Orleans, Ontario

A fun and fitness day for everyone in the family at the Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre in Orleans!  We are pleased to host this 4th annual run at the Shopping Centre and thank the Centre for it's generosity.  We hope you plan to stay after the event and check out the great stores in the mall.

We are pleased with the changes we made last year to the finish line site, which made it safer and more accessible. The out and back Half Marathon and 10Km courses are scenic. measured, and mostly free from motor vehicle traffic, while the 5Km Fun Run provides a great opportunity for the family to get some fresh air together.

The Austin Wylie May Day 1 Km is for kids up to 12 years of age. It is a super event for schools and clubs to raise funds for their activity programs. The run is a safe one, free from motor vehicle traffic as well. Click here to go to the Austin Wylie page for information on how you and your group can benefit from participating.

We are proud to be assisting the Cumberland - Orleans Community Resource Centre, which provides food and other support to needy residents of Ottawa East. Please bring at least 2 non-perishable food items with you.

race director

Christine McKinty christine@somersault.ca

The Champions Challenge program is for those of you who participate in more than one Somersault event, and who might be interested in seeing how you stack up against others in overall, gender and gender age group categories, in the Somersault Run Series.

Each 2008 Somersault Run Series race is part of the Champions Challenge. Check out how you score points in the Champions Challenge at http://www.somersault.ca/championshipstri.htm.

event highlights

• Strollers are allowed in the 5Km
• Personalized participant number bibs
• New Walkers Category
• Medals for all finishers at the finish line
• Safe measured out and back courses
• New - Official performance certificate available online
• Post race refreshments

austin wylie may day run & half marathon program for kids
For information on the Austin Wylie May Day 1Km, please go to Austin Wylie May Day 1Km Run. You can enter the Austin Wylie event from this event page as well as by, using the "Enter Now" button.

*New" Check out the Austin Wylie May Day 1Km Run site as well, for information on an exciting new kids' program for home or school, that allows kids to enter a running program that sees them run a half marathon distance over a 1 month period before May 4th and then complete it with their Austin Wylie May Day 1Km Run.

somersault's commitment to youth - cobras 1996 boys soccer team
Somersault Promotions is dedicated to providing support for children and youth in sport and physical activity. This year we are pleased to be making a contribution to the Cumberland United Cobras 1996 Boys Regional Soccer Team.  This contribution is in return for the Cobras enthusiastic support at the water stations on the courses this year. Thanks Cobras.

If you would like, you can make a donation to the Cobras when you are entering online at http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/somersault_md/.

cumberland-orleans community resource centre
We are all supporting the community resource centre in this event.  To qualify for your souvenir shirt at Race Kit Pick Up, please bring 2 items of non-perishable food items. Most needed items include: cans of beans, peanut butter, boxes of cereal, canned tomatoes, soup, school snacks,cans of stew, canned salmon/chicken/ham, canned pasta, canned fruit, canned vegetables, tomato sauce, dry pasta, boxes of cookies, boxes of crackers, and cake mixes.

online donation and pledge form
You may find it easier to make a donation or solicit pledge supportusing the online event entry form

Cumberland-Orleans Community Resoiurce Centre Online Donations

1. Donations can be made to the COCRC during the online entry process.
2. The donation amount will be added to your entry fee. 
3. The amount in the donation box will be directed to COCRC on your behalf.

Cumberland-Orleans Community Resource Centre Participant Pledge Support

1. You can only solicit online pledges once you have entered the event.
2. Your email entry confirmation will include a URL link to your personal pledge page.
3. Email your friends asking them to make a pledge on your behalf, using that link.
4. State the name of COCRC in your email.
5. Pledge funds will be forwarded to COCRC as they are received.

bytown walkers - club of the event
We are pleased to welcome the Bytown Walkers as our "Club of the Event".The "Club of the Event" provides workers, and officials to the event in return for a donation paid to the club to support its activities.

The Bytown Walkers has operated as a club since 2002. The club’s goals are to provide an affiliation for competitive walkers in the Ottawa area and to hold activities designed to promote fitness and competitive walking.

The Club offers a program of year-round training for both fitness and competitive walking, a program of races for competitive walkers and for specialized Race Walkers competing under track and rules. The Club is also involved in outreach, development and leadership programs, including the Walkabout program of community walking workshops supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Website: www.bytownwalkers.ca. For more information, contact roger@bytownwalkers.ca

events & distances

• The Half Marathon - 21.1Km
• The 10 Km Run or Walk
• The 5Km Fun Run or Walk
• Austin Wylie May Day 1Km Run - Click here for more information

start time

• 21.1, 10, & 5Km - 8:45 a.m.
• Austin Wylie 1Km - 9:50 a.m.

participation categories

early season entry fee discounts
As a courtesy to those of you who enter many Somersault events, who plan well ahead, or who are just thrifty, we have a generous early season entry fee discount program. For more information on the early season discounts, trade discounts, and draw prizes, for which early season entrants are eligible, please go to http://www.somersault.ca/earlydiscounts.htm.

free change of entry if you enter by january 31st
Each early season entry received by January 31, 2008, is eligible for one free change to another event in the same calendar year, if the event change request is made by the Sunday April 27th.

