Run Canada Podcast

Interim Executive Director for Run Calgary, Jon Bird and I are digging into making running more inclusive for families. Jon comes from the world of elite sports: as a former professional triathlete, he moved into coaching and community sports events and joined the Run Calgary family in 2017. Jon talks about his fantastic team and the new programs they are bringing to the 2023 Servus Calgary Marathon, including a day camp for kids to participate in while their moms and dads race! To register for the Calgary Marathon, visit calgarymarathon.com

Come hang out with me and everyone's favourite third-grade teacher Lyndsay Tessier. I haven't had the chance to chat with this Team Canada athlete since the pandemic, so we get caught up on what life was like remote teaching and her choice to focus on her students over running. We talk about how she worked through plantar fasciitis and the lesson learned with a nagging injury that only patience will heal. Lyndsay has had the chance to get back to racing for the joy of competition again, and we chat a little bit about what the fall might bring.

Join me for the latest Krista DuChene Fan Club meeting! Canada's one and only Marathon Mom recently ran the Tokyo Marathon checking the last box for her Abbott World Majors and officially hanging up her "elite" bib. Krista dives deep into all things Tokyo: from travel experience to race start and finish and the miles in between. She also reflects on her previous five star races and how her more than 20 years of marathon experience led her to this day. Krista may be retiring from professional racing, but she still has a zillion adventures ahead of her, and we talk about what might be next.

It's a mini deep dive with sports psychologist and high performance and leadership specialist Dr. Beth McCharles. When you visit the home page of Beth's website, you will see the words "be kind, be bold, be great": which tells you a lot of what you need to know about her work. Beth works with high-level athletes, coaches, artists and a variety of professionals helping them master their mental game. We scratch the surface of some of her philosophies for maximizing your time and efforts as a runner, and I hope it makes you think more about how you can reach deeper into your mental toolkit and be your most connected self.

The unbreakable Sage Watson is back! I have always known that Sage is a tough-as-nails performer who always gets the job done on the track. But in the last few years, she has experienced a work and personal life overshadowed by an unexplained injury. Sage has worked hard to find her way through this challenge and even turned it into an opportunity for personal transformation and growth. Sage is extremely open in discussing the mental, physical and spiritual journey that has brought her to the person she is today. Now, finally, with a diagnosis of injuries that have been wrestling with her fitness and performance, she discusses how she sees the path forward. Follow Sage Watson on Instagram @sagewatson

Anne Chang may appear like everyone else, but don't let her modesty fool you. This mother of four is a determined, goal-oriented runner and run coach. Anne uses running to reclaim a bit of who she is outside of being a mom and a full-time employee and to see what might be possible. She wants to see how far she can stretch and where she can go if she moves out of her comfort zone and lets things get hard. Anne and I chat about the first leg of her journey to achieving the six stars of the World Marathon Majors and how the journey is changing her not just as a runner, but as a person. Follow Anne on Instagram @the_running_critic

Shannon Coates is a dedicated member of the Winnipeg running community. Her smile lights up any race event or run group she is at, and her relentlessly cheerful attitude will carry you through all the miles. But since the fall, Shannon has been on a different journey. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she has been undergoing chemotherapy and is a few days away from a double mastectomy. Shannon and I chat about what this experience has been like, how she is trying to continue to fit in movement and running into her days as much as she can, and the constant battle she faces to stay optimistic and positive. Follow Shannon on Instagram @livingwithshannon

I am thrilled to share the recording of our first-ever live virtual community event, Running and Reading with Alison Mariella Désir. We discuss her first book Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport that Wasn't Built for Us. If you haven't read this book yet, you can find it anywhere books are sold, and if the cost of books is a barrier, check your local library for a copy. This book is a really important read and you will be glad you made the time for it. A big thank you to Sasha Gollish and Quinton Jacobs who joined me to help lead the discussion. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. You can find Alison at http://alisonmdesir.com/ and on Instagram @alisonmdesir

