NER ON SITE AT: IAAF Double “Canada 150” tulips in Major’s Hill Park. Capital in Bloom Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner course requirements, event coverage et al, For Canada’s there are stringent athlete requirements—the event must have at least five athletes (in mixed 150th Anniversary gender races this can be male and female) from five different countries who have met by Bob Fitzgerald to be as dour as the weather, what with the these time requirements: beloved Ottawa Senators (The Sens!) having Male Marathon Female Marathon On the Friday entering Memorial Day fallen in double overtime just the night before 2:10:30 2:28:00 weekend it pours rain for our entire 8-hour to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Male 10K Female 10K drive from NER World HQ on the South Shore semifinals. We are assured, however, that the 28:00 32:00 of Boston to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa in Sens have overachieved all season, that the the province of Ontario. When we depart on sun will come out tomorrow and that the There are numerous Gold Label races— Monday the drumbeat of precipitation will largest weekend sporting event in the country Boston, NYC, Chicago, to name a few—but once again be our traveling companion for is about to unfold. there are only two double gold events. The another 8-hours. But in between these soggy The marathon originated in 1975 with 146 other is Lisbon with its half marathon and bookends the weather is spectacular, good runners and was thought to be a one-time marathon on the same weekend. news for the 43,148 runners entered to run in event, but the following year it served as the When we last visited Ottawa in 2012 (all the Tamarack Homes Ottawa Race Weekend Canadian Olympic Trials course. The 10K was relatives on my mother’s side reside here, win- slew of events that includes Saturday’s family added in 1986 and it is these two events—the win) Jim Robinson had been the RD for the friendly 2K (3,259); HTG Sports 5K (8,919); marathon and 10K—that have recently past 15 years and two-time Norwegian 10K (10,903); and Sunday’s Scotiabank received IAAF Gold Label status, the 10K in Olympian John Halvorsen (who’d attended Marathon (5,293) and Half Marathon (13,438) 2015 and the marathon in 2016. the U. of Ottawa) was President of Run and conclusion of the Scotiabank Kids Ottawa while Robinson was the General Man- Marathon (1,336). Gold Label criteria: Among a number of ager. Robinson had been at the helm when Arriving on Friday we expected the mood contingences including medical services, ING came on as title sponsor, and in the lean Separated by the Rideau Canal, a section of Parliament to the left across from the Chateau Laurier Hotel. Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner 54 New England Runner, July/August 2017 Gold Label Ottawa Marathon & 10K A member of Syracuse’s 2015 NCAA Championship XC team, NY native Martin Tolland, Connecticut marathoner Trevor LaFontaine crossing the Hehir placed 2nd in the Ottawa 10K. Photo by Bruce Wodder/PhotoRun Interprovincial Bridge into Ottawa. Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner years when the company withdrew from all its aspect of the event, plus he was certainly capa- race sponsorships. ble.” The Ottawa 10K At the time Robinson stated, “Having a A boon to Halvorsen, as he had been to title sponsor is huge in providing funding to Robinson, is elite athlete coordinator Manny & A Walking Tour expand our programs and provide more for Rodrigues, now showing flecks of gray in his our marketing budget, and to look at TV cov- beard but still pulling in world-class athletes. of Ottawa erage and to enhance our overall elite pro- While it wasn’t intentional, Rodrigues notes Following Saturday’s 2K and 5K, the gram.” In the final year before retiring from that many Boston Marathon champions were ‘main event’ goes off at 6:30 pm. The only rise his post, Tamarack Homes (a building compa- drawn to Ottawa’s fast 10K course starting by on the course comes via an overpass by Dow ny) came on as title sponsor and the event City Hall and streaking down bustling Elgin Lake that takes runners from one side of the once again had wind in its sails. St. to head up one side of the Rideau Canal Rideau Canal to the other. In the winter, the At a Friday evening gathering at the Shaw and down the other to finish facing Parlia- Rideau Canal is the world’s largest skating Expo Center overlooking the Rideau Canal ment. rink with 7.8 kilometers