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Damien

Mar 02 2017
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Under Armour joins as new title sponsor of the Eastside 10k

By | Eastside 10k | No Comments

Canada Running Series announces Under Armour as the new title sponsor of the Eastside 10k race, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 16th this year.

In addition to the title sponsorship, Under Armour is the exclusive athletic footwear, apparel and Connected Fitness sponsor. All participants will receive Under Armour technical running shirts and race organizers will receive technical apparel and footwear. This collaborative partnership will also bring cutting-edge innovation to the Canadian road running scene with activations across Under Armour’s digital training platforms, MapMyRun® and UA Record™. These platforms will include official training programs for runners of all abilities. There will also be an ambassador program and community outreach for run crews and clubs.

“This is a strategic partnership between two premier high performance brands,” says Canada Running Series president, Alan Brookes. “This partnership with Under Armour, the global leader in innovation performance product, is about bringing the latest and greatest to the Canadian road running scene. Together we will be able to grow the Under Armour Eastside 10k into an even bigger and better international running event, and something that is in, for and with Vancouver’s Eastside.”

“Under Armour is passionate about making all runners better and we are thrilled to partner with Canada Running Series to elevate the awareness of the Eastside 10K race,” says Shana Ferguson, Director of Marketing, Under Armour Canada. “This is one of the highlights of the Vancouver fall racing calendar, as the race winds through some of the most historic and vibrant areas of the city, and we are looking forward to outfitting runners in our innovative gear.”

Under Armour’s partnership with the Eastside 10k is the company’s first title sponsorship of a Canada Running Series race. In the U.S., Under Armour has enriched the running experience at signature events, including San Francisco’s Bay to Breakers 12K, and Washington, D.C.’s Cherry Blossom 10-miler & 5k. As in San Francisco and Washington D.C., Under Armour will enhance the experience in Vancouver in all phases of the run.

 

Registration for the Under Armour Eastside 10k is now open at eastside10k.ca. Registration is limited and we encourage runners in Vancouver and across Canada to register today!

Feb 24 2017
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Making it to the Start Line Injury Free

By | Training Tips | No Comments

The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine has been a proud medical sponsor of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon for 15 years. We’ve had the privilege of helping many runners make it to the start line and watch thousands of runners cross the finish line every year. New this year, we’re partnering with Canada Running Series to provide a monthly blog to support runners preparing for the race. Whether this is your first 5K or your 50th marathon, we wish you well in reaching your goal!

By: Alison Pinto, PT, FCAMPT, CAT(C)

As a Physiotherapist/Athletic Therapist, I often meet people only after they have sustained an injury and are looking for a solution to get back to their sport as soon as possible and advice on how to prevent the injury from recurring. By this point, a lot of them are frustrated because running was their form of exercise, a source for stress relief, and a method of accomplishing a new goal and now they can’t do it. So how do you save yourself from this frustration and avoid becoming sidelined by an injury? Here are some tips to help you make it to the start line of your race.

  1. Training

When choosing a training program, consider your current level of physical activity and running history. Training programs that have consistently high weekly mileage and high intensity runs (i.e. tempo runs, hill repeats, race pace runs) are best suited for people who have some prior running experience. Training programs that start with shorter distance and gradually increase to longer distances as well as start with steady runs and build to higher intensity runs are best suited for novice runners or those embarking on a new distance (such as 10 km to half-marathon or half-marathon to marathon).

In general, weekly mileage should increase by no more than 10% per week. This is due to the fact that muscles, tendons and ligaments take time to adapt to the forces placed on them when running and a larger increase in weekly mileage will often result in musculoskeletal injuries.  Another thing to consider is how far, how frequently, and how fast you are running. It’s best to change only one component at a time and to have a solid cardiovascular and muscle strength base before adding speed.

  1. Warm Up and Cool Down

The purpose of the warm up is to prepare your muscles, heart and lungs for more intense activity. Therefore, the warm up should mimic the movements you will be doing during the workout, but at a lower intensity. The warm up should be dynamic in order to gradually increase heart rate, breathing rate, and blood flow to muscles. For runners, this can include hip swings, high knees, butt kicks, heel raises, and light jogging. The cool down is mean to relax the body after intense activity.

Consider doing a light jog or short walk before completely stopping your workout in order to gradually reduce your heart rate and prevent blood from pooling in your legs (which may make you feel light headed or faint). Static stretches, held for 30 to 60 seconds, are best performed post-workout to restore muscles to their resting length.

