Men often run shirtless and women run in their sports bras on hot summer days. Not surprisingly, women face greater scrutiny. “I absolutely will NOT run with just a run bra,” says Erin King. “However, I get so unbearably hot and sweaty so sometimes I run inside or skip the run—it’s that bad. I always envy male athletes who can wear just a singlet on these hot days.“
Women who spoke with iRun explain that they have complicated decisions to make with regards to running in their sports bras. Feeling self-conscious is one thing, getting catcalled on the city streets and facing abuse is something worse. Gina Stocco explains. “Choosing to keep a shirt on for me isn’t about appropriateness, it’s about whether or not I want to draw more attention to myself. The catcalling and harassment is real,” she says. Despite that, as a runner, Stocco wants to dress only how to best aid her performance. “I usually start with a shirt on,” she says, “but with this heat, it has to come off.”
Even the most elite female runners in the country face the same kind of ignorant scrutiny. “When I’m running through my neighbourhood streets (where sports bras are perhaps less commonly seen), I have been on the receiving end of cat calls and horns honking,” says Lyndsay Tessier, one of Canada’s fastest marathon runners and an alternate at this year’s Tokyo Olympics. “I wear whatever is going to make me feel the most physically comfortable when I am training or racing. During the dog days of summer, my preference is to be in a sports bra. I want to keep as cool as possible. The less sweaty material I have sticking to me, the better I feel. The more tired and fatigued I get on a hot run, the more irritated I can get about small things like sweaty shirts. When I’m racing, I’m not thinking about how I look or how I am perceived while running. My thoughts and focus are on my performance.”
Performance is the key ingredient of a proper sports bra and many companies, including Lululemon and Brooks, have made great advances in their products. Oiselle is a for-women, by-women American athletic line and their head of development, Dr. Sarah Lesko says, “I’m a free-range running fan!” At Oiselle, a company founded on equality politics, middle school girls are donated a bra each time one of their IN2SPORTS bras are purchased. Dr. Lesko wants society to catch up with her company’s ethos. “I’m a big believer in people wearing whatever feels comfortable to them when they run.” Cory Freedman, founder of the Toronto Women’s Run Series, echoes this sentiment: “I love seeing women running in just their bra top. I do it some days. It’s totally a personal choice. Function is the priority and it’s even better when it looks good and feels great. Wear what makes you feel good, strong, fast and confident!”
Stacey Munro, a runner with Stride Wise Running, agrees. “There are three topics you can count on in my run chat group; what the elites are doing, where the shoe sales are, and who has pocket bras in stock,” says Munro, who trains, sans shirt, in the Nike Pocket Bra. “An attractive feature of the Pocket Bra is its longline design. It’s about 2-inches longer than a regular bra. I like the added coverage when we go “tarps off” on a hot day.”
Tina Garstad would like to go tarps off on a hot day—slang for doffing her shirt—however, she’s seen firsthand how a female runner’s comfort can be an invitation for abuse. Once, she was on a run when she heard someone harass a shirtless runner. She jumped to the runner’s defence. Garstad recalls hearing:
Only fit and perfect people need to run without a shirt. Everyone else needs to cover up as no one needs to see “that.”
She carried on the conversation. “When I said they were being horribly judgemental, they basically said: you’re just saying that cause you’re too big to run without a shirt.”
In the end, all runners can do is what feels best for them, whether male or female, covered or uncovered, and watch out for each other. Lynn Bourque is a big voice in our running world, founder of the Runner’s Shop in Toronto, the oldest running specialty shop in the country. Despite her experience, she still feels uneasy, at times, doffing her shirt.
“I was just having the same conversation with myself this morning about whether I should or should not cover up,” she says. “Currently I’m at a cottage and with no one around I’m comfortable to go shirt-free. In the city, I’d rarely do it. Too many people and too many eyes! At the age of 57, I’m not comfortable running around without some sort of cover up, but women know that they are free to do whatever they feel comfortable doing!”
Benjamin Preisner, the 25-year-old from Milton, Ontario whose second marathon ever was at the recent Tokyo Olympic Games, is the kind of Canadian running hero easy to get behind: hardworking, feisty, smart-as-a-whip and proud, fiercely, to represent his teammates and his country. “I’m not one to get super nervous before a race,” says Preisner, currently working towards a masters degree in artificial intelligence, “I put a lot of pride in my work.” Preisner recently updated iRun on his preparation, future plans, Tokyo experience and advice for runners around the country hoping, in our own unique way, to follow in his groundbreaking footsteps.
iRun: 30 of the 106 male Olympic marathoners didn’t finish in Tokyo. Did you ever come close to that?
Benjamin Preisner: Yeah, I definitely did. The last 5K felt like I was running in slow motion.
iRun: Yikes.
BP: I wasn’t getting picked off, but I wasn’t picking people off either. That last 5K was a bit of a grind for everyone.
iRun: How’d you fight through?
BP: I’m an analytic guy. I focus on my splits and what I can do in the moment. It’s very easy to doze off, which is good at some point, but staying locked in is how I can salvage any sort of bonk. I keep my mind on the actual race.
iRun: That’s interesting and relatable. Sometimes it’s the mind that gets tired.
BP: It’s important for me to stay locked in. I’m aware of what place I’m in, of being involved. When I get separated from the race it’s easy to be like, ‘whatever, this doesn’t matter. I don’t need to get a couple more places,’ but if I’m active, mentally, it helps me fight.
iRun: What was your goal for the Games?
