Run Canada Podcast

Regan Yee is definitely an athlete to watch in 2021. From the tiny town of Hazelton, BC, Regan is a middle distance and steeplechase runner who balances a strong competitive streak with a view of running as play. I chat with Regan about why a smaller university was the right fit for her, how missing out on the Olympic team in 2016 made her a more confident runner, and how her work with Thinx extends her reach as an amazing role model.

Natasha Wodak became the second-fastest Canadian woman running the marathon in 2:26:19 on December 20th at The Marathon Project in Chandler, AZ. And I wanted to know EVERYTHING. She and I dug deep on everything from committing to the start line, how training went, to how the miles all rolled out. You don't want to miss this chat with one of the coolest women in running.

If you have never heard of Shanda Hill before, you are in for a major treat. Shanda's journey started with BMX but a serious accident led her on a journey that she never would have expected. Today she is one of the toughest female athletes in the world. Among other incredible accomplishments, Shanda is the first Canadian ever to complete the double Deca Ultra Tri which is the equivalent of 20 ironman triathlons that she had 28 days to complete. Her stories are awe-inspiring - don't miss it!

Elite road runner Catherine Watkins is faster as a master. This mother of two and Oiselle Haute Volee runner has been continually putting in the work and making for some impressive race times. We talk about her work as a coach with Mile 2 Marathon, the keys to keeping her body ready to race, and what book is on her nightstand.

Two-time Worlds competitor in both the steeplechase and cross country, Maria Bernard Galea has an attitude of gratitude. This UBC grad and Calgary native had her first shot at the Olympics in 2016 and she's gunning for a repeat in 2021. We talk horses, work wives, movie theatre popcorn, and how the injury that sidetracked her for eight months made her realize what a huge place running holds in everything she does.

Looking to get reenergized? It's time for some real chat with Coach Lynsey! Founder of Skyline Endurance and six-time Boston qualifier, Lynsey brings us a ton of helpful hints on setting goals, info on strength training, and how we can get what we need out of our running. This one is a game-changer!

Elite runner and mother of three Tarah Korir joins me to talk about what it's like living between two countries, being married to a Boston Marathon winner, and founding not one but two charities to support Kenyan youth. Tarah shares how she manages to make doing it all seem possible and how having children translated into her going from a 1500 runner to a marathoner.

Three-time Olympian Angela Whyte has put more than two decades of her life into pursuing athletics through track and field. She has had an amazingly successful career, but at 40 she's still hungry for more. Angela shares the ups and downs of her career so far and what it looks like to put absolutely everything she's got into a chance to compete in Tokyo in 2021.

If you don't already know who Karla Del Grande is, you are in for a treat. Karla is a Masters Track and Field athlete with a passion and a drive for the sport that is unparalleled: she holds 12 outdoor national track records, 17 indoor national records and nine world records. NINE! Karla shares her passion for the sport and why everyone listening should consider giving Masters level track a try.

We're back for a catch-up session with Canada's fastest female marathoner, Malindi Elmore. A LOT has happened in the year since we last spoke, so Malindi fills us in on all things Houston Marathon, what life in lockdown has been like and the amazing work she is doing as a coach.

Robyn started her running career in track and cross country but found that her true superpowers lied on the road. Sharing her time and passions between research and running, Robyn talks about balance (both on and off the unicycle), why mountain running is Canada's hidden gem of a community, and her recent move to Baltimore.

Don't call it a comeback: for the one year anniversary of WRC, I caught up with my first-ever guests on the pod, Race Directors Kirsten Fleming and Charlotte Brookes. The captains of the ship at Run Calgary and Canada Running Series respectively, these amazing women are leaders in the industry and have really stepped up even more as race events have navigated their way through COVID. They have also been challenging themselves even more with their own running and supporting Canadian events at the same time.

Emily Setlack finished second at the Canadian Olympic Trials Championship last year at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how cool she is. Emily ran track in university but by the time she was done she was burned out. Hear all about how over time she has taken on trail, mountain and road racing and made a journey back to the basics... learning to love running all over again.

Coach Lynn is on the show! Two-time Olympian and Canadian women's record holder Lynn Kanuka talks about her love, commitment, and passion for the sport of running. She shares what it was like to win a bronze medal in one of the most memorable races in Olympic history, how she managed to always bring her best on race day, and what it's like to be one of Canada's most well respected running coaches.

Jellisa Westney may be a sprinter whose career so far has included representing Team Canada in both her junior and senior years, but she is also a huge advocate and supporter of the road running community through her work as a manager of the Liberty Village Running Room. Jellisa talks about races, training, showing up and doing the work, and some of her great joys in working with road runners.

