The Prairies Roar Back with In-Person Races

July 28, 2021

The in-person race season is getting a big shot in the arm this fall with the Manitoba Marathon, Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, and the GMS Queen City Marathon leading the way.

All three events are run by experienced professionals, open to all provinces, offer races in multiple distances, and, most importantly, are scheduled to be held in person.

”We are excited to have the opportunity to be among the first large races back in 2021,” says Shawn Weimer, executive director of Run Regina, who’s been at the helm of his race since 2014. The event, held over three days and beginning September 10, offers a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. Weimer says: “The GMS Queen City Marathon is an opportunity for the Saskatchewan race community to come together, safely, to celebrate all those who continued to train during the past 16 months and to welcome those who took up the sport during the pandemic.”

Obviously, racing after the pandemic is different than what we’ve experienced in previous years. The after-parties are over and gathering of all kind is discouraged, if not flat-out banned. Expect less bells and whistles, no post-race massage. The race, more or less, is now the thing, with runners showing up on the line, staying with their corral, competing, and then leaving the event in an orderly fashion. It’s something we’ve been hungry for—racing, in person, timed and competitive, even if it’s bare bones.

“As we have planned our return to racing over the past two years, our focus has been on trying to keep some of the race experience intact, as we keep the runners and volunteers safe,” says Rachel Munday, executive director, Manitoba Marathon Foundation, and a running industry veteran since 2004. The Manitoba Marathon is being held September 4 and 5 and offers races of all distances, and a youth run. “We have moved to a two-day format, smaller waves at the start line, pulse starts, changes to our routes to allow for less impact on city services, modified aid stations, and the list goes,” Munday says. “What will not change, however, is the energy and excitement of race day! We can’t wait to set up the arches, turn on the music and cheer our runners on as they get back on the roads.”

Kirsten Fleming, executive director of the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, quotes Joni Mitchell when mentioning the anticipation of her in-person fall event: “Don’t it always seem to go/we don’t know what we want til it’s gone.” Like the other race leaders, she sees the increase of new runners from the pandemic and the pent-up excitement behind the return of racing and predicts this first-round of Prairie-held in-person races playing a pivotal role in the next running wave.

Racing is back in Canada, says Fleming, and she’s proud to see herself and her local race directors—all close friends like the extended community of race directors across the country—leading the way.

“Growth and innovation come out of necessity so I feel energized about the dawn of a new era in our industry and excited to see 18 months of collaboration start to actualize at start lines all over the globe,” says Fleming, who’s put on 11 virtual races during the pandemic and adds that there’s 70 spots left for her marathon—open to all of Canada—one of the few in-person 2021 Boston-qualifiers. “If I were a participant, partner or charity I would be extremely optimistic about the future of races.”

Canada and the Olympics is Good for Your Soul

July 28, 2021

As an athlete, as a sports fan, as a runner, I love the Olympic Games. Any sport, rooting for any athlete, the stories and the people get me every time. Racing, if I indulge, I can see myself in the Olympian’s shoes. The effort put forth in the final stretch, the collapse after crossing a finish line—the discipline in the training and the selfishness required to bring out our very best. Sometimes, if I let myself, I can see myself in their shoes. The feeling of preparing for something, obsessing over it, and then giving it all I can.

Canada, and the Olympics, obviously aren’t perfect. COVID and politics and issues of real life aren’t to be minimized and no doubt there’s bad, even atrocious, associated both with the 125-year-old Olympic Games and our country, which is rightly coming coming to a reckoning for atrocities committed at residential schools.

However, during the Olympics, when Penny Oleksiak is in the pool or Malindi Elmore laces her sneakers; when Maggie Mac Neil, squinting at the scoreboard, realizes she took gold; when we all await for what’s next from Andre de Grasse, it’s hard not to be moved. And I want to be moved. I want to gather my kids and show them: you can do anything you set your mind on. No dream is too big. Set records. Be the best ever. Cheer for your country, your teammates. Even the commercials choke me up.

