RUNVAN Rundown

Episode 13 - Olympic bronze medallist and Canadian running legend Lynn Kanuka joins the show to reflect on her iconic 1984 Olympic race, the rise of women’s distance running, and her journey from elite athlete to coach and community leader. We talk legacy, why track still matters, and how running continues to shape her life today.

Episode 12 - Today’s guest brings the rare combo of elite athlete and industry insider. A former NCAA champion and All-American middle-distance runner, she’s now a trend forecaster and product strategist in the sportswear and outdoor apparel space. We talk about her journey through high-performance sport, her current work translating cultural shifts into design strategy, and of course—we geek out...

Episode 11 - This week, Julia sits down with Andrei Mandzuk, a mental performance consultant, climbing coach, and runner who works with athletes ranging from high school to Olympic level. They talk about his recent transition into track and field, how he approaches mental performance across different sports, and what athletes can do to build mental skills that actually stick. Plus: practical advic...

Episode 10 - In this special episode, the roles are reversed. Taylor steps in as host and puts me in the hot seat for a deep dive into my running journey. From early beginnings to personal milestones, moments of doubt, and everything in between—we explore how my relationship with running has evolved over the years, and what continues to drive me forward.

Episode 9 - Julia chats with Sach Latti, a former Border Services Agent turned endurance runner, who’s about to run across Canada to raise awareness for mental health — despite the fact that he actually hates running. Ahead of his June 16 start, Sach shares what inspired the journey, how he’s preparing, and why pushing the limits of human endurance is worth it if it means breaking the silence arou...

Episode 8 (pt.2) - In Part Two of our conversation with Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead, we shift focus to his incredible journey as an athlete. He shares the mindset behind his record-breaking performances, what keeps him motivated, and what’s next as he hits the halfway point of his ambitious goal: running 20 marathons in 2025—10 down, 10 to go. If you missed Part One, be sure to check it...

Episode 8 - Paralympic gold medallist, marathon world record holder, and global advocate for inclusion in sport—Richard Whitehead joins us fresh off finishing the 2025 BMO Vancouver Marathon. We talk about what drives him, the power of representation, his transition from the track to the roads, and the mindset that’s helped him redefine limits time and again.

Episode 7 - Sandra, a Registered Dietitian and former track athlete turned trail runner, joins Julia to chat fueling strategies, common nutrition myths, and starting No Sweat Nutrition, her athlete-focused, inclusive nutrition practice.

Episode 6 - In this episode, we sit down with Brian Truong, Director of Fitness Education at Fitness World Canada and former national-level powerlifter, to talk all things recovery. Brian shares how his background in counselling psychology shapes his approach to fitness, why sleep is a non-negotiable part of performance, and how recovery is more than just rest—it’s a mindset.

Episode 5 - Fresh off back-to-back wins at the 2025 First Half and BMO Vancouver Half Marathon, where he set a Canadian event record, Andrew Davies joins us to talk training, race-day mindset, and how he’s juggling elite running with law school at UBC. We dive into his transition from the track to the roads, his huge year so far, and what’s next.

Episode 4 - In this episode, we sit down with Canadian marathoner Dayna Pidhoresky to talk about the highs and lows of elite racing, her path to becoming a consistent national contender, and what keeps her motivated through setbacks and breakthroughs. Tune in for an honest, inspiring look into the life of one of Canada’s top distance runners.

Elite Panel – Race Week Bonus Episode It’s race week! Get inspired by some of the fastest runners hitting the streets this weekend. In this special bonus episode hosted by Natasha Wodak, we’re joined by elite athletes Grayson Murphy, Tristan Woodfine, Ben Preisner, course record holder Dayna Pidhoresky, and defending champion Sergio Raez Villanueva for a candid conversation on race prep, training,...

Episode 3 - In this episode, Canadian race walking legend Evan Dunfee joins us fresh off setting the 35km world record. We dive into the mental and physical effort behind that performance, his hot takes on the current state of sport and social media, and what he’d do if he were in charge of the Olympic Games. Plus, Evan talks about his deep connection to Vancouver, what keeps him coming back to th...

Episode 2 - Dylan Alick is a Canadian distance runner and the defending champion of the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon, where he ran a 1:06:02 in 2024. He’s coming into this year’s race with a new personal best of 1:05:23 and plenty of experience on the course. We chat about his approach to race day, what brings him back to Vancouver, and how he’s feeling heading into this year’s race.

Episode 1: From Pandemic Hobbyist to 2:36 Marathoner with Samantha Jory In this debut episode of RUNVAN Rundown , Julia sits down with Samantha Jory—a self-proclaimed pandemic hobbyist turned competitive runner. Sam shares how she went from casually running during lockdown to clocking a 2:36 marathon and a 1:13 half, achievements that speak for themselves. They dive into her training evolution, ra...