On Your Marks

You’re looking for ideas to keep your wee bundles of energy busy. You need to find time for exercise and fresh air for yourself. You wish you had time to volunteer and give something back to your community. Who has time for all that?

Hit three birds with one stone, and sign the whole crew up for one of Ottawa’s many organized charity runs or walks this spring. May and June are actually bursting with running events designed to raise money for worthy causes. So be an example to your children and inspire them to participate too!

Many run/walk events are starting to promote “mini marathons” for kids as young as eight. Even those that aren’t designed specifically to include children may welcome them to cheer from the sidelines or go along for the ride in strollers or on bicycles.

So just choose your favorite cause, decide what distance you want to shoot for, and get moving—you may not be up for a half-marathon on short notice, but you can certainly start with a 2.5, 5 or 10K race depending on your fitness level and motivation. For training and to get you started, we like MapMyRun to help figure out a running route near you that matches the distance you have in mind.

Are you motivated yet? Here’s a selection of what’s going on around the capital before the heat of summer really strikes.

On May 9, you can “Walk/Run for Wishes” in aid of the eastern Ontario chapter of Make a Wish Canada. Distances range from 1–10K.

The Colonel By Classic 8K on Saturday, May 16 will benefit the Goodlife Kids’ Foundation, and offers you a choice of 1, 3 or 8 kilometres—walk or run.

On May 23–24, the Run Ottawa Race Weekend, benefitting The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, is the city’s premier race event, with something for everybody: a 2K, 5K and 10K race, a half-marathon and full marathon, and even a kids’ marathon. Organizers are expecting about 2,000 kids to enter the kids’ marathon. Jogging strollers are permitted on the 2K and 5K runs, though not on the longer ones.

In June, you can kick off the month on Saturday, June 6 by taking part in the Barrhaven Run for Roger’s House. There are 5 and 10K runs as well as a 2.5K Family Run and a Tot Trot.

The following weekend, Saturday June 13, features the Britannia Beach 5K Fun Run in aid of the Ottawa Riverkeeper. Walk or run!

The next day (if you’re not tired yet), head into the city for the Old Ottawa South River Run in aid of the Old Ottawa South Community Centre. The scenic route—choose from 2.5, 5 or 10K—is mostly alongside the Rideau River. It starts and ends in Brewer Park, where your tired crew can take advantage of play structures and a water park. No bicycles or strollers permitted in this one, though.

Depending on where you live, you might prefer to head to the UCDSB Champions for Kids Fun Run in Kemptville that same day, in aid of the Upper Canada District School Board Champions for Kids Foundation. Walk or run an individual or Centipede (team) on a 1K or 5K route.

If CHEO is your charity of choice, consider the Emilie Mondor Memorial Run for women on Saturday, June 20 at the Aviation Museum. It’s a 5K walk or run usually attended by some of Ottawa’s most elite women runners, but there is also a 1K run for children 11and under.

Of course the list goes on, with many more runs planned for July, August and September, and on into fall. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. By the steamy height of midsummer, you might be ready to rest on your laurels—or on your back, on a lounge chair, with a tall glass of ice water (or perhaps something stronger) by your side. You’ll have earned it!

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