Runners train through a cycle to compete in our event. 10K, half marathon, charity run, ultra—whatever it is, we all live in preparation of race day. Olympians see this cycle, for one day, every four years. The pressure was too much for Simone Biles. Everyone understands. Flora Duffy, the women’s triathlon winner, Bermuda’s first gold medal winner, says she can’t do another grind of the cycle. It’s all consuming. It’s unpredictable. Every racer knows: do I really want to put myself through this again? We do. Again and again. And, as a sports fan, it’s enough to make me stand up and cheer.

Runners, I implore you, while you still can, lean into the Olympics. Listen to the stories. Root for Natasha and Dayna and Trevor and Julia, and all of our Canadian heroes. Root for all the heroes from all over the world. Their heart, my friends, can’t help but help us—lift us all in our lives, and at our next race.

Pictured, from the top, from their Instagram accounts, 2020 Tokyo Olympians Andre De Grasse, Gabriela De-Bues Stafford, and, from left, Natasha Wodak, Malindi Elmore and Dayna Pidhoresky.

“Oh man, Get me to the finish line!” Thoughts on completing a 100-mile race in 100-degree heat

Ben Kaplan

July 21, 2021

Kathryn Drew is based in Vancouver and 34-years-old and has been running competitively since 2009. She’s done ultras and marathons and when she enters a race, like this summer’s Western States Endurance Run—the world’s oldest trail race, a 100-mile gruel-fest in the heat and mountains of Sierra Nevada—she toes the line to win.

At the event this June, Drew struggled before the event began. “I woke up with a headache,” she says, “maybe it was the elevation.”

When you know your day is going to consist of pain and struggle, you do what you can to prepare. Drew had run the event before and completed a good training cycle. She took the work seriously, but never let it take over her existence. “I wanted to have a life outside of running and not become totally engrossed in one thing. I like to go and have a beer,” she says.

Of course, make no mistake, training for those distances means a lot of running, a lot of eating, and a lot of sleep. Drew did everything right. It’s just, even in the throes of her training, she doesn’t let herself get overwhelmed. “I need to ensure there’s balance,” she says, adding, specifically, that the diet she followed was about getting enough calories, but it wasn’t punitive. She didn’t cut any food out. She just modulated what she took in. Again, Kat—as she’s known at Vancouver Running Company where she coaches and to her friends at HOKA ONE ONE, who give her shoes—is sensible. “I focus on eating a lot of carbs,” she says, “but I still had McDonald’s sometimes.”

The point is: Drew is a model runner. Disciplined, fast, and sensible. That’s probably why she’s been competitive for so long. She enjoys what she does and she knows that philosophy helps her achieve her race goals. Times are good, times are bad: she’s not her running. Her running is part of her. She has a healthy approach to our sport.

Still, race day doesn’t always go according to plan, and on this day, Drew woke up feeling like crap. The views from the start line were stunning and she tried to focus on gratitude and the splendour of nature, but her heart rate was already rising—and so was the temperature. “At the slightest incline, my heart rate would go crazy and it was over 100-degrees without a breath of wind. I probably had some kind of heat exhaustion,” she says.

Drew managed to keep up her fuelling, she hydrated, but in addition to everything else, she was also running alone: for the entire first 100 kilometres. She says, “I probably spent the first twelve hours in my head.”

Drew’s story is important because of the relatable coping skills. She thought of quitting. She felt nauseous. But she broke the race down into sections and instead of thinking of the huge mountain that she had to climb, she thought of the distance she’d already finished. Each aid station became a mini-finish line and each episode—seeing her teammates, picking up a pacer, drinking a shot of Ginger-Ale—became a victory. Drew kept running. She didn’t give up. Then, with about sixty kilometres left to run, she fell into a ditch.

“That wasn’t fun,” she says, and she head back out for her final eleven hours of racing.