  1. Cross Training

Cross training is considered to be any activity that is different from your primary sport. Whether it be cycling, swimming, weight training, or yoga, cross training is beneficial because it allows you to use different muscles or use your muscles in different ways so as to prevent repetitive and overuse injuries. Cycling and swimming are great low impact cardio workouts while weight training and yoga help build muscle strength, endurance and flexibility. Cross training can even be used as your recovery after a hard running workout to reduce muscle soreness.

  1. Dealing with Aches and Pains

When starting any new activity or increasing the intensity of an exercise, some soreness is to be expected. How do you know what is normal pain and what is a potentially an injury? “Normal” pain, also known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) occurs in the muscles that were worked due to micro-tears and inflammation. DOMS usually lasts 2-3 days and gradually reduces over time. Ice or light activity can be used to reduce DOMS. The good news is that the next time you workout at the same intensity, DOMS won’t be as bad since your body has adapted and become stronger.

“Bad” pain can occur in muscles too, but more commonly occurs in tendons and joints. There may be inflammation (swelling, heat, redness) around the area and the pain often lasts longer than 2-3 days. If the pain is lasting more than 5-7 days, is worsening, or is causing you to compensate in some way (i.e. limping while walking or running), it is best to seek help from a medical professional. Pushing through pain often leads to delayed healing as well as secondary aches and pains in areas that are compensating for the primary injury.

The Centre for Sport and Recreation Medicine has two locations in Toronto and a variety of health professionals to assist you in getting healthier, stronger and faster. Visit our website at www.torontosportsmedicine.ca for more information or to book an appointment with our staff.

 

 

Feb 23 2017
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Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Earns Third Consecutive IAAF Gold Label

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

By: Paul Gains

For the third consecutive year, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been awarded an IAAF Gold Label, an accolade which solidifies its inclusion amongst the world’s most prestigious city marathons.

The news comes as no surprise to Eric Gillis. The three time Canadian Olympian, who finished 10th in the Rio Olympic marathon, has watched the event grow into a world class race from his position at the head of the field.

“If there are only five Gold Label marathons in North America and three of them are World Marathon Majors (Boston, Chicago and New York), known around the world, then Toronto is in pretty elite company,” Gillis declares. “I guess it shows how much work it takes to become a Gold Label.”

Gillis’ five fastest times have come in the Toronto Waterfront race – his personal best of 2:11:24 was recorded in 2014 –  and he treasures many personal memorable moments. One in particular stands out.

“Certainly qualifying for (the 2012 London Olympics) by one second in 2011,” he recalls. “Kevin Mackinnon was calling the race at the finish line that day and he got the crowd into it cheering and doing the countdown to my Olympic standard. That wouldn’t have happened in any other country.

“The IAAF Gold Label is good for Toronto, good for marathoning in Canada, good for elite marathoners. It is a fabulous option in the fall. The Gold Label is exciting and well deserved for (Race Director) Alan Brookes and his group.”

The 2017 edition is scheduled for Sunday October 22nd. With the IAAF Gold Label comes a level of respect amongst the world’s elite marathoners. Ethiopia’s Shure Demise chose Toronto on the recommendations of her countrymen and won the 2015 race nine months after setting an unofficial world ‘under 20’ best time in Dubai. Last year she returned to Toronto and successfully defended her title.

Demise, now an experienced 21 year old, notes that “in both years I have faced challenging weather and I had faced a difficulty of improving the (course record) time although the course is good and there were also good competitors.

“I should simply say ‘Wow.’ The organizers treated me in a very good way. All the people who were involved in the race they all were amazing and, if I get the chance, I would like to thank all the people who were at the Toronto Marathon. I have a plan to go Toronto (again) if things would be right for me and, of course, I want to be a three times winner.”

Stringent criteria must be met for a race organization to earn an IAAF Gold Label. For instance, the race must have a minimum of five men and five women from five different nations. They must have reached Gold Label standards of 2:10 and 2:28 respectively in the preceding 36 months or finished in the top 25 at the Olympics or World Championships marathons.

The certified course must be entirely closed to vehicular traffic and water and sponge stations set up, as per IAAF regulations, with electronic timing for all participants. A giant screen at the finish area for spectators and media to watch the race is another mandatory requirement.

After the race is over, a minimum of twelve anti-doping tests must be carried out (six men, six women) and media must have access to the leading athletes. One other major criterion is that the entire race must be available to a domestic and to an international audience of at least five countries, either through television or live streaming. Last year’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon was live streamed to 129 countries.

