14th Annual Russell Run

Michelle Leduc
Oct 22
4 min read

The 14th Annual Russell Run was a huge success! Congratulations to all who participated in this year. Your training paid off!

A Message from the Race Director

Businesses and Township

Our Volunteers

But we are not a yearly event

A Message from the Race Director

Three years ago, I moved the Russell Run from May to October — partly because it’s a quieter time of year, but mostly because I love October. What I didn’t realize then was that it would become the season finale of the Russell Run Club — a time to celebrate our runners, volunteers, and community.

And what a celebration it was this year. We had over 290 participants registered, surpassing last year’s 201 and miles beyond the 100 who joined when I first took over the event in 2019. It warms my heart to see how the Russell Run has grown — not just in numbers, but in spirit.

Over the past few years, our club has flourished. Membership now tops 120, our kids’ programs attract around 50 participants each session, our clinics and group runs are so popular that we’re filling the municipal parking lots. Our reach has expanded beyond Russell too — through the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Challenge, my role as an Athletics Ontario ambassador, and national initiatives like the Trans Canada Trail and Great Canadian Hike.

But events like the Russell Run don’t happen on their own. Behind every bib, medal, and finish-line smile is a crew of volunteers — the people who set up cones, marshal intersections, cheer runners on, and make sure everyone gets home safely. Our small but mighty team gives so much of their time and energy to make this day possible, and I’m incredibly grateful for them.

As our club and events continue to grow, we need more hands to help keep the momentum going — not just for the Russell Run, but for all the programs and events that bring our community together. So the next time you see a call for volunteers or an event announcement, think about how you might get involved. Maybe it’s helping at kit pickup, setting up the course, or simply sharing a post to spread the word.

Because the truth is, the Russell Run isn’t just a race — it’s a reflection of what our community can create together. If we want to keep seeing that start line fill each fall, we all have a part to play in keeping the tradition alive.

Until next year.

~Coach Michelle (Oct 22/25)

The Results

1.2 km Kids Run

The 1.2 km Kids Run had a record-smashing 95 participants, but if you add the parents accompanying their kids, it was an impressive group.

Kids 1.2 km run

We were happy to have our member Paul Lalonde make the kids' medals this year. I think we had some faster time this year because of them.

5 km Run/Walk

Our 5 km Run attracted 98 participants.

Our top female finishers:

Jill Murray 21:19.20
Charlotte Vance 22:02.80
Shelby Cunningham 22:21.00

Our top male finishers:

Dave Anderson 19:14.20
Caleb Reid 20:01.70
Trace Bourgeault 20:13.2

5 km Run/Walk

10 km Run/Walk

Our 10 km Run attracted 60 participants.

Our top female finishers:

Carley Kenwell 42:13:00
Nathalie Gauthier 48:53.20
Robyn Carriere 49:36.40

Our top male

Eric Simard 38:30.90
Jeff Strachan 40:02.70
Stephane Desjardins 40:43.30

10 km Run/Walk

Race Day Photos

Thanks to Norman Fortin for capturing some amazing event photographs. Scroll through this gallery to see a sample of some of his amazing work:

Thank-You

Local Businesses and Community

Races like these don’t happen on their own. It was brought to you by a team of volunteers, businesses and the municipality:

Bib Sponsors and pre-race warm up by Russell Health Collective
Russell Foodland provided post-race nourishments.
Timing was brought to you by CS Timing Solutions.
The Township of Russell’s Public Safety & Enforcement Department provided traffic control.
CMS Pottery provided the coveted handcrafted mug prizes

Our Members

Then we have the volunteers from the Russell Run Club:

Erika Morris, Kim McKay, Jim Cochrane & Eric Thauvette marshalled at critical intersections, ensuring no runner got lost and were safe.
Melisande Carriere, Tammy Williams, Rachelle Doth, Cathleen Bourret, Patricia Yates, Julie Hout-Hebert, and Norm Shippee provided Race Kit Pickup and Finish Line support.
Crystal McKinnon, Tara-Lynn Paul and Charly F. operated the Aid Station.
Yves Carriere managed the course setup.
Marc Groulx, Maurice Bonneville and Sean Hanna helped set up and take down the course.
Nicole & Matt Blondin for pacing the 5 and 10 km runners and sweeping the Course
Jennifer Thompson for taking care of post race refreshments
Paul and Line Lalonde for distributing the kid's medals.
Kids Course preparation and marshalling by Gord Zubyk and the students of Russell High School

Of course, quite a few of them did double duties or managed to get their run in on top of volunteering. Thanks so much to these hardworking, energetic individuals.

But we are not just a once-a-year event...

The Russell Run Club is a group of individuals who love to run and share our love of running with others. We provide a welcoming and supporting environment for runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and abilities.

Whether you are a casual social runner or competitive racer, whether you run short distances or ultra-marathons, whether you’re a road, track or trail runner, you will find a variety of programs to fit your individual running goals.

Group Runs • Youth Running • Running Clinics • Coaching Track & Tempo Workouts • Social Runs •Trail Runs

We have the following events coming up this year and next. And many more in the planning stages: