On Saturday, 100-year-old Roy Allen made Ottawa Race Weekend history, finishing the Tamarack 5K in 1:47:19 with his family walking beside him. The Ottawa-based runner is now the oldest person, and the first centenarian, to complete the event in Canadian history.<\/p>\n
Allen used a walker on the course, with family members by his side throughout the race, and spectators (many with signs) cheering him through the streets.<\/p>\n
A 5K with a bigger purpose<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s was tackling the event to raise money for four organizations that have supported him and his 94-year-old wife, Melba: the Council on Aging of Ottawa, the Dementia Society, Perley Health Foundation and the Gloucester 50+ Centre.<\/p>\n
Before the race, Allen told CTV News<\/a> that he had raised more than $12,000. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to do it and to be raising money for these other people,\u201d Allen said. Melba lives at Perley Health, one of the organizations included in the fundraiser.<\/p>\n Quebec\u2019s Florence Caron dominates Canadian 10K Championship in debut<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Team 100 hits the course<\/p>\n Eight family members joined Allen during the race, including his daughter, Sara Bercier, and several grandchildren. The family walked with him as \u201cTeam 100\u201d and were cheered along the route. Bercier told the Ottawa Citizen<\/a> that her father credits his longevity<\/a> to a few\u00a0simple habits<\/a>: he never smoked, never drank and smiled often. Allen has also stayed active throughout his entire life, with a background that includes gymnastics, swimming, regular walking and mobility exercises.<\/p>\n His family helped him prepare for race day by taking turns walking with him at the mall. The course\u2019s uphill sections, they said, were a surprise. Allen told CTV News the people around him helped keep him moving. \u201cThey are really my encouragement there. I can\u2019t possibly quit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A busy opening day in Ottawa<\/p>\n Allen\u2019s 5K came on the first day of the Ottawa Race Weekend,\u00a0 which included the Kids Marathon, 2K, 5K and 10K, with thousands of runners taking over the city\u2019s streets. Nearly 1,900 children took part in the Kids Marathon earlier in the day.<\/p>\n For Allen, Saturday\u2019s adventure is only the beginning. Post-race, he said he planned to come back and do it again next year.<\/p>\n