BP: Evolving. The big thing was adapting to the heat. Would I be top 50? Top 20? We [coach Richard Lee] looked at the past Olympics, and also the women’s marathon the day before our race. In the women’s race, the finishing times were about 4% slower, on average, than each athlete’s personal best. We used that as a gauge.
iRun: Did it work?
BP: Sort of. I went out faster than I wanted to—it was mob mentality, and the whole group went faster than anticipated. But in the end, we thought 2:15-flat would be top 20—it’s been like that since the 1992 Olympics—and what do you know? 2:14:58 was twentieth place.
iRun: The smartest runner wins the marathon and you’re smarter than almost everyone.
BP: I intended to go out slower, more tactfully, but that’s how it goes. I knew it would be survival of the fittest and a war of attrition. I braced myself for the grind.
iRun: So much is made of training plans and shoes, but the mental game is just as important.
BP: Marathon training is about hitting splits and being comfortable muscle-wise, but it’s also getting used to being out there for a long time and how mentally draining that is; how much negative self-talk you’re going to experience. An important part of training is turning that negative talk into something positive.
iRun: In your second marathon, you lined up against Eliud Kipchoge.
BP: I gave Kipchoge props when he came out of the bathroom before the race. It’s such a cool environment that I wanted to embrace it, enjoy it, but at the same time: I was giving respect, but knowing I deserve respect also when I’m on the line.
I give respect and make others respect me as well.
iRun: How close was the Canadian contingent of marathon runners?
BP: We definitely spent a lot of time together. There was lots of hotel time with nothing to do, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. Trevor and Cam, but even the female marathoners. We all kept a positive vibe, and Dayna, with all her injuries, she showed up to the practice track with a smile. We were there to represent Canada and part of that is not getting so stressed out that we can’t perform as we should.
iRun: Your second marathon at the Olympic Games. Talk about nerves.
BP: I’m not one to get super nervous before a race. I put a lot of pride in the work. My build, of course, it’s not perfect, but when you frame it the right way, even practice workouts that don’t go great offer you something to learn from. You can bring that confidence into your races.
iRun: Like staying locked in on your races and staying locked in, also, when you train.
BP: Learn from every run. It’s a never ending cycle of trying to iron out my nutrition plan or make it one mile further without feeling it. Setting tangible goals I can learn from each session. The main goal is to hit a pace or run a distance, but the sub-goal can be working with the heat or taking in fluids, tidbits from the workouts give you confidence going into your race. Do the work and your due diligence before the race and it translates to race day confidence.
iRun: What’s your best tip for readers of iRun magazine?
BP: The positive mindset is not always easy when the going gets tough, but running is 90% mental. As long as you’ve prepared to the best of your ability, what do you have to be nervous about? Give what you’ve got on the day and be proud of what you can do.
iRun: Studying artificial intelligence while training for the Olympic Games sounds like a full dance card. How do you keep balanced?
BP: I crave balance. If I’m 100% focused on one thing, like running, I get in a rut if I have two bad workouts in a row. It’s all I’d think about. But if you can step back a little, it brings your mind to something else that’s important. That’s important because without balance, things can turn toxic real quick.
iRun: Makes sense.
BP: I think school and running play off well against each other. My mind needs to be stimulated and you can only run so many hours in a day. If I’m twiddling my thumbs I’ll drive myself crazy.
iRun: What’s next for the great Benjamin Preisner?
BP: I could look at a fall marathon, depends how I feel at the end of the month. I took a week off and now I’m sprinkling in some runs. I don’t want to rush a fall marathon, maybe a 10K in Canada or a cross country 10K—or both. I want to keep my mentality going, keep momentum going.
iRun: A fall marathon after the Olympics sounds insane.
BP: It’s a hard maybe. We’re not sure how that might bounce.
Divisive as it, running without a shirt feels so good. Of course, we can’t always do whatever feels good, ignoring the feelings of others. Plus, as runners, what one of us does effects how the world sees us all. Are we selfish entitled jerks or do we raise millions of dollars every year for charities? Do we help one another across finish lines or do we pee in the bushes in neighbourhoods near the start lines of where we race?
Can we be and do all those things? Are runners more than one thing?
Running without a shirt, or in a sports bra for women—or shirtless, though that comes up (or off) in women less often—divides our community.
“I think you should put a shirt on. You just look creepy,” wrote one reader on Facebook when I posted a photo of my bare running torso on Facebook.
“Even if someone is in phenomenal shape, keep stuff on. It draws attention and is distracting whether the view is nice or not good,” someone else said.
“In the summer I used to run with just a sports bra, but since discovering shirts that actually cool you while you run (sweat-activated), I now wear those types of shirts when running. They work!” wrote someone with experience in hot-weather running.
We asked John Stanton, founder of the Running Room and the face of the sport since the 1980s, what he thinks. “If you’re at the beach and want to run without a shirt, go ahead, just be respectful of your distance from others,” he said. “In the cities and parks keep the shirt on, while you may enjoy the performance of your sweaty body, others may not.”
I thought Stanton, 74, may have had an old-fashion view, so then I asked the team at Ciele, which might just be the coolest Canadian running brand on the market. Plenty of people you see running without their shirts are also wearing a Ciele cap. Martin St. Pierre, Ciele’s marketing specialist, agreed with Stanton, practically word for word. This is what he said.
No Shirt: Beach, trails, parks. Shirt: Streets, public spaces, races.