Kat Drew has a mixture of brains, a sense of humour, discipline, and guts. When she starts her training, she breaks things down into little sections. “If I look at the whole thing, it just scares me to think of how much it sucks,” she says. She also trains responsibly. She trains diligently, of course. But she takes a full two weeks off after racing and she doesn’t get hung up on comparing her workouts with others on Strava. She rests. She listens to her body. She sleeps. Of course, she’s tough as nails. After running hills in heat for twelve hours, she fell into a ditch. And got back up. Kat Drew isn’t like you or I. And yet there’s lots we can learn from her approach to racing—and her approach to life.

Drew continued running the Western States Endurance Run long after day turned to night, and hung in until the last 10K. Then she picked up the pace. “My fiancé paced me at the end and he cracked the whip. ‘I know you can run,’ he said. We had thirty minutes to get in under 24-hours. We were trying to hustle—and we did.”

Crossing the finish line under 24-hours to earn her Silver Buckle, Drew felt relieved as much as anything. It was a long, hard day and she hurt all over. But Drew did cross that finish line: she was the first Canadian to finish the world’s oldest trail race. Afterwards, Drew thought she might retire. Does she really want to put herself through that again? If so, why, and for what?

“That feeling last me around five days,” says Drew, who then had a change of heart: “Nope, I’ll totally run that race again. I love it so much.”

Photographs, excluding the finish line shot, by @vspicturescom. To keep up with Kat, follow her @katdrew.

Do I hate racing?

Ben Kaplan

July 21, 2021

My thoughts rolled as the car engine hummed on the drive back from another unsuccessful competition: Do I hate racing? I had not been beaten by the others on the track, I had been beaten by myself. Again. I have been fighting demons on race day for 34 years and losing.

I realized I hate race day and racing.

There are often two types of runners who toe the start line, those who like racing and those who like to train. The racer lives for the battle, the adrenaline, and the challenge. Those who like to train often like the journey, but struggle when it comes to proving their fitness or achieving their goals on race day. You can guess which I am.

I am a runner who has run track, road races, marathons, ultras—everything, and now have taken up competitive racewalking. Yep, that means I have to compete. I have goals. I like going hard, going fast and achieving things. I know I put a lot of pressure on myself and have big expectations. That pressure and expectations—with a big capital E—turn into two frothing, head pounding demons on race day. These two idiotic demons can turn a fit, confident guy into a self-doubting, weak-willed mess. Its embarrassing, confidence crushing and can ruin a day.

The effects linger.

I think I am done running marathons. I am happy with my running accomplishments, although I know the demons held me back. I no longer feel the need to run competitively, but I love to run. The trails are my happy place and I love exploring and even running far and at my own pace. But I think I could do well at racewalking. What do I do? I think I might like to compete if I can do it without demons breathing down my neck. So, before I hang up my racing shoes, I plan to take an inner journey of discovery. A search for a way to handle race day.

My friend Paula James, a former national-caliber university runner, who broke and holds records and now even competes at a high level as a Masters runner, reached out to me. “Did you know when I was winning national university medals, I quit for about 6-weeks. The stress was too much. Internally or externally imposed expectation can suck all the fun out of sport. And I remember even after running well, feeling more relief that it was over than joy in the outcome.” Paula came back to win a gold medal at Nationals. It was good to hear I was not alone in the struggle.

Long-time US racewalker and coach Carmen Jackinsky wrote to me and expressed how she beat herself up mentally when she was competing but found some solace when coaching, “I’ve had so many negative experiences that spoke, ‘you’re not good enough,’ but I had to find a louder voice to drown that out. Coaching others really helped me realize how much better I spoke to my athletes than to myself.”

I plan to look for answers by talking to other runners, the recreational folks, the elites battling for Olympic selection and to sports performance specialists who help athletes arm themselves against race day monsters. I would like to find a way to be able to not be eaten if I decide to challenge myself, but if not be okay with just enjoying running and racewalking and challenging myself in other ways.

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.

Shoe review: The ASICS Kinsei Blast

Ben Kaplan

July 14, 2021

I’d never personally experienced the ASICS Kinsei line, but heard other runners praise the comfort of the shoe. The newest Blast does not disappoint! From the breathable material, to the soft tongue and roomy toe, this shoe truly fits like a glove. My experience with ASICS in the past has been more functional than stylish, but I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled the sleek white and turquoise design out of the box, and even more impressed when I effortlessly slipped them on. The upper of the shoe is undoubtedly the most comfortable, and breathable, of the brand that I’ve ever experienced.