Two-time Olympian Andrea Seccafien and I last chatted at the beginning of 2020, so it's needless to say, we had a lot to catch up on. We talk about the road to the Olympics, which was challenging for everyone, but slightly more challenging for her, and her experience doubling in Tokyo in the 5,000 and the 10,000. She also talks candidly about the significant injury that has had her sidelined from her profession for six months (trigger warning for dealing with anxiety and injury recovery). Andrea is a fantastic athlete, a generous coach, and one hell of a runner, and I felt honoured that she joined me for this episode. Find Andrea on Instagram at @aseccafien photo credit: Athletics Canada

This week's guest is a little off the beaten path of running, but I hope it starts our amazing community off on the right foot for January. Jenn Messina has been a registered dietician living in British Columbia for 15 years. She started her own journey from a place of trying to "crack the diet code" so that she could live a life of thinness, and discovered that what she was really looking for was just the opposite. Jenn and I talk about intuitive eating, rejecting diet culture, and questioning social media and advertising. We also touch on strategies to help kids get through "picky eating" and early teenage years. You can find Jenn on Instagram @jennthedietician

Sarah Carroll is a wearer of many hats: she works as a personal trainer, a run coach, a group fitness instructor, and now as the newest member of the Manitoba Marathon team. She is a passionate member of the running community who loves to see people come together, regardless of their pace, to reach for the same goal of crossing the finish line. Sarah and I dive deep into the month that is January: the good, the bad and everything in between. How do you feel about New Year's resolutions? We have thoughts... Find Sarah on Instagram @coachsarahc

Melissa Doldron makes me smile. She is a Registered Massage therapist, who works both with regular clients like you and me but also with a team, you may have heard of... the Toronto Blue Jays. When Melissa isn't healing the world's athletes, you will find her either running or cheering. Melissa has spent the last decade hanging with the Parkdale Road Runners and becoming an expert hype girl at races everywhere. Melissa and I talk about party paces, the yellow pages, and the magic of the great outdoors.

Jake Fedorowski is a true example of being the change you want to see. A runner and board of directors member with the Seattle Frontrunners, Jake committed to stop running in any races that didn't have a non-binary race division. They went further by creating a guide to non-binary inclusion in running and then made it available for free to any race director looking to make their race more inclusive. They also continue to work as a consultant in their spare time to several races, including the Chicago Marathon, to help teams through the process. Jake is kind, confident, giving and honest, and they are using all these skills and more to make running a space where everyone can be comfortable, safe, and truly themselves.

Jen Cerullo has been a passionate member of the events community for a long time, including almost six years as an Event Manager with Canada Running Series. She has always brought her strong leadership skills and ability to make things work, but now she's bringing another one of her skills to the forefront: her passion for sustainability. Her education and practice in making events of all sizes more responsible for sustaining the communities they run through are amazing and inspiring. I hope this conversation makes you think a bit more about your impact on your community as a runner and what actions you can take to leave the places you run through better than you found them.

Astrid Nyame and Adrea Propp have lived parallel life experiences as Saskatchewan track and field athletes for many years. They excelled in high school and had successful university experiences. They transitioned to high-performance athlete training centres away from their home province. Though they both had great experiences, ultimately, they decided to return to Saskatchewan. They have created SaskWatch Athletics, which began as a social platform and recently expanded to a podcast, to give a moment in the sun to these prairie athletes that don't always get their due. We talk about the realities of track careers after university and what might be next for this fantastic duo.

I told some of Canada's favourite race directors that I was having the Executive Director of the Emera Blue Nose Marathon, Sherri Robbins, on the show. I asked them to give me some words to describe her. They said she was a doer, always willing to work on any job, no matter the size of the project, and that she always get it done. This is all very accurate, but my favourite was this: Sherri is a dependable problem-solving thought leader. She is a pillar of the race community, both on the east coast, and all across Canada. And she's also just an incredible human to get to spend time with and has a lot of great thoughts on how to get a start in the race industry.

Arden Young is an ultra trail running dentist who has been kicking around the trail scene for quite some time but is now taking it into high gear. After a lot of success in the Canadian women's field, she has spent the last few years dipping into US and European races, including the Bandera 100K, the Javelina Jundred, and a couple of turns on the coveted Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc CCC in Chamonix, France. We talk about building up a well of both physical and emotional resilience, creating the ultimate trail mix, and the growth of women's participation and success in the sport.

Meet Victoria Coates: lover of cross country and, recently, first-time marathoner. This McMaster and Queens running alum has had the opportunity to represent Team Canada at a number of races, including the World Half Marathon championships, the Pan Am Cross Country Cup, and the World Cross Country Championships. She now trains under the great Reid Coolsaet and has had one jam-packed race year. Not only did she win Around the Bay, but she also competed in three national championships: the 10,000, the 10K road Championships, and of course, the Canadian Marathon Championships. Victoria is driven, focused, and committed to racing with grit to find how far her fitness can take her.

Auntie Dione is here! Toronto's Warm-Up Lady, and founder and Race Director of the Toronto Carnival Run, Dione Mason is a fantastic human. She brings the perfect balance of drive and big dreams, with a practical realism that keeps her grounded and getting things done. This award-winning fitness and lifestyle coach also started the Simunye Foundation: an organization that has both short and long-term goals to bring history and cultural awareness to the black diaspora in Canada. Dione has such a passion for bringing whole-body wellness and happiness to people, it fills my heart with joy, and I think you will feel it too.

Vanessa Yu and I got to do one of the things us runners love most: sharing memories of a race we both participated in! We talk all things Chicago Marathon, but more importantly, she shares her perspective of being one half of a talented and dedicated running partnership, and how she and her husband John balance each other's goals and priorities. She also has an adorable daughter to fit into the equation: Vanessa shares some of her experience as a pregnant runner and now as a full-time working mom. She has some important tips to share about finding a balance that feels fair and flexible and how her and her partner make it all happen.

Straight from the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Speaker Series to your ears, it's the live recording of This is a Runner's Body. Co-hosted by Olympian Kate Van Buskirk, this panel featured Kirsty Beck, Melissa Doldron, and Melanie Murzeau. We talked about our behaviours around self-image, the role of social media in the conversation, and creating inclusive spaces where people can find their joy on the run.

Carol LaFayette-Boyd is an 80-year-old sprinter who lives and trains in Regina, SK. She holds 15 world records, three of which she set this summer alone. In 2018 Carol was named the Female athlete of the year by World Masters Athletics, becoming the first African Canadian to ever receive that recognition. Carol is dedicated and fearless and plans to keep running until she is at least 106 years old so she can keep pace with some of her running heroes. She's already become my inspiration and she's about to become yours too.

Heather Colasuonno is many things: she's a runner, she's a mom, she's a coach, and a photographer. But most of all, she's a great example of what can happen when you listen to your heart and follow what is in your heart and truly brings you joy. Heather is also the creator of the Run for Devon, an event that remembers Devon Freeman, an indigenous teenager who died by suicide while under the care of the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton. Heather's happiness is contagious, and I hope it encourages you to follow your joy too.

Jazmine Lowther is the ultimate mountain athlete. This British Columbian recently became sponsored by The North Face, and is dark horse-ing the heck out of the ultra circuit: not only did she earn a Golden Ticket at Western States, she recently placed fourth at the UTMB CCC, which was her first ever European race. We talk about magical running moments, her job as a professional Agrologist and Field Biologist, and what might be next on her list of accomplishments. Photo cover credit: Mathias Dumas

Gaby Estrada has dedicated her life to opportunities for women and girls in sport. And when those opportunities didn't exist, she created them. From her start as a coach and motivator for youth in sport, Gaby went on to create Girls and Women in Motion to support those looking for opportunities to participate in her hometown of Scarborough, ON. Gaby's professional role with Fast and Female started from the ground up. She began as a role model and has grown to big goals of making significant changes across Canada for access and opportunities for females in sport.

Are you in the thick of fall marathon training like me? Here is my five-minute pep talk to help get you through the grind.

Crystal Antila is a criminal defense lawyer living in Manitoba. She is a runner, a swimmer, and a cyclist, and with the help of her 7-year-old son, she's always up to try any new activity that comes her way. As someone who has an extremely full life, Crystal is always showing up for herself: she makes no excuses, she just gets out and gets the work done. And she always does it with a smile on her face.

