Posted: January 28, 2005

Athletics: Only four months until the biggest Race Weekend in Canada

Increased cash prizes attract more international athletes, record number of participants expected

Ottawa, Ontario – Organizers of the 31st Ottawa Race Weekend are encouraging running hopefuls to beat the winter blahs by starting to train for Canada’s premier running festival, vowing that this year will be the biggest and best in the weekend’s history. The weekend event, held on May 28-29, is already showing signs of another record year, as registrations pour in and elite athletes confirm their plans to attend.

“Our race has become an international destination for running enthusiasts. Everywhere we’ve been to promote it, people are telling us that they’ll be coming to the Race. This could very well be another record year for us,” says Susan Longbottom, Race Weekend President. “We are working very hard to present the most competitive and entertaining running weekend in Canada.” In the past few months, Race Weekend organizers have been to marathons in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dublin (Ireland), Disney (Florida) and Dallas (Texas) to attract international runners to Ottawa.

Last year’s Race Weekend saw over 23,000 runners and walkers at the start line of nine races, with the ING Ottawa Marathon attracting 4,300 runners and the MDS Nordion 10K welcoming over 7,000 participants. Also on the schedule are the ING Marathon Walk, ING Ottawa Half Marathon, ING Family 2K, ING Marathon and Half Marathon Inline Skates, ING Wheelchair Half Marathon and the MDS Nordion 5K.

The Race Weekend’s Web site offers training tips for running hopefuls planning to run a marathon or a 10K. Event Race Director John Halvorsen, who was named Road Runner of the Year in 1988 by Runners’ World Magazine and who still holds the course record for the MDS Nordion 10K, is joined by 9-time ING New York City Marathon champion Grete Waitz as the experts on-hand to give advice to runners of all skill levels.

Largest Canadian Cash Prize Purse

The 2005 Ottawa Race Weekend is expected to attract an increased number of elite athletes as it has upped its cash prize purse for the fifth year in a row, raising what has long been the country’s most lucrative cash prize structure. The guaranteed prize purse for one event, the ING Ottawa Marathon, has increased by almost 40 per cent. With additional money for time bonuses, more than $200,000 in prize money could be handed out to the top marathoners. Organizers expect to write cheques for another $50,000 in prizes to winners of the MDS Nordion 10K.

“We have always been dedicated to the athletes, offering a very attractive prize package and rewards for excellent athletic performances,” said Vice President and Elite Athlete Coordinator Manny Rodrigues. “Our prize increase for the 2004 event set a new standard for all Canadian running events and this new increased prize structure not only allows our race to reward our future Canadian Olympic athletes for good finishing times. And of course there’s also the chance to win a 2005 Hyundai Tiburon sports car for a new Canadian soil marathon record.”

Elite athletes from across Canada and around the world are already confirming plans to attend, drawn by the lucrative prize purse and a course designed for fast times.

ING Ottawa Marathon Record Holder To Defend His Title

The ING Ottawa Marathon’s defending champion and course record holder Elly Rono of Kenya has confirmed that he will defend his title in Ottawa this May. Rono will once again face fellow Kenyan Joseph Nderitu, 3-time champion and 4th place finisher last year, as well as Canadian national champion Matt McInnes. Also among the confirmed athletes is Kenyan Danny Kassap, who won the 2004 Toronto Waterfront Marathon and placed second in the 2004 Toronto International Marathon. The ING Ottawa Marathon has been designated the 2005 Canadian Marathon Championships, and past champions such as Sandy Jacobson are expected to attend. The women’s race promises to be heated as 2004 champion Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Russia has already confirmed her attendance.

“Our growing international reputation as well as our increased prize purse will only make Ottawa a more attractive marathon destination for some of the world’s top athletes,” says Rodrigues. “We’re currently talking with many interesting prospects and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another course record broken this year.” In 2004, Rono smashed the 17-year record for the men’s ING Ottawa Marathon with his time of 2:11:47.

About The Ottawa Race Weekend

The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada's premier running festival, combines competition, participation and fundraising to make a distinctive contribution to the health of the community. The Race Weekend has over 23,000 participants in 9 races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon. It is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. This year, the Race Weekend is scheduled for May 27-29.

The race website is at: www.ncm.ca.