That does make sense, painful as it is to hear. Because I love how it feels to run with my shirt off. I actually think it improves my performance. In the wintertime, you always know who’s feeling the most tired by who’s most bundled up. There’s ways in which you dress to perform and when you’re wearing a dozen layers, it says something. (Sometimes I joke about arriving for my workout in pyjamas. On those days, I’m not ready to compete). The opposite, however, when you arrive for a workout, is also true. It means, at least to me, that when I arrive shirtless, I’m ready to work.
Many of our readers said to do whatever feels most comfortable.
“I don’t like seeing shirtless people on the street, but that’s only my opinion, if you think it’s good for you, go for it,” wrote one reader, echoing the group.
“When extra hot and humid, I will finish my run in my sport bra,” someone said. “I am not a fashion model and I don’t care.”
One reader advised: “Start with a shirt, finish without!”
I like this comment a lot: “To each their own,” wrote a reader. “I have nothing but respect and awe for those that do run shirtless. I WISH I had the chutzpah to not give a shit about being judged—sadly the likelihood of having vile insults hurled at me by passing cars is 1000x higher than those without boobs, muffin tops or an ample caboose—but I don’t, so I don’t. I remain happily, sweatily covered instead of self-conscious and distracted. (guess that’s why I prefer fall/winter/spring running).”
In the end, as we like to do at iRun, we give the last word to Reid Coolsaet, run coach, two-time Olympian, dad, race director, and student-professor of the sport. Coolsaet says he likes running shirtless, just like he likes to run with music; however, he rarely does either thing.
“When it’s really hot I’ll run without a shirt. But here’s why I rarely do it: I like the feeling and I don’t ever want to get to the point where wearing a singlet feels like too much. Better to be used to running in a t-shirt and then when you race you feel cooler and light.”
As ever in running, each decision is made towards the finish line.
The pot lid has stopped rattling and the boil has come to a simmer. My thoughts are more ordered now after my mind realized it had a problem. Initially, though, I thought I had concluded I hated racing. Well, rather it fell on me like a drunken shot putter after a race a few weeks ago. I have had more time to think, and I have taken time to see what others think. Maybe I don’t hate racing, but I do have a problem.
I struggle to perform on race day. I have trouble staying positive and the inner demons can make my goal event, after so much training, a nightmare. It’s tough. I am now on a journey of discovery to learn more about myself, find out what others experience and maybe learn to race without hearing as much of the demons on race day. This is the second in a series of four.
Welcome to my journey. I am now steering myself towards other runners and racewalkers, not Olympians or elites, but the group that includes most of us, those who aren’t setting records, and are doing for reasons other for a chance to make a national team. Why does the average person challenge themselves, why do they toe the line to push themselves and compete? What fears, pressures, and anxiety if any do, they feel? I asked people to share their experiences and how they coped with whatever made them feel uncomfortable on race day. I found that although many people might feel anxious or not 100% on race day, the reasons can vary as much as the people and the shoes they choose to wear on the start line.
One friend wrote me and told me about something they called “imposter syndrome.” They struggle with thinking of themselves as an athlete because they do not consider themselves athletic and it makes them almost feel like an imposter showing up at a race.
She says, “I remember the time I most felt like an imposter, was at a race, my first 12-hour race. I looked around and thought, no way do I fit in this picture. A key memory was looking at all these guys with quad muscles I could only dream of having. I had to talk myself through a negative head space. Long story short, the weather was horrendous, the trails were ankle deep mud, part of the course had to be closed off, and people chose to finish early. I kept plodding (literally) and purely because I stuck it out to the end and finished as the 3rd female. Even then I justified it by saying all the fast people left.”
The spinning around the turn—around point pylon in the opposite direction—is another runner who Jeanette who says, “On race day I am on such a high. I get maybe a few butterflies at breakfast, but once I am out with all the other runners, I am very calm. I’ve done the training…mostly … and can’t wait to get out there and see what I can do.” So not someone who struggles and what I think is a good approach to race day. Can I take that tactic?
Some runners told me about how it’s not necessarily time or performance expectations that make things tough, but simply the crowds, the noise, the stress of a big event and the unknowns at a race. This can tense up a runner, get them running to the porta-potty and affect the outcome of a race. What some people would call race day jitters.
I also had a chance to chat with a former high-level runner who I looked up to as a young runner, who now racewalks. “I have lived with anxiety for many years. I have adopted the definition as ‘a fear of the unknown.’ On race day, well, beginning the early evening the night before, and regardless of how confident I was in my ability, my anxiety would hit. From a turning stomach to self-doubt talk and lack of sleep, I was overtaken by anxiety. He told me that after obtaining his master’s degree in counselling, he also learned more about himself. He learned his brain was overreacting and he gave his anxiety a name, ‘Freddy.’ The problem was then external, and he could also talk to Freddy through positive talk and reassurance and be able to spend more energy to reflect positively on things and visualize himself competing and completing the task at hand.
So maybe ‘hate’ is a strong word. I now know I am also not alone in struggling on race day, and that we all have different worries, stresses, thoughts, and pressures we tend to impose on ourselves. Our brains run our bodies and when not focused on the task at hand, can easily make a physical goal harder to achieve. I am asking myself questions and may have to name my race day anxiety. Now I need to talk to some elites and see how they cope on the start line and finally see if someone trained to deal with athlete’s brains can give me some tools or guidance.
This journey, this marathon of self-discovery is not over.
Follow Noel on social media between articles as he continues conversations with others and looks for answers and a way to survive a fall race. Find the articles here on iRun. Twitter @NoelPaine Instagram @Runningwriter
This is article 2 of 4. Find the first story, here.
I hope everyone enjoyed the final weekend of Tokyo 2020. The marathons are my favourite events to watch. They are always filled with intrigue, personal achievement, and amazing racing.
Before I discuss my five takeaways, here is a quick recap of the race:
The women started out controlled and calculated, taking into account the heat beating down from the hot sun, but as the pace picked up at about the halfway mark, the large lead pack began to slowly whittle down. Included in that group, however, were Canadians Malindi Elmore and Natasha Wodak who went on to run amazing performances. Elmore came through strongly in the latter stages to finish ninth and Wodak finished thirteenth. Both of them ran in their third official marathons and the ninth place for Elmore is the second best finish ever by a Canadian woman. Canadian Dayna Pidhoresky did not feature at the front of the race as she was running injured and after two weeks in isolation. Pidhoresky did well just to finish in a performance which encompassed the Olympic spirit.
As the pace accelerated, the top four athletes opened the gap fairly quickly. They included Brigid Kosgei (Kenya), Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya), Molly Seidel (USA) and Lonah Salpeter (Israel). As it looked like Seidel was going to be dropped at the 39K mark, Salpeter was forced, due to heat exhaustion, to slow to a walk ending her chance of a medal. As this occurred, Jepchirchir, a former winner of the Ottawa 10K surged away from Kosgei, the marathon world record holder, and held her off to win the Olympic title. Kosgei finished second; Seidel third.
Although the runs by the Kenyans were impressive, they were expected. The run by Molly Seidel was not. Top American commentators suggested that an apocalypse would have to occur for any American to medal, but Seidel defied these expectations. It’s not like she did not have the pedigree. She is a multiple time NCAA Champion and in her debut marathon, made the U.S. Olympic Team, but defeating the likes of Salpeter who has a personal best seven minutes faster was not considered to be in the cards. The Molly Seidel story is one all young athletes should be inspired by.
Despite her NCAA stardom, she struggled with eating disorders, mental health issues, and injuries including stress fractures. After seeking help, she began running competitively again while holding two jobs: one as a babysitter and one as a barista. After finishing second at the Trials, Seidel left those jobs and began to focus on running full time, it clearly paid off. Her story is a cautionary tale, yes. But her story is also one of determination, the importance of seeking help, and how with the right attitude, anyone can fulfil their dreams.
Here are the results from the women’s race. Full results here:
Peres JEPCHIRCHIR (Kenya) – 2:27:20
Brigid KOSGEI (Kenya) – 2:27:36
Molly SEIDEL (USA) – 2:27:46
Roza DEREJE (Ethiopia) – 2:28:38
Volha MAZURONAK (Belarus) – 2:29:06
Melat Yisak KEJETA (Germany) – 2:29:16
Eunice CHUMBA (Bahrain) – 2:29:36
Mao ICHIYAMA (Japan) – 2:30:13
Malindi ELMORE (Canada) – 2:30:59
13. Natasha WODAK (Canada) – 2:31:41
73. Dayna PIDHORESKY (Canada) – 3:03:10
The men’s race also started out controlled, again the men feeling the heat. At about 20K there was a pack of thirty-five or so athletes including Canadian Cam Levins, world champion Lelisa Desisa from Ethiopia, American favourite Galen Rupp, and the greatest of all-time Eliud Kipchoge, who was giving fist bumps, instructing younger athletes on how to run the tangents and looked like he was out for his Sunday jog.
The racing really began at the 25K mark as Kipchoge began to turn the screw and the pack began to dissolve. Desisa was the first to go as other athletes began to fall off one by one. At 30K, Kipchoge truly applied the gas. He strode away for the win. The battle royale ensued behind as about six athletes vied to complete the podium. Rupp was dropped followed by Japanese hopeful Suguro Osaka. The race for the silver and bronze came down to four athletes and in the final dust up the Dutch athlete, Abdi Nageeye and Belgian athlete, Barshir Abdi, out sprinted Boston Marathon Champion, Lawrence Cherono (who ironically won Boston in a sprint). The top Canadian in the race was Ben Preisner, who was running only his second marathon.
Here are the results for the men’s event. The full results can be found here.
Eliud KIPCHOGE (Kenya) – 2:08:38
Abdi NAGEEYE (Netherlands) – 2:09:58
Bashir ABDI (Belgium) – 2:10:00
Lawrence CHERONO (Kenya) – 2:10:02
Ayad LAMDASSEM (Spain) – 2:10:16
Suguru OSAKO (Japan) – 2:10:41
Alphonce Felix SIMBU (Tanzania) – 2:11:35
Galen RUPP (USA) – 2:11:41
46. Ben PREISNER (Canada) – 2:19:27
48. Trevor HOFBAUER (Canada) – 2:19:57
72. Cameron LEVINS (Canada) – 2:28:43
Here are my 5 Takeaways from the Event:
Heat causes a lot of DNFs, but fewer than cold and rain
The heat was an obvious factor in Sapporo, despite International Olympic Committee attempts to move the marathon’s away from Tokyo to a cooler location. Perhaps they did save a couple degrees centigrade, but I do not know if it made a major difference to the outcome of the event.
Due to the heat there were a lot of DNFs. In a field of 105 on the men’s side, only 75 runners finished, resulting in about a 29% dropout rate. As Krista DuChene mentioned on the broadcast: women are traditionally better and more conservative pacers than men, and as such, 15 women dropped out of a field that was 88 strong, an attrition rate of 17%.
It is interesting to compare these stats against the 2018 Boston Marathon. You will recall that Boston 2018 featured a freezing cold day that included rain and some sleet. Temperatures on that day were 1-3 degrees celsius, but with the precipitation, it felt much colder. On that day, 41 elites started the race and 23 dropped out. That is a rate of 49%.
There are a number of reasons elites drop out of the marathon, the number one being that if it’s not their day, dropping out saves the legs so they can make their living in another race and/or run a standard in another race.
I think our conclusion here is that it is easier to prepare for a hot marathon than a cold one. Heat adaptation is easier.
2. There is tremendous depth in the marathon in Canada
The Canadian women have been crushing it lately in running. Between Gen Lalonde, Andrea Seccafien, Gabriela Debues-Stafford, there has never been so much depth. The same holds true, or perhaps even more so, for the marathon. Malindi Elmore and Natasha Wodak both ran stellar races to get themselves inside the top-15. Dayna Pidhoresky struggled due to injury, but before the games she had also lowered her personal best in the marathon.
There has never been this much depth. Beyond those who went to the Games, we have to acknowledge that Rachel Cliff and Lyndsay Tessier had also both achieved the standard. This is a large departure from a long period where Canada had no women participating in the Olympic Marathon. I think we have the likes of Lanni Marchant and Krista Duchene to thank for that.
I fully expect the depth in the women’s ranks to grow as we look forward to qualifying for Paris 2024.
3. Kipchoge cements GOAT status
If it wasn’t clear before, it is clear now. Eliud Kipchoge is the greatest of all-time. Now the question becomes is he the greatest marathoner of all-time or the greatest distance runner of all-time.
Before we get into the discussion, it is important to note that of all the defending champions in the men’s athletics events, not one, save Kipchoge, defended his title. The remainder either did not qualify, retired, or crashed and burned in their title defence.
Kipchoge’s resume now reads like this: 2x Olympic Gold Medals (Marathon), 1x Olympic Silver Marathon (5,000), 1x Olympic Bronze (5,000), first human under 2 hours in the marathon, World Record Holder, 1x Chicago Marathon Champion, 4x London Marathon Champion, 3x Berlin Marathon Champion.
I think it’s safe to say Kipchoge is the greatest distance runner of all time.
4. Refugee Athletes win medals for European Nations
The Olympics began with the fantastic news that Canada is accepting a number of the athletes from the Refugee Olympic Team to reside in Canada and eventually gain citizenship.
This great news was followed up by former refugees in the marathon. Although they did not represent Canada, Bashir Abdi and Abdi Nageeye are both Somolian Refugees who worked together throughout the marathon and came to stand on the podium. This is a crystal clear example of when countries open their arms to those in need, refugees will represent their new country with pride and succeed.
Moh Ahmed (who won a silver medal for Canada) also escaped a war torn country and is representing Canada with pride and honour.
5. Kenya runs well, Ethiopia struggles.
In both cases it was clear, Ethiopia struggled while their rivals from across the Rift Valley, thrived. Across both the men’s and women’s marathon’s, Kenya won three medals (two gold, one silver) to Ethiopia’s zero. In the men’s race, not one Ethiopian finished the race. In the women’s event, only Dereje finished—although she did put in a good showing in fourth.
Meanwhile, Kenya absolutely dominated the women’s event with Jepchirchir and Kosgei both reaching the podium. On the men’s side they looked set to do the same, but Kipruto dropped out with 15K or so remaining and Cherono was out-kicked for a medal, despite pulling the group along in the last 10K. Kipchoge, however, easily made up for this disappointment with his spectacular victory.
So why such contrast in results? For one, we know that Kenya does have slightly more depth than Ethiopia in the marathon, but I still believed that Ethiopia would come away with at least two medals.
I think the main reason for the discrepancy comes via the time of selection. Kenya selected their team in late 2019, providing its runners at least six months to prepare. When the Games were delayed it gave them even more time to prepare and sharpen specifically for this event. On the other hand, Ethiopia hosted a controversial trials over the distance of 35K on May 1, 2021. This gave their athletes significantly less time to prepare and may not have sent their best team as Mare Dibaba missed the team and legends Tirunish Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele did not even run in the event.
It is safe to say however, that these two nations will again do battle in the marathon at Worlds in 2022, 2023 and once again in Paris in 2024.
Stephen Andersen is a law student and cross country athlete at the University of New Brunswick. He is from Burlington, ON. You can find him on Instagram @andersen_runs or Twitter @AndersenRuns.
When one hears of the town Sapporo, immediately their thoughts turn to the city’s most famous export, its namesake beer. On Saturday and Sunday morning in Japan (Friday and Saturday evening in Canada), Sapporo will be on display across millions of television sets, smartphones and computer streaming services stretching from Kelowna, BC to Africa’s great Rift Valley to Flagstaff, AZ and across Japan. Instead of its famous beer however, the eyes of the world will be watching the world’s greatest distance runners in their 42.2 kilometre quest to be immortalized in Olympic history.
The marathon is the Olympics’ marquee event. The winners of the men’s and women’s event will no doubt push the human limits of mental toughness, physical strength, and courage.