Weighing 11.9 ounces and for a cost of $185US, the Kinsei Blast, part of the groundbreaking Kinsei line and just one of the many hot new ASICS shoes coming out this summer and fall, is a star. The shoe is cushioned, supportive, and fast. Me? I’m always on the go. I’m currently training for the Boston marathon in the fall, running 100+ km weeks. I slot runs in early mornings, on lunch breaks, or late evenings, pre a big dinner refuel! My runs vary from short and speedy to longer recoveries and now a more hybrid style, where I slot a few kms of tempo-based work in a longer run. For me, versatility in my go-to shoe is key. I run with the BlackToe Race Team in Toronto, and also teach spin at SPINCO, so I’m always seeking a shoe that is functional and versatile, but also light and stylish!

I sported the Kinsei Blasts for a longer tempo run, to test both the speed and stability of the shoe—they scored an A+ in both categories! The gel through the mid-to-heel of the shoe created a cushiony and supportive landing while providing equal explosion and spring in the toe-off. I am a heel striker, and found the gel in the back of the shoe to absorb the shock and sharp feeling I often get in other speed and performance runners. It’s so hard to find the perfect balance between a shoe to turn up the speed on a tempo run while minimizing injury for a longer session of speed work mid-marathon build. ASICS optimized both with the latest model on the Gel-Kinsei, and seemed to have cracked the impossible: a speedy, lightweight—yet durable—trusted runner.

Well done!

Shoe review: Kiprun KD500 from Décathlon

Ben Kaplan

July 14, 2021

I like my shoes as light as possible, as neutral as possible (love twisting those soles!) and with a fairly wide toe-box. Despite questioning the elongated and therefore possibly narrower profile of this shoe, I decided to give the Kiprun KD500 road running shoe a try. After three outings I am pleasantly surprised with this shoe in terms of comfort and performance.

The sock-like upper, made from a single piece of fabric, is very comfortable and gave my feet plenty of room. The sole gave a nice, springy return with every stride, maybe explaining why they feel lighter on foot than their 222 g. (7.8 oz) weight would suggest. At $85, I was impressed to not feel any noticeable difference from my other favourite, more expensive, shoes. We’ll see how they hold up with more mileage in them, but so far these shoes are a great addition to shoe models already in my roster.

Shoe review: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT % Eliud Kipchoge

Ben Kaplan

July 14, 2021

I have never been a fast runner, nor will I ever be. As a middle of the pack/back of the pack runner, I have never picked shoes based on weight, it has always been based on comfort and support.

I was lucky enough to get a pair of Nike Alphafly Next % over the last month and all I can say is: wow! Never have I ever tried a shoe that would have this kind of effect on my running—good and bad—let me explain.

The first run I ever did in the shoes were in Kona with a 500ft downhill run to get to on my out and back, and I ended up running 10km or so. The second you step in these shoes is a feeling you cannot describe. Instantly, this shoe wants nothing more but to throw you forward, but at the same time seems to offer tons of support. You don’t even need to break in these shoes, you put them on and you are ready for your next PB—instantly.

The next day I woke up with sore legs. I didn’t know if it was the downhill run or the extra forward propulsion that was causing this. So, what I have done over the last month is wear them on the road and on the treadmill once per week. It’s incredible how on every run you feel like you can run faster, but at the same time get the support you need. It’s an extremely light shoe, but designed in a way to cushion every landing and simply move you forward. I would not be surprised if this shoe provided a slow runner like myself a faster pace by 5-to-10 seconds-per-kilometre.

This is the perfect racing and tuning shoe; I would not, however, recommend running in them every single day, simply because of the cost, and this could results in leg pain as your body is not used to that extra propulsion. So, if you are looking to improve your time in your next 5k, Half-Marathon or Marathon, this is totally the shoe for you. Even as a slow runner like myself with a poor technique I felt the instant propulsion, the instant feeling of running on a cloud, and I have been working on my technique on the treadmill and hopefully the combination of it all will mean a better performance on race day.