Micha first represented Team Canada in 2015 and has been burning to be the best to represent her country in everything she does ever since. Micha shares her experience running track at the University of Maryland, being named to the 2016 Olympic team, lessons learned from her famous parents, and her experience hosting Athletics Canada's podcast People Behind the Performances.

Self-described "pro teacher and rec runner" Lyndsay Tessier talks all about returning to running in her 30s, finding joy in road racing and her remarkable performance in Doha.

Melanie and April Boultbee started out in cross country as kids, came back to running as adult elite road racers and now have transitioned to trail and ultra running. They are also epic leaders coaching track and field and working as R.E.A.L. role models for Fast and Female. These twin sisters share the ups and downs of their careers so far and what they look forward to in races that lie still down the road.

Happy running BFF day! On this episode, we celebrate the happiness that is a running bestie and who better to do that with than the amazing duo of Lisa Sun and Joyce Law. Joyce and Lisa met online and went on to become sole mates and key members of the Ontario run crew We Run North York (Joyce is the co-leader). From their stories on the run to their matching outfits, Lisa and Joy are sunshine in a bottle and had me laughing all hour. Enjoy!

Get fired up with Crystal Emmanuel: Canada's fastest female runner. Crystal is a sprinter and holds the Canadian Women's record in the 200m as well as the 4x100m AND 4x200m relays. She is a two-time Olympian and is getting her mental and physical game ready to join Team Canada in Tokyo. I talk to the Queen Beast about kicking Iced Capps, her deep love of sneakers and how growing up in Barbados sparked her love of running.

Rachel Seaman holds FIVE Canadian women's records for race walking. She's an Olympian and a four time competitor in the IAAF World Race Walking Cup. These are just a few of the things that make Rachel an amazing athlete, but what makes her an amazing human is her resiliency and tenacity. Rachel talks about recovering from an injury that kept her from returning to the Olympics in Rio, dealing with depression and her drive for a comeback for 2021 in Tokyo.

At just 16 years old, Metis runner Tracie Leost embarked on a four day 115 KM run to bring attention to the over 4,000 aboriginal women, girls and two-spirit people who have gone missing in Canada since 1980. Her journey to addressing aboriginal issues in Canada is nowhere near over: Tracie is now 21 and using her voice, intelligence and athleticism to continue to support and uplift her people. She is proof positive that you are never too young to make a difference.

Vancouver-based trainer and ultra runner Filsan Abdiaman is passionate about helping others feel beautiful, both on the inside and out. She is the founder of Project Love Run: a monthly run-to-brunch that "offers women a safe space to talk about matters of the heart". Filsan talks about her journey to arriving at PLR, as well as her other projects all of which share her heart and soul in a very candid, honest and thoughtful way.

Co-Founder of Run Like a Girl, traveler and trail runner extraordinaire, Courtney McQueen will inspire you with her no-nonsense approach to running and life. Listen in to her tales from the trails, how she dove head first into race planning, and what it's like to be expecting baby #2 while managing everything else.

Liz loves to run and volunteer. She loves going fast but she loves going slow too, especially when it means spending time with her her run club Frontrunners Toronto. Liz shares what running has done for her and how she got out of her comfort zone to find a supportive loving group that helped her heal from loss.

Welcome to the steeplechase, everyone! Canadian record holder Genviève Lalonde joins me to talk steeplechase 101, her love of running (and chocolate), and her Acadian roots in her hometown of Moncton, NB.

Today we talk to four friends from the running world and how they have been getting through the last few months. I talk to Cheryl Zealand (Cranked Energy Bars), Morgan McKay (Battle Unicorn Training), Rachel Munday (Manitoba Marathon) and Lynn Bourque (The Runners Shop). The global pandemic has challenged us all, but there is still good to talk about in the way we have all been able to come together as a community.

Teal Gove is a Boston qualifying marathoner from Calgary, but she's so much more than that. Teal is a Lululemon ambassador and a blogger who is inspiring runners everywhere to reach for big goals. She is also making real change working and fundraising with Run for Water. Get ready to get inspired!

An up and coming Calgary elite racer, Leanne Klassen talks all about her beginnings in the sport and the training, goal setting and love of racing that have brought her to now.

800-metre specialist Lindsey Butterworth shares her thoughts on managing a full-time job she loves at the same time as her professional running career. She also shares a couple of the craziest stories of getting to the start line that I've ever heard.

Runner, coach and advocate for equality in sport, Leslie Sexton joins me this week on the show. She talks all about her move from the track to the road, what it's like to inspire young runners and a few of her ups and downs on the way to the start line. She also takes on the first ever WRC Star Wars trivia challenge...

