Here’s what you need to know ahead of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend 2025

Playing null of undefined

iHeartRadio Weekenders: Dec. 19, 2025

iHeartRadio Weekenders: Sept. 5, 2025

iHeartRadio Weekenders: June 5, 2025

In the Community: Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

Lacing up for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend

World record attempt during Ottawa Race Weekend

Running for a reason this Race Weekend

Runners will take their marks this weekend in Ottawa’s largest racing event of the year.

The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend will bring more than 36,500 participants to six different races, including the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K, Kids Marathon (1.2K) and three multi-event challenges.

Organizers say this year’s half-marathon has already registered 11,000 runners, a 27 per cent increase from last year.

Twenty cheer stations will be available along the marathon and half-marathon course for spectators. About 200,000 spectators are expected to cheer on runners along with 2,500 working volunteers.

Over 80 local and national charities are taking part in the Desjardins Charity Challenge. Participants raised over $1 million for their causes in 2024.

Start/finish line

All races start at Ottawa City Hall at 110 Laurier Avenue West.

The marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K and Kids Marathon end on Queen Elizabeth Driveway close to Laurier Avenue.

Race kit pickup and Running Expo

Runners can pickup their racing kits at a new location this year.

The Running and Fitness Expo will take place at the Carleton University Fieldhouse at 1125 Colonel By Drive starting on Thursday.

Racing kit pickup was held at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Lansdowne last year.

Organizers recommend giving yourself four hours from the time your reach the expo to when you’ll be arriving at the start line if doing same-day pickup.

The event is free to enter and is open to the public.

Hours:

• Thursday, May 22 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, May 23 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 24 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Public transit

OC Transpo service will be starting early to support runners and spectators getting to the start line.

O-Train Line 1 and Line 2 will start at 5 a.m. Sunday. The marathon is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. while the half-marathon is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Trains will operate at their regularly scheduled times on Saturday.

• O-Train service to launch early for Ottawa Race Weekend’s marathon

The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) is asking customers to allow extra time for their travels as there will be “significant” detours in downtown Gatineau and the Hull sector during Sunday’s races between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Parking is limited, organizers say, but private lots and City of Ottawa lots are available.

Bike parking

A free monitored bike parking is available during the races on the Lisgar Street side of Ottawa City Hall.

Hours of operation:

• Saturday, May 24 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Sunday, May 25 6 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Baggage check

Baggage check will open at 2 p.m. for Saturday’s races and 6 a.m. on Sunday before the start of the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon.

Signs will be available directing runners to the free service located on the south side of Ottawa City Hall via Lisgar Street.

Hours:

• Saturday, May 24 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Sunday, May 25 6 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Race Schedule

Saturday

Ottawa Kids Marathon – 2 p.m.

Ottawa 2K – 3 p.m.

Ottawa 5K– 4 p.m.

Ottawa 10K – 6:30 p.m.

The elite women’s 10K begins at 6:15 pm

Sunday

Tartan Ottawa International Marathon – 7:00 a.m.

Ottawa Half Marathon – 9:00 a.m.

Frequently asked questions

Can I push a stroller or use a backpack child carrier during my race?

Baby joggers and strollers are not permitted at races with the exception of the 2K and Run Ottawa Saturday Series on Saturday.

Backpack child carriers are not permitted at any Race Weekend courses.

How can I track athletes?

You can track runners in the Run Ottawa app and find your results on Sportstats.

Can I run with my dog?

Dogs are not permitted except for service animals.

Can I run with headphones?

The use of headphones is permitted on the course but is not recommended.

Race Weekend facts and figures

• Organizers say Ottawa Race Weekend is the biggest multi-day race event in Canada.
• It is estimated that Race Weekend brings in about $14 million to Ottawa’s economy.
• The Drill Hall becomes a satellite site of The Ottawa Hospital, complete with 250 medical volunteers including emergency room doctors, nurses and paramedics. There are also 10 medical stations along the route.
• Over 2,500 people work as volunteers during the whole weekend.
• It’s expected that about 39,000 out of town visitors will travel to Ottawa Race Weekend.
• About 200,000 spectators’ are expected to cheer on runners along the Rideau Canal.
• Drinking cups used during the races are recycled, diverting about 555,000 cups from the landfill.
• In 2023, 75 charities raised $1,125,974.03 for their causes.

