This was a race that I freely admit that I did for the medal. I just had to have this one!

Expo: The venue was quite nice and easy to access (Ottawa Convention Centre) in downtown Ottawa. The bib and T-shirt pick up was quite organized, with big signs everywhere to direct you to the right line and section. The kiosks were plentiful and varied, but the highlight of the pre-race day was the free guided bus tour of the marathon route. That being said, it was also a sobering ride and it hit me as to HOW FAR I was planning on running!

Race Day: Race day was glorious – perfect weather for a run. The coral method was quite organized, and before I knew it, I was off! The course itself was scenic – the canal and Parliament Buildings were only a couple of highlights along the route. The water stations were plentiful, and the crowds and volunteering were such an inspiration. It's clear Ottawa is a city of runners (and their supporters).

Post Run: I admit I was hurting by the end of the race, so it is still hard to remember the exact details. I remember being disappointed with the post race food – bland bagels, yogurt and bananas. But it’s the medal that is the highlight.

Overall: A great experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for the big marathon experience.

Caveat: I am writing this review 5 months after the fact, so this review is a little more vague than my others.

This race was overall a good "training run" in preparation for a marathon I was to run a few weeks later. I signed up a few days before online registration closed. I picked up my bib and T-shirt the morning of the race (an option I really appreciated).

Race day weather was ideal. we started in North York near Mel Lastman Square (the city hall opened their doors to the runners as a staging area and to stay warm, which again was well appreciated!), and the route saw the runners all the way down along Yonge Street. And I mean down - there was a downward decline which made for a great PB for me. However, the route is not as scenic as many other races through a city of cultural landmarks - nothing struck me as memorable about this course except how fast I was going :).

This particular race boasts a huge medal almost the size of a dinner plate - for the marathoners. As a half-marathoner, I received a much smaller affair, though nice all the same. The food was plentiful, and overall a good race day!