Recently, the limits of what a marathoner can do have been greatly expanded, no more so than in the exploits of Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya). Yes, the world record holder and first person to run a marathon under two hours is back to defend his title. Unsurprisingly he is also the favourite for the event, having only ever lost two marathons. Kipchoge’s palmares does not stop there. He has won multiple marathon majors, including the likes of London, Berlin and Chicago, and adorns three Olympic medals from Athens, Beijing and Rio.
The men’s event, which is set to start at 7:00 AM local time (6:00 PM ET in Canada), features other high profile talent as well. First on the list has to be the only man in the field to have beaten Kipchoge, Shura Kitata (Ethiopia). Kitata enters the event with a personal best of 2:04 and having won the most recent edition of the London Marathon in 2020.
His compatriot Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) should also be a challenger for the Olympic title. Sporting a personal best of 2:04, Desisa is a multiple time Boston Marathon Champion and won the marathon at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
Outside of the might of East Africa, Japan is one of the world’s running powers. Their team is led by Suguru Osako who, if he won, would be treated like a rockstar in the running crazed nation. Osaka is the former Japanese record holder in the marathon and is most famous for earning 100 Million Yen after breaking the record in Chicago.
The American challenge will be led by Rio bronze medalist Galen Rupp. Since a return from surgery in 2018, Rupp has been quietly returning to his best form. Although some controversy revolves around him and his former coach, Alberto Salazar, Rupp easily won the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon and will be looking to return to the podium on Sunday in Sapporo.
Canada is sending its fastest men’s team ever (by personal best). It is led by Canadian record holder in the distance, Cameron Levins. From British Columbia, Levins almost did not make the Canadian team, but ran a spectacular race in Austria on the final weekend of qualifying. He will be flanked by 2019 Canadian Champion and 2nd fastest Canadian ever, Trevor Hofbauer. Hofbauer, an Albertan, towering above the field at a height of 6’3”, surprised the Canadian running community when he ran a five minute personal best to book his ticket to Tokyo. Last but not least, Ben Preisner is the youngest member of the Canadian contingent. Preisner, from Ontario, owns the fastest marathon debut by a Canadian and the Olympics will be his second marathon.
The men’s field does not stop there; other notables toeing the line include 2012 Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda), 5x Olympian Abdi Abdirahman (USA), Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (Turkey), Tadesse Abraham (Switzerland), Stephen Mokoka (South Africa), Sondre Nordstad Moen (Norway), Zane Robertson (New Zealand), Amos Kipruto (Kenya), Laurence Cherono (Kenya), Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia), Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (Eritrea), and Bashir Abdi (Belgium).
While Kipchoge is the big favourite in the men’s race, it is also difficult to look past Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) who is the women’s world record holder. In 2019, Kosgei blew the former world record out of the water, running 2:14. Perhaps more impressive, she has risen to the top after debuting in 2:47 and giving birth to twins in 2014. This is her first Olympics.
Unlike Kipchoge, Kosgei’s biggest challenges do not come from their great Ethopian rivals, but within the Kenyan squad itself. Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) is the world champion, a title she earned during a supremely hot and humid race in Doha. To add to her accolades, in 2021 Chepngetich set the world record in the half marathon, shattering the previous record by half a minute.
The previous half marathon record holder, Peres Jepchirchir rounds out the Kenyan team. Not only is she the defending World Half Marathon champion, but also has a Canadian connection, running the Ottawa 10K three times including winning the 2016 edition.
Another athlete in the field with a Canadian connection is Tigist Girma (Ethiopia). Girma broke onto the marathon scene with a victory at the 2019 Ottawa Marathon. After taking the Ottawa title, Girma went on to run 2:19 over the marathon distance and win the Ethiopian trials to book her ticket to Tokyo.
Lonah Salpeter could be the first Isreali women to ever win the Olympic marathon. Of runners based outside East Africa, Salpeter has the best resume. She also has positive experience running in Japan, as she won the 2020 Tokyo Marathon.
The Commonwealth challenge is led by the ever improving Aussie, Sinead Diver. Although she only took up running in 2010 and is the oldest Australian to ever participate in the Olympics, Diver cannot be overlooked. Having led the 2019 London Marathon for the first 30 kilometres, she is not afraid to go for the win.
Canada is led by Malindi Elmore. Not only is she the Canadian record holder in the marathon, but she also has the best chance of the Canadian contingent to medal. Elmore ran in the 1500m at the 2004 Athens Games before retiring, switching to triathlon, then returning to athletics in the marathon. The Olympics will be her third marathon.
Natasha Wodak is the second fastest Canadian of all-time and Tokyo will also be her third marathon. She is also entering her second Olympics after competing in Rio. She qualified for the Games at the 2020 Marathon Project after running her first marathon seven years previously.
The 2019 Canadian Champion Dayna Pidhoresky rounds out the Canadian squad. Pidhoresky has had a tough run up to the Olympic marathon. On her flight over to the Games, a passenger tested positive and Pidhoresky was forced to isolate for much of her final build-up and taper period. But Pidhoresky is a gutsy racer, and cannot be counted out.
The women’s marathon is set to start Saturday morning at 7:00 AM (or Friday evening 5:00 PM ET in Canada). It also features notable athletes including Lisa Weightman (Australia), Volha Mazuronak (Belarus), Roza Dereje (Ethiopia), Birhane Dibaba (Ethiopia), Melat Yisak Kejeta (Ethiopia), Moa Ichiyama (Japan), Helalia Johannes (Namibia), Sally Kipyego (USA), Molly Siedel (USA), and Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA).
While the script of the Olympic marathon is yet to be written, the biggest impact on the race will likely be the weather. The International Olympic Committee moved the marathon and the race walk out of Tokyo and to the northern city of Sapporo in hopes of finding cooler weather. Although the weather is not what Canadians would classify as cool, the temperature will be about 25 degrees celsius at start time, a far cry from the 31 that athletes in Tokyo have been forced to endure.
Regardless of the temperature, anything over 15 degrees for a marathon is considered warm, so the heat will definitely have an impact on the race. As such, expect to see a negative split where the athletes start to surge at the halfway mark in an effort to preserve precious energy early in the race. We could also see a small breakaway of athletes who do not believe they can compete with the top ranked competitors and want to bank time before the surges start.
Regardless of how the event turns out, I am sure all competitors will want a bottle of Sapporo’s finest at the conclusion of their event.
Canadians can watch the Olympic marathons by tuning into Olympic Games Primetime with Scott Russell on CBC. Canadian Olympian Krista Duchene will be leading the coverage. You can also watch on CBC GEM starting at 5:00 PM EDT/2:00 PM PDT on Friday and Saturday evening.
Stephen Andersen is a law student and cross country athlete at the University of New Brunswick. He is from Burlington, ON. You can find him on Instagram @andersen_runs or Twitter @AndersenRuns.
Canada has two Olympic racewalkers in Tokyo set to race Friday, Evan Dunfee and Mathieu Bilodeau. This is the sport that people usually stumble across every 4 years when the Olympics come along, and they catch the event on television. Its wiggly and, yes, it can look weird if you have never seen it before. But it’s also pretty cool and fun to watch.
At 4:30pm EST on Friday, Dunfee and Bilodeau (pictured) will line up to race the 50K racewalk event, set to be the last for this distance at the Olympics. A sport that pre-dates the start of organized athletics, racewalking has a colourful and interesting beginning and a history to rival the marathon.
In the 1880s, racewalking, then called pedestrianism, was the most popular sport in North America!
Having to define what was walking and what was running, rules and better techniques evolved to allow athletes to push walking to its limit. There are two rules that define modern racewalking: a walker’s feet should never both leave the ground as visible to the human eye (loss of contact) and the advancing leg making contact with the ground should be straightened as it passes under the body. Judges during an official event can give yellow warning cards and red cards that indicate a violation of a rule. Three red cards and someone can be disqualified. During a 50k race, often held on a 2-kilometre loop, the pressure, pace, exhaustion and need to keep one’s technique while racing can lead to a lot of drama and excitement.
Evan Dunfee, from Richmond, BC., was fourth at the 50k at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He won the 2019 Pan American Games 20k, took a bronze medal at the 2019 50k World Championships and, in 2021, broke the 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m (38:39) Canadian racewalk records—along with establishing a treadmill racewalk world record (39:02). He is a veteran walker and has been on the world stage competing since 2007. To add a cheesy twist to things this Olympics, and a fun one, Kraft Dinner Canada has sponsored Evan, and produced a fun video to promote him and the sport and has garnered the sport more attention.
Now meet Mathieu Bilodeau, the Quebec triathlete-turned-racewalker who picked up the unique sport quickly and went from novice to international calibre just as fast. Seven months after starting, he qualified for the 2015 World Championships 50k race. He then qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Mathieu says he thinks if he does a smart race, he will be proud. It’s been a tough year for him—like many—trying to find races and qualify for his chosen event. He says he is sad it will be his last Olympic 50k and will have to figure out whether to focus on the new 35k distance or move down to racing the faster 20k event. Time will tell.
The 50k world record set in 2014 by Frenchmen Yohann Dinz is an eye-popping 3:32:33. Elite racewalkers walk under 20-minutes for 5k, under 40-minutes for 10k and can do 50k at a pace that many decent marathoners would be envious of, walking!
Canada’s racewalk community is small, but there are Masters walkers keeping the sport alive and promising young walkers like BC’s Olivia Lundman who look ready to step up and keep the sport going. In the past, Canada has shone in this sport from record holder George Goulding who won gold at the 1912 Olympics to Marcel Jobin, Quuebec’s ‘fou en pyjama’, a double Olympian and Commonwealth Games medalist. There’s also Tim Berret, 3-time Olympian, double Commonwealth Games medalist, and the recently retired Rachel Seaman, who set many Canadian women’s records and competed at the 2012 London Olympics (along with other international competitions). Clearly, racewalking is something that Canadians do well.
Racewalking can offer runners an endurance sport that has less impact than running, requires a slightly higher cadence, is technical and can offer a great cardio workout. Many older runners take up the sport and it can be a great complement to a runner’s training, or else an opportunity for a fast young runner looking for a different challenge (plus, it’s a lot of fun).
Intrigued or interested? With a bit more knowledge, tune in on Friday for the Men’s 50k racewalk – 4:30pm EST. Racewalk, don’t run, to your nearest TV screen.
Noel Paine is a long-time runner who in 2020 gave racewalking a try and fell in love and currently owns the Ontario Masters 5k road record for men 40-44.
Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse for iRun. (Photograph by Nick Iwanyshyn)
“Did you see me?” Andre De Grasse asked of his family, just after he won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Canada’s greatest sprinter, the first Canadian man since 1928 to get the 200-metre gold medal, ran a superb race against a stacked field, including his countryman Aaron Brown, who, after his race, finishing sixth, held up a photo of his family and said: “This is what I run for.”
