OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND PREPARES FOR A 13TH CONSECUTIVE RECORD YEAR! Already, 29,450 are registered; Half Marathon, Kids Marathon sold out

OTTAWA – The 34th edition of the Ottawa Race Weekend was launched today – confirming that it is en route for a 13th consecutive record year and will welcome the largest running crowd ever seen in the nation’s capital. As of 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 19 and with 5 days left to register, there are already 29,450 confirmed participants.

Registration closes on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and, based on last year, the number could reach 31,500. Already, the ING Ottawa Half Marathon and the Nortel Kids Marathon are sold out and more events are expected to reach capacity before the week’s end. Thirteen years ago, the weekend welcomed 3,500 participants.

“Our objective has always been to put forward a great event. Our staff and volunteers are passionate about this event and the response has been tremendous. We couldn’t be more thrilled,” says Susan Longbottom, president of the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Race Weekend. “Now, if we can break at least one course record, it’ll be an ideal weekend!”

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN HALVORSEN’S MDS NORDION 10K RECORD

2008 will mark the 20th anniversary of the blistering record set by now Race Director John Halvorsen in the MDS Nordion 10K. With a time of 28:12, the record has stood the test of many runners in the past 20 years. Over 150 elite athletes from almost 50 countries are expected over the weekend, including reigning marathon champions Lioudmilla Kortchaguina and David Cheruiyot.

FREE CONCERT, NEW LOCATION FOR PFIZER HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO, AND OTHER NEW FEATURES

David Wilcox in concert: This year, the MDS Nordion Race Day will be capped off with a free outdoor concert featuring David Wilcox. Presented in collaboration with Celebrate Ontario!, the concert is meant to give out of town and local participants an opportunity to celebrate their personal best.
New location for Expo: The Pfizer Health and Fitness Expo, running from May 22 to 24, will again be the intro to the Race Weekend for race participants. The site of race kit pick up and last minute registration, the Expo will be held at the Aberdeen Pavillion at Lansdowne Park. With over 100 exhibitors, the Expo welcomes between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors each year.
New SMS for race participants, friends and family: In partnership with Sportstats and BazuMedia, the Ottawa Race Weekend will be offering a new race day messaging service, allowing athletes, families and friends to receive cell phone text messages during the race as their favourite athlete passes by various race checkpoints.

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 2007 Ottawa Race Weekend welcomed over 29,600 participants in six races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon and the MDS Nordion 10K. It is run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
 
Anick Losier
Ottawa Race Weekend