Canada’s top marathoner and its fastest half marathoner will headline the elite field at the 2026 Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon this spring.
Race organizers announced Tuesday that Natasha Wodak and Rory Linkletter are set to compete at the event on Sunday, May 24, bringing Olympic experience, national records, and recent international success to one of the country’s marquee road races.
The Ottawa marathon, part of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, is the only World Athletics Elite Label marathon in Canada and is known for its fast, spectator-friendly course through the capital.
A homecoming for Natasha Wodak
Wodak, the Canadian marathon record holder, will race the Ottawa marathon for the first time after years of success at shorter distances during the weekend.
She owns the national marathon record of 2:23:12 and has represented Canada at multiple Olympic Games and World Championships across the marathon, half marathon, and track events.
Ottawa has been a familiar stop for Wodak. She won the Ottawa 10K, which also serves as the Athletics Canada Canadian 10K Championships, in both 2022 and 2023, and has raced in the event more than a dozen times.
Most recently, Wodak finished 31st in the women’s marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
“I’ve always loved Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend,” Wodak said in a statement. “I’ve raced the Ottawa 10K presented by Otto’s Ottawa at least 10 times. It’s time to switch things up. I’m so excited to be racing one of Canada’s best marathons. It’s always special racing on home soil.”
Rory Linkletter returns after record-setting year
Linkletter will return to Ottawa for the second consecutive year, fresh off one of the strongest seasons ever by a Canadian male distance runner.
In January, he set a new Canadian half marathon record at the Houston Half Marathon, running 59:49 to become the first Canadian to break the 60-minute barrier for the distance.
He also finished in the top 10 at both the 2025 Boston Marathon and the 2025 Chicago Marathon, confirming his status as one of the country’s top contenders on the global stage.
At last year’s Ottawa marathon, then known as the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, Linkletter placed second in 2:08:31. That performance marked the fastest marathon ever run by a Canadian on Canadian soil.
“I can’t wait to come back to Ottawa and contend to win,” Linkletter said. “Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is a highlight of every year.”
Building momentum for 2026
Race organizers say the return of Wodak and Linkletter adds star power and credibility as the event continues to grow its elite fields.
“We are thrilled to have Natasha and Rory back in Ottawa for the 2026 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend,” said Stephen Andersen, the event’s elite athlete coordinator. “Together, their performances represent some of the most special runs in Ottawa over the last few years, and we hope they will bring more magic this May.”
Elite athlete applications for the 2026 race are now open, and general registration is available across all weekend events, including in-person, virtual, and Green Bib participation options.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend includes six races, from the marathon down to the kids’ events, and regularly draws runners and spectators from across Canada and abroad. Since 2015, its Desjardins Charity Challenge has raised more than $9.5 million for local and national charities.
The 2026 Tamarack Homes Ottawa International Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 24, in downtown Ottawa.