Each entry received after January 31, 2008 and before March 1, 2008 is also eligible to change to another event in the same calendar year - if the event change request is made by the Sunday April 27th, but an administration fee of $15 is required.

Please Note: There are no partial refunds if the event change request is to a less expensive event. There will be an additional charge if the change is to an event with a higher entry fee.

entry fee discounts and deadlines

entry fee schedule after discount deadline

entry fee conditions
There are no refunds for any reason - this includes event cancellation or event changes required by circumstances that are beyond our control, such as weather conditions. Credit cards and cheques are only accepted up to Sunday April 27.

All entries after Sunday April 27th can only be made at Race Kit Pick Up and they must be paid in cash. Souvenir shirts are included with your entry up to Sunday, April 27th only - no exceptions.

accreditation, officiating, safety, and medical surcharge
In addition to the entry fee, a surcharge of $4 per entrant is being levied to cover the costs of retaining race officials, safety, and medical personnel costs, and the club of event program.

entering online is recommended
We encourage you to enter online. That way you receive an immediate confirmation of payment. Avoid the hassle of writing a cheque and mailing or dropping off your form, go to www.somersault.ca and enter.

entry drop off locations

• PECCOS, 86 Murray Street, Ottawa
• Somersault Promotions, 411 Lefebvre Way, Ottawa

race kit pick up & late entry
Race Kit Pick Up on race day is on the second floor of the Shopping Centre which you can get to from the elevator in the underground garage under the Shopping Centre.

It is very hectic on race day morning, so we recommend and urge you arrive early, at the beginning of the pick up timetable to avoid disappointment!

Race Day Pick Up - Saturday, May 3rd
Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre - Community Room
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2nd Floor beside The Bay at the top of elevator from the underground garage  
 

Race Day Pick Up - Sunday, May 4th
Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre - Community Room
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. 
2nd Floor beside The Bay at top of elevator from the underground garage  

important deadlines

awards and prizes

Everyone
All participants receive a completion medal at the finish line of their race.

Race Winners
The first place male and female winner of each race, receives a merchandise prize.

Top 3 Overall
The first three overall finishers in each race - male and female - will be honoured in an award presentation ceremony that will take place in the Awards Area shortly after they finish.

Category Top3 Finishers
All Age, Weight, and Relay Category top 3 finishers, are eligible for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Place Medal 'Add On'. This 'Add On' must be picked up on race day, any time the results are posted, at the Awards Table. The 'Add On' cannot be claimed after race day - sorry.

Award Medal "Add On" Must Be Picked Up on Race Day
The Award Medal "Add On' must be claimed on race day. 'It will be available to you at the Awards Table with 20 minutes of your race finish. Just check the official results to see if you finished in the top 3 in your category, and then claim your 'Add On' at the Awards Table.

official performance certificate
We are pleased to offer each race finisher, the opportunity to download and print an official certificate of their event performance. That's right, by Wednesday after each event you will be able go online to the event web site, punch in your race number and obtain a certificate that highlights your race, finish time and place in the race.

souvenir shirt
If your entry is received by Sunday, April 27 you will receive a free souvenir T-shirt if you attend the event. There are no exceptions to this deadline, so enter early. 

You are eligible for the souvenir shirt only if you attend at Race Kit Pick Up to pick it up. If you do not pick up your race kit, you are not eligible for the souvenir tech t-shirt.  Please do not request a shirt after the event. 

tech shirt option
We invite you to upgrade your souvenir event t-shirt to a high quality Tech T-Shirt for an extra $15. The Tech Shirt comes without the sponsor logos on the back, so it makes a first class casual wear shirt.

You are only eligible for the souvenir Tech T-Shirt

• if you upgrade to the Tech Shirt when entering online, and
• if you pick up your race kit by event day.
  

You are not eligible for the souvenir tech t-shirt after event day.

Men Please Note: When ordering a Tech T-Shirt, men should order a shirt 1 size smaller than you wear in a cotton T-Shirt.

zoomphoto.ca photography
We are pleased to be able to offer a photo program for participants in the Orleans Half Marathon, 10, 5 & 1Km Runs.  Zoomphoto will be offering you classy photos commemorating your participation.  Just go to http://www.somersault.ca/results.htm the day after the event for your photo.

chimo hotel - the official somersault event hotel
The CHIMO Hotel in Ottawa, is the official Somersault Event Hotel for 2007l.  The CHIMO is conveniently located directly off Highway 417, via the St. Laurent Blvd. North exit. The hotel address is 1199 Joseph Cyr Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1J 7T4.