Internationally, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has a stellar reputation. Here at home it is the flagship event in the seven race Canada Running Series and, for the third year running, it will double as the Canadian Marathon Championship. Athletics Canada’s CEO, Rob Guy, praises the event and has confidence in the organisation.

“The Gold Label means that it’s a great event,” he says. “And, for that reason we are proud to associate with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It is great that they are the host of our championships and the athletes have great competition and the opportunity to make some money.

“Our national championships are important to us and trying to our best to get our best athletes there is important. Moving forward, performances at national championships are going to weigh into selection for our teams.”

Race Director, Alan Brookes, speaks of the label as the ultimate reward for a great Canada Running Series team effort.

“It’s an enormous honour, enormous prestige to be recognized on the highest international stage. It puts our race, our city and our country in the ‘premier league’,” he declares. “When we started organizing road races in the mid 1980’s people used to tell me, “Alan, if you want a decent race you’ve got to go to The States. It used to drive me nuts.”

“That’s changed, and the Gold Label is recognition by the global governing body of our sport, that Toronto has a world-class marathon.”

Brookes is quick to acknowledge the involvement of title sponsor, Scotiabank, whose longevity sponsoring elite marathons is surpassed only by John Hancock in Boston.

“This will be the twenty-first year with Scotiabank,” says Brookes. “Their unwavering partnership has given us the support and stability to focus on building and growing the event.

“With their support we have been able to bring innovations to Canadian road running like the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and Scotiabank Neighbourhood Challenge, leading-edge race-organization technology as well as an international-class field.”

Brookes emphasizes that a Gold Label means it’s an outstanding marathon experience for runners of all abilities. For more information and entry see STWM.ca

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Feb 22 2017
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Join Canada Running Series at the 2017 Ragnar Relay!

By | Uncategorised | No Comments

Canada Running Series has partnered with the two Canadian stops of the 2017 Ragnar Relay! Use your Canada Running Series discount code when registering and look out for the CRS booth in the Ragnar Village!

Enter code CANCRS17 to save $100 on your team entry. Please note that the discount must be applied at time of registration and cannot be applied retroactively or used with any other promotion.

Reebok Ragnar Niagara

May 19 – 20, 2017

Reebok Ragnar Relay Niagara is a 300-ish kilometer running relay race through the most breathtaking parts of Ontario, happening on May 19-20th! Your team of 12 members (or ultra team of 6 members) will run relay-style starting on Friday, run through the night, and finish on Saturday. This running adventure kicks off in the quaint town of Cobourg. From there your team will conquer kilometers of rolling hills as you pass farmlands, beautiful vineyards and views of Lake Ontario from the Waterfront Trail. As night falls, electrified views of Toronto, stars, and runners with headlamps light up the night. Reebok Ragnar Niagara finishes at the majestic Niagara Falls where you and your team can admire the view and marvel in your grand accomplishment.

Click here for details.

 

Ragnar Trail Cottage Country – ON

September 8 – 9, 2017

Ragnar Trail Cottage Country-ON presented by Salomon is a brand new trail running adventure coming to Ontario on Sept. 8-9, 2017. Only 90 minutes from Toronto, right outside of Orillia lies an adventure seeker’s paradise known as Hardwood Ski and Bike. Your team of 8 members (or 4 ultra members) will conquer a set of three trails, or “loops”, that start and stop at Ragnar Village. Teams start on Friday morning, run through the night with headlamps, and finish on Saturday. When you’re not running, you’ll enjoy camping with friends, bonfires, s’mores and party vibe that is unique to Ragnar.

Click here for details.

 

Feb 16 2017
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Avoiding the post-race blues

By | General | No Comments

Post-race blues are commonly experienced after any big goal has been accomplished.  From running your first 5k, to obtaining the elusive Boston Qualifying time, there’s a lot of time and effort that goes into the buildup for a race.  The same questions bounce around in everyone’s head: “What now?”; “What’s next?”; and “Do I want to do this again?”.  Similar thoughts and feelings are experienced when a race is unexpectedly cancelled.  All the hard work and effort that was focused on this one event can feel as if it was all for naught.  So when a race doesn’t go according to plan due to poor pacing, subpar weather conditions, or injury, it leaves people disgruntled, especially when it’s something out of their control.  If this is something that sounds familiar, here are a few ways of getting over the post-race blues:

