Run Canada Podcast

Lynn Keane is a five-time Boston qualifier, an Ironman triathlete and a Lululemon legacy ambassador, but her physical strength only tells half of the story. When he was 23, her son Daniel, who was living with depression, died by suicide. Lynn has turned this awful tragedy into a personal call to action to bring the discussion on mental illness, depression and suicide prevention into the light.

Marissa Papaconstantinou is a two time Paralympian: her first games were in Rio before she turned 17. This past year in Tokyo we watched her bring home the bronze medal in the Women's T64 100 metre and hit double PRs in the 200m. In our interview Marissa used the phrase "learning through challenges" which I think perfectly summarizes her years in the sport. Life has brought her injuries and hardships that she could have easily used as reasons to quit, but instead she used them to grow into a stronger more resilient athlete.

It's a motivation day with Chiropractor, coach and elite runner Brittany Moran! Brittany is an accomplished marathoner who just set a smoking new PB of 2:33:37 and took 9th female at CIM in December. She is also the creator of StrideWise Coaching and helps people as a chiropractor at The Runners Academy in Toronto. Brittany brings her balanced approach to running and shares her advice for setting goals and focusing on your best running year yet.

As we celebrate 100 episodes, I am joined by Heather Gardner, the first female run crew leader in the GTA and creator of Kardia - a boutique fitness studio and community located in Toronto. Heather is the queen of connecting, both in the best of times and the most challenging of times, and has proved without a doubt that community is never cancelled. We are also joined by my friend Melanie Murzeau, creator of Black Runners of the GTA, who helps me to celebrate the connections we make through running.

Alycia Butterworth is quite humble about the amount of work, effort and mental fortitude she puts into her steeplechase career. This girl is awesome, and I feel like she should shout her own name a little more. If you saw her race in the Olympics, you know that she has mental and physical fortitude that not a lot of other athletes can match. She is always assessing and analyzing, like the data scientist that she is, and making small adjustments to create big gains.

In editing of this episode, I realize that I sound a little star struck, but if there is a fan club for Stephanie Case, sign me up. A Human Rights lawyer with the UN, Stephanie focuses her work on areas of conflict. She has lived and helped others in some of the most war torn parts of our world, while continuing to challenge herself physically and mentally through ultra running. She founded Free to Run, a charity that helps to empower women in areas of conflict through physical activity. This past fall, she beat the female course at the Tor des Glaciers by almost 30 HOURS. Listen on and get ready to join the fan club too.

Encouraged by her awesome dad, Hollie Gordon Lawder combined her passions for mindfulness through movement and reading into her blog and Instagram page Reading on the Run. Hollie is a driven runner who completed her first ultra marathon this year. Her training time also helps her read all the books – more than a hundred this year and last! She's got great recommendations for your next favourite read, and tips on how to try running on the treadmill!

Leslie Sexton took the break in races this past year and a half to focus on the fundamentals - shorter distances and challenging workouts. And it paid off: in 2021 Leslie became the National 5K AND 10K champion. To top off her year, this past weekend she won the Philadelphia Marathon and set a new course record, making her the sixth fastest female marathoner in Canada.

It's everyone's favourite person, Natalie Pirson! Natalie is very well known in the Winnipeg running community as someone who brings everyone together with her positive, friendly personality. She participates in run clubs all over the city and has recently started her own crew called Connection Through Movement which she hopes will give runners and walkers of all abilities a place to meet and connect.

Welcome to cocktails and conversations with the founders of Chix Run the Six: Shazia Banduk, Chantal Chiarelli, Kim Monroe Roberts and Amanda Richardson. These ladies started Chix Run the Six because they wanted other women to have the chance to experience the connections that they were making on the run and be a part of something special. Having just celebrated their one year anniversary, they reflected back on how things started, how things are growing, and how they plan to continue spreading their movement to make all runners feel like real runners even further.

