RUNVAN Rundown

From NCAA standout to marathoner, Jasmine Fehr has built a career around the sport she loves. We chat about her collegiate running journey, coaching, life with CITIUS MAG, her 2:41 marathon debut, and how she's become a familiar face behind the camera; capturing many of the defining moments in Vancouver's running community while continuing to chase her own goals.

Episode 62 - This week on the RUNVAN Podcast, we sit down with Kiana Gibson, one of Vancouver's top distance runners and a familiar face at local races across the province. Kiana shares her journey from collegiate success at Guelph and UBC to representing Canada in the steeplechase at the Pan American Games. We chat about balancing road racing and track, competing at events like the Jerome Cla...

Episode 61 - What does it feel like to run for 24 hours straight? In this special episode, Julia turns the microphone on Taylor as he takes on a 24-hour track ultra, covering 170 kilometres over the course of a full day. Rather than a traditional post-race interview, this episode follows the journey in real time, with conversations before the start, throughout the race, immediately after the finis...

Episode 60 - Jeremy Rolle is an athlete, coach, race director, and community leader helping grow trail running in the Fraser Valley and beyond. Jeremy shares how he balances racing, coaching, directing Heads or Trails, and leading the Chilliwack Trail Club. We discuss his upcoming trail season, what makes trail running so appealing, common mistakes runners make when transitioning from road to trai...

Episode 59 - This week on the RUNVAN Podcast, Julia sits down with Gillian Roberts, who experienced the 2026 BMO Vancouver Marathon from a very different perspective than planned. After cancer prevented her from racing, Gillian spent the day handing out medals and cheering on runners at the finish line. The runner, teacher, fundraiser, and cancer advocate from Prince George shares her experience l...

Episode 5 8 - This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Cusmano, Bowerman Track Club Elite athlete, marathon breakout, and unofficial BMO Vancouver Marathon ambassador. Andrew talks about finishing 5th in his marathon debut at BMO Vancouver in 2025, returning with a huge crew again in 2026, and navigating a race this year that didn’t go to plan which ultimately led to him stepping off cours...

Episode 57 - This week on the RUNVAN Podcast, we sit down with Canadian distance runner fresh off his second place finish at the 2026. We talk about training in Utah, representing Canada at World Cross Country Championships, the highs and lows of NCAA racing at, and the mindset behind becoming one of Canada’s rising distance talents. Plus, Santiago exposes his questionable Strava habits and admits...

Episode 56 - Fresh off winning the 2026 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon in 1:03:29, the fastest time ever by a Canadian on the course, Max Turek joins the podcast to break down his race, why he chose Vancouver, and what it meant to celebrate the win with family on course. We also talk about balancing elite running with a full-time career, plus how becoming a father earlier this year has changed his pe...

Episode 55 - A marathon debut to remember. Russell Pennock places 2nd at the Vancouver Marathon in 2:22:32, just 29 seconds off the win, and finishes as the top Canadian. We get into his background, the decision to step up to the marathon, how the race unfolded, and what this result means moving forward.

Episode 54 - This week, we sit down with Teresa Tomchak; marathoner, Team Canada age-group triathlete, lawyer, and Chair of the RUNVAN Board. We talk training longevity, competing while managing a busy professional life, lessons from sport, and her perspective on the evolution and future of RUNVAN.

Episode 53 - Julia sits down Mel Paauwe, 2025 BMO Vancouver Half Marathon champion, to talk about her journey in running, her growth as a Masters athlete, and her work coaching with We Run the World. Mel shares how her relationship with the sport has evolved, what’s driven her consistency, and how she approaches training and longevity. With Vancouver race weekend approaching, Mel reflects on the e...

Episode 52 - Sergio Ráez-Villanueva is back! If you’ve been around BMO Vancouver Marathon weekend, you know the energy he brings. We talk racing, community, and everything in between; from a top-10 finish at 50km Worlds in India to helping Yuki Kawauchi off the ground mid-race last year. Why Vancouver feels like a “family gathering,” and why Sergio keeps coming back.

Episode 51 - In this episode, we chat with Nick Kleban, Head of Product & Scientific Projects at XACT Nutrition, the official on-course nutrition partner of the BMO Vancouver Marathon. A competitive cyclist and former coach, Nick shares his approach to fuelling for endurance performance, common mistakes runners make, and practical tips for race day. If you’re gearing up for BMO Vancouver Marat...

Episode 50 - Race weekend is almost here, so we’re breaking down the marathon and half marathon courses. Julia sits down with Operations Manager Andrew to walk through the route, key sections to look out for, and what runners can expect from start to finish. They also get into aid stations, course flow, and a few insider details from the operations side. A practical listen to help you feel more pr...

Episode 49 - This week on the RUNVAN Podcast, we’re joined by Canadian Olympian Thomas Fafard. Thomas reflects on his Olympic debut in Paris, where he advanced to the 5,000m final, and shares what the post-Olympic year really looked like, from injury setbacks to chasing performance after a breakthrough season. We also dive into his marathon debut in Phoenix, where he ran 2:10:29 to break a long-st...

Episode 48 - Julia sits down with Canadian race walker Olivia Lundman, national record holder and a rising force in the sport. From picking up race walking in 2013 to qualifying for the inaugural Olympic mixed relay alongside Evan Dunfee, Olivia shares how she developed into one of Canada’s top athletes in a highly technical and often misunderstood event. They dive into the realities of race walki...

Episode 46 - This week on the podcast, Julia sits down with Kevin O’Connor - Non-Stadia Program Manager for BC Athletics, Elite Coordinator for the Vancouver Sun Run and Royal Victoria Marathon, and Head Coach of VFAC. Kevin shares his unique path from working as a crime scene investigator in the UK to becoming a staple of the Vancouver running community. They talk about his approach to coaching,...

Episode 46 - Emily Andrews opened her marathon journey with a 3:18 at BMO in 2019, and five years later returned to the same course to finish third overall, first Canadian, in 2:45. We also dive into how she balances high-level training with her role as a senior software developer, why curiosity has been central to her growth, and what’s next as she continues chasing new levels in the sport. A con...

Episode 45 - Rachel Hannah joins the podcast fresh off a fourth-place finish at the First Half in 1:13:53. We talk about longevity, racing often, staying injury-free for over five years, improving bone density, and what it means to be calmer than ever on a championship start line. As a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutrition Consultant Rachel shares detailed insight into fueling, and why practic...

Episode 44 - Sevanne Ghazarian joins the podcast after a massive breakout performance at the First Half, where she ran 1:13:27 in her half marathon debut to finish third in a stacked field. A former OFSAA standout and NCAA athlete at Yale University, Sevanne earned a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Now self-coached and working full-time, she’s navigating elite-level traini...

Episode 43 - Fresh off her fourth First Half victory, Natasha Wodak joins us for a post-race conversation following her 1:11:51 performance on a sunny day that saw 2,061 finishers cross the line. Natasha reflects on racing at home, how her relationship with competition has evolved over the years, and what it means to continue performing at the highest level as a Canadian Olympian and national mara...

Episode 42 - In this race-week episode, Julia previews everything you need to know ahead of First Half. Part One features a full elite field breakdown, highlighting some of the top athletes lining up on Sunday. In Part Two, Julia is joined by Andrew Mack from RUNVAN to discuss the updated course route, why changes were made, and what runners can expect on race day. This episode sets the stage for...

Episode 41 - Alex and Bronwyn join the show to talk about building a relationship alongside competitive sport. From racing internationally and training as a couple to navigating injuries, expectations, and support, they share what it really looks like to chase big goals together. We also hear the story behind their engagement, including how Alex managed to plan a proposal for someone who plans eve...

Episode 40 - Kyle Gieni is a wheelchair athlete, adaptive sport advocate, and a familiar face on Vancouver start lines. In this episode, Kyle shares his journey into endurance racing and setting a Guinness World Record at the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon. We talk about accessibility at races, building inclusive sport communities, and what organizers and athletes alike can do better. An honest conve...

Episode 39 - We’re joined by Maguie Quintero, a competitive marathon runner from Mexico and longtime BMO Vancouver Marathon participant. Maguie talks about why she keeps returning to Vancouver, how she manages training and travel across borders, and how running helps her navigate both racing and real life.