In 2013, Lanni Marchant ran the 30K Around the Bay race in Hamilton in 1:44:40, setting the women’s Canadian record that still holds today. Last spring, we surveyed the ATB Expo, asking runners if they questions for the Olympian, and this is what they asked, and what she said.
My hip has been hurting since Wednesday night. I’m hoping I’m going to make it through—I’m going to run it no matter what. What should I do tonight, or tomorrow morning, more ice?
It depends on the type of pain. If it is achy at night then I wouldn’t advise racing or running on it. If it is more so just tight then stretch it out and try to get on a Physio or lacrosse ball to roll out. If you are absolutely committed to finishing, be willing to walk-run if necessary. One race or run today missed is always better than six weeks off.
What does Lanni say to herself when it’s tanking? The muscles are screaming. People are passing you and it’s not going according to plan?
“What’s your form like?” “Don’t worry about pace, just remember your cues (given by Physio etc) and keep moving forward.”
Jenn and I are medical shit storms. How do you plan your races around injuries and keep your mood and moral up?
If I am lining up with some mini issues … Aka niggles…then I have a completely different race plan and completely different goals. I try to remember there will be ups and downs and that no low lasts forever.
What am I supposed to do if I signed up for the race but have a cold? Can you outrun a cold or do you think sneezes and sniffles will really hinder performance?
I am not a doctor so take what I say with a grain of salt. If it’s just in your head then race through it, but yes, it will likely have some sort of an impact on your performance. You might feel like junk up top but your body will be pretty much fine—make sure and hydrate well since you’re making extra mucus. If it is in your chest then do not line up.
How do I get up that big final hill?
It’ll be over quicker if you run up it faster.
What’s the best way to keep your mind from going into the bad place?
Take a deep breath and refocus. Sometimes you have to get a bit angry to push it out of you. Sometimes I see signs held up for other people’s loved ones and I remember that “Tim” or “Diane” have put in the work and are out there getting it done and I should too.
I’m a first time 30K Around the Bay runner. What’s your race week nutrition plan and also, now that I didn’t eat great all week and the race is tomorrow, what should I eat for dinner and breakfast? PS: this is so cool. I’m such a big fan!
I generally try to eat a bit cleaner race week but that’s not anywhere near perfection. For tonight you want to try to get in a good amount of carbs but keep them simple. No multi grain foods and do not load the veggies now to try and offset the week. Tomorrow keep it simple w some toast or oatmeal and a banana (maybe some pb to keep you a bit more satiated).
How do I dress for this weather? I don’t have the gear! This is my first race, the 5K, and how do I dress? I haven’t convinced my husband I need the expensive gear yet.
Too many layers will make you feel heavy (especially if it’s raining) and you will warm up through the race, so keep that in mind. Don’t worry about the expensive gear—garbage bags and a quick trip to the thrift store for throw away gear always works.
What can you do to protect yourself from the wind?
Tuck in behind someone bigger than you and if not then I tell myself: “It’s just the wind… Relax and keep pushing.”
The course is so hilly and there can be so much wind. Is this the kind of event where it makes sense to try and run a negative split? Is that what you did? And to do that, does that mean speed up at the halfway mark or speed up at the final 5K?
When I raced it I ran relaxed the first 10-15 km with a pack of people. The first portion was flatter so we were able to be a bit quicker without expending too much effort. That allowed me to start pushing through the half way point even though the hills balanced out the pace and effort. When I am trying to negative split I start ramping it up at the half way point but keep it controlled. Then each small segment (1km, 3km, 5km depending on the race distance) speed up.
Say you want to go to a party afterwards. Whats the recommended amount of time to wait from finish line to first sip of beer?
As soon as I can get my hands on one the better… Isn’t that why beer gardens are at the finish line?
Such a strange phenomenon, running a race and hearing the cheers and pushing yourself, and all of the excitement, all of the energy, all of the preparation is on display for one day.
And then, it’s done.
You go back to your life, back to work, back to reality. What to do? How do you keep that feeling, hold it, and use it to propel you toward the next thing, be it a race or something else, perhaps something more substantial.
I had the opportunity on Sunday to do something amazing. I ran Ed Whitlock’s pace when he was 85, his last marathon, and did it in Toronto right around 3:56:24, .20 seconds away from my race goal. The time, running with my buddy, passing around the sign, hearing runners stories on the course—when they met Ed, what he said to them—everyone relayed their tale with a smile.
Even during a marathon.