Sarah is an enthusiastic runner who has completed races of all distances from the 5K to the Marathon... especially races that have the word "Disney" in them. Her passion for running is only matched by her passion for makeup: Sarah creates and shares makeup tutorials and info on her youtube channel, Not your Typical Dollface, so I got her to share some of her best product tips to keep us all looking gorgeous on and off the run.

Not only is Malindi Elmore the Canadian Women's record holder in the marathon, she finished 9th in the 2021 women's Olympic marathon. Malindi's race day motto "patience is power" took her through the grueling race, but also holds an even larger significance: 17 years may have passed since her last Olympic appearance, but she sure made up for lost time. We talk all about her experience from start to finish, including what a post race celebration looked like at this year's Olympics. Spoiler alert: it involved a nap.

Mel Paauwe was inspired to become a coach after her own coach brought out potential in her that she didn't know was there. She founded We Run the World Coaching and now she doesn't just inspire her own clients, but a whole run community. Mel is an impressive duathlete who kills it as a distance runner as well. We talked all about racing, traveling, coaching, breaking tapes, and the life in between.

Gabriela DeBues Stafford and I like to talk and we hadn't caught up since she returned to Canada from Scotland at the start of the pandemic so we had a lot of ground to cover. But we managed to focus and we dug in hard to the Olympics. Gabriela talks about what it was like to attend the Olympics with her sister Lucia Stafford, how her races went out tactically, and how she is a wholly different human than she was in Rio.

A lifelong athlete, Joy SpearChief-Morris started out doing every sport before focusing her talents on the track. Joy followed her heart and her goals from UBC to the University of Western Ontario, to the Santa Barbara Track Club, and back to Ontario again. Like so many Olympic hopefuls, she fought through COVID training on a will to survive and when she got to the Trials she didn't get the win she'd been dreaming of. Joy shares what it was like, and some of the exciting things coming in her next chapter.

Dayna Pidhoresky does a deep dive on her experience preparing for and competing in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. Dayna's win at the 2019 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon earned her a ticket to compete, but the guts and spirit it actually took to get to the start line is where her story really begins. This episode will remind you what it means to be a competitor and how far running with your heart can take you.

For this episode, we hop into the way back machine and do a relisten to my 2019 interview with Olympian Dayna Pidhoresky. This interview was hot off the heels of her win at the Olympic Trials at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Dayna and I talked about her road to this big win and how all of the adversity, grit, determination and challenging finishes led her to be ready for this amazing day. Listen again and you'll be ready to hear all about her experience in Gifu in the Olympic Marathon when I catch up with her later this month!

If you need a daily dose of happiness, here it is. Rae Sunshine is so full of light and joy, it's right in her name. Rae is a fantastic storyteller so I won't ruin it, but her journey to triathlon started with her dragging herself on crutches to the bike shop to purchase a bike that she couldn't even ride yet. Now Rae proudly proclaims herself an athlete: she is a dedicated triathlete who is deeply involved in her community in her hometown of Calgary. Her mission is to pass on the love and support that was shown to her when she got started and I am here for it. Enjoy!

For episode three of our August how it started how it's going, we talk about a subject very close to my own heart: being a race volunteer. Amy Li was just a girl who started out hating running but grew to love it. In fact, she grew to love it so much, she wanted to play a role in everyone's race day, so she got involved as a volunteer. Today Amy holds multiple volunteer roles and she and I chat about why being a volunteer is so special and how YOU can make the decision to get started too.

For our second "How it started, how it's going" episode, I chat with B.C. runner Siobhan McManus. Siobhan has a lot of marathons under her belt, but with the guidance and support of her running coach Malindi Elmore, she looked towards a new challenge.... a 5000 metre track race. This masters athlete had never set foot on a track before; but her story will show you that even if you are also brand new to it, you too can find your place on the start line - with or without spikes.

The first episode of our August "how it started, how it's going" series brings you ultra trail runner Jenn Walton. Jenn has been a fixture of the Winnipeg running scene forever: she started her journey on the roads, found her heart on the trails, and found her challenge in the ultra. Jenn shares her journey as well as tips for those sitting on the fence with trying trails and ultras as well as safety tips for solo running.

For episode three of our Meet your Sheroes series, presented by the ASICS Runkeeper App, I had the opportunity to chat with the incredible Lyndsay Tessier. My co-hosts are Eugenie Steyn and Madison Kerr-Wong. Eugenie is a fellow marathon runner and teacher in the GTA who normally just gets joy from waving at Lyndsay when she catches her out for a run. Madison had the good fortune of being coached by Lyndsay and had her support during a particularly challenging time with her running. We got her take on how she focuses her life with her dual tracks of teaching and running, how she found her way through the pandemic, and what moments of self-care looked like. Lyndsay had a ton of amazing advice, including on recovery from disappointments. To unlock a lifetime of running like Eugenie and Maddy, download the Runkeeper App today.

Kiera Verbonac started her journey as a runner, then got the biking bug and tried out a duathlon. After success in that category, she donned a wetsuit and now she trains like a beast in the triathlon. Kiera is an amazingly dedicated athlete who also happens to be hearing impaired. We talk about some of the challenges that come with that in her training and racing, none of which hold her back at all. She's also got a ton of great first-time triathlon tips for newbies!

It's the Pride of the Rock: Newfoundland's Kate Bazeley! Kate holds the provincial record for the marathon, but don't think she's let that slow down her drive. This former Canadian Half Marathon Champion has been setting big goals, but at the same time balances the things in life that are most important to her: her family. Kate's a firecracker and fuelled by competitive spirit – we talk about some of her races and how she takes a wider view when it comes to injury and setbacks.

This is what it looks like when passionate, driven women work together to make change. The founders of Winning Within, Delilah Topic, Teagan MacDougall, Dhana and Samantha Cruikshank and Rachel Cliff join me to talk about the foundation's mission: encouraging positive body image self-acceptance and empowering women to find self-worth outside of sport. We discuss their personal experiences and why they are so focused on helping to change the conversation for women in sport.

Polly Moody is a runner who takes a licking and keeps on ticking. She is a mother of two, a kindergarten teacher and one fast runner. She lives in Calgary but she has travelled all over chasing amazing race experiences and speedy courses. We talk about race day feels, and about some of her experiences chasing a sub-3 race. We dig into how she has been recovering from an ACL reconstruction the past few months and what that experience has really been like: the fears, the frustration, the sadness and the light at the end of the tunnel.

People have been talking a lot about Tokyo hopeful Julie-Anne Staehli lately: she has been lighting up the track taking huge bites out of her PBs race after race, and has reached the elusive Olympic qualifying time in the 5000m. But this is no overnight success: Julie-Anne is the epitome of "rise and grind". She's been plugging the meter for years and is at that exciting moment in her career where she is watching it all come together. We talk about her time at Queen's, race tactics and staying in the moment, and her favourite way to beat the summer heat.

Co-host of the Inspired Soles Podcast, Carolyn Coffin interviews the amazing Masters' marathoner Paula Wiltse. Paula is a coach with Mile 2 Marathon, a mom, and one of a select few Canadian women who have run a sub-3-hour marathon over the age of 50. Paula shares what it takes to set and reach big goals as a masters athlete (spoiler alert: it takes dedication and hard work) and how she has supported her family through their own goals and through the pandemic. To unlock a lifetime of running like Carolyn, download the Runkeeper App today.

It seems really fitting that my guest on Global Running Day is Olivia Levy. Olivia embodies the spirit of community in running: she may only have been focusing on running and racing for a few years, but in that time she's used her marketing savvy, desire to give back, and her bright and friendly personality to draw more awareness and inclusivity to our sport. She works with Runners of the Six, The Longest Stride podcast, and is an ambassador for Saucony and she's leaving a trail of joy for running everywhere she goes. You know I love that.

