Ottawa Marathon route announced!

The powers that be have decided to change the route of the Ottawa Marathon for 2011. The new route is pictured below.

That is what I will be facing on 29th May 2011. For more details of the marathon course (as well as the courses for the 2km, 5km, 10km and half-marathon races) click on this link.

I am pretty familiar with the stretch along both sides of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, the 20 to 30 km stretch is pretty much the middle portion of the Army half-marathon (but in reverse). I will have to familiarize myself with the route  through China town, little Italy and Hintonburg. At first glance it looks like a really nice route, not too many steep hills, but a lot of different locations, landmarks, neighbourhoods, scenery to look at to keep my mind occupied.