The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon wants more women to run the marathon. Last year, they spent some time identifying challenges women face and having honest conversations with female runners about what can hold us back. This year, they launched the Women's Training Program: a free group for women planning to take on the full or half marathon on race day, October 20th. This group has been sharing their journey together online, in person on supported runs, and accessing resources, including a training program. 

This training group is half way to their goal, so I caught up with a couple of them for a chat. Mandy Mundell is tackling training for the full for the third time after being sidelined in the past by injury and illness. Joan Broto, a mother of two teenagers, is working to prioritize her training time, and show her kids how amazing it can be to work towards a big goal. Kardia founder Heather Gardner joins us to bring her veteran perspective and provide some insight. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll definitely relate. Thanks to the participants and to TWM for letting me share this piece of the journey with everyone. 

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon AND Half Marathon are officially sold out, but you can still catch the vibes by registering for the 5K on Saturday, October 19

www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com 

Follow TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon @torontowaterfront42k

Follow Mandy @tri_ingfitnesslife

Follow Heather @catchingheather @kardiaathletica

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Theme by Joseph McDade

It's time to wrap up our training journey with the wonderful Emelyn Jade. Emelyn has put in all the work and survived the taper crazies to arrive at the big day. She completed the Half Ironman in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia at the end of May. Emelyn takes us through the good, the challenging and the amazing moments of her big day. We also talk a bit about her next adventure and what her future athletic experiences might look like from what she learned. 

Follow Emelyn on Instagram @emelynjade

EPISODE SPONSOR: TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is 95% sold out! If you were waiting for your sign to register for this epic race, this is it. Secure your spot now before it's too late. Whether you're aiming for a personal best or just looking to enjoy a run through the beautiful streets of Toronto, this is your moment. Green bibs are still available as well. Register now and join thousands of other runners at the start line. Let's make this race unforgettable together. Go to www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com to register now!

Many things make our local run communities amazing, but one of those things that has the power to take it up a notch is a fantastic local run shop. Caroline Fisher, co-owner of Big Sky Running Company in Winnipeg, was hooked on running as a teenager when she first logged miles with her mother and her run group at Running Room. It inspired her to reach for big goals early on, running her first marathon as a teenager and then joining the Bisons track team at the University of Manitoba. She continued to develop as a runner, became a mom twice over, and has now shown her skills as an ultra trail runner. She even placed third at the Manitoba Marathon last year, with her home crowd cheering her on. As Big Sky recently celebrated its first birthday, Caroline talked about her huge love for the run community and some of the trials and triumphs of being a small business owner. 

Follow Big Sky Running Company on Instagram @bigskyrunco

Photo credit: @therunningkat

EPISODE SPONSOR: Vancouver Half Marathon

The swag has dropped, and excitement is high for this year's Vancouver Half Marathon, taking place in person on June 23, 2024, or virtually from June 1-30, 2024. THIS RACE IS 90% SOLD OUT! Secure your spot and run a gorgeous 21 km or 5 km. Your prize? A beautiful medal, souvenir ASICS participant shirt, access to the Runkeeper Go premium experience and more! Register today at www.canadarunningseries.com 

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

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. 

Sawyer Nicholson is a pretty special human being. This twelve-year-old runs fast. Crazy fast. Like world-record-in-her-age-category fast. But her real superpower is the amazingly balanced perspective and joy she brings to her sports (she is also an amazing soccer player). Sawyer has big goals and wants to continue improving her skills as she grows, but she also recognizes that if it isn't fun, it's not worth doing. Friendships within her teams and on the start line are a big part of the equation, and the run community keeps her coming back for more. But after you listen to this episode, if you want her to sign your copy of Canadian Running Magazine, you will have to get in line behind me.

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. 

Samantha Jory is ridiculously humble for a runner who started running during COVID, started racing in 2022, and is now one of Athletics Canada's top-ranking women in the half marathon for 2024. Sam has always loved team sports and had active parents who were role models for her growing up in British Columbia; now she delights in trail running with friends and road racing in this beautiful province. Sam's running is deeply rooted in gratitude for the healthy body that keeps letting her test and find new limits and for the running community that has encouraged and supported her the whole way. I hope you take some of her joy and gratitude from this episode and find your own on your next run. 

• The book Samantha mentions during the show is called The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday
• The run clubs she mentions are @eastvanruncrew and @fraserstreetrunclub
• Follow Sam on Instagram @swjory

EPISODE SPONSOR: Vancouver Half Marathon

The swag has dropped, and excitement is high for this year's Vancouver Half Marathon, taking place in person on June 23, 2024, or virtually from June 1-30, 2024. Secure your spot and run a gorgeous 21 km or 5 km, or bring your favourite little one to the kids' race. Your prize? A beautiful medal, souvenir ASICS participant shirt, access to the Runkeeper Go premium experience and more! Register today at www.canadarunningseries.com 

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

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. 

Chix Run the 6ix may have been born when the world was telling us to stay apart, but the heart of what they do is all about community. From the speaker stage at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, moderator and co-founder Amanda Richardson and her panel talk about how (as genuinely busy people) they find time and space to prioritize their own goals and how being part of the Chix helps to make it all happen. Chix are a super special crew: they focus on spreading the message that running is for everybody (say it again for the folks in the back!). They also highlight how you can have your own goals and make them important while at the same time supporting and cheerleading your fellow crew. Watch for them in the hot pink gear at a race near you and say hello!

Follow Chix Run @chixrunthe6ix

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Oasis ZooRun

Get ready to run on the wild side: registration for the Oasis ZooRun is now open! Taking place at the Toronto Zoo on September 14, this unique race brings together runners of all ages and abilities in support of wildlife conservation. Make this your next great adventure: register today at www.canadarunningseries.com 

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

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. 

Cheryl Zealand is smart, funny, kind, and one of the biggest boss ladies I know. If you live in Manitoba and are active, you probably already know her as the owner of Cranked Energy, producers of freshly made high protein energy bars that she spent years perfecting the recipe of. Since Cranked is celebrating its tenth anniversary this week, we talk all about business, fitness, and running and how they are so deeply connected in her life that you can't separate them. We also talk about how her running has evolved over the years. She may still run marathons on the reg, but her goals for what constitutes success for the training and execution have changed over the years. Cheryl is all about community: she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal for all her generosity and caring. Manitoba is a better place because this warm-hearted lady is part of it. 

Follow Cheryl on Instagram @cherylzealand

Follow Cranked Energy @crankedenergy

EPISODE SPONSOR: Oasis ZooRun

Get ready to run on the wild side: registration for the Oasis ZooRun is now open! Taking place at the Toronto Zoo on September 14, this unique race brings together runners of all ages and abilities in support of wildlife conservation. Make this your next great adventure: register today at www.canadarunningseries.com 

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

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.