Yana Hempler is a marathon machine. Last year, she decided to run ten marathons in ten days to raise money for the Victoria Hospital Foundation. Right now, she's back on the road fundraising again, working to complete an incredible 30 marathons in 30 days. Yana talked to me in between marathons and we dug into why she is so passionate about running and the Victoria Hospital Foundation.

Olympian Hilary Stellingwerff is a jack of all running trades. Her journey began on the track then lead her to the road. She became a mom which made her into an advocate for women in sport, and now she coaches at the University of Victoria. Hilary is brilliant and driven: she and her husband Trent are always working hard while saving space for flexibility which makes her so great at everything she does. We talk about everything from food poisoning to finding ways to wear out young kids.

Creator of @blackrunnersofthegta Melanie Murzeau interviews track and field legend, Valerie Jerome. From a long legacy of runners and Olympians, including brother Harry Jerome, Valerie is a huge part of the history of running in Canada. Not only does she hold multiple national and international medals, but she is also the only Canadian athlete to compete in five track and field events in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Pan-American Games. She remains an active teacher, community leader, and activist. To unlock a lifetime of running like Melanie, download the Runkeeper App today.

Madeline Price lives and trains in the United States but thanks to two Canadian parents, we get the privilege of claiming her for Team Canada. Maddy is a sprinter and 4x400 relay specialist who graduated from Duke University and still continues to support the team there as an assistant coach. Maddy was raised to be brave and take on challenges head on: she is relentlessly positive and always grateful. We talk about the challenge of staying relaxed while racing, why Canadian teammates are amazing, and how she is supporting the next generation of female track runners.

Perdita Felicien is an Olympic hurdler and the first Canadian woman to win a gold medal at the World Championships in track and field. She is also a mom, television host, sports broadcaster, and now a national best-selling author. We talk all about "My Mother's Daughter" and about her upcoming dream gig co-hosting "Tokyo Today" with Andrew Chang. I also talk to Christine Roper, Olympic rower all about the CAN Fund #150Women program and why it's so exciting.

Meet 100-metre hurdler, mother, and coach Nikkita Holder. Nikkita is a two-time Olympian and international medalist but her achievements on the track are just a fraction of who she is as a human. After splitting with her husband just months after her son was born, Nikkita had to navigate a whole new life for herself while pursuing her running goals. She is an inspiration to anyone who is trying to find their way through any kind of tough situation and a model of resilience, gratitude and kindheartedness.

Heather Hennigar is a native of Halifax, but she now lives in Victoria and works as an Athletics Canada staff coach at the West High-Performance Hub with both able-bodied and para-athletes. Heather is a former Canadian record holder in the 4x800m relay, has traveled the world as an athlete and as a coach, and has become a pretty incredible role model for a whole lot of aspiring Olympians. We talk about coaching lessons from her brother, supporting athletes on the world stage, and a few of the magical moments along the way.

Shana Goulbourne and Rachael Kalaba are the incredible creators of the Peg City Steppers: an inclusive crew for all levels that encourages people to keep active and find joy in movement. They created something that is truly incredible: supporting members in person but also embracing runners from across Canada by hosting online events to encourage connection and discussion. We talk about first race experiences, how they learned to love winter running, and our thoughts on Grey's Anatomy.

If you are looking for inspiration to help you find balance, look no further than Natalia Hawthorn. When this 1500 and 5000m specialist isn't lighting up the track, she's helping high school kids navigate the recruiting process with her work at Streamline Athletes. Natalia has invested a lot of physical and mental energy into finding the sweet spot between hard work and recovery to get her in peak condition; and proving that she is an athlete to watch in 2021.

Ever wondered if you could find an outlet for your love of the outdoors and find some independence and time for yourself outside of motherhood? Tara Matheron did too, so she created RadMums. This Calgary-based group of adventure-loving women are discovering who they are outside of the grind of everyday life and making connections and friendships that support their well-being. If you need a little reminder to find ways to prioritize yourself amidst the hustle and bustle of life, this is the episode for you.