The hotel is a convenient drive from the event site, and close to excellent shopping, restaurants, and National Capital Region attractions. Visit the Chimo Hotel web site(www.chimohotel.com). All rooms come with Free high speed internet access, free local phone calls, a mini-fridge, and coffee maker.

When calling to reserve a room, state that you would like the "Somersault Promotions Preferred Corporate Rate" (plus applicable taxes - 15%).  You can contact the hotel at 1-800-387-9779, or email chimo@chimohotel.com.

carb-BOOM and gatorade aid stations

Carb-BOOM Gel. Gatorade, and Water will be available at all Aid Stations on each of the run courses. The Aid Stations are located every 2.5Km on all run courses.Carb-BOOM Gel is only availabel to the half marathon participants.

post race refreshments
Enjoy fruit, a bagel and a drink after the run.

championchip timing 
We use ChampionChip Timing at all Somersault races. This timing system requires that all participants wear a ChampionChip Bracelet on their ankle (Anklet) during the race. This bracelet contains a computer chip that allows you to be timed.  No chip = no time.

You are responsible for obtaining your ChampionChip Bracelet on race morning from the Sportstats Tent near the Finish Line.  Do this at least 30 minutes before your race - earlier is better!  Races will not be held up waiting for those who forgot their bracelet.

You must return your ChampionChip Bracelet immediately after you cross the finish line.  You are responsible for the cost if it is not returned - and it is expensive.

your results (Age is as of December 31, 2008)
Your personal results will be posted very soon after you finish the race.  Please check the results as soon as you can, to be sure they are accurate.  If  there are discrepancies, go to the Sportstats van near the Finish Line and provide them with the information you think is correct.  Results will only adjusted after race day, if it is our error.  Have the results people make changes before you leave the event site, or live with the results!

Results will be posted at www.somersault.ca within 24 hours of the race.

event schedule - may 4th

directions
Take the Queensway East past Orleans on Regional Road 174 to the Place d'Orleans exit off the Queensway.  Turn right at the traffic lights on and then make the next left into Place d'Orleans.. Take the next left and follow the signs to the parking area underground on the North side of the Shopping Centre. (if it is full, park outside the underground parking entrance and walk in through it.

Participants will go up the elevator from the underground parking lot to the 2nd floor where Race Kit Pick Up is located. Awards will also be presented there after the race.

parking
Parking is in the underground garage on the North West side of the Shopping Centre.  If the underground lot is full, park outside the underground parking entrance and walk in to the elevator which take you to the 2nd floor Race Kit Pick Up area - and washrooms.

race kit pick up & late entry
Race Kit Pick Up on race day is on the second floor of the Shopping Centre which you can get to from the elevator in the underground garage under the Shopping Centre.

It is very hectic on race day morning, so we recommend and urge you arrive early, at the beginning of the pick up timetable to avoid disappointment!

Race Day Pick Up - Saturday, May 3rd
Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre - Community Room
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
2nd Floor beside The Bay at top of elevator from the underground garage  

Race Day Pick Up - Sunday, May 4th
Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre - Community Room
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. 
2nd Floor beside The Bay at top of elevator from the underground garage  

course maps and how to view
Somersault event maps are featured through the Google Maps service.  Participants may easily view course maps using your Explorer or Firefox browsers.

Click here for instructions on how to best view the course maps.

To go to the course maps, click here

Run Courses - Out and Back
All run course are out and back course, so you get to see your friends and family on the way back.

The starts are all directly in front of the North entrance of Place d'Orleans Shopping Centre and head directly North on Champlain St. to the Ottawa River Recreational Pathway. From here all runners head West on the path to their respective turn around points.

The 5Km runners turn at 2.5Km, the 10Km runners turn at 5Km and the Half marathoners turn at the 10.55Km points, and all return on the same route to the Finish Line in the OC TRanspo Parking Lot on the North side of the Queensway.

Water and Gatorade Stations are positioned every 2.5Km on the course, which is a gentle down hill run for the first kilometre, flat along the Ottawa River recreational pathway, with turn around and return along the same route.

your first run?
Click here to go to our beginner and novice site for assistance.

volunteers
The Orleans Run is a great opportunity for schools or clubs to raise some money by volunteering their members - a fun way to pick up a few hundred dollars.  Email us if you are interested or if your club can provide 10 or more volunteers - info@somersault.ca. For more information on our volunteer program, please go to http://www.somersault.ca/volunteers.htm.

race info updates
We will email 3 weekly Orleans Half Marathon Newsletters to participants with the latest updates prior to the race.  These newsletters are very important as they will identify  changes, answer your questions and recommend race day procedures that will make your event day a better one. 

Please provide an accessible email address on your entry form if you wish to receive these Newsletters. You may want to use a personal email address rather than your work email, because many employers utilize filters that will not let the Newsletter through.