Army Run

Here is your chance to run, walk or roll through the scenic streets of Ottawa while saying thank you to the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who serve us in so many ways at home and abroad! Come together with thousands of other participants to show your support for our military community and challenge yourself by completing a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or one of our unique multi-distance challenges. All races start near Ottawa City Hall and finish beside the National War Memorial, where uniformed CAF members will be waiting to congratulate you.

We can’t wait to see you on race day!

September 21, 2025

5K presented by General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada

10K presented by the Personal Insurance Company

Half Marathon presented by BMO

5K + 10K Sergeant Major’s Challenge

 

5K + 21.1K Commander’s Challenge

 
  • 5K Soldier On Wave – For military or civilian participants with visible or non-visible conditions or injuries:
    7:45 a.m.
  • 5K, Presented by General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada:
    8:00 a.m.
  • 10K Soldier On  Wave – For military or civilian participants with visible or non-visible conditions or injuries:
    8:40 a.m.
  • 10K, Presented by The Personal Insurance Company:
    8:45 a.m.
  • Half Marathon Soldier On Wave – For military or civilian participants with visible or non-visible conditions or injuries:
    9:25 a.m.
  • Half Marathon, Presented by BMO:
    9:30 a.m.

You can pick up your race kit in Cartier Square Drill Hall during the following times:

Friday, September 19 – 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 20 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

At race kit pick-up, you will receive:

  • Your race bib and merchandise
  • The Army Run race bag. This is the ONLY bag that will be accepted at bag check.

To pick up your race kit, you need:

  • Your bib number
  • Photo ID
  • If picking up for someone else, you MUST have their confirmation email (print or phone).

THERE IS NO RACE DAY PICK-UP. Please arrive on Friday or Saturday, or designate someone to pick up your kit for you.

Your race number has a corral colour based on the anticipated finish time you indicated when registering. Please ensure you stay in your corral to ensure you start with people of similar pace, and do not impede the progress of others on-course.

No Ordinary Race, No Ordinary Pacers.

Have a race goal in mind? Canada Army Run pacers are here to help. They are experienced runners running an even pace towards their pace times.

For the Half Marathon, pacers will be planning to finish 30 seconds under their goal times to help more runners hit their mark (for example, a 2:00 pacer will target 1:59.30).

Pace times will range from 20 minutes to 35 minutes in the 5K, 40 minutes to 80 minutes in the 10K and 1:30 to 3:15 in the Half Marathon.

Wearing a pacer hat and shirt and carrying a pace sign, they will be easy to find and will be lined up in the starting corrals 20 minutes before the race start. If you have any questions, please contact the Pace Leader at ottawapacebunnies@gmail.com.

Water & Aid Stations

Placed approximately every 2-3 kilometres, aid stations feature:

  • Water
  • XACT ELECTROLYTES
  • Portable toilets
  • One station along Half Marathon route with XACT Energy Fruit bars

These stations are put on by incredible volunteers, sponsors, organizations and clubs, so show them your appreciation and thank them as you pass by!

To learn more about xact nutrition, visit here.

Upon completion of your race, you will receive:

  • Water
  • Bananas

CARTIER SQUARE DRILL HALL – RACE KIT PICK-UP AREA

It is a FREE service provided to all participants and is open on Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

NOTE:  We will ONLY accept the official race bag at baggage check. You will receive this bag with your race kit. Please do not bring additional bags or items that will not fit within the official race bag.

You can help ensure a safe and enjoyable Canada Army Run Weekend by minimizing the baggage you bring with you, never leaving your bags unattended, allowing extra time at the baggage check and being prepared to show the contents of your bag if asked. 

Walkers and strollers ARE welcome in all events. For your safety and the safety of others, however, please start in the last corral and be careful of other participants. 

Pets ARE NOT allowed in any event, with the exception of service animals. To ensure your service animals safety, we recommend that you start near the back of the corral to ensure minimum passing around your service animal.

The BMO Kids Zone is fun and free for the whole family!

BABY CARE STATION

We will have a Baby Care Station located under a tent inside the BMO Kids Zone. There will be a table for changing diapers, garbage cans for disposal and separate seating for nursing. Please note, no products or supplies will be provided; you must be self-sufficient.

Hours of Operation are:

Saturday, September 20 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 21 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

 

Here you can look, shop, get your official Army Run merchandise, and visit our partners.

Hours of operation are:

Friday, September 19 – 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 20 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 21 – CLOSED

Be sure to stop by and see our friends at Support Our Troops and Soldier On to purchase shirts and hats from previous editions of Canada Army Run by donation! They will be selling merchandise and accepting donations all expo weekend inside Cartier Square Drill Hall! Special this year, there will be vintage Invictus Team Canada gear available alongside the previous run shirts on Sunday, September 22 inside Cartier Square Drill Hall.

If you choose to cycle to the event, our friends from the Nakkertok will be providing free bike valet services.

You can find more information about Nakkertok here: