No Limits: A Review of Alex Hutchison’s Endure

March 28, 2018

By Brodie Ramin, MD MPhil CCFP

When Alex Hutchison was chosen to cover Nike’s Breaking2 project which aimed to make history by destroying the 2-hour marathon barrier, he started to get hate mail. And Hutchinson, as a polite Canadian, was sympathetic with the haters. As a runner, a writer and perhaps the best popularizer of exercise science alive today, he could see their point. “Though I’m surprised by the vehemence, I understand where it’s coming from. Running’s simplicity is its defining characteristic” he writes in his new book Endure: Mind Body and the Curiosity Elasti Limits of Human Performance which was 9 years in the making and distills everything we know about the science of exercise and athletic performance. What the haters hated was Nike’s commercial and technological incursion into this beautiful sport.

But running, indeed all sport, is not simple. Once you turn up the power on your microscope and look deeper and deeper at the cellular and molecular actions of the body under the stress of intense physical exertion you start to see worlds within worlds. It’s not simple to sort out, nor is it easy to define the limits of what can be achieved. The subtitle of the book is Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. Hutchinson breaks his inquiry into such chapters as Pain, Muscle, Heat and Fuel. Each chapter uses an engaging and illustrative narrative from sports journalism to explore the limits of performance.

Hutchinson also explores the limits of our knowledge, or more frequently, our ignorance. The chapter on Heat focuses on the death of teenager Max Gilpin following a scorching afternoon’s football practice in 2008. In Hutchinson’s hands the tale becomes a scientific murder mystery which breaks though layer after layer of conventional thinking about how the body works and how it responds to stress, to heat and to exercise. He shows how so much of what we think we know is wrong, completely wrong, 180 degrees wrong. These ideas are then blasted away by Hutchinson using the weapons of science.

The chapter on Fuel explores the well-trodden carbohydrate vs. fat dietary debate then goes one step further. Hutchinson explores a study published in 2017 showing that endurance athletes on a three-week high-fat diet became “fat-burning machines to an extent few had imagined possible” But the problem was that fat metabolism uses more oxygen, and the performance of these athletes was limited by this increased demand for oxygen. It’s not fat or carbohydrates Hutchinson shows, there is a balance to be sought. The best athletes achieve “metabolic flexibility” by maximizing both fuel pathways.

Pain is a fascinating case-study in limits, as it is seemingly so simple to test. Who can suffer the most, for the longest? But pain is also “a subjective, situation-dependent phenomenon” and regular physical training can actually increase an athlete’s pain tolerance. The word pain is mandatory in most motivational athletic aphorisms, such as “No pain, no gain,” “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”, “Pain is weakness leaving the body” and many more. Hutchinson explores the role of pain in creating champions. One way to suffer is to see how far you can cycle in 60 minutes, a challenge known simply as the Hour. Hutchinson uses the story of the Hour to explore pain, ultimately suggesting that “top athletes really push themselves to a darker place, and stay there longer, than most people are willing to tolerate.”

In the end, you realize that Hutchinson is a scientist trapped inside the body of a runner. I don’t doubt that VO2max data, racing split times and metabolic pathways fill his dreams. He wants you to share in this knowledge, to pick up the weapons of truth-finding that science allows us all to wield in the battle against ignorance, against injury and against our own limits.

Brodie Ramin is a writer and physician based in Ottawa. He practices family medicine and addiction medicine and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa.

How My Little Goals led to Big Goals led to my Second Marathon

Ben Kaplan

March 27, 2018

We sometimes have far fetched goals that seem, from the outside, as impossible as climbing the CN Tower. Where I am now in my health and fitness from where I was, was one such goal. So much so I could never have dreamed. I set small goals. Those small goals opened the door and introduced me to the stairs, difficult—but possible.

Six years ago my big goal was to lose 200 pounds. I wanted to regain my ability to walk more than a few blocks without struggling. As part of my journey, I began walking, 2-3 days a week. Short distances at first—8 blocks a day with 30 minute breaks half way between. It was hard to get motivated. After one year I lost heart because I stopped seeing results and could not motivate myself to walk further.

One year later, I resolved to try again, got into a weight management program, and joined a walking group. With the support from friends and family and health care workers, I was able to stay motivated. I started slowly, walking only four laps around a local hockey arena. I did this two days a week. I added one lap each day, in about three months I was easily walking 27 laps, equal to over 7 kilometres. In this time frame I had also lost around 80 pounds which made the walking easier.

By the time spring came around and I was able to walk outside I was walking 5-10K a day, every day. At this point I could not really get anymore fit through walking. By now I was below 300 pounds. Where to go from here? I had accomplished my first goal. I met a friend who got me to try racing. They were difficult. I had to mostly walk them. It took me 96 minutes to do 10K. I could have gotten discouraged. The support and enthusiasm from my friend kept that from happening. At that moment, I resolved to run another 10K.

Like my walking, I needed to start slowly. I needed a way to regulate my speed and timing. I joined a gym. I used the treadmill to work on intervals. 1 min running at 8 kph 2 min walking at 5.6 kph. It was hard. I needed the whole two minutes for recovery. But, when that got easier, I increased my running speed to 8.8 kph. When that got easy, I decreased my walking time. After about a month, I decided to see how far I could run without stopping at 8kph. I made it to .8 km and my legs felt great. I went to 1.6K and still good. I made it to 2.4K and still ok. I stopped there for fear of overdoing it. From there I worked on increasing my distance and speed. After two months I ran my first 5K outside in 32.5 minutes.

I had signed up for my second 10K. It was only three months after I started learning to run. I was running 5K well enough by 2.5 months. I decided that I would run 5K and walk if I had to. It would still be an improvement. The day came. It was a small race, only around 10 people in the 10K distance. All but one were ahead of me. By the 5K mark, I was a couple of minutes ahead of that person. I knew if I started walking they would catch up. I went to 6K, starting to hurt. The competitive side of me did not want to be last, but on the turn arounds, I saw that person, still running—they did not give up, I would not give up. 7K, hurting more, I wanted to stop and walk, but one more kilometre. 8 km, so close, maybe just one more. 9K, I started walking but how could I walk the last km, having come so far? I started running again. I finished with a 65 minutes and nine seconds time.

That winter I spent my time training to run 10K on a regular basis. I wanted to be able to run 10K where it would not push me to my limit. My friend who was out of town, supported me online. I do not know what possessed me, but I decided to run my first half marathon in April. Again, I had only ever run half that distance. This time, however, I had the support of my friend running with me. That support, and the atmosphere of race day, helped a lot. 2 hours 10 minutes. My legs hurt. I spent a lot of time recovering, I realize that it is not wise to push oneself that hard. I think I needed to do it, though, as a test of my determination.

With the help of many new running friends, I accomplished a lot that summer and fall. I ran a 10K pb of 54:36. I walked 40K for four days straight to support the friend whose enthusiasm got me running. I even ran a second half marathon in 2:08.

With all of those accomplishments in walking and running, where should I go from there? The most logical step of course was to train for and run a marathon. Run a marathon? Running a half marathon seemed like the ultimate accomplishment for me. With the support of my running friends, I began training. It was hard, of course. I will share a secret with all of you: the training for a marathon was hard, but in terms of soreness, and motivation, learning to walk when I first started my journey was harder. All of the hard work I had done previously had provided a base for me that I did not have when I first began walking.

I ran my first marathon on April 29, 2017. I will admit, I did walk a good portion of the second half, and I hit the wall hard. I made some technical mistakes, starting out too fast, and not carb loading enough. I did however finish in under 5 hours. 4:53:52 to be exact. I may have had to walk at times, but I did not give up. All of my journey led to this moment. All the pain, all the times when I wanted to give up but didn’t. All of it, were steps in a journey. I could not have climbed the last flight of stairs without starting the first. In May, one year after my first marathon I will be running my second. I will be racing the Ottawa Marathon. I am excited to continue to share my journey during the Ottawa race weekend. I hope to inspire many as I attempt to better my first time. And always keep finding new finish lines.