As a triathlete, I need the extra cushioning off the bike to start my run, and unfortunately I have not been able to race yet, but I am looking forward to my first Triathlon in a few years sometime by the end of July or August. Then after that I will save my Nike Alphafly Next % shoes until October 9^th, 2021. . . Kona, baby!

Shoe review by Reid Coolsaet: Saucony Endorphin Pro 2

Ben Kaplan

July 14, 2021

The original Saucony Endorphin Pro is a winner in my books. Even though my originals are still holding up well after more than 500 kilometres, I jumped at the opportunity to test the new version.

The Endorphin Pro is one of those shoes where you hope the updated version stays true to the original, and the Endorphin Pro 2 barely changed from the first iteration.

I’ve trained in five different carbon plated race shoes and, unlike other “super shoes,” the Endorphin Pro feels the best at varying speeds. It’s great at speeds faster than 5km race pace and it also performed really well in a 50km training run on crushed gravel. Heck, it even feels fine during warm-up and cool down.

It took me very little time to get used to the Endorphin Pro 2. The upper is very comfortable and breathable and the shoe didn’t cause me to get sore, which can often happen when breaking-in race shoes.

The outsole and foam of version 2 look and feel exactly the same as the first. This is good news to everyone who enjoyed the original Endorphin Pro. They perform well and hold up for a very long time.

I didn’t have any issues with the upper of the first version so I was a little worried about any changes to the Pro 2. Spoiler: nothing to worry about.

The tongue still has that sock-like fit however the new tongue is a little longer and has a pull tab. This helps pull the shoe on easier, not that I had trouble with the first version.

The middle lace eyelets in the new lacing system are anchored deep into the upper which helps pull the shoe snug around the middle of your foot.

Version 2 is slightly wider but with the new lace system you can easily get a snug fit even if you have a narrow foot.

If you’re a fan of the original Endorphin Pro you’re going to love the 2 as well. If you haven’t tried a carbon plate “super shoe” this is the one to start with as it is the most versatile, least intrusive and still manages to go fast.

Shoe review: Carbon X2, HOKA ONE ONE

Ben Kaplan

July 14, 2021

The carbon-plate revolution transforming running shoes is both a good and bad thing, depending on you outlook on life. It’s good, obviously, because the carbon plates—an energy return system incorporating a thin layer of carbon beneath the arch and above the foam in a sneaker—offer immediate response and create a propulsive sensation otherwise lacking in a typical, non-carbon plated shoe. The bad, however, is that these plates—which are now offered by most running shoe brands and worn on race day by the world’s top athletes—have driven up the price of shoes, and sneakers now routinely top $250 and sometimes three-hundred dollars. I like running because it’s inexpensive, so $300 sneakers fit funny to me; and yet, I buy them, because who doesn’t want the best possible shoes on race day?

The Carbon X2 by HOKA ONE ONE costs $224, which is on the lower range of a carbon shoe and they’ve been a lightweight, trusted trainer that can absorb mileage and are built for speed. A great marathon racing shoe, I once did a Sunday long run in my Carbon X2 shoes and stepped on a nail, which the shoe, with a 5mm heel drop, absorbed completely. I lived, thanks to my shoes, to run another day.

Caroline Bolduc is a friend of mine who works in an ICU in Toronto and she also wears the Carbon X2 shoes. Sometimes she wears them during her 12-hour shifts, and this is her report:

Great colour scheme! Such a breath of fresh air to not have any pink on them.

They are so light but highly cushioned and stable.

They have great energy return and they propel you forward!

They are very breathable, so a great shoe to wear especially during the summer humid months. I love them because my feet always get hot.

They can truly help improve your stride when focusing on your foot placement and cadence.