So I had the double runner’s high, mine, and Ed’s. Though of course he didn’t put much stock in such things. But what a day for running. A day when running takes over the city. And with the great press we received in the Star, indeed, a runner could be tricked into believing on a day like that running had taken over the world. How great is that?
Now it’s time to continue the race. Continue the legacy. Continue to find new finish lines and make running—the sport we all love (sometimes love/hate, but still…love), prominent, exhilarating, and long lasting.
Whether you’re in Niagara Falls, Montreal, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, White Rock, Lethbridge or Gatineau, don’t let the feeling end with the fall race season. Act on that runner’s high, real or imagined, and keep pushing forward. There are races in December. Races in February. And, being lucky enough to be in Toronto, I can do the Road2Hope marathon next month.
The best way to thwart the post-race blues is to race more. A cheeseburger works, for a minute. Then it’s back to the grindstone. Why? Because we love it. It makes us richer.
Makes us more.
See you at the races. I’ll be the one with a smile.
After 16 weeks of training, my finish line has officially been crossed! My immediate feeling upon completing the 40th Anniversary of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was disbelief. The whole race really felt like a dream from beginning to end. My second thought was, where is my training partner Kyle? I was so relieved to see him coming down the final stretch, moments after I turned around. I was able to cheer him in and witness him achieve his biggest goal, which in itself, was a fantastic feeling.
Leading up to this race, I had set a Moonshot goal of 2:25:00, and this was absolutely at the forefront of my mind throughout my three months of training. Of course, you question during that time, will I be able to do this? Is this possible? But once I got to the start line and the gun went off, I didn’t need to think about it anymore. My mind was in the moment and I was free to just race and let my body do what I had trained it to do. I knew that as long as I kept my systems in check and I pushed my body right to that fine line of its threshold, but not over it, that I would be able to break through to get the best result out of myself.
I was also really fortunate to have Kyle race with me. We were able to work together for 36 km of the race and that absolutely benefited us both, allowing us to bring out the best in each other. The afternoon before the race, Kyle was still thinking of going 1:13:30 – 1:14:00 through the half, but I guess something changed on Sunday morning, as he had the confidence to push ahead with me, and go through the half in just over 1:12:00. After the halfway mark, we were consistently going through checkpoints around a minute faster than goal pace. I kept telling myself to be brave, you have the potential to do this, no doubts.
There were challenging moments that I had to work through during this race, but in comparison, I have been in more discomfort and have worked through higher levels of pain, for longer periods of time during some of my workouts. So, I really felt like I could push through any issues I was experiencing. Looking back if I could have changed one thing about my race, it would have been to finish stronger over the last 5 km. I was supposed to drive the course the day before to prep myself, but I didn’t get a chance to do so. I ended up holding back during the last 5 km because I wasn’t sure where the final hill was or what the distance was after the hill. If I had known where it was and how long the stretches were after it, I would’ve been able to burn the last of my energy more appropriately.
All of that said, not only did I reach my Moonshot goal, I actually surpassed it by a minute, finishing 2:23:54. That was 4 min and 36 sec faster than my PB set the previous year, so I couldn’t have dreamed that I could run that even on my best day. Unfortunately, I can’t help but ask myself if I could have gotten across the finish line faster, if I had I been a little braver over the last 5 km. But at the end of the day, I am so beyond happy with my result and am proud of what I have accomplished.
Three months ago, when I set my goal of 2:25:00, it truly was a Moonshot. Now this is my new benchmark and I am really excited for what comes next. I truly feel like there are no limits to what I can achieve.
25,000 runners took to the start line at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2017.
The story of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was about the second half of the race. As Krista DuChene and company repeated on the live broadcast, humidity was gradually increasing and was going to be a significant variable from 21K on.
Trevor Hofbauer and Leslie Sexton are your 2017 Canadian marathon champs.
The elite men went out hard in pursuit of the Canadian All-comers record of 2:06:54, set by Ethiopia’s Yemane Tsegaye at Ottawa in 2014. The lead pack came through in 62:35, about 10 seconds ahead of the pace for the record.
The elite women followed at 71:10, picking up the pace from a conservative start. Ethiopian Marta Megra, a veteran of 11 marathons with a 2:24 PB but no victory at the distance, opened up a gap at 30K with no competitors in sight.
Megra’s stride indicated that she hit the wall in the later stages of the race, but she maintained the gap for her first victory in 2:28:20.
Leslie Sexton and Lyndsay Tessier led the Canadian women’s contingent. Tessier, an elementary school teacher, had a previous marathon PB of 2:45 but was hanging in with Sexton and chasing a 2:34 finish past the halfway point.
Sexton broke free and in her own words was in “survival mode” in the warm conditions from 38K on. Showing her signature toughness, Sexton cranked out a 2:35:45 finish to snatch the Canadian women’s crown.
Tessier held strong for a 2:36:54, a nine minute PB. At the post race conference, Lyndsay said her antics certainly “up my cool factor among my students.”
2015 Chicago Marathon champion Dickson Chumba and defending STWM champion Philemon Rono – a Nike Breaking2 pacer and training buddy of Eliud Kipchoge – went toe to toe heading to 25K. The two briefly fell off record pace as they passed 30K, where they clocked in at 1:29:27.
Elite runners stroll to the start Reservoir Dogs style.
There was to be no duel in the sun as Rono entered the “championship rounds” by kicking about 100 meters ahead of Chumba, who appeared to succumb to the conditions. Dropping Chumba seemed to liberate Rono, who looked among his strongest all race heading past the 35K mark.
“We’re a race that loves records!” Race Director Alan Brookes frequently proclaims and Rono obliged with a 2:06:50 for the all-comers record.
At the finish line, Rono simply reported to Kate van Buskirk, “I’m very, very happy!” Rono will collect $75,000 for his troubles, including winnings and a bonus for the record.
Trevor Hofbauer made his debut at the marathon and claimed the top spot among the Canadian men. Hofbauer showed some struggle with the heat, but managed to keep his form and even dish out high fives in the final kilometres and came through smiling in 2:18:06. Trevor told van Buskirk that rather than Disney World, he’d instead be “going home to sleep” following his stellar debut.
Olympic Race Walker Evan Dunfee walked the marathon in 3:16.
Race walker Evan Dunfee joined in the marathon, placing 302 with a 3:16. It was Evan’s first STWM. “I really loved the course and it was special to go back over some of the Pan-Am course from 2015 where I won gold,” Evan reports.
Evan says his goal has always been to “leave the event with more respect than it had a few years ago.” Now with some growing recognition since Pan-Am and Rio, he’s pleased that his presence on course is greeted with more enthusiasm. “It’s great that now people actually know what it is I’m doing and what race walking is rather than thinking, ‘what the hell is that guy doing?'” Evan says. Loving the course and atmosphere, Evan says he’ll definitely be back in Toronto.
Your big race is over, so now what? Recovery begins the second you cross the finish line. If you ran a half or the full marathon this weekend, this was your longest and hardest workout you’ve done so far. Whether you got that personal best time you were training for, or you cramped up with 5 km left in the race and things didn’t go to plan, it’s time to set some post-race plans in motion.
By Michelle Clarke
Plan Ahead
Once you have hit the finishing shoot, the best thing to do is to keep walking. The body is going to react by cramping and seizing, making even simple movements difficult. Trying to keep the body warm is ideal. Most people only think about what they need for the race, and put little thought into post-race. Every race has a drop bag service available and everyone should utilize it. Make sure you have a change of warm dry clothes, socks and shoes. Pack some money and your phone so you can find your significant others in the maze of spectators. Decide in advance on a place to meet your cheering squad. Since you will be low on fuel and may not be in a state of mind to be making decisions. Pack a small protein bar to tie you over until you get to your food destination.
Kick Back and Relax
The days following your big race are the most important part of recovery. Take a few passive recovery days. Passive recovery simply means, don’t become a couch potato. There is no need to go for a run, but it’s best for recovery to get in a few walks and get some blood flow to your sore, stiff muscles. If you suffered an injury during your race, then it’s wise to see a specialist and follow a proper rehabilitation plan. During these 2-4 days of low activity, it’s a great time to plan ahead for another season. Take some time to go over your running logs, look at your race day splits, and think back to what felt good and what didn’t feel great. Be honest with yourself about your training and where you feel you could improve for the next time.
There is an important thing to be aware of, especially for the first timers. Many athletes who spend a great deal of time training for a big goal will experience a small amount of post-race depression. This is normal and should subside after a few days. Going from a structured training plan and completing a big race to then not being able to run for a few days can be confusing for the body. Since our bodies love routine we will naturally grave the structure of the previous week training regiment, breaking this cycle can lead to feelings of withdrawal and empathy. Despite the lack of running, try to stick to an abridge routine of waking up and going for a walk in place of your habitual run. This can help curb the post-race blues.
Return to Action
After you’ve had a bit of a rest, it’s time to get back into the swing of things. If you have a coach, set up some race goals for the next season. The most important thing at this point to commit and get yourself signed up for another event. Once you have another goal on the calendar, you can begin an active recovery phase that will move you into the next race training season.
Different than passive recovery, active recovery means you can begin back to your run routine but without the workouts. Your runs will be shorter, slower and it’s a time for you to just enjoy the act of running. The pressure is off and it’s just you and your sneakers spending some time alone. This phase allows your body to fully heal from your race, while maintaining the fitness you worked so hard for. Typically this phase can last up to 2-4 weeks, depending on when and where you’ve decided to set your next goal race. Take the opporutnity time during these weeks to also add some strength and conditioning work at your gym. Spending 2-3 days a week on core work will greatly increase your chances for an even more successful and injury free season.
You Can’t Control Everything
No matter how fit you are or how much work you put in; there is so much you can’t control on race day. One bad race does not mean you have to throw in the towel. Instead, sign up for another race, giving yourself 4-6 weeks to tune up for it. Stay focused and motivated. The goal is to recover, build and try again. Take a full week of rest, do one week of active recovery then two weeks of training build. You will need to build in another taper week before race day. Repeat race day one more time.
Enjoy the Moment
No matter what, celebrate your accomplishment. When you’re surrounded by thousands of runners at the start line, it seems everyone and their uncle run marathons. This is not at all true. Running a marathon or a half marathon is a special achievement and for every person that takes on the challenge, there are many who don’t. The best part about running is there’s always another race; another goal to chase or another great city to run in; after all, it’s all about the journey!
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Krista DuChene is a Canadian Olympian and the second fastest female marathon runner of all-time. She once ran a half marathon in Montreal on a broken femur, and still took third. Jean-Paul Bedard is an activist and an ultra-runner, who will be running 6 in the SIX this weekend at the Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon, in order to raise funds and awareness for those impacted by sexual violence. His first of six marathons begin Friday morning. We brought the two Hall of Famers together for a discussion.
iRun: What’s your wish for running and runners in the new year? There’s so many of us, what should we be doing with our platform? My wish is that we have even more runners.
Krista: It’s a sport that requires very little investment with tremendous gain. Let’s aim for more sell-out events; for more in the 5 km road race or the 50 k trail run and everything in between; for more road closures during competitions; and for more off-road running adventures. Let’s make running more normal for everyone! To do this, let’s keep doing what we’re doing!
JP: One of the things I love about social media is that it takes running, a somewhat solitary and individualistic activity, and transforms it into a community or social practice. I think that for our sport to continue to flourish, shoe and apparel companies and to an even greater degree, race directors, will need to direct more resources to the so-called ‘middle’ and ‘back-of-the-pack’ runners. I believe that iRun has been a leader in this movement by profiling making a conscious decision to profile ‘the everyday runner’ right along side the ‘elites’.
iRun: How do you guys feel when people applaud you and call you a hero?
Krista: I feel honoured. I take my role as a Canadian, marathoner, Olympian, community member, parent, dietitian, and woman seriously. I have fun but am also very deliberate about how I communicate. I aim to be authentic, honest and open about my difficult trials and wonderful blessings. I strive to deliver appropriate messages when public speaking, writing, or posting on social media. I am aware that I can make a big difference in someone’s life, even with one simple comment. And I can only hope that I make a positive difference. While it’s an honour, it can also be a struggle particularly when it’s a time that I just want to put my head down, avoid the chit-chat, and just focus on getting to work.
JP: That’s a question I get asked a lot, and it’s one that I continue to struggle with. The the downside of having a public profile is that your life becomes ‘very public’, and because of that, my struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and the childhood trauma I experienced, have become interwoven into any of the successes I’ve had in sport. I’ve never thought of myself as a ‘hero’, yet I do acknowledge that many people do look up to me. But what I believe is happening here is that people see themselves in me. They see their own struggles in my struggles. They see their own vulnerability in my vulnerability. But most of all, they recognize their own ability to rise through adversity by witnessing the resilience of the human spirit in me.
iRun: You both obviously have a passion for sharing your stories, and more often than not, that involves making yourself vulnerable by being open and honest. How do you manage to navigate that space, while at the same time making sure you provide yourself the self-care needed to keep doing what you’re doing?
Krista: Making myself vulnerable by being open and honest can actually be one of the easiest things for me. I don’t need to put on an act or performance with the intention of motivating my audience; I just tell my story with authenticity. I aim to be real and am told I’m an inspiration so I feel successful in what I set out to do. In order to provide self-care, I’ve had to learn to say no. I can’t be everything to everyone all the time. If I need space or time off, I take it. And I don’t feel any need to justify it.
JP: As an athlete, I like to think of myself as strong and somewhat invisible, but the the truth is that in order to perform at the level I choose to, it requires that I continually push against the physical and mental limits of my endurance. And here is where I believe the running community can be instrumental in sustaining us when we, unfortunately, tumble from those great heights we set for ourselves. To me, running has become a metaphor for my life—it’s the canvas on which I get to paint whatever story is unfolding in me that day or at that moment. I feel passionate about sharing so much of my story because I wholeheartedly believe that those ‘vulnerable pieces’ of me are actually the strongest and most beautiful parts of me. I’ve been very open about the struggles I’ve faced, and to a large degree continue to deal with, because I am passionate about breaking the silence that leads to all that negative self talk that rattles around our mind telling us, “I’m not good enough. I can’t do this.” So for me, self-care has a lot to do with staying connected with my community; that’s where I find my inspiration to take the “I can’t” and transform it into “Hell ya… I can!”
iRun: You’ve spoken openly about the importance of “faith” in your life outside of athletics, but what I’m interested in knowing is whether or not that spiritual grounding has come into your running practice?
Krista: My running is 100% about my Christian faith. I feel I’m here for a reason, God’s reason to use my life in His way. I am not defined by my performance, poor or spectacular, rather by my Christianity. It’s helped me out of my lowest lows and kept me grounded in my highest highs. Eric Liddell “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”
JP: As an endurance athlete, you quickly understand that no matter how much preparation and training you put in, there comes a time, either in the late stages of race or in the midst of a long training session, when you have come to the ‘edge of yourself’. It’s there you discover what sits in your heart and propels you to keep moving forward. There’s no doubt that this a moment of truth, and it’s in the silence of this moment that my faith speaks loudest to me. When you strip away everything else, you are left with yourself; and that space can be a very uncomfortable place to be. For me, faith reminds me of how intricately we are all connected. I attend church a few times a week because I find great solace and a feeling of rejuvenation when I’m closer to my faith. When it comes to faith intersecting with my running, I’m reminded of the tattoo I have on my arm––Romans 8:18. It’s one of my favourite verses from the Bible: “Our present suffering can not compare to the glory that will be revealed within us.” As a long distance runner, I’m very acquainted with suffering, and I’m equally aware that on the other side of suffering comes much joy—the finisher’s medal and the banana!
iRun: Like actors and performers, elite athletes are compelled to confront the realities of aging, not in private, but rather in a public forum. How are you dealing with the aging process, and is it something you’re embracing or pushing back against?
Krista: I am fully embracing the reality of ageing! My goal is to do it gracefully. I won’t fight it nor think my fastest times are still ahead of me, even though there could be some PB’s (personal bests) ahead! I will continue to appreciate my previous successes, and also leave room for better performances. During this season of not running a fall marathon, I am preparing for and engaging in those activities I previously set aside due to the demands of training and racing. More of my time and energy is now spent coaching, public speaking, writing, and practising as a Registered Dietitian. I’ve deliberately taken this off-season to better establish myself in these fields as I will eventually spend more time in them than competing as an elite marathoner. I will always run and keep active in the running community while I continue to adjust my goal times. Competing as a master is a good way to transition and “age”! And I have retirement bucket list items: ultra on the trails, ironman, etc.! My only dilemma is what to do about my slowly greying hair. To dye or not to dye? I’ll never forget, as the oldest member of Canada’s Athletics (track and field) team, plucking the few greys I had just before walking in the Closing Ceremony at the 2016 Olympic Games.
JP: What do they say: “I’ll take growing old any day because the alternative is not much of an alternative.” I’m at the point of my life where I can still perform the way I used to, but now it takes a lot more work to prepare and recover. Like many of you reading this, I’m an endorphin junkie, so as long as I get my daily fix, I’m a happy camper. I’ve approached aging in my running practice with the same philosophy I use when I’m running up a long, steep hill in marathon or ultra. The trick is not to speed up on that hill, but to maintain the same perceived effort, and typically that means slowing the pace and trying to maintain the same heart rate. And that’s what I find myself doing as I’m aging into sport. I get the same endorphin rush, but now that happens at a slower pace. One of the amazing gifts of becoming an older, or ‘masters’ athlete is that you now are graced with the opportunity to mentor younger athletes or those just entering our sport.
Its Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon race weekend! On this week’s show Mark speaks with Krista DuChene who recently sat down with Andre deGrasse and talked all things running and how their distances are so different yet their passion for running is the same. Then one man shares his story of ditching 200 pounds and now runs marathons, and the lessons one runner learned about himself, after not finishing his race.
Leslie Sexton is an outspoken cross-country runner from London, Ontario, whose marathon PB is 2:33. A contributor to iRun and a leading voice in running—here she is on gender differences in distances at track meets and on cheating at races, course-cutting and drugs—she is a sponsored Saucony athlete and one to watch at this weekend’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, running the marathon against our country’s best. iRun’s General Manager sent Leslie some questions that only she could answer.
1. A few days out from race day, how do you feel and what will you be doing, both from a physical and mental perspective?
I feel really good and I’m getting excited for race day! With every buildup I do I handle the taper better so I don’t mind it now. I’m using the extra time I have from running less to take care of the little things like stretching and foam rolling that I sometimes neglect when I’m running high mileage. The important thing to is take the extra time and do that stuff, but not obsess too much. As the race gets closer I will take more time to relax, put my feet up, and watch Netflix or play a video game to take my mind off of things.
2. Who are your heroes in the sport, and outside of the sport?
Des Linden for her toughness, work ethic, superb pacing, and no-excuses attitude. Outside of the sport, Rey and Leia from Star Wars. Carrie Fisher both for her portrayal of an incredible character and for being vocal on de-stigmatizing mental illness. I fully expect to get at least a little teary-eyed when I watch The Last Jedi in December. And Wonder Woman…I watched that movie before Eastside 10k last month and I think I’m going to make a tradition of watching it the night before a race.
3. What’s your race plan?
I want to run a personal best at STWM. The plan is to run my goal pace as evenly as possible, especially early on. I like to break the race into 5k segments and have about a ten second range that I want to stay within for each part. Each kilometer can vary a bit, but if I stay within a tight pace range for each 5k it keeps the pace and the effort pretty even. The other way I break it up is into thirds, sort of; be relaxed and comfortable for the first 16k, keep on pace and stay alert for the next 16k, then just run hard and stay tough through the final 10.2k.
4. Can you talk to us about the “negative split.” Is that something a) you do and b) you recommend?
Most of my personal bests have been slight negative splits. When making a game plan for a race I don’t like the idea of going out really hard to force a breakthrough. Most of the time it ends with a blowup and the longer the race, the fewer attempts you have to get it right. At the same time I don’t want to put limits on myself and I want to take advantage of a great race opportunity. Planning to even split with the possibility of a negative split on a great day strikes a balance between the two. My strategy is usually to set a realistic goal pace based on my recent workouts and plan to run evenly though the first two-thirds of the race. If I feel great and I’m having an awesome day, I can pick it up in the last third of the race and run fast off of a negative split. This is how I run most of my workouts, too, and I would recommend it to anyone racing 5k or longer.
5. Where do you think your toughness comes from?
My toughness comes from my confidence in my training and my belief in myself. When things get tough in a race I like to think back to some of my best workouts and visualize being back in Springbank Park in London, putting in the miles on my own. When that’s not enough, I think about my heroes in sport or in fiction who inspire me to be tough.
6. You’ve been outspoken in the sport, around track & field distances and more recently on Stephen Miller, who jumped into a girl’s track meet. How pervasive is sexism in running and for the iRun community, what can we do?
I have to acknowledge that compared to other sports, Athletics is doing very well on issues of gender equality. On the big things like equality of prize money and compensation or opportunities to compete we are way better off than women in team sports, for example. Yet that doesn’t mean we have full equality or that women should stop speaking up. One area that I frequently bring up is having equal opportunities for female distance runners to race the same distances as men and explore their potential at longer distances. For many years, men’s cross country distances have been longer than women’s, and this can have a negative impact on female athlete development, especially among women whose talents lie in distances longer than 5k. This is starting to change, but we need to continue to put pressure on organizations to have equal distances between men and women across all age groups, the way we do on the track or on the roads. The way we coach female distance runners goes hand in hand with this. While coaches need to assign all young athletes age-appropriate training, I think there has been a tendency to discourage young women from running the same longer distances as their male peers or assign young women less training in an effort to protect them, and this is based on outdated assumptions about female athlete development. Coaches need to assign training to young athletes based on principles of long term athlete development, individualized based on the runner’s capabilities, instead of generalizations based on the athlete’s gender.
The other issue I see often is media coverage of female athletes and the objectification of women in sport. I am sick of all of the coverage of women’s sport that focuses on what a woman is wearing, what her body looks like, or who she is married to instead of her athletic performance. We need to treat women in sport like athletes and talk about their performances in the way that we do for men’s sport.
