In a news release today, the people behind Ottawa’s race weekend are talking up their new “more urban” routings, rightly sensing that a course through Ottawa’s visually appealing main street districts is a lot more interesting for contestants and supporters alike than the usual windswept southbound routing through the Experimental Farm.
The real innovation is the main marathon’s sweep west, though Chinatown — and underneath its magnificent Royal Arch — through West Wellington and ultimately through Westboro before returning east via the Ottawa River Parkway.
The three BIAs along the western leg of the race are talking up the new routes, too, with each vying for a piece of the business expected to be generated by the 40,000 registrants of the weekend’s races.
The maps and more information about the new routes can be seen here.
8 comments
A welcome change. Should be a fun run down the hill at Somerset to Preston. The old route out to Hog’s Back and the Heron Road bridge was tough as it is a long deceptive incline. This route should make for faster times. Well done Ottawa Marathon oraganizers!
I sure appreciate it. I am training for the race for the first time in a few years, and I definitely won’t miss the forlorn edge of the farm, nor the hideous run up that Heron overpass at about mile 18.
And we get to use the parkway to boot!
Kinda glad I am moving away from the Hintonburg neighbourhood before this happens. I am by no means unsupportive of race weekend, but what was wrong with the old course that did not disrupt so many neighbourhoods? Not everybody runs or wants to see a marathon. This route goes through several streets that are mostly, or very close to, residential streets. I can`t imagine the impact of the marathon race on the residents of those streets. Yes it`s nice the lovely neighbourhoods of Ottawa will be shown off, but really, do the BIAs expect a runner to stop mid-race to go shopping? isn`t the impact to residents more important?And yes, part of my lack of support for this is because if this were a bike race, the mere suggestion of a route like this would cause chaos and slandering of cyclists as road hogging weekend warriors and the city, NCC and neighbourhood agencies would (and has) laughed at us cyclists for race proposals that were barely half this marathon route… but for runners… hey! no problem! How many roads do you want closed? I don`t understand…
The new route looks like a huge improvement.
Though there is not a chance I will ever run the 42 km required to enjoy it, I expect those who do will be big fans.
As an aside, I am always amazed by comments such as that made by RedRider. Closing some streets for a few hours on a Sunday morning is the definition of a minor inconvenience. I cannot understand how is it possible to come to the conclusion that the “impact” on residents should trump the opportunity to showcase Ottawa to the thousands of people who come to town for this race (by the way, it is the spectators, out of town visitors and TV viewers that the BIA’s are interested in, not the runners during the race). If you aren’t willing to accept this kind of event, then you have no business living in a city.
Red Rider, I think Phil has a point. A fun non-polluting event like a foot race, celebrating the best of Ottawa’s urban spaces – how can that be a negative? I predict it will a great weekend on the Wellington main street through H’burg – and when it’s done I think you might be sorry you missed it!
What’s negative? Well…. let’s suppose you live on Western Ave., or Fairmont, or one of the other streets in the Hintonburg – West Wellington area that the marathon route circles. And let’s suppose that you want to go somewhere by car the day of the marathon. How will you get out of the neighbourhood? The main routes out of the area will all be closed or blocked for the race: Island Park, Fairmont, Parkdale, Scott … the next best route out might be to drive on the side streets to Preston, but then Preston will be closed too. Even Holland to Carling looks like it will be closed. Maybe the course marshals will let cars cross… but in my experience organizing, participating and watching running, tri’s and bike events with closed roads, that doesn’t usually happen. Fine you say, take a bus. Well the main bus routes serving the area will be altered too… the #2 on Richmond/Wellington/Somerset and the #16 and #18. So that’s not really a great solution. I am sure the buses and car routes will be available somewhere…after all emergency vehicle access at least needs to be maintained. But still, as a resident, this is an inconvenience. Only a few hours minor inconvenience you say? True. Maybe 3 hours or 4 hours until the last starter gets past this area of the course. Not a big deal, unless you are one of those people that wants to get out of the neighbourhood that day and go somewhere else. Not everybody wants to be part of a running event. And this route seems to me to be a large inconvenience to a large area. The old route, though it also used main roads and caused an impact, did not cause as great an impact to as many people in my opinion.
Which brings me to the next point… I have been a participant, organizer and helper at many events over the years, mostly some type of bike event, but other sports too. A course like this would never get approval in Ottawa for anything but the marathon. I say that, because similar courses were proposed for cycling, and flat out rejected. We used the same arguments… good for the City, promotes the sport, promotes Ottawa and all the neighbourhoods. Good event for people to come watch. No effect. Denied. Why should we close roads for cyclists? That was the general answer from the City, the NCC and the various BIAs and communities that were contacted.And that route was only about 1/4 the length of this marathon route, and did not go through so many residential streets. We tried the “only a minor inconvenience” argument too, and got denied partly because we were seen to be “an inconvenience” period. So how is it that a running event can get a route like this, but other sports can’t? As many people bike as run. And Tri is hugely popular.
I love Ottawa and all the events that happen in this city I support as many as I can. I get that this route will be great froma runners perspective. But there are many things about this marathon route that confuse me when I look at the impact it will have to so many non-runners, and compare it to similar events for other sports that got denied.
That is why my comments are what they are.
REDRIDER, I appreciate your comment though I don’t agree with it. I used to feel the same way until I became a runner but I always made sure I did not NEED to go out for anything on race day. It is, after all, just one day. I know there are other events that close the roads but this is the biggie. You said, “Not everybody wants to be part of a running event” and that is true of course. But not everyone wants to hear Bluesfest a mile away or the noise from Lansdowne etc…But we can’t please everyone. Sometimes we just have to say it is the price of living in the vibrant neighbourhoods that we want to live in. They have no such concerns in Barrhaven or Kanata. Also, regarding closing roads for cycle races. I don’t think there is any cycling event in Ottawa that attracts the numbers of race weekend and the same goes for triathlons. I enjoy watching the triathlons but for the most part, spectators are few and far between. Cheers!
I was wondering when someone from Hintonburg/Westboro was going to complain about runners running by their house. What an inconvenience. Maybe the city can compensate you financially for your loss of quality of life.
Maybe a move to the south end is in order, where you can call the airport control tower every day and ask the planes to throttle back as they’re flying over your house. Geez…