Krista DuChene at Around the Bay

Ben Kaplan

March 27, 2018

Sunday’s 124th Around the Bay 30 km Road Race in Hamilton was my ninth time completing the event since my debut, 15 years ago when I ran it in 2:12. Between 2012 and 2018 I finished the race five times with either a first (x2) or second (x3) in a time of 1:47 (x3) or 1:51 (x2), and in 2010 I was third with a 1:53. For a history of the Oldest Race in North America’s top 10, click here.

I’ve always referred to this race as “The Bay,” but it seems like “ATB” is now the more common abbreviation.

There’s something special about ATB. It’s that time of year where runners are finally fine-tuning their training after weeks of winter running in harsh conditions and limited daylight. It creates that butterfly feeling in your stomach when you know that (the true) spring weather is right around the corner. It brings back high school memories for me, before my U of G hockey days, where the outdoor track season is near. Running surfaces are no longer snow and ice covered, and there are fewer layers of clothing to carry. The 30 km race is the light at the end of the tunnel in some ways, and also a gentle, or not so gentle, reminder that the marathon is going to be that much more gruelling. There’s a bit more time to hammer out a few more high km weeks and tough workouts. But for the most part, it’s a bitter sweet feeling that the end is near.

Going into Sunday’s race, the plan was to train through. I wouldn’t be “racing it” or significantly decreasing my weekly mileage; 150 km would be close to my 155-180 km range and I’d be completing a decent workout earlier in the week. Coach DST recommended I start at ~3:40/km pace for the first 12 km, then pick it up to the 3:35-3:38/km range for the middle part, and finish strong on the hills as good preparation for Boston. Dan Way and Mitch Free would be joining me in this pursuit, but we all knew that perfect plans are difficult to perfectly execute. They were a good ways ahead of me at the Chilly Half, but I knew the longer the race distance, the closer I’d be to them. We started out together with about six other guys in the mix. It wasn’t that far into the race that we got separated into two smaller groups. I ended up in what I called the “chase pack,” taking my fair share of leading the group into some decent headwinds. I enjoyed the company, but we too dispersed as the race went on. If I had more women around me, I likely would have pushed harder so it was a good thing that it was just me and the guys.

I knew ATB was a key race for Dayna who finished strong in 1:49 for her fourth victory so I didn’t even attempt to run with her. After the race I wasn’t sure how I felt. I had never not raced a race before. I rushed back for my daughter’s 1:00 p.m. hockey game, her last of the season, then completed a longer cool down shortly thereafter where I collected some thoughts. My cousin also completed the race so he and his wife joined us for the afternoon and dinner on their way home. Once I sat down to email coach DST my thoughts, I concluded that I was satisfied with fairly successfully executing our plan.

“Temperature was decent. It was windy and I took my fair share of leading a pack of guys into the wind (not the guys I planned to run with, they were ahead a bit and split the first 12 km at exactly 3:40/k!) so not a whole lot to complain about re: conditions.

I have enjoyed not being a slave to my watch this year – no standards or criteria to meet based on numbers, which I’ve quite liked. I’ve focused more on a solid effort while being able to handle hills. I know I’m not as speedy as I once was, which is ok. I’m not saying a PB can’t happen again. Rather, the focus has been elsewhere. So, not “racing” today and using it as a good Boston effort = mission accomplished, particularly because I felt solid on the hills.

I knew Dayna had this as a key race for her season so I let her go from the start. I think if she was a bit closer or I had other women around me I would have given a bit more. I had a little sprint at the end, which makes me think I left some for Boston. Fuelling was good. Good pay day with overall and masters and a Cdn masters record. Not bad!

Here is my 5 km per km pace average: 3:39.8, 3:43, 3:37.6, 3:38.2, 3:43.8, 3:42.2 Looking at the numbers, I did dip into a faster pace as planned around 10-20 km then handled the hills well.“

I’ve taken the day to recover with an easy 15 km run, some stretching and rolling, an epsom salt bath, and a massage to keep me in good form. Aside from the chafing due to four gels stuffed down my bra, I can’t complain about anything else.

March was its usual busy month with three birthdays, the kids’ peak competitive seasons, March break, two races and peak training, but here we are already, just three weeks away from the 2018 Boston Marathon.

Photographs by the talented Edison Yao.

Around the Bay wrap up

Ben Kaplan

March 26, 2018

It was a bright and chilly Around the Bay road race in Hamilton on Sunday, the 124th running of a proud Canadian tradition that many runners use as a tune up to their spring races and enjoy year after year. Anne-Marie, pictured above, in the pink, found it a very rewarding morning.

“First time doing a 30k and it was awesome. Ran 3:28 and found the hills not so bad as I trained in Peterborough and did the half there in February. Living well at 62 years old!“

Cory Boyd said, “I trained for the ATB 20 years ago, and hurt myself the last long run. Every year since I ask myself why I didn’t do it. I’m turning 50 this week, and finally did it! I am so pleased with myself, and thankful for my running group friends!!”

Indeed, the feel of family and friendship was prevalent at the race, which generally brings out a fairly dedicated level of runners, what with the hills and the chilly conditions and the requirement to train through January and February to be able to perform on race day.

The male winners were Haron Kiptoo Sirma and Paneul Mkungo and the female winners were Dayna Pidhoresky and Krista DuChene. Reid Coolsaet, deep in the throes of his training for Boston took fourth place and finished according to his race plan. He also found the stamina to join the official after party, baby and wife in tow, at Merit Brewery. For Dana Cantarutti, who trains with Toronto’s Black Toe Running, her successful race was a credit to her crew. [photograph by Carlos Game-Garcia]

“Wearing the Black Toe jersey makes me feel like I toe the line next to my entire team. Today’s biggest ‘happy moment’ was realizing that I’d never have accomplished what I did without the support that each teammate provides in their own individual way. Whether through running next to me, sharing my happiness at the finish line, informally mentoring me and caring about my success, joking around pre-race or sharing warmth through hugs at the start line…. I love you all!”

Tanis Smith, pictured below, trains with Grand River Endurance, a talented group of runners, including her husband Josh, who took 11th place. She said, “It was a beautiful sunny day for running with some very challenging winds. We all fought hard especially in that first 10K to stay tough. I was running mostly solo for the race through 20K, still close to my course PB pace. I felt great on the hilly section as we’ve run that as a training run a few times this winter. I’d definitely recommend people do this if they can! I did have someone pass me near the 25K mark, and they were having a great day. All in all good to get our there and run my best on the day—lucky to be doing what I love and doing well at it! Mitch Free won the masters, Rob ran over 2min PB and Josh ran about 1.5min PB!”

For me personally, it was a great race. I had lost a little of my love after the Chilly Half. That race I ran with a fever and, worse than that, I was in a bad mental place. I didn’t sleep a wink before the run and for whatever reason, maybe that it was the first race of the year, I just gave myself a lot of stress.

Around the Bay was my first race back in which I high-fived kids, listened to my music and had a smile on my face. It was great to see so many familiar faces, there’s nothing better than this running world, and I always love when everyone comes together over a few beers at a party after the race. Next year will be the 125th running of Around the Bay.

I bet you there’s a lot of runners with me this morning saying, despite the sore muscles, I can’t wait to do this again.

ps: If you ran Around the Bay yesterday or anything else, please get in touch with us. We want to share your stories!!

iRun Radio – March 25th, 2018

Why I Run

March 25, 2018

Some runners take the love of this sport to the next level. First, one Ottawa runner talks about his experience running a marathon that benefits communities in Guatemala. Then, another runner will explain why she’s running from Ottawa to Montreal to raise awareness of childhood cancer. Plus, Jennifer Sygo a Toronto-based dietitian talks about healthy habits that you can ensure you have the energy for your morning run.

Running Commentary: Brewmaster John Peat

Ravi Singh

March 21, 2018

If you’re a brewer, it makes good business sense to have friends in the running community. The now global phenomenon known as the Mikeller Run Club sees an estimated 12,000 runners in cities across the globe gather on the first Saturday of each month for a crew run and a pint. Even the beer mile event has now yielded its first athlete sponsored by a mainstream athletic brand.

It makes sense that it’s in a Toronto brewpub packed with runners that I first meet John Peat, runner and founder and brewmaster at Longslice Brewery. Many, John included, had just finished participating in the annual Founders Classic Beer Mile hosted by RunTOBeer.

It’s John’s first crack at the event that brings together his two passions, but both became firmly rooted in his teens.

John explains, “I grew up in Muskoka in a very rural area, so if I missed the bus, I’d have to wait a few hours before my dad could come pick me up.” In the intermittent time, John would wander over to a nearby winery, the owner of which informed him that he could technically purchase anything in the shop because it wasn’t yet alcohol. Because John’s father had been an avid homebrewer, he had access to all the necessary equipment.

John began running on August 14, 2003, the day of the legendary Northeast blackout. “I was a bigger kid growing up and I just got tired of that, so I went running,” John relates. It was a surprisingly pleasant experience. John recalls, “After the first kilometre, I really loved it and went on to run track and cross country throughout high school.”

Running followed John overseas to Korea, where he worked as an English teacher following graduation. Living along the Han River, John had a path he “could follow forever.”

When Longslice took off, John admits that running took an unfortunate backseat. Having a similar revelation as the one in his teens, John decided last winter that he would not only start running again, but recruit coworkers and family members, many of whom will join him as he races the GoodLife Half Marathon in Toronto this May.

Of the journey back, John says he’s learned that, “Getting back in shape is incredibly hard and I honestly consider that to be my biggest accomplishment.” It’s hard enough to start running, but perhaps more gruelling to start, then stop, and have to work your way back knowing how far you’ve fallen. Right now, John’s focus is less on personal bests and more on fitness and continuing to enjoy running.

John says he can’t quite put his finger on why there seems to be such a prevalence of beer lovers among runners, but is pleased that the connections between the craft beer industry and local run crews have offered a social element to what newcomers may initially consider a very solitary pursuit.

John and friends at the Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon.

John points specifically to his brother, roommate, and business partner Jimmy, who, “never liked running, but I think the beer connection helped him a little bit.” It was in fact Jimmy who first connected with RunTOBeer, encouraging John to follow.

Currently, Longslice operates as a contract brewer, renting out equipment from Common Good Brewery in Scarborough, but are expected to have their own space by the end of summer.

“One thing I’m excited for is that the location on the Front Street promenade is right along the Don Valley Trail,” John exclaims, referencing one of Toronto’s most trafficked running and cycling trails. For John, the location means not just easy access to the trails on his lunch breaks, but the opportunity for lots of running events. Should a beer mile be among those events, John pledges to opt for short cans this time around as opposed to bottles on order to save himself time and an easier flow.

Power of One: One T-Shirt Feeds One Child for One Month

Why I Run

March 21, 2018

By: Anna Lee Boschetto

Can one T-shirt make a difference? If you ask Chris Cooper, the founder of Runners Heal, the answer is most definitely yes. No further questions asked. Runners Heal is an organization on a mission to relieve hunger and educate children and families in East Africa with the help of the global running community.

Each item of clothing sold, supports school meals for the children who need it most. Cooper has been on this mission for nearly a year, and with 90,000 meals provided in Kenya’s Kerio Valley he and others are seeing their impact. We caught up with Cooper shortly before his recent trip to Ethiopia, to talk about how he began this movement, his own marathon goals and why he’s so passionate about the running community at large.

iRun: Tell us about Runners Heal. Can you walk us through the process of making donations to Kenya?

Chris Cooper: We are a social enterprise, which donates a percentage of the sale item to fund school meals. As for the spark, it was never actually planned – but during a trip to Kenya I was so shocked with the conditions I found, I wanted to make a difference. Each item of clothing is worth a certain number of meals. We purchase the meals ourselves from local farmers to aid the community, and then deliver the food to the schools ourselves. It’s important for us to keep total control and transparency over the donation element.

iRun: Why the connection with runners, what made you decide to target the running community specifically?

CC: Being passionate about running, it’s something I am happy to talk about all day so it made sense. Plus the best runners in the world come from East Africa, so the link was clear to me

Mary Keitany, ladies world record marathon holder has partnered with Runners Heal to help provide the 90,000 meals through her farm.

iRun: How many meals have you provided to children? Does money raised go towards other programs including education? Can you explain?

CC: We are closing in on 100,000 Meals since our start. At the moment we are purely focused on meals, as meals equal school attendance and therefore result in a higher education level. With surplus money we have also built two farms on school lands, to boost this process and help reach the children how to farm and grow their own crops.

iRun: Runner Heal has a pacer and ambassador program how does that work? How else can people get involved with Runners Heal?

CC: I am keen to keep Runners Heal personal, by runners for runners. So our ambassador programs are not based on how many thousand followers you have, but more a reward for helping us grow. We highlight awesome posts and people who are clearly part of the movement and send them free stuff as a thank you. As for the pacers, that’s a little more closer to the “influencer” category, of which we are inviting our key pacers to a meeting in Kenya this summer.

iRun: Many races are connected to charity organizations in some capacity, why do you believe it’s so important to give back to communities in this type of a way?

CC: Audrey Hepburn once said that as you grow older you realize that you have two hands, one to feed yourself and the other for helping others. I’m a big believer in that where possible we should all stick together and make our brothers and sisters lives better if they are in need.

iRun: You seem quite hands-on going into different communities, it seems very personal for you, why is that connection important to you?

CC: Well firstly, I enjoy helping others and experiencing cultures. But from a commercial perspective I think that the followers of my journey appreciate the work I do personally, and there’s an element of trust and security when they can see a guy documenting his journey delivering the aid.

iRun: What or who keeps you inspired to continue building Runners Heal? Where do you see it going next?

CC: The community on social media. Daily I get messages and comments that inspire me to continue and grow. As for next, let’s see. I’m heading to Ethiopia for the first time, with the view to expand our reach but it depends what I see. I visited a few places in Kenya previously and decided instead to focus more on our current area of Kerio Valley as I just felt they were in greater need.

iRun: How and when did you get into running?

CC: All my life I’ve been active, but running became a hobby a couple of years ago when I was diagnosed with double pneumonia and I knew I needed to make a health change

iRun: As we all know music can be the motivation we need to carry on in our training. Do you run with music and if so, can you tell your top five tunes on your running playlist that help you push past difficult moments?

CC: I’ve a wide range of music taste to be honest. Mostly for running I have a mix from SoundCloud downloaded and I listen to a live DJ set, but depending on my mood I can also switch to some U.K. rap music or have a sing-along to Rag ‘N’ Bone Man. As I said, a wide range!

iRun: Where will running/racing take you next–what are the races you plan on participating in this year?

CC: Berlin and NYC Marathons. Although to be honest, don’t be too impressed – due to my efforts in Runners Heal alongside my full time job and weekly commute to my son in the UK, my fitness levels are far from where they should be approaching these races.

iRun Radio – March 18th, 2018

Why I Run

March 18, 2018

Canadian marathon runner Trevor Hofbauer believes in pushing his limits and on this week’s show he talks with Mark about just how far he can go. Then a 64 year old who has run 100 of races before and after having hip surgery explains how he recovered and keeps on running. And Jody Hutchison shares her inspiring story of finishing every event at the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

iRun teams up with the Toronto Marathon for new speaker’s series

Ben Kaplan

March 14, 2018

The Toronto Marathon, celebrating its 41 anniversary on Sunday, May 6, 2018, is pleased to team up with iRun magazine to present their daylong speaker’s series on Saturday, May 5, the day before the big race. Expect titillating conversations, tips you can use for race day and all the race history and lore you’ve come to expect from one of the country’s best race expos.

“It’s just part of my calendar every year,” says Kathrine Switzer, one of racing’s most legendary figures, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967 (a race in which she was tackled by the organizer, Jock Semple). “I can’t wait to come back to Toronto for the Toronto Marathon. By now, I feel like I’ve made so many good friends.”

Switzer, who galvanized race fans last year with an in-person chat with Canadian record holder Lanni Marchant, will be joined at the race expo by her husband, legendary race historian Roger Robinson; plus nutrition expert Ashley Leone, psych team lead Peter Papadogiannis and Eliud Lagat, a Kenyan coach and racer. Currently experiencing a 30% increase in race attendance against 2017, race organizer Jay Glassman believes the speaker series, moderated by iRun editor Ben Kaplan, is an exciting new addition to share with runners, and race fans.

“We listened to our racers last year and while everyone enjoyed the impromptu discussions taking place all over our Expo, we thought it would be best to set up a stage and organize a series of talks,” says Glassman, offering a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and a relay event. “We’re proud of the talent we attract to our race every year, and this year we’re pleased to put them all up on a pedestal to answer your questions.”

