Half-marathon runs smoothly
The Canada Army Run went off without a hitch Sunday as thousands pounded the pavement in downtown Ottawa under the security of city police and RCMP.
As half-marathoners raised their arms in celebration while crossing the finish line, Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Kevin Kennedy, who with other officers was monitoring the event at the police command post, said everything was normal on the security front.
Ottawa police and city officials had been assessing how they could continue providing a safe race event when resources were needed across the region for storm recovery.
There were no reported incidents on the race route or around Ottawa City Hall.
“It’s been a good event,” Kennedy said.
It might have been a bit surreal for city emergency management staff working this weekend. Runners and their families enjoyed army run festivities in and around city hall while the storm response nerve centre on the first floor of the building was filled with staff quarterbacking recovery operations.
More than 20,000 people registered for the run events, which included five- and 10-kilometre races plus the half-marathon.
Maj. Dave Tischhauser, in his first year as race director, was impressed by the support from the city during a difficult weekend.
“I have to hand it to the City of Ottawa and the mayor. They managed the situation,” Tischhauser said as the races wound up. “They were able to make sure we had enough resources to go around. They wanted to make sure everything was covered.”
Race organizers took seriously the impact of a major event on the city’s emergency operations resources, he said.
“When an event of that magnitude happens, you have to ask what we can do to help.
“It is definitely not an ordinary race, and there aren’t ordinary stories out there,” Tischhauser said.