Ever wondered if you could find an outlet for your love of the outdoors and find some independence and time for yourself outside of motherhood? Tara Matheron did too, so she created RadMums. This Calgary-based group of adventure-loving women are discovering who they are outside of the grind of everyday life and making connections and friendships that support their well-being. If you need a little reminder to find ways to prioritize yourself amidst the hustle and bustle of life, this is the episode for you.

Denise Robson experienced a rebirth as a runner when she was encouraged to take on her first marathon by two coworkers when she was in her 30s. Fast forward to 2019 and she now holds the W50 record in the marathon. Denise is an amazing human whose humility and storytelling ability will give you all the feels.

Sarah Kwajafa and Avery Garrett-Patterson are University of Toronto Varsity Blues middle distance alumni. Not only are these two ladies tremendous runners, but Avery is also a personal trainer and Sarah is pursuing her childhood goal of a career in medicine. We talk about the part they played in the creation of the BIPOC Varsity Association which was created to hold stakeholders in the athletic program accountable for the experience of its BIPOC athletes. These ladies are fun, energetic, and serious about finding ways to make change for the future.

Fierce and driven 400m hurdle specialist Noelle Montcalm may have her eyes firmly fixed on Tokyo this year, but she's got a lot more on her plate than just that. A working Registered Nurse and a strong advocate and ally for mental health, Noelle is working to spread the love of sport and a message of hope and optimism to people of all ages. We take a stroll through just a few of Noelle's remarkable races over the past fifteen-plus years and what she sees on the horizon moving forward.

A runner and busy working mom of three girls, Melanie Murzeau is making change. She created Black Runners of the GTA on Instagram to highlight runners of colour in her community and to tell stories that create inclusivity. This month, Melanie researched and presented African Canadian runners that have influenced and shaped our sport. We talk about her experience in creating this content, how a passion for fundraising started her journey into running, and just how early in the morning she gets up to get it all done.

New Balance middle-distance runner Mariah Kelly has a passion for life and running. While she didn't start out as the fastest runner on the track, her tenacity and incredible work ethic have taken her the distance: first to a scholarship at an NCAA school, and then to the Athletics Canada West High Performance Hub. Mariah doesn't do anything halfway... and that's what makes her a remarkable human being.

Time to take a deep dive into mother running. Name your challenge and Nadya Stewart can probably relate: she has dealt with difficult pregnancies, miscarriage, anxiety, and postpartum challenges. And she did a bunch of it during a pandemic. Nadya is really candid about sharing how running as well as other forms of self-care and awareness have helped her through, and she hopes that her honesty will help others who need support.

Olympian Jess O'Connell is co-owner of Grit Athletic Coaching and I can't think of a more appropriate word to describe her. Despite a variety of setbacks that would have sidelined many, Jess is persevering and pushing towards her goals. This chat will make you believe in resilience and consider how you can work more of this mindset into your own days.

A quick episode to talk about the year that was with highlights from Malindi Elmore, Natasha Wodak, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, Lucia Stafford, and Filsan Abdiaman. I also answer a couple of listener questions and discuss show goals for 2021.

As one of three children growing up on a farm, Scottish distance runner and recent Canadian permanent resident Sarah Inglis' family tradition of hard work and competition led her to move to Canada at the age of 21 to reach for her running dreams. Under coach Mark Bomba, Sarah now holds the Canadian all-comers record in the road 5K and she's one of Britain's fastest female marathoners thanks to her amazing first attempt at The Marathon Project in December. Now Sarah's tuning up for the British Olympic Marathon Trials in March and she shares what it's going to take to get it done.

The word 'resilient' takes on new meaning when you get to spend a little time with Sheree Mullings. From overcoming obstacles in her time at U of T to dealing with the major illness of a parent, Sheree has a way of turning challenges into opportunities for change. Sheree tells us all about why she created Track Fit with Mullings and how she is staying positive during difficult times.