to see 100 women sub-20:00 before I retire.”

This year, Toronto’s Nicole Stevenson took first place in 16:56, six seconds ahead of masters runner Paula Wiltse of Kingston, Ont. 

-MK