A Record-Setting Run
On October 18, Ottawa’s Jennifer MacDonell crossed the finish line at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 3:23:59, officially the fastest marathon ever recorded by a woman aged 70 to 74. Her time shaved more than three minutes off the previous mark of 3:27:00, set by France’s Laurence Dupont Alnet back in 2024.
MacDonell has spent months quietly chasing this goal, working with coach Steve Boyd since the spring to shave precious minutes off her pace through both physical training and mental preparation.
The Final Push
The closing kilometres were far from easy. MacDonell described the back half of the race as a battle of willpower, especially after a calf cramp crept in with just two kilometres left on the course.
Rather than let it slow her down, she pushed through, telling herself to stay positive and keep moving. By the time she crested the final hill with about 200 metres to go, she knew the record was within reach and started pumping her fists in celebration.
A Well-Earned Celebration
After the race, MacDonell and her husband Norman, who also ran the marathon, toasted the achievement with a glass of wine before heading back home to Ottawa. Once they arrived, the celebration continued with a well-deserved round of doughnuts, because some victories call for more than one kind of reward.
Her record-breaking time has now been submitted to World Masters Athletics for official ratification.
From Canal Jogs to World Records
MacDonell’s running story didn’t start with grand ambitions. In her mid-30s, she began with modest 15-minute jogs along the Rideau Canal, a goal she once considered a personal win on its own.
From there, her mileage and confidence grew, eventually leading her to marathons across North America, including the Boston Marathon in 1997 and the Chicago Marathon in 2021. Decades later, that same canal pathway helped lay the groundwork for an Ottawa runner now holding a world record.
Inspiring a City to Keep Moving
MacDonell hopes her story encourages others to shake off the idea that age should limit what they can achieve. Her message is simple: give it a try, stick with it, and believe in yourself, whether that means training for a marathon or just getting around the block.
For Ottawa, her achievement is a reminder that some of our city’s best stories are written one stride at a time, right along the paths so many of us walk and run every day.