An evening 10K beside the Rideau Canal, out towards Dow's Lake and back towards the city finish. The turnaround changes the view, but it should not trigger a sudden change in effort.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
The course, section by section
Open a section for the terrain and a practical pacing cue.
City Hall and Elgin openingCity Hall, Elgin, Museum of Nature context.
City roads before canal running.
How to approach it Warm up appropriately, then avoid making the first straight an all-out effort. An evening race with fast runners around you can make a too-quick first kilometre feel normal; choose the effort you can repeat after the start excitement fades.
Canal-side outward sectionQueen Elizabeth Drive, Rideau Canal, Glebe.
Relatively flat canal-side road.
How to approach it Use the longer section to establish a steady strong rhythm. Keep your shoulders relaxed and avoid constant small surges around groups. If the pace feels easier than expected, hold it long enough to be confident before deciding you have spare capacity.
Dow’s Lake turnDow’s Lake.
Road turn and transition into the return.
How to approach it Look ahead through the turn and leave space around other runners. Rebuild the effort smoothly instead of sprinting out of the bend. Use the change of direction to check breathing and decide how much pressure you can sustain to the finish.
Colonel By returnColonel By, Rideau Canal.
Longer return road with a different direction of exposure.
How to approach it A changed breeze may alter the split even if effort is steady. Hold your plan without forcing a watch correction, then increase pressure gradually if you are still in control. Keep aware around drink tables and runners whose speed differs from yours.
Central finish approachCentral canal-side finish.
Road approach and controlled exit.
How to approach it Run towards the actual timing line rather than a familiar building or crowd. Maintain a predictable line when overtaking and leave room immediately after the finish before stopping to recover or meet someone.
Official maps & course details
- Course character
- The current description follows the Rideau Canal to Dow’s Lake and returns along the canal.
The following course details are from the edition shown. They help you understand the route while your edition’s final information is being prepared.
- Linked interactive map
- The event page links RacePoint’s interactive map with routes and elevation profiles; the map itself is titled 2026 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.2026
The linked 2026 route is a planning reference. The 2027 course and race-day arrangements may change.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
Start at a manageable effort from the City Hall area.
Use the canal and Dow's Lake as landmarks.
Build the return in stages rather than sprinting as soon as you turn.
A PB or time goal
Keep the opening below your all-out 10K effort.
Use the marked distance to judge your target through the turnaround.
Save your final increase for the last part of the canal return.
If the weather or your pace changes
An evening start changes meal timing but does not guarantee cool conditions. Check the real forecast and how you feel in the warm-up. If it is warmer than training, lower the opening effort; if the canal return is breezy, maintain control rather than forcing an exact split. Rain makes turns and crowded tables worth extra attention. Use familiar kit and check the final hydration layout, especially if you expect to be on the course longer than a faster 10K runner.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
Station positions and products are not yet confirmed in the available information for this edition. Use the organiser’s final runner guide before deciding what you can collect on the course.
Toilet locations: a confirmed location list is not available here. Check the official course or runner map before race day; a drinks table does not automatically mean there is a toilet beside it.
Know your stops
Find the start-area toilets before joining your wave. If you use an on-course station, look ahead, move predictably and leave room for other runners before slowing. Check whether the drink is in cups or bottles so it feels familiar.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
The start
Start
18:00 ET at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West.
Start categories
Handcycles 17:40; elite women 17:45; elite men and other participant waves 18:00 ET.
Kit rules & accessibility
- Strollers
- Strollers are prohibited on the 10K course.
- Handcycle entry
- Handcycle athletes can request a direct registration link from danielle.avery@runottawa.ca.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
A canal-side viewing base can be simpler than chasing the entire out-and-back. Check the pedestrian crossings and which bank carries your runner before choosing a meeting point near the finish.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
Central Rideau Canal course section
Choose a public viewing spot on the map for your distance; the 5K, 10K, half and marathon have different routes and start times.
City Hall surroundings
A useful festival and reunion base. Meet outside the controlled finish/recovery area and keep crossing points clear.
2026
Official spectator or route informationMake the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
Getting there and getting home
- Rail and bike options
- The published 2026 organiser travel guide identifies uOttawa, Rideau and Parliament stations near the downtown race site, plus bike parking at City Hall. Check 2027 operating hours and road closures before relying on an early train.2026 reference
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
See the organiser for the latest entry options and availability.
Check official entry options- Entry prices
- $90.00 plus HST. Current price bands are advertised to end 26 October at 23:59.
- Event capacity
- 8,000 total places.
- Shirt
- The race shirt is an optional paid add-on.
- Personalised bib
- Register before 1 May for your first name on the bib.
Stay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Practise an out-and-back with a controlled first half and progressive finish.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Explore the fuel plannerMake faster running more purposeful
Explore the balance of easy running, quality sessions and recovery.
Read the guideKnow what each session is for
Make sense of easy runs, tempo running, intervals and long runs.
Read the guideA plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.