De Grasse has many sponsors, including Puma and Endy, the Canadian mattress company who conducted this interview with De Grasse before he left for Tokyo. De Grasse has used Endy mattresses since 2019 and says sleep is an essential part of his training. Lots of lessons to be learned right here. This is an excerpt from their interview.
What are the top 3 things you need to ensure he has a restful sleep?
Andre De Grasse: A good meal, a dark room, and a comfortable, quality mattress that I can sink in to at the end of the day – I wouldn’t be able to train as hard as I do without getting a full night of sleep on my Endy mattress.
What are your favourite bedside table products?
I always need a glass of water on my nightstand, plus an essential oil diffuser to help me focus in the morning and zen out at night.
What’s your go-to breakfast?
Cheerios, and again, a big glass of water!
Coffee or tea?
Neither. Hot chocolate.
Early-riser or hit the snooze?
Hit the snooze.
Meditation or get moving?
Meditation.
Check emails/phone or quiet time?
Check emails.
There’s lots left in this Olympics, including the marathon, where we’re all rooting for the Canadian athletes, and the decathlon, where Damian Warner currently sits in first place. We’re rooting for Gabriela Debues-Stafford, who runs the 1500-metre on Friday morning, and we’re rooting for all of the athletes from all of the countries, and we’re also rooting for you, with whatever you’re training for and whenever you race next.
But this moment, right now, belongs to Andre. Well done, sir. You make all of us, every runner in this country, proud.
I usually pick a shoe that is straight-forward. I like the idea of simplicity. After running in the Gel Kayano 28, it turns out I like the feel of bells and whistles too.
The first thing I noticed when I tried on the Gel Kayano 28 is how comfortable and plush it is around the foot and how well-cushioned it is underneath. I associate this amount of comfort with a heavy shoe, but the Kayano 28 isn’t all that heavy, coming in at 309g (10.9oz) for men’s size 9.
This isn’t a shoe I will wear for speed intervals or on race day, but I will wear it for easy runs and chill long runs. The shoe doesn’t feel fast (I don’t think it’s supposed to), but they do feel much better than other stability cushion shoes when I ran some strides (20 seconds faster than 5km race pace). This is probably due to the snug fit and responsive foam that is used along with the soft gel.
The Gel Kayano has always been a leader in innovation and therefore comes with bells and whistles. Simply reading the actual shoe you notice the “3D Space Construction for gender specific comfort,” that makes the shoe feel very comfy and snug. “FF Blast” (FlyteFoam Blast) offers cushion and rebound so the shoe doesn’t feel too soft. “Dynamic Duomax” is a slightly firmer EVA that gives the shoe stability to prevent over-pronation.
You can see the Gel that is used to absorb shock which makes this shoe feel as though it’s saving your legs.
I ran in this shoe on roads and non-technical trails and it handled both quite well. I thought I was going to notice the shoe throughout the run as the Kayano is in a different category than what I normally run in. However, right away it felt natural and familiar, but with more cushion.
All the innovation of the Gel Kayano 28 offers a very comfortable ride that I ended up looking forward to on recovery runs.
One of the biggest benefits of running is its mood-boosting effects. And if ever there was a time for some mood boosting—it’s now.
After more than a year without racing, one of the first live events to return to the Quebec calendar since the pandemic lock down in 2020 is the Demi Marathon Mont Tremblant on August 8.
Choose your distance: a 5K, 10K or 21.1K, and a Fast & Furious 1K for kids. The majestic Laurentian Mountains in Mont Tremblant serve as the backdrop to the event that promises to deliver plenty of mood boosting benefits.
Hard works pays off
We have all worked hard to flatten the COVID curve. It is that hard work that is allowing Mont Tremblant to host a celebration of running this summer.
Receiving approval in late May to host the event in early August has not given the event team much lead time. But efforts throughout the pandemic planning a return to live racing is paying off.
Tremendous support from the City of Mont-Tremblant, sponsors and partners who stepped up to assist without being asked, and a community that does not know the meaning of the word quit.
Community spirit underscores why the Demi Marathon Mont-Tremblant will lead the return to racing in the Laurentians this summer.
Race Director Dominique Langelier tells us, “The Demi Marathon Mont-Tremblant is a reminder of everything we can accomplish with persistence, hard work and community support.”
“We know each participant to cross our 2021 finish line will work hard to get there,” said Ms. Langelier. “Behind the scenes, we promise we will work just as hard to ensure an unforgettable experience.”
Reconnecting Safely
New health and safety protocols have changed the landscape of racing. In addition to controlled access and wave starts of 250 runners, the event will have a limited 3,000 participant capacity.
COVID restrictions also mean there will be less activities and access for the general public. But, Ms. Langelier sees a silver living with those limitations. “It is allowing us to focus on our participants to make sure the day is enjoyable from start to finish.”
Spectators will be allowed along the run course, but will be barred from the start and finish lines, as well as the post-race athlete lounge. Key areas will be for participants only. So, the best way to be part of this day is to register!
Stronger Together
From elite runners, to first timers, the Demi Marathon Mont-Tremblant offers a challenge for everyone.
Whether you’re looking for a runner’s high this summer as you push to take the podium, or just want to walk 5K with friends, lace up your sneakers, and head over to Mont Tremblant.
It’s time to reconnect with one another. To savor the joy of being together. It’s time for the Demi Marathon Mont-Tremblant—live and in person.
Stronger together, we will cross this finish line.
Current Issue
Previous Issue
Prior Release