I agree with my friend and think the unique shape of the shoe’s body adds a certain rocket ship dimension to the garment. It has a low cushion bend so the foot stays close to the ground, but elevates somewhat at the heel. A responsive, neutral shoe, the Carbon X2, the second carbon shoe of the popular HOKA brand, weighs 8.4 ounces and has a removable sock liner, which I’ve never touched. Like all carbon shoes, and this is the price you pay, it’s not meant for massive mileage and after a few hard months of massive workouts, I felt relief upon transitioning the sneakers out for a different pair. These carbon-plated shoes all have a limited lifespan, so wear them wisely: select long runs and workouts, and then race day. You don’t want these to be your everyday shoe, or they’ll stop doing what you want them to do.

For anyone looking to dip their toe in the carbon-plate shoe revolution, the Carbon X2 from HOKA ONE ONE is highly recommended. It’s priced fairly, it moves quickly, it looks good and, if you happen to step on a nail, you’ll be off and running in no time. Enjoy!

The Ties that Bind Between Runners

Ben Kaplan

July 7, 2021

Caroline Bolduc is a respiratory therapist at St. Joe’s Hospital and she spent her pandemic on the frontlines. Working 12-hour shifts in an ICU, Bolduc saw the ravages of COVID-19 up close and during this period she saw her running transform—no longer was it about qualifying for Boston or hitting a PB, she was running for her mental health.

“It can be a kind of meditation for me,” says the marathon runner, who trains in Toronto with BlackToe Running, owned by Mike and Maya Anderson. “My running is sometimes just a hard workout with great music or else it becomes something different, like a chance to process what I’ve seen during the last couple of days.”

Bolduc began her training with BlackToe when she was new to the sport and appreciated her Tuesday night practices. She says she felt herself getting faster, but also began making deep connections—to running, and to her teammates.

“It’s like a secret club, except everyone’s welcome,” she says. “You find these people who love running as much as you do and suddenly, you’re all training for a goal together and helping each other out, and it’s like you find a family.”

That family notion is important to Mike Anderson, who opened the store with his wife in 2013 and often runs with his son, who sometimes delivers packages for his shop with Good Foot Delivery. Last year, Bolduc began running in HOKA ONE ONE shoes and felt an instant connection—the shoes were comfortable and light and, Bolduc found, they were great for competing in marathons and working long shifts. They fit great and are priced fairly and, when Anderson heard about Bolduc’s profession and that she was wearing the HOKA shoes both to race in and to help people, he felt compelled to help out. He donated 30 pairs of HOKA shoes to St. Joe’s.

“The most important thing for us is seeing that people stay connected to one another and it’s big for Maya and I that we make a difference in our community,” says Anderson, who helped organize a trip to Kenya with BlackToe runners and has been very involved with the local race scene.

The support system that we’re able to provide means everything and during the pandemic if we were able to help our community feel like: ‘We can handle this, it’s not so bad, there’s something good happening,’ we’re doing our job.

The BlackToe crew is tight and supportive, but make no mistake, they’re also bent on posting fast times. The team cheers for each other and supports one another and, Caroline Bolduc says, just like her team, she’s come to depend on her shoes. “I like the Bondi 7 for long runs, but I also wear them on shifts because they’re supportive and cushiony,” says the runner, currently preparing to dip below three-hours at the Erie Marathon in September. “I recently got the Carbon X and it’s been a nice shoe for tempo work. I’m serious about my race goals and the Carbon shoes are a great addition to my shoe obsession—I can’t wait to wear them on the line!”

The feeling of being unleashed is obviously affecting all of us as the school year ends and restrictions subside as second shots begin happening around the country. At BlackToe Running, Anderson has already invited runners at limited capacity back into his store and had social distanced cohorts for his run groups. It’s a testament to the bond between teammates that the group still remains.

“I’ve been proud of the way our team is handling the restrictions and we’ve gone out of our way to follow the rules,” says Anderson, who felt his love for his sport and his team only grow during the long pandemic months. “During everything that’s happened, I’ve felt strongly that running and a close-knit community is important for our mental health and it makes me proud that we’ve been able to give that to our team.”

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