It's sister day on the podcast! Canadian record holders Gabriela DeBues Stafford and her younger sister Lucia Stafford join us from quarantine for the ultimate running family chat. Get ready to laugh and learn a little more about these two amazing women, including which one owns more shoes.

The current Canadian record holder in the women's half marathon, Andrea Seccafien is a dedicated athlete who is killing it and just getting started in reaching for her big goals. Currently living in Australia and training with the Melbourne Track Club, Andrea is splitting her focus between the road and her track specialty of the 5,000. She talks with me about coming back from injury, racing in Japan and what makes living in Australia so awesome.

Québec's Mélanie Myrand gives us a lesson in balance: this amazing lady works part time as a nurse practitioner while pursuing her dreams as an elite marathoner. She has some great advice on knowing when to lean in on the race course and how to keep positive in this challenging time.

One of the fastest women in Canada, Natasha Wodak holds multiple Canadian distance records and just this year became the first Canadian woman to run sub-70 minutes in the Half Marathon. Natasha opens up about social media, travel and racing and the challenges of self criticism.

How do you do justice to an athlete like Rachel Cliff in an hour? The road and track racing legend shares a little bit with me about setting Canadian records, staying grounded and where she is at mentally with the postponement of the Olympics.

Let's talk triathlon! PK Performance coach extraordinaire Phaedra Kennedy talks about her journey with running, getting older and getting faster, how her husband's finish line was her start line and a whole lot in between.

Kinsey Middleton is a dual Canadian/American citizen who can't wait for her chance to shine representing Canada at the Olympics. She's bright, funny, positive and full of energy - this one will fuel your next long run with lots of good vibes!

Sarah Wells knows all about the highs and lows of running. From the elation of reaching the semi-finals in the 2012 Olympics to the devastation of missing the 2016 team by one second, and the life-changing experience of competing on The Amazing Race Canada, Sarah is taking her experiences and using them to inspire Canadians to Believe in themselves and reach for dreams of their own.

How do you spell passion? K-A-R-A. Kara Leinweber is a ultra distance trail runner and creator of The Lewiston Ultra. If you are thinking of giving trail running a whirl or just want to think about new ways to connect with the outdoors, Kara will get you reaching for your trail shoes.

Daryl Lang is far from your ordinary runner: not because she is visually impaired (which is just a sideline to her story) but for many other reasons. She decided her first half marathon needed to include a solo bus trip across half of the United States. She books her next race before she has completed the one she is currently training for. I could go on. Along with her sidekick guide dog Jenny and a pile of other supportive partners, she is taking over the world one epic adventure at a time.

One of the most significant voices of our time in Canadian women's running, Lanni Marchant is pouring her heart into making the comeback of a lifetime in 2020. Hear her talk about her journey to Lanni 2.0 and why the race to the Tokyo Olympics is so darn exciting.

Elite road runner and Registered Dietician Rachel Hannah dives deep into her experiences with RED-S and her current work with athletes of all levels to help them maximize their own performances and outcomes.

Today we welcome the Battle Unicorn herself, the Canadian Queen of OCR, Morgan McKay. This Guinness World Record holder has done it all, from the Spartan Death Race to World's Toughest Mudder, and has even competed in the Barkley Marathon. Get ready to get energized on this one!

Co-Founder of Canadian registration software giant Race Roster, Chantelle Wilder talks about her journey so far. From running track in Hawaii to returning back to Ontario to work with her childhood friends, she tells us all about the ride and where she thinks it might go next.

Women's record for the 400m hurdles, Sage Watson talks inspiration, great advice from her dad, and how she shuts down negativity. Time to get some sagespiration!

GM of Saucony Canada Nicole McCasey shares some insight from her experience working in the industry along with her perspective as a long-time runner. We talk everything from favourite race events to kimchi.

Happy holidays! This extra special episode features two extra special women who are redefining running into retirement years. Former Running Room manager Lorraine Walton talks about her life after work and how she is making the most of every moment, and world-record-holding octogenarian Helly Visser shares the amazing tale of her accomplishments.

Big inspiration episode! Founder of VO2 Max Events and Toronto Womens Run Series Cory Freedman talks about what it's like to innovate, create and get things done in the running industry. Alison Désir, founder of Run Harlem, shares how you can get involved in the Global Womxns Run Collective and connect with other influencers all around the world.

Marathon Mom Krista DuChene chats about everything from career highlights to faith, to work as a Registered Dietician and a broadcaster as well as her undying love of coffee.