Overall I think the road racing scene is very positive; women have lots of opportunities to participate or compete and most runners I have encountered are very positive and supportive. That being said…dudes, if you want to compliment a woman who is out on a run, say something like “great pace” instead of commenting on her legs or her ass. Stop talking about getting “chicked” (ie. when a woman runs faster than you) in a race. We are all runners, so treat each other with respect and, as Wil Wheaton would say, “don’t be a dick.”
Leslie Sexton (centre) will be among the leading elite Canadian women at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 22nd.
7. Is there a Harvey Weinstein in running? As an athlete, does that story come as a shock to you?
Personally I haven’t experienced anything like that but I’m not naive enough to say it doesn’t happen in the running world. One example that sticks out in my head was a few years ago when the coach at the University of Toledo was fired for sexually harassing women on the team. I made the mistake of reading a thread on Letsrun about it and saw the same victim-blaming and excuses from some male posters that we see now when a story like this breaks. When stories like these come out, the shocking thing to me is when women had spoken out about it previously or made complaints, only to have them swept under the rug. We can’t know how pervasive sexual harassment and sexual assault are, particularly when it involves someone in a position of power, because all too often the perpetrator is protected and the victims aren’t believed.
8. Do you think athletes, a la Colin Kaepernick, should use their platform? Have you felt any backlash?
Absolutely, yes. Athletes can be role models and agents of change, and they can do that by using their platform to bring issues or injustices to the public’s attention. Especially now, in the US, with Trump’s presidency threatening the livelihood and well-being of anyone who isn’t a straight white cisgender male. I haven’t experienced much backlash, probably because I’m not a big name or public figure. The backlash against Kaepernick’s protests shows a lot of willful ignorance of why he is protesting and demonstrates that racism in the US is still a huge problem.
9. Back to the task at hand: what will you eat the night before your marathon and what will you have that morning for breakfast?
I will have pasta the night before, usually something like spaghetti and meatballs if I am out at a restaurant. In the morning I start with tea and a bagel with butter or honey on it and then a Rockstar a bit later. I like the extra caffeine boost and I am used to having it before my workouts.
10. What sort of shoes do you wear for the marathon, and how are they different then shoes you use for shorter distances? Let’s say you had to recommend sneakers to your 50-year-old mother, what would you recommend for someone, say, training for the half?
I like a pretty light shoe for racing, so I tend to use the same flats for a 5 or 10k on the roads that I would for a marathon. Right now it’s the Saucony Type A8 for my races and workouts but I do my mileage in something more cushioned like the Saucony Ride or Freedom. I tend to have 4-5 pairs on the go at any one time. For someone looking for a pair of shoes, the first thing I would do is send them to their friendly neighbourhood run specialty store to get fitted. Generally I would recommend something with good cushioning for half-marathon training rather than something lightweight. I work at a run specialty store and the shoes I sell the most of are the Saucony Guide or the Ride, depending on if the customer needs stability or not.
11. Do you have a mantra?
My current one is a bit silly, but here goes. Having spent the first half of the year coming back from injury, I feel that Han Solo’s statement about the Millennium Falcon is appropriate to my running: “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid.”
12. What is it about Star Wars that you so like? The story? The sci-fi? Leia?
I loved the original Star Wars trilogy as a kid. It (and the Harry Potter book series) were what got me into science fiction and fantasy, because they were both so accessible. I loved the sci-fi elements of Star Wars but what really captured my imagination was the story and the characters. It’s a story about family, about hope, and about redemption. When Disney bought Star Wars and announced that they were going to do new films I was worried at first, but I ended up loving The Force Awakens and Rogue One. I think both movies captured what was so great about the original trilogy by returning to those themes of hope and redemption. Plus, I love the new characters. Rey, Finn, and Poe are awesome and I got very attached to the Rogue One crew. Needless to say, I am very excited to see The Last Jedi this December.
13. What do you plan on doing after your race?
I definitely plan on having a beer and burger as my post-race meal. I really like the Granville Island Lions Winter Ale so I hope we get that in Ontario at the end of the month so I can enjoy a few in the week after my race. My other plans for my rest week include working on my Halloween costume for the Halloween Haunting road races in London on October 28th (I run the 10k in costume every year) and binge-watching Stranger Things Season 2.
14. You’ve been in sports long enough to, ideally, not get so high or so low, dependent upon race results. What’s a good way to maintain equilibrium and maintain your character, despite finishing times?
