Event Day Info
On September 24, 2023, you can lace up your shoes to run or walk a distance of your choosing! Options include a 5K and 10K all-terrain timed run or the fully accessible 2K Family Fun Run.
All of the closed courses make their way through beautiful Wesley Clover Parks – an innovative, four-season outdoor recreation and learning hub located in the National Capital Greenbelt that encircles the City of Ottawa.
No matter what distance you choose, you will go twice as far for CHEO thanks to our generous Major Sponsors – Evolugen and M-Roc Ltd. who are MATCHING your fundraising up to $40,000! All funds raised will improve mentalhealth programs and services at CHEO.
Watching the Race
Eager to cheer on your family and friends? We encourage you to do so and there will be lots of activities and entertainment for the whole family in the Marcan Family Fun Zone including inflatables, games, rock climbing wall, mechanical bull and much more!
2K
The 2K course is a fully accessible route and will lead participants along the packed gravel paths on the grounds of Wesley Clover Parks. Participants can walk or run and even bring strollers.
- Event start time: 9:50 a.m.
- This is NOT a timed event.
- One water station will be located on the course.
Corrals and Wave Starts
Wave starts help ensure a safe start to each race by grouping participants of similar speeds into “corrals,” so everyone is not starting at the same time. This moves everyone into the race gradually.
Runners will be sent off in a series of waves starting with the green corral, followed by the orange corral and then the red corral. Each wave will be sent off approximately three minutes apart. As a wave is sent off, the next one will be brought forward to the start line and directed to wait until given the signal to start. This process will continue until all corrals have left.
Participants are asked to choose the coloured corral that best fits their expected finish time.
2K Family Fun Run – Start Times
| Expected Finish Time | Wave # | Corral Colour | Race Start Time |
| Under 15 minutes | 1st Wave | Green | 9:50 am |
| 15 – 25 minutes | 2nd Wave | Orange | 9:53 am |
| 25+ minutes, STROLLERS AND DOGS | 3rd Wave | Red | 9:56 am |
5K
The 5K course will lead participants through the entire grounds of Wesley Clover Parks which includes wooded trails and grass fields. Participants will run or walk along the wooded trails and may encounter a small stream to leap over and a few slight hills and turns.
- Event start time: 9:30 a.m.
- This is a timed event.
- Two water stations will be located on the course.
Corrals and Wave Starts
Wave starts help ensure a safe start to each race by grouping participants of similar speeds into “corrals,” so everyone is not starting at the same time. This moves everyone into the race gradually.
Runners will be sent off in a series of waves starting with the green corral, followed by the orange corral and then the red corral. Each wave will be sent off approximately three minutes apart. As a wave is sent off, the next one will be brought forward to the start line and directed to wait until given the signal to start. This process will continue until all corrals have left.
Participants are asked to choose the coloured corral that best fits their expected finish time.
5K – Start Times
| Expected Finish Time | Wave # | Corral Colour | Race Start Time |
| Under 25 minutes | 1st Wave | Green | 9:30 am |
| 24 – 40 minutes | 2nd Wave | Orange | 9:32 am |
| 40+ minutes | 3rd Wave | Red | 9:35 am |
10K
The 10K course will lead participants through the entire grounds of Wesley Clover Parks which includes wooded trails and grass fields. As runners make their way along the wooded trails, they may encounter a small stream to leap over and a few slight hills and turns. Participants will run the course twice to complete the 10 kilometers.
- Event start time: 8:30 a.m.
- This is a timed event.
- Three water stations will be located on the course.
Corrals and Wave Starts
Wave starts help ensure a safe start to each race by grouping participants of similar speeds into “corrals,” so everyone is not starting at the same time. This moves everyone into the race gradually.
Runners will be sent off in a series of waves starting with the green corral, followed by the orange corral and then the red corral. Each wave will be sent off approximately three minutes apart. As a wave is sent off, the next one will be brought forward to the start line and directed to wait until given the signal to start. This process will continue until all corrals have left.
Participants are asked to choose the coloured corral that best fits their expected finish time.
10K – Start Times
| Expected Finish Time | Wave # | Corral Colour | Race Start Time |
| Under 45 minutes | 1st Wave | Green | 8:30 am |
| 45 – 60 minutes | 2nd Wave | Orange | 8:32 am |
| 60+ minutes | 3rd Wave | Red | 8:35 am |
Schedule
7:00 a.m. – Event grounds open
8:00 a.m. – Marcan Family Fun Zone opens
8:20 a.m. – Opening remarks
8:25 a.m. – Group stretch
8:30 a.m. – Start of 10K Race – this is a timed event
9:15 a.m. – Opening remarks
9:25 a.m. – Group stretch
9:30 a.m. – Start of 5K Race – this is a timed event
9:40 a.m. – Group stretch
9:50 a.m. – Start of 2K Family Fun Run – this is not a timed event / strollers and dogs welcome
10:30 a.m. – DJ
11:00 a.m. – Closing Ceremony (with cheque presentation)
Bag Check
The Bag Check Tent is located just past the entrance to the event site. This is a free service provided to all runners.
Drop off your bag, stroller or other belongings at the Bag Check Tent that you do not want to run/walk with. The Bag Check Tent is supervised at all times.
Keeping it Green
As part of RBC’s longstanding focus on environmental sustainability, RBC is committed to reducing the environmental impacts of all RBC Race for the Kids events.
Here are some of the ways we are keeping it green.
- Water bottle refill stations
- Recycling and compost collection
- Green Team volunteers to maximize recycling efforts
- Minimal food waste by donating any extra food
- Sustainable transportation is encouraged