No Ordinary Race
From the cannon used as a “starter’s pistol” to the “dog tag” medals soldiers place around all participants necks at the finish line, this unique event is “military” from start to finish. More than anything, though, Canada Army Run is about Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces – Air Force, Army, and Navy – joining together in the spirit of camaraderie and community. It’s a chance for the troops to extend the military esprit de corps to Canadians and to thank them for their support. And, it’s an opportunity for Canadians to say thanks to the men and women who serve them in so many ways at home and abroad.
2006
Lieutenant-General Beare gets inspired
THE IDEA FOR CANADA ARMY RUN was sparked at the 2006 U.S. Army Ten-Miler in Washington D.C. when Lieutenant-General Beare (now retired, but then in the third highest ranked position in the Canadian Army) crossed the finish line. He turned to his Director of Army Training, Colonel Dean Milner (now a Major-General) and asked “Why aren’t we doing this in Canada?” The Colonel replied, “Sir, you’re the general. You tell me!”
2006
2008
2008
Surpassing Expectations
MAJOR CHRIS HORECZY is appointed the first Canada Army Run Director and tasked with bringing the idea to fruition. “General’s had the idea,” said LGen Beare, “but delivering the goods? That was Chris Horeczy.”
RUNNING ROOM MAGAZINE runs a cover story on the upcoming first-ever Canada Army Run and becomes a major sponsor and supporter of the event. On September 21, 2008, 7,000 civilians and military personnel participate in the first Canada Army Run, surpassing expectations of 1,000 participants and shattering records for the largest number of entrants for an inaugural Canadian run.
2009
Achieving
the Impossible
CANADA ARMY RUN GROWS BY 50 PERCENT, to 11,000 people, and is recognized as the fastest growing run in the country.
“This kind of growth is unheard of in the running community, and sets the event up for a very exciting future.” — John Halvorsen, President of Run Ottawa
ONTARIO’S RICK BALL 44, who holds single-leg amputee world records for the 10K and half marathon, breaks the world record at Canada Army Run for the half marathon with a time of 1:20:44.9 (the previous record was 1:21:46).
MASTER CORPORAL JODY MITIC who lost both legs in a landmine accident in Afghanistan, captures the interest of Canadians across the country when he successfully completes his first-ever half marathon using prosthetic legs.
2009
2010
2010
Walk, Run, or Roll
MORE THAN 14,000 Canadians and military personnel walked, ran, or rolled in the third annual Canada Army Run. The theme for 2010 was ‘Many Stories, One Inspiring Run’.
Rick Ball, a single-leg amputee who in 2009 earned a half marathon world record at Canada Army Run, taught a two-day advanced skills training clinic held for ill and injured military personnel. The clinic was facilitated by Soldier On in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Athletics Canada, and the Canadian Forces Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program.
2011
PARALYMPIAN PARTICIPATION
FIVE-TIME PARALYMPIAN medal recipient Jason Dunkerley – one of the world’s most prominent visually impaired middle-distance runners – runs his first Canada Army Run in 2011. He has run several times since. In 2012, he was a guest speaker at the Pasta Dinner.
2011
2012
2012
New Logo
New Challenges
CANADA ARMY RUN CELEBRATED ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY with a special change to the logo.
New finisher medals were launched, featuring the same design of the Canadian Armed Forces dog tag. New categories were added to the Ill, Injured & Disabled categories, honouring the visually impaired and handcyclists.
The Cheering Challenge was launched, with six non-profits, schools, cadet corps and charities competed for top prizes.
2013
THE 1ST PATRONS
OF ARMY RUN
THEIR EXCELLENCIES the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston become the first patrons of Canada Army Run.
2013
2014
2014
GROWING & CHANGING
FOR THE BETTER
BMO BECOMES A PRESENTING SPONSOR of Canada Army Run.
THE GROUNDS OF RIDEAU HALL – the official residence and workplace of the Governor General – become part of the half marathon course.
HONORARY COLONEL RICK HANSEN – one of the world’s most decorated Paralympic athletes and accessibility advocates – participates in his first-ever Canada Army Run (in the 5K) and is the guest-speaker at the sold-out Pasta Dinner.
