Ottawa runner embraces volunteer role in hometown marathon

During the height of the pandemic, everyone was searching for ways to stay busy and grounded. Ottawa’s David Merino used Pokémon Go. The app, inspired by the nostalgic Nintendo series, encourages users to explore their local surroundings to catch virtual Pokémon.
But for Merino, walking around to catch Pokémon wasn’t enough—he needed to get to them faster than other trainers. With gyms closed, running became the perfect solution for him to stay fit while indulging in his “gotta catch ’em all” hobby. “A few months in, I decided to put the phone away and just run,” he laughs. “My runs slowly became more serious.”
In three years, Merino has progressed from casual runs to completing several marathons and half-marathons. But now, he’s taking his passion for running one step further. Merino was recently recruited by Run Ottawa to be part of the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s Ottawa power crew, and on May 25, he will be a pace bunny for the 3:35 marathon group at the 2025 Tartan Ottawa International Marathon.
Merino says he has spent the past two years connecting with hundreds of runners, trying to learn as much as possible to improve his performance from one race to the next. “It’s one thing to chase personal goals,” he says, “but I think giving back to the community brings an entirely different kind of energy.”
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Finding purpose
Merino’s desire to give back stems from his experience at the 2024 Ottawa Marathon. He shares that he had to drop out at kilometre 39 due to dehydration. “All I remember is how grateful I was for the volunteers and race officials who went the extra mile to help me,” he recalls.
Instead of dwelling on the disappointment of a DNF, Merino used the experience as inspiration to make a difference. When the race organizers reached out to ask him if he’d like to volunteer for 2025, he didn’t hesitate to raise his hand. “I wanted to help other runners go the extra mile and hit their goals,” he says.

Giving back to Ottawa
As a project manager for an Ottawa-based construction management company, Merino is no stranger to giving back to the city—albeit in a different way. “I’ve worked on projects all over Ottawa,” he says, “but this project feels different. This is giving back in a more personal and active way.”
Last fall, Merino attended an Arc’teryx Run Club event, where he had the opportunity to meet Jason Dunkerley, a five-time Paralympic T11 medallist and Ottawa native. Dunkerley, who is visually impaired, runs with the help of guides. “I was in awe of him,” Merino says. “The idea of running without being able to see—it’s just incredible.”
Inspired by Dunkerley and his guide, Merino recently completed his first Achilles guide training session, and by the end of 2025, he hopes to become a certified guide for visually impaired athletes.

Merino also considers himself a run club nomad, regularly attending different groups across the city. “I’ve met so many amazing people through running and volunteering,” he says. “What I love about Ottawa is that it feels like one big community—no one is bound to just one club.”
You can join Merino at the start line of the 10K and marathon events at Canada’s largest spring race weekend, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, on May 24–25, 2025. You can find more information about the race or sign up, here.