Run Canada Podcast

Straight from the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Speaker Series to your ears, it's the live recording of This is a Runner's Body. Co-hosted by Olympian Kate Van Buskirk, this panel featured Kirsty Beck, Melissa Doldron, and Melanie Murzeau. We talked about our behaviours around self-image, the role of social media in the conversation, and creating inclusive spaces where people can find their joy...

Carol LaFayette-Boyd is an 80-year-old sprinter who lives and trains in Regina, SK. She holds 15 world records, three of which she set this summer alone. In 2018 Carol was named the Female athlete of the year by World Masters Athletics, becoming the first African Canadian to ever receive that recognition. Carol is dedicated and fearless and plans to keep running until she is at least 106 years old...

Heather Colasuonno is many things: she's a runner, she's a mom, she's a coach, and a photographer. But most of all, she's a great example of what can happen when you listen to your heart and follow what is in your heart and truly brings you joy. Heather is also the creator of the Run for Devon, an event that remembers Devon Freeman, an indigenous teenager who died by suicide while under the care o...

Jazmine Lowther is the ultimate mountain athlete. This British Columbian recently became sponsored by The North Face, and is dark horse-ing the heck out of the ultra circuit: not only did she earn a Golden Ticket at Western States, she recently placed fourth at the UTMB CCC, which was her first ever European race. We talk about magical running moments, her job as a professional Agrologist and Fiel...

 Gaby Estrada has dedicated her life to opportunities for women and girls in sport. And when those opportunities didn't exist, she created them. From her start as a coach and motivator for youth in sport, Gaby went on to create Girls and Women in Motion to support those looking for opportunities to participate in her hometown of Scarborough, ON.  Gaby's professional role with Fast and Female start...

Are you in the thick of fall marathon training like me? Here is my five-minute pep talk to help get you through the grind. 

Crystal Antila is a criminal defense lawyer living in Manitoba. She is a runner, a swimmer, and a cyclist, and with the help of her 7-year-old son, she's always up to try any new activity that comes her way. As someone who has an extremely full life, Crystal is always showing up for herself: she makes no excuses, she just gets out and gets the work done. And she always does it with a smile on her...

Retired heptathlete Rachael McIntosh credits much of her success in sport to strong leaders and fate, and while I am sure that is part of it, I think her self-confidence and bold spirit are equal parts of what makes her so great. Rachael talks about her start in sport, some of the significant race experiences that inspired her to reach for huge dreams, and the fateful day that she knew her time as...

You asked for it, you got it. The amazing Sasha Gollish was kind enough to turn the tables to act as host and ask me some of her questions and some contributed by our community. We talk about how the show got started, some of our athletes that have most profoundly impacted me, and how to deal with post-run hair bird's nests. 

Diane Simon is an indigenous runner who is using her actions to inspire others to connect with their community and reach for big goals. After a personally challenging year in 2017, she decided it was time to make a change: she quit a 20-plus-year smoking habit and started running. Since then, she has run a variety of virtual and in-person races and has dreams of one day running the Boston Marathon...

2022 has Sasha Gollish firing on all cylinders. Having just recently joined the masters running category she has set four new Canadian masters records, a WORLD masters record in the mile, a gold at NACAC in the half marathon, and a podium finish at every Nationals race she has run. All of them. We talk about the magic around her and what's making all this possible: community, fun, fearlessness, an...

Saskatchewan hurdler Michelle Harrison has redefined resilience for me. This 29-year-old has faced many injuries and obstacles in the sport, but she has dug deep and found a way to tap into her joy and push through. She started out running at Rice University, but after that wasn't the right fit, she moved to Toronto to try again, and when that still didn't feel right, she decided to come back home...

Rachel Munday has been a huge part of the fabric of the Manitoba running community: it all started at the Running Room where she worked as the Regional Manager and Events Lead, putting on races all year long and getting people involved with her infectious smile and attitude. She has now been the Executive Director of the Manitoba Marathon for seven years and her hard work and determination are the...

The incredible creator of Black Runners of the GTA, Melanie Murzeau, is BACK! Melanie joins me to talk all about bringing the Scarborough 5K to life. Working with Canada Running Series and so many invested partners, the race brought a beautiful event to Morningside Park where inclusion and accessibility to running were top priorities. The race raised more than $5,000 for two charity partners that...

Not only did Kinsey Middleton run a remarkable PB of 2:30:08 at the Ottawa Marathon this past Sunday, but she was also the first Canadian woman to win the race since 2007.  Kinsey talks about training during the lockdown, the shoulder injury that kept her from making a run at the Olympic team, and what she has her eye on next.

Élissa Legault has been running and competing in triathlons since she was young. After her first marathon was canceled, she needed to regroup and make a new plan. She reconnected with her old coach to prepare and she hasn't looked back. Élissa's true love is the marathon, but she has seen a lot of recent success in track and cross county which leads me to wonder if there is anything this girl can'...

Kyra Constantine is an Olympian, Pan Am Game medalist and multiple Canadian record holder. She also recently wrapped up her dynamite career as a USC athlete and has gone pro with Nike continuing her training in Los Angeles. Kyra has a constant drive for excellence and dedication to executing her race plans to the very best of her ability, while at the same time making sure that the fun of what she...

Laura Henderson is a woman who has honed in on what it takes to balance her passions. She works full-time as a CPA and is a wife and a mother to two young children.  She has also worked hard to balance home and professional life with the other things that bring her great joy: running and coaching. Laura very recently attained a massive goal at the Mississauga Marathon: she ran a Boston qualifying...

It's no secret that I am one of Krista DuChene's biggest fans which is why I had to have her back on the show. This time, we talk about how she's become a trail and ultra running superstar, set a new age category record in the 30K, become a coach with Coolsaet GO and for a local high school, AND be an amazing mom to her three kids. So much to talk about!

It's Boston Marathon week and we are celebrating with two stories from amazing runners who took part. Robyn Michaud may have run 23 marathons, but this might have been the most special one yet. Wait until you hear her how her day started! Teal Gove shares how it may have taken her six years to arrive at the start line in Boston... but that it was defintely worth the wait. 

Sarah Beairsto is not only an elite half marathoner, but she is a big ideas factory! Cards on the Run may have humble beginnings, but Sarah has tons of ideas for where she wants it to go. Much like her running career, she is delighting in watching the fruits of all of company's hard work grow and develop into something truly lovely and special. What can I say? The girl's got grit.

Amy Hicks' work title may be Guru Field Technical rep for Brooks Running, but today she is our Sports Bra Superstar. This active morning runner was kind enough to indulge my deluge of questions on the topics of fit, function, care, style and more... you name it, we talked about it. A quality sports bra just makes a good run into a great one so you can think less about your fit and more about your...

Victoria Asikis is a lawyer who practice centres on regulatory law for foods, natural health products, cosmetics, and other consumer products.  And she's a passionate runner who loves to encourage others, especially coworkers, to get involved too. Victoria and I chat about how running and her job intersect and what we can learn from the work she does. What she shares will definitely make you feel...

Allison Hill is the founder of Hill Studio: a community hub salon and wellness studio located in Toronto.  Allison began running during the pandemic, and wanted to share the benefits she found in it with others, so she started Hill Run Club: a safe space for self identifying black women runners of all abilities. Allison is a community builder and a lifter upper of people. She is smart and intuitiv...

Mela Williams has really been focusing on self talk. As a way to test this and her mental toughness, she did the David Goggins challenge (running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours) and the results surprised her. I hope this episode shows everyone that we are so much greater than we think we are, and that we should always reach for big dreams... and maybe also wear red lipstick when you do it.