Expect conversations about proper fuelling techniques, how to dress for your race (and shop at the Expo), and learn about running strategies from some of the best minds in the sport. Robinson, for his part, mentions that the Toronto Marathon is one of the best races in North America for reaching a Boston Marathon-qualifying time. He’s been bringing runners to the race for years.

“I coach a New York runner, who was chasing his age 70-74 Boston qualifier. He missed three times, so I recommended the 2017 Toronto Marathon. As a frequent guest there, I knew the conditions are almost certain to be cool, and the course is absolutely certain to be BQ-friendly,” Robinson says. “Toronto has mostly flat terrain, overall elevation drop, smooth surfaces, varied scenery, good atmosphere, perfect race operations (marshalling, volunteers and water), and a field the right size to give you stimulating company without getting blocked or jostled. Dennis ran 4:19, a six-minute PR. He will be running his first Boston this year, at age 71. He’s ecstatic. Thanks, Toronto.”

The conversations begin Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Enercare Centre, 100 Princes Blvd., Heritage Court. Expo hours are Friday, May 4 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 5, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. See you there.

John Stanton interviews Fred Fox before the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Celebration

Ben Kaplan

March 14, 2018

It was 1982, the whole country was mesmerized and inspired by a young Canadian, named Terry Fox. My two sons and I laced up to run the Terry Fox 10K in Edmonton to show our support for Terry’s vision to find a cure and provide care for cancer victims. The fact that Terry was an amazing visionary, tenacious fundraiser, brilliant speaker and motivator was only eclipsed by the amazing athletic accomplishment of running a marathon each and every day, day after day. He did so on an archaic prosthetic, by today’s standards. This feat so inspired and motivated us all to help continue his dream. Running a 10K was frail and pale compared to Terry’s athleticism!

One of the foundations of the Running Room—and of races across Canada—is they all create a win for some charitable cause in the community. This too was started by Terry Fox. Terry was first an athlete and an amazing Canadian who would be proud of how Canada and the world have mobilized his dream. Canada as a country will be forever indebted to Terry Fox and the Fox family. I caught up with Fred Fox, Terry’s brother, ahead of our Marathon of Hope celebration on April 15, 2018. For more information on the event, please click here.

Stanton: April, 1980. Terry started out on his iconic run. What do you remember about that day?

Fox: I actually don’t remember much about the day other then the anticipation of watching the CBC news later in the day to see if there would be any coverage of Terry leaving St. John’s, NL. I remember more about the day Terry & his best friend Doug Alward left Vancouver airport. They left home April 7^th and the departure was full of tears and uncertainty. No one knew, especially Terry, of what to expect once he arrived on the East Coast.

Stanton: What were his spirits like?

Fox: I would say Terry’s spirits were high, he was excited, but I’m sure at the same time, a bit nervous. Terry knew that he had done all of the hard work of training, to get his body prepared for running 42km’s or more a day. He was committed to his plan of running across Canada and was anxious to get started.

Stanton: Could you ever imagine what it might become?

Fox: No, not at all. I think in the beginning Terry could have only hoped his Marathon of Hope would have gained the attention that it had in the summer of 1980. By the time Terry was doing the bulk of his training in preparation to run across Canada, I wasn’t living at home anymore. I didn’t see Terry run any of those more then 5,000 training km’s. I saw him run for the first time while watching the 6 o’clock news. It wasn’t until I was able to run with Terry when he ran down University Avenue in Toronto, that I realized what his Marathon of Hope had become and the impact it was having on so many Canadians.

Stanton: As he went across the country, the country came along with him. How did that change his spirits?

Fox: I believe for the most part Terry’s spirits were always very good. Sure there were day’s early on when he’d arrive in a community and the local organizers had nothing planned. It disappointed him that he was working so hard, running everyday, that the effort on the other side might not have been happening. For Terry, it was all about raising money for cancer research, not about Terry Fox. When he felt that he was getting more attention then the purpose of his Marathon of Hope, it got him down a bit. His spirits were bolstered by knowing that the amount of money that was being raised was increasing.