Retired heptathlete Rachael McIntosh credits much of her success in sport to strong leaders and fate, and while I am sure that is part of it, I think her self-confidence and bold spirit are equal parts of what makes her so great. Rachael talks about her start in sport, some of the significant race experiences that inspired her to reach for huge dreams, and the fateful day that she knew her time as a heptathlete had come to a close. This former Team Canada athlete continues to stay close to her athletic roots, now working for Biosteel, hiking around her home in Calgary, and keeping it fun the whole way.

You asked for it, you got it. The amazing Sasha Gollish was kind enough to turn the tables to act as host and ask me some of her questions and some contributed by our community. We talk about how the show got started, some of our athletes that have most profoundly impacted me, and how to deal with post-run hair bird's nests.

Diane Simon is an indigenous runner who is using her actions to inspire others to connect with their community and reach for big goals. After a personally challenging year in 2017, she decided it was time to make a change: she quit a 20-plus-year smoking habit and started running. Since then, she has run a variety of virtual and in-person races and has dreams of one day running the Boston Marathon. She is also the creator of Running is Medicine: an indigenous-led running collective that welcomes all ages and all abilities in Toronto, ON. Diane is inspiring, warm, welcoming, and now my official fall marathon training buddy.

2022 has Sasha Gollish firing on all cylinders. Having just recently joined the masters running category she has set four new Canadian masters records, a WORLD masters record in the mile, a gold at NACAC in the half marathon, and a podium finish at every Nationals race she has run. All of them. We talk about the magic around her and what's making all this possible: community, fun, fearlessness, and the desire to take a risk and find out what happens if you fly.

Saskatchewan hurdler Michelle Harrison has redefined resilience for me. This 29-year-old has faced many injuries and obstacles in the sport, but she has dug deep and found a way to tap into her joy and push through. She started out running at Rice University, but after that wasn't the right fit, she moved to Toronto to try again, and when that still didn't feel right, she decided to come back home to Saskatoon and has been getting faster and stronger ever since. We talk about family, travel, her outstanding baking business, and her impending trip to Worlds in Eugene.

Rachel Munday has been a huge part of the fabric of the Manitoba running community: it all started at the Running Room where she worked as the Regional Manager and Events Lead, putting on races all year long and getting people involved with her infectious smile and attitude. She has now been the Executive Director of the Manitoba Marathon for seven years and her hard work and determination are the reasons that the event has survived the turmoil of the past three years. Rachel discusses this year's mid-race cancellation due to extreme heat and looks towards brighter days, as the Manitoba Marathon will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2023.

The incredible creator of Black Runners of the GTA, Melanie Murzeau, is BACK! Melanie joins me to talk all about bringing the Scarborough 5K to life. Working with Canada Running Series and so many invested partners, the race brought a beautiful event to Morningside Park where inclusion and accessibility to running were top priorities. The race raised more than $5,000 for two charity partners that directly impact Scarborough. I hope this amazing event sparks you to think about what might be possible in your hometown too!

Not only did Kinsey Middleton run a remarkable PB of 2:30:08 at the Ottawa Marathon this past Sunday, but she was also the first Canadian woman to win the race since 2007. Kinsey talks about training during the lockdown, the shoulder injury that kept her from making a run at the Olympic team, and what she has her eye on next.

Élissa Legault has been running and competing in triathlons since she was young. After her first marathon was canceled, she needed to regroup and make a new plan. She reconnected with her old coach to prepare and she hasn't looked back. Élissa's true love is the marathon, but she has seen a lot of recent success in track and cross county which leads me to wonder if there is anything this girl can't do. Get ready to get inspired by Élissa's love of the sport and her constant drive to be better than she was yesterday.

Kyra Constantine is an Olympian, Pan Am Game medalist and multiple Canadian record holder. She also recently wrapped up her dynamite career as a USC athlete and has gone pro with Nike continuing her training in Los Angeles. Kyra has a constant drive for excellence and dedication to executing her race plans to the very best of her ability, while at the same time making sure that the fun of what she is doing isn't lost.

Laura Henderson is a woman who has honed in on what it takes to balance her passions. She works full-time as a CPA and is a wife and a mother to two young children. She has also worked hard to balance home and professional life with the other things that bring her great joy: running and coaching. Laura very recently attained a massive goal at the Mississauga Marathon: she ran a Boston qualifying time. Her race story will give you all the good vibes and feels you need to be able to say your next big goal out loud too.