maintained. Specta- and Parliament, Robinson is now happy to be “Uta Pippig would be the first, she was tors line both sides of the canal (which runs on the outside looking in, relaxing in the com- our first big name and won back in 2001, through the center of the city) working noise- pany of a retired City Hall official who quips, 2002,” noted Rodrigues, who recruited Boston makers and yelling, “Go, go go!” “I believe I retired early, but part of that was champion Deriba Merga in 2009. Merga The event will be won by Ethiopians Leul because of the way Jim would beat me up responded with a dominant win in 27:24 to Gebresilase in 28:43 and Natsanet Gudeta in every year.” eclipse the 21 year-old Ottawa 10K record of 31:35. Both winners earn $8K with prize mon- Robinson protests with a chuckle, “That’s 28:12 set by…John Halvorsen! Was Manny ey going 8-deep and second on the money list not how I remember it, it was the other way doing too good of a job? “That was many is none other than New York native Martin around,” but is serious when talking about the moons and 40 pounds ago,” laughed Halvors- Hehir, 24, now running for Northern Arizona race moving forward following his departure. en. “It was actually the first race I ever ran on Elite. Hehir, a vital cog in Syracuse’s 2015 “I told the Board that John had to be the guy. the roads.” NCAA XC Championship team, runs 29:05 to We worked hand in hand and he knew every earn $5K. New England Runner, July/August 2017 55 NER ON SITE AT: IAAF Double Gold Label Ottawa Marathon & 10K Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Overbrook. Ottawa has a population of Site, these eight locks front the Ottawa 900,000 but the vast extent of it resides in River and the Alexandra Bridge that ’burbs like these. We’ve walked 7-miles on the marathoners will cross from Quebec into day but will defer from complaining as cousin Ontario. Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner Pam walks 6-miles roundtrip every day to her office in Parliament. We do readily accept a from the almost equally large Chateau post marathon BBQ offer by Michael (yet Laurier Hotel of Victorian Gothic com- another cousin) in the general vicinity (and we position, are a series of eight entrance take a cab!). locks built for military defense in 1832 (and never needed) that now serve as a recreational passageway. For tourist A Connecticut entertainment and preserving tradi- tion, the rising and lowering of the Yankee in locks is worked by hand, a process that Canada’s Capital can take up to two hours. Boat tours run on both sides of the locks, which The following morning a quick jaunt past have been designated a UNESCO Parliament and through Major’s Hill Park World Heritage Site. brings us down to the National Gallery of Crossing behind the Chateau Lau- Canada and a twin steepled church whose rier, we reach Major’s Hill Park. On bells will chime as marathoners pass by. This one side is the Ottawa River and on the is the 27K mark of the marathon and just up other the US embassy, a monolithic from the Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge that cement compound. If you continue to welcomes marathoners back to Ontario from the top of Sussex St. you’ll annex Quebec. Byward Market, a seven-block eclectic It’s sunny and 15C (59F) for the 7:00 am blend of outdoor markets, restaurants, start and will rise to 20C (68F) three hours in, shops and, since we were here last— all under cloudless skies; in other words, fan- three brewpubs in addition to the usu- tastic for spectators and a tad warmish for the al offerings. 26.2-mile crowd. A pack of six Africans pass us “This is our biggest weekend of looking strong. Kenya’s Elius Kiptanui, 27, the year, even bigger than Canada will hold up best to win in 2:10:13. Ethiopia’s Day,” offers one excited barkeep. Guteni Imana, 25, is the top woman in 2:30:18. “Everyone will be here tonight for pas- Kipanui has won his race by 17 seconds and ta and we don’t do reservations so it’s Imana by 35 seconds, each earning $40K. The race also serves as the Athletics Cana- a real free for all.” The free for all lends itself to The event is also hosting the 49th World da National Championship. In Boston this past an economic windfall of over $26-million for Military Marathon Championships and pass- April but withdrawing with Achilles concerns, both Ottawa and the French speaking ing singlets read Italia, Polska, Espana, France, Guelph’s Eric Gillis is tops among men in Gatineau section of Quebec, accessed by Canada and USA.