What it comes down to for me is that I love running and I love the process of training and getting fitter. I love racing and to run a personal best or win a race is a great feeling, but it’s not the only thing I love about the sport. Like anyone else I get disappointed with a bad race and it can suck for a few days. But I love distance running, I love training hard and competing, and a bad result will never change that.
15. If you could run alongside anyone in history, who would it be, where would you be, and why?
Meb Keflezighi in Central Park. I admire his positive attitude, his longevity in the sport, and his ability to get the most out of himself and perform well despite facing setbacks in his training or on race day. I think everybody could learn so much from him and he probably has some great stories from running at a high level for so long.
Batman runs the Toronto Waterfront for the last time on Oct. 22. Image credit: Inge Johnson, Canada Running Series
JP Hernandez has no problem admitting, “I chose a very unorthodox way of living life to the fullest.” The Hero’s Journey
In 2013, in what was meant to be a “one and done” stunt, the father of two and grandfather of three suited up for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) as Batman. On Sunday, he’ll do so again for the fifth and final time.
For his final STWM, JP will add to the unorthodoxy by adding an extra eight kilometres, extending his final run as the Dark Knight to 50K and closing a chapter in his life defined by memories of over 20 races and thousands raised for charities like Sick Kids Foundation and Oolagen Youth Mental Health.
“Six years ago,” JP says, “running was a better way or coping with my separation and a dark time in my life than heavy drinking.” The first step was joining a running clinic at the High Park Running Room. “I ran some short track as a kid and I immediately fell back in love with it when I joined that clinic. I went from my first 5K to my first half marathon in the same year.”
JPs experiement grew into the formation of a full Justice League of runners racing for a cause.
The reason for lacing up in the first place was inspired by the people who inspire all that JP does to make himself a better person, his children and grandchildren.
His children (ages 24 and 18) and grandkids (ages 7, 5, and 9 months) once again inspired the admittedly difficult decision to shed Batman’s armour and chase his own running goals. “It was easy to think that I shouldn’t stop, but if we don’t constantly have new goals then we’re not really growing and that’s what I want to teach my kids through my own actions.”
Working with coach Nathan Monk and seeing his ability as an athlete blossom to a 40+ minute marathon PB told JP that it was time to focus on his ultimate goal of Boston. As he digs in, his children will still see the drive and perseverance they saw when their father was Batman.
“At the end of the day,” JP says, “the most important people who have their eyes on me are my kids and how I look to them matters more than anything.” When his daughter completed her first 8K in 2016, JP described it as his proudest running moment.
While he’ll leave Batman behind, at least for the foreseeable future, there’s much that he’ll take with him that had its origins in the costume he’s worn for the past four years. Foremost, JP says he’ll take the amazing people he’s met and the friendships formed, including a full crew of Justice League Runners, on his continuing journey.
“I chose a very unorthodox way of living life to the fullest.” Image credit: Inge Johnson, Canada Running Series
“Batman gave me a lot,” JP says with a laugh. “In the comic books and movies he fights crime and oppression, but he has no superpowers. That’s the way I’ll always approach running, by never cutting corners and trying to live up to the standards of a hero.”
Batman was perhaps the gateway to bringing inspiration to others and to supporting causes that mattered, but in time JP realized that by covering his face on the course he brought his true self to the surface. “I can’t really say there’s any difference between JP and Batman,” he concludes. “I never scowl like Christian Bale even when I’m in pain.”
Instead, he opts to smile and dish out generous high fives. “When I ran the Around the Bay [30K] in 2015, I high fived a kid on course and it turned out his father was just ahead of me.” JP recalls. “That night, his mom wrote on the race’s Facebook page that when his father tucked him in that night, the son was so excited that his dad was faster than Batman. That moment wasn’t about me but about how that kid saw his father.”
JP on course at STWM 2015. Image courtesy of Tribe Fitness.
JP has also learned in his stint as Batman that he has a genuine drive toward helping others. As he sees it, “Batman was really just an outlet that made me realize who I want to be and where I want to take my life. That’s why at 42 I’m a student again.” Outside of his running goals, JP will also return to school full time to study occupational therapy, carrying on his mission to inspire and empower others to be their best.
On Sunday, he hopes there’ll be no tears at the end of 50K, but cautions, “I’m an emotional guy!”
His fellow Justice League Runners will likely continue the tradition he started and JP hasn’t ruled out a successor, citing Christian Bale’s credo that anyone can be Batman. “It’s always been about something bigger than me,” JP affirms, “but I was glad to put my own stamp on it and I’d do it all over again.”
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