A few weeks back I was surprised to find out that a couple of runs in Somersault’s extensive race series had been cancelled.  One was their Day Before Mother’s Day Race, which had distances of 1k, 3k, 5k, 10k and half marathon.  I had planned on doing either the half or the 10 so was a little disappointed that the event would not be held.

I was happy to learn, however, that Somersault has now added a women’s half marathon to their very popular “Emilie’s Run 5k” in June.  The race is memory of Emilie Mondor, who was killed in a car accident in 2006.  Emilie was the first Canadian woman to run sub 15:00 for 5K and was also an Athens’ Olympian.  In past years this event had only the women’s 5k race and a kids’ 1k event.  I think it is a great idea to add the half marathon, a distance that the organizers note is the fastest growing distance of choice for female runners.  As far as I know this is the only “women only” half marathon in Ottawa.  I just might have to pencil  June 21 into my race calendar!

photo credit: Wikimedia