Stanton: It changed me, watching him run. And it changed running in this country. Do you see his impact in the sport of running today?

Fox: Terry was an athlete, after being diagnosed with cancer and losing part of his right leg above the knee, taking chemotherapy and seeing others suffering and in pain, Terry decided he needed to do something. As an athlete, running is what he knew and decided that was going to be his way of making a difference. I don’t know what impact Terry’s running during his Marathon of Hope may have on running today. I meet people all of the time who are training for their first 10K race or marathon and when they are struggling, they think about Terry—he is their inspiration to continue.

Stanton: What would you want today’s half marathon runners, marathon runners, 5Kers, all of us — to know about him?

Fox: Terry was a hard worker, he didn’t believe in quitting. From the time he was a kid, he wasn’t the strongest, fastest or the best athlete in the group. But through perseverance and hard work, he accomplished many of the goals he set for himself. It was that way with his training and running. He took no short cuts, he worked through the challenges he faced.

Stanton: “Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going without me,” he famously said. Tell us about your role in keeping his dream alive.

Fox: From the beginning our family was supportive of what Terry was doing in 1980. When Terry passed away in June of 1981 after the cancer had returned to his lungs, it was our Mom (Betty) that was thrust out into the public eye to share Terry’s story. For over 30 years Mom worked hard to protect Terry’s values and the principles that he believed in, it wasn’t always easy, she faced many challenges to keep them intact. Now that both Mom & Dad are no longer with us, it’s up to my siblings, Judith, Darrell & I to continue where our Parents left off. In my role at The Terry Fox Foundation I have the wonderful opportunity to visit communities and schools across Canada to share Terry’s story and to thank many Canadians young and older that have been dedicated to keeping Terry’s dream alive.

Stanton: What do you miss most about your brother? What should the world remember about how Terry lived?

Fox: The things I miss about Terry most doesn’t have anything to do with his Marathon of Hope. I miss the things we did as kids, also the things we did after he was first diagnosed with cancer, playing golf and going to hockey games.

Stanton: Last year, with the help of the Running Room, we crossed Canada over 8 times. Is there a message from you to the runners who join in the cause?

Fox: Thank you, thank you for doing your part in keeping Terry’s dream and legacy alive. Terry said during his Marathon of Hope when explaining why he was running across Canada that we will all be touched by cancer. Maybe not personally, but maybe through a family member, friend or neighbour. That’s why he felt it was important to give to cancer research. Terry would say if you’ve given a dollar you are a part of the MOH. Terry’s request to raise funds is still as important today as it was in 1980.

Stanton: Terry has done so much for cancer research, so much for Canada, and so much for our sport. What do you think Terry would make of how many people are now running?

Fox: Terry loved sport, he was proud to be an athlete. Terry felt it was important to stay active for all of the health benefits that it provides. Terry ran cross country in high school. He ran to stay in shape for the other sports he played. When Terry started training with an artificial limb in February of 1979 in preparation for the Marathon of Hope, running in weekend 10k’s or half marathons, running was in it’s very early stages. Terry would be happy to know so many more people are running to stay healthy.

Stanton: What did he love about the sport?

Fox: Terry loved to compete. He may not have been the best on the team or best athlete, but he was always the one that worked the hardest. He loved the competitiveness of sport, but also the friendships it created.

Stanton: Tell us about yourself lastly. What’s your involvement with the Foundation currently? How’s the family? Who else is involved? What are your plans for the year ahead, beyond?

Fox: In my role at The Terry Fox Foundation I have the wonderful opportunity to visit communities and schools across Canada to share Terry’s story and to thank many Canadians, young and old, that have been dedicated to keeping Terry’s dream alive. I’m involved in reviewing requests that come in regarding Terry or events people want to create. Judith, Darrell & I are excited that our children, the next generation, are now getting more involved with how things work with the Terry Fox Foundation, their Grandma and Grandpa would be so proud. The Terry Fox Foundation is evolving and developing new opportunities to raise funds for cancer research. We have also starting to work on plans for the 40^th anniversary. The TF Research Institute, where funds raised by TFF are distributed through are doing great things with treatment and collaborating with other research organizations.

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