Run Canada Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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.