Road closures

Saturday, May 24

• Laurier Avenue between Metcalfe and Nicholas 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Elgin Street northbound between Lisgar and Slater 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Elgin Street between Catherine and Queen Elizabeth Driveway 3:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
• Elgin Street southbound between Wellington and Laurier 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Elgin Street northbound, between Laurier and Wellington 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Elgin Street between Lisgar and Gladstone 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Elgin Street between Lisgar and Catherine 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Queen Street between Elgin and Metcalfe 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Frank Street between Elgin and Queen Elizabeth Driveway 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
• O’Connor between Laurier and Wellington 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Wellington between Bank and MacKenzie/Colonel By Drive eastbound 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Lakeside 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Lakeview 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Bronson southbound between Lakeside and Colonel By Drive 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (lane reductions)
• Colonel By Drive between Daly and Hawthorne 2:30 pm – 8 p.m.
• Colonel By Drive between Hawthorne and Bronson 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Hawthorne between Colonel By drive and Main 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Pretoria Bridge 3:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
• Catherine between Elgin and Queen Elizabeth Driveway 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Queen Elizabeth Drive between Somerset and Elgin 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Queen Elizabeth Drive between Elgin Street and Preston 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 25

• Laurier Avenue between Elgin Street and Metcalfe 5 a.m. – 10 a.m.
• Laurier Avenue between Nicholas and Elgin Street 5 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Queen Elizabeth Drive between Lawrence Frieman and Laurier Ave 5 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Queen Elizabeth Drive between Elgin Street and Somerset W. 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Queen Elizabeth Drive between Elgin Street and Preston 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Elgin Street northbound between Lisgar and Wellington 5 a.m. – 10 a.m.
• Colonel By Drive between Rideau Street and Hog’s Back 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Pretoria Bridge 6 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Hawthorne Avenue between Colonel By Drive and Main Street 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Bronson southbound (1 lane only) between Colonel By Drive ramp and Lakeside 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Lakeside (1 lane) from Bronson to Queen Elizabeth Drive 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Kitchi Zibi Mikan Parkway between Vimy Place and Island Park 6 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Parkdale between Kitchi Zibi Mikan Parkway and Burnside 6 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Columbine Between Parkdale and Sir Frederic Banting Dr 6:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Tunney’s Pasture Drive Between Columbine and Yarrow Dr 6:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Golden Road between Columbine and KZM Access 6:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Booth between Albert and Wellington (local access only) 6:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Wellington between Vimy Place and Rideau Street (e/b only) 6 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Wellington eastbound between Elgin Street and Colonel By Drive 6:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.
• Rideau Street westbound between Sussex Drive and Mackenzie Ave 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• MacKenzie Avenue between Rideau Street and St. Patrick St 6:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• St. Patrick Street between Parent Ave and Sussex Drive 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Sussex Drive between Rideau Street and George Étienne Cartier Parkway 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• George Étienne Cartier Parkway between Princess and Birch Ave 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Princess Avenue between Sussex Drive and Lisgar 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Lisgar between Dufferin and George Etienne Cartier Parkway 6:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Acacia between SGEC and Coltrin 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Coltrin between Acacia and Minto Place 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Minto Place between Coltrin and Buena Vista 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Buena Vista between Minto Place and Lisgar 6:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Chaudiere Bridge 6:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Eddy between Chaudiere Bridge and Wellington 6:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Alexandre-Tache between Laurier and Scott 6:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Scott Street between Alexandre-Tache and Graham 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Lac Des Fees Parkway from Scott to des Allumetieres 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• St-Jean Bosco 6:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
• Lois 6:30 am – 11 a.m.
• Montcalm 6:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Wellington from Montcalm to Eddy 11:30 a.m.
• Portage 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Hotel de Ville from Portage to Laurier 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Laurier from des Allumetieres to Courcelette 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Alexandra Bridge 6:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.