About The Running Directory
I'm Connor, a runner based in Ottawa. I started The Running Directory because running has become a big part of my life over the last few years, and I wanted one place to keep track of the races, run clubs, and local running resources I wished were easier to find.
Why I built this
It helped me stay fit, meet people, and see more of Canada. The directory is a practical way to help more people find those entry points for themselves.
I started taking running more seriously after joining group runs with my wife's kayaking group. A lot of them were master paddlers in their 50s and 60s, and they were some of the fittest people I had met.
I remember thinking: if I can still move like that when I'm older, I'll be doing alright.
My wife and I moved to Canada during lockdown, so there were not many easy ways to meet people or get to know the place around us. Running became one of the first things that helped.
Once group runs started happening again, it gave me a simple way to meet people I probably would not have met otherwise.
Some of my favourite trips in Canada have been tied to races: the Vancouver Marathon, Around the Bay in Hamilton, and the Glen Tay Road Race in Perth.
Running gave me a reason to go, and the race gave the place a different kind of memory.
Race memories
Some of my favourite trips in Canada have been tied to races. Running gave me a reason to go, and the race gave the place a different kind of memory.
Ottawa, Ontario
Perth, Ontario
Eastern Ontario
The goal is not to make this more complicated than it needs to be. It is a directory site. It should be easy to search, easy to update, and useful when you are figuring out what to run next or where to show up.
Find road races, trail runs, ultras, local 5Ks, race weekends, and other running events across Canada.
Find weekly runs, social groups, training crews, and neighbourhood clubs in cities across the country.
Over time, the goal is to add more of the local resources runners look for, from shops and coaches to physios and nutrition support.
How it comes together
Race organizers submit events. Runners send in clubs and updates. I also find and add listings when I come across something that should be easier for people to discover.
A lot of the work is still manual: checking dates, finding official links, making sure the details are useful, and keeping things updated when they change.
Long term, I want organizers and club leaders to manage more of this themselves. For now, the important thing is keeping the directory practical and useful for the people using it.
If you know about a race, run club, or running resource that should be listed, send it in. Every good listing makes the directory a little more useful for the next runner looking for somewhere to start.
Know about a race that should be here? Send it in and help another runner find their next start line.
Running a club or casual group? Share the basics so more people can find a welcoming crew nearby.
Organizing a race? List it for free, or feature it to reach more of the runners planning their next event.
Questions, corrections, ideas, or just want to say hi. Send us a message and we'll get back to you.