2015
Award-Winning
Event
CANADA ARMY RUN WINS THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD at the Ottawa Tourism Awards Ceremony, and is recognized for its role in bringing together the local, national, and military communities in support of Canada’s men and women in uniform.
2015
2016
2016
THE COMMANDER'S CHALLENGE
& IF I CAN
THE COMMANDER’S CHALLENGE event is added to the Canada Army Run weekend line up. The Challenge is an event within Canada Army Run where participants run, walk or roll officially in BOTH the 5K and half marathon events. Limited to 2000 entrants in its first year, the inaugural Commander’s Challenge sold out fast. The Challenge returns for 2018 with 2500 spots available.
Born missing both arms and both legs, Chris Koch, founder of the organization If I Can, completed the 26.1 kilometres of the inaugural Canada Army Run Commander’s Challenge on a longboard. Koch was also a special guest speaker at the annual pre-race Pasta Dinner.
2017
ARMY RUN'S
10TH ANNIVERSARY
SEPTEMBER 2017 MARKED THE 10TH ANNUAL CANADA ARMY RUN. To celebrate this milestone, a new 10K event was added to the line-up for 2017, in partnership with Canada 150.
The 10K returns for 2018, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada. General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, a long-time supporter, stepped up in an even bigger way in 2017 as our 5K presenting sponsor. Canada Army Run 5K, presented by General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada; the biggest 5K in the country!
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (First World War), Canada Army Run added the Vimy Challenge, in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, to the event line-up in 2017. Participants in the Vimy Challenge ran, walked or rolled officially in BOTH the 5K and the 10K events and received a unique race shirt and, upon completion, a special coin as well as their dog-tag medals. For 2018, the 5K plus 10K Challenge returns as the Ortona Challenge, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Ortona, part of the Second World War Italian Campaign.
2017
2018
2018
THE ORTONA CHALLENGE
BMO BECOMES A PRESENTING SPONSOR of Canada Army Run.
THE GROUNDS OF RIDEAU HALL – the official residence and workplace of the Governor General – become part of the half marathon course.
HONORARY COLONEL RICK HANSEN – one of the world’s most decorated Paralympic athletes and accessibility advocates – participates in his first-ever Canada Army Run (in the 5K) and is the guest-speaker at the sold-out Pasta Dinner.
2019
CANADA ARMY RUN
RACE WEEKEND
AS A RESULT OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP, Canada Army Run race weekend moved to the Canadian War Museum, allowing runners and visitors to have a fuller experience of Canada Army Run’s military origins.
2019
2020
2020
ARMY RUN
GOES VIRTUAL
CANADA ARMY RUN LAUNCHED A VIRTUAL EVENT that went nationwide offering exclusive apparel items, themed coin, and access to the exclusive Virtual Race Kit.
2021
OVER 10,000
RACE VIRTUALLY
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, CANADA ARMY RUN IS VIRTUAL ONLY. The virtual races attract 10,000 participants from across Canada, the U.S. and many countries overseas, who log more than 83,000 kilometres.
2021
2022
2022
INTRODUCING
A HYBRID EVENT
CANADA ARMY RUN MAKES ITS RETURN TO IN-PERSON RACING while continuing to offer virtual races. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the in-person event is postponed to November 6, and thousands of people run, walk and roll a 5K, a 10K or the 5K + 10K Challenge – which this year honours the Canadian Rangers’ 75th Anniversary – through downtown Ottawa on a surprisingly hot and sunny day. A new Finish Line is introduced beside the National War Memorial.
2023
IN-PERSON
HALF MARATHON RETURNS
CANADA ARMY RUN CONTINUES WITH ITS HYBRID FORMAT AND COMES BACK TO FULL-FORCE IN-PERSON RACING, bringing back its popular Half Marathon and 5K + 21.1K Commander’s Challenge. For the first time, dog tag finish medals are offered for virtual participants, and the virtual Commander’s Challenge is expanded to include the 5K, 10K and 21.1K races.