It's no secret that I am one of Krista DuChene's biggest fans which is why I had to have her back on the show. This time, we talk about how she's become a trail and ultra running superstar, set a new age category record in the 30K, become a coach with Coolsaet GO and for a local high school, AND be an amazing mom to her three kids. So much to talk about!

It's Boston Marathon week and we are celebrating with two stories from amazing runners who took part. Robyn Michaud may have run 23 marathons, but this might have been the most special one yet. Wait until you hear her how her day started! Teal Gove shares how it may have taken her six years to arrive at the start line in Boston... but that it was defintely worth the wait.

Sarah Beairsto is not only an elite half marathoner, but she is a big ideas factory! Cards on the Run may have humble beginnings, but Sarah has tons of ideas for where she wants it to go. Much like her running career, she is delighting in watching the fruits of all of company's hard work grow and develop into something truly lovely and special. What can I say? The girl's got grit.

Amy Hicks' work title may be Guru Field Technical rep for Brooks Running, but today she is our Sports Bra Superstar. This active morning runner was kind enough to indulge my deluge of questions on the topics of fit, function, care, style and more... you name it, we talked about it. A quality sports bra just makes a good run into a great one so you can think less about your fit and more about your fun.

Victoria Asikis is a lawyer who practice centres on regulatory law for foods, natural health products, cosmetics, and other consumer products. And she's a passionate runner who loves to encourage others, especially coworkers, to get involved too. Victoria and I chat about how running and her job intersect and what we can learn from the work she does. What she shares will definitely make you feel more secure as a Canadian about choosing the foods and products that you interact with on a daily basis.

Allison Hill is the founder of Hill Studio: a community hub salon and wellness studio located in Toronto. Allison began running during the pandemic, and wanted to share the benefits she found in it with others, so she started Hill Run Club: a safe space for self identifying black women runners of all abilities. Allison is a community builder and a lifter upper of people. She is smart and intuitive and really understands people... and how to embrace and care for her avatar.

Mela Williams has really been focusing on self talk. As a way to test this and her mental toughness, she did the David Goggins challenge (running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours) and the results surprised her. I hope this episode shows everyone that we are so much greater than we think we are, and that we should always reach for big dreams... and maybe also wear red lipstick when you do it.

Jenine LaFayette is the Country Manager for Brooks Running in Canada... and also a super cool human. Her lifelong love affair with the running community started with cheering on her favourite track and field stars as a kid with her parents, and flowed into a career that has allowed her to be equally passionate about marketing for some of Canada's top sportswear brands as well as finding her place in the run community all across Canada. We talk about equity, inclusion, and representation and the vision that Brooks running has to help everyone Run Happy.

Jess Tuomela is a former national swim team member turned triathlete. She is sight impaired and works with a guide to compete in para races. Marianne is a triathlete, a former NCAA track runner and a skilled trail and ultra runner. She is Jess' partner and guide who worked together with her most recently to achieve a 5th place finish at the Tokyo Paralympics. These two have the highest levels of trust, respect and friendship with each other and this conversation will make your day.

Erin Teschuk had an extremely successful high school and university career, setting some pretty impressive records at her alma matter NDSU. She became one of three of the first Canadian women to compete in the steeplechase at the Olympics in Rio in 2016. While Erin's most recent attempt to join Team Canada in Tokyo didn't work out the way she hoped it would, Erin is a shining example of taking big swings and big chances for big goals.

Kirsty Beck is a pretty remarkable lady. After a long struggle with her weight she decided she had had enough of being unhappy and committed to making a change. That change started small and led to big things: it led to a life that isn't based around thinking about how her body looks but how it makes her feel and what it has made her capable of accomplishing. Today she has lost over 80 pounds and gained a love for running that fills her with happiness and positivity.

Megan Kuikman has dedicated her education to helping athletes perform better. Working primarily on RED-S and disordered eating in sport, women have been her focus as they are vastly underrepresented in current research. We talk winter nutrition: Megan shares what we can do to help ourselves get through the deep freeze in Canada and fuel ourselves for a strong spring.