  1. Debrief.  After any race, it’s always a good idea to go over the pros and cons from the race.  Start by listing off the good things that happened as it’s instinctive to leap onto what went wrong.  When analyzing the problem areas, you’ll learn about what did work, how to rectify any problem areas, and what you can do to improve next time around. Write down these notes, and visualize how to make the next training cycle better, faster, and more fun for smoother sailing into the next event.
  2. Set a new goal. Once a race is said and done, it can be hard to find the motivation to run again. Having just put your body through months of training, your body requires ample recovery time post-race and this is the ideal time to set a new goal.  There are so many great races throughout the year that signing up for a race in a different distance, city, or sport is an easy way to keep the training momentum going.
  3. Mix it up. After debriefing, the dos and don’ts that were experienced can spark some training changes when building to the next race.  Incorporate different training regimes like spin classes, strength sessions, and swimming, or find a group to train with that may provide new ideas for different running routes and workouts.  By keeping training fun and exciting it helps to keep the motivation up, and the blues at bay.
  4. Keep things in perspective.  Things typically happen for a reason. The reason may be unclear initially, but when you look back down the road there are things that point out why something did or didn’t work out as you had planned.  It’s important to remember that although sacrifices are made to execute a training cycle properly, there is a lot more to life than that one race.  This isn’t meant to downplay any goal that’s been achieved, big or small, it’s just a way to keep it in perspective.  At the end of the day, friends and family will be cheering and supporting you no matter the outcome; there will always be another race to sign up for, and you’ll have learned something about yourself that you didn’t know before the journey began.

Post-race blues are likely, but not inevitable.  Keep moving forward, sign up for your next event, and keep that training routine rolling!

Looking for your next event? Find the next Canada Running Series event near you!

Feb 14 2017
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Council for Responsible Sport – Inspire Certification

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

Canada Running Series has a longstanding commitment to producing sustainable events in our community and is excited for the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k‘s invitation into the Council for Responsible Sport‘s Inspire program! The new Inspire program recognizes the sustained commitment of events that have been certified multiple times and challenges them to mentor industry peers and share their stories. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is the fourth event to earn Inspire status and the first to do so in Canada. It is the second event to earn Inspire status at the Gold level.

“The Inspire program grants events and organizers with proven records of hosting certified responsible events a position of exemplary leadership within the community of organizers positively influencing the sports events industry,” said the Council’s managing director Shelley Villalobos.

“We are pleased to welcome the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k to the Inspire program this year. We hope to elevate the level of attention to the exemplary work organizers have been doing for several years now with regards to zero waste, procurement, access, and community legacy at the event.”

Highlights of achievements in the past include:

  •  98% Waste Diversion Rate for our Expo, Start Area, Finish Area, and course with Green Chair Recycling
  • All discarded clothing from Start Area collected and donated to shelter programs
  • Majority of food purchased is locally and/or organically produced, with surplus food being donated to local food banks
  • Striving for Carbon-Neutral – all event operations and 50% of local participant travel was offset with carbon credits in 2015
  • Free post-event shuttles and bike valet reduce two-way trips and car drops
  • Marketing materials are printed using biodegradable inks on FSC certified paper

In 2017, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k will expand upon these achievements by replacing all generators at the start/finish venues with pollution-free power stations and solar panels. Recycling and waste reduction initiatives will continue to be fine-tuned and the event will expand upon the bike valet program in Stanley Park.

Events may opt into the Inspire program on an invitation only basis after earning two consecutive certifications from the Council (certification is good for two years). The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k earned an invitation in 2017 after first becoming certified in 2013 at the Silver level, and earning a recertification at the Gold level in 2015. Program participation entails three core requirements including annual reporting on key performance indicators, mentorship of another event or organization on a specific aspect of their responsible sport programming and sharing the event’s responsible sport story publicly.

Jan 08 2017
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2017 #ScotiaHalf Shirt Options

By | Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

We’ve just received our tentative shirt designs for this year’s Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k participant t-shirts and now we need your input! Take a look at the two options above, then vote on your favourite style. The most popular version will chosen for the 2017 Asics race shirt that all participants will receive.

Voting closes at midnight on January 12.

Shirt Options

Click to enlarge

Dec 31 2016
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Top 10 Highlights of Canada Running Series 2016

By | General | No Comments

December 31, 2016 – By Alan Brookes, Race Director

Thank you all for another remarkable year with Canada Running Series! More than 53,000 of you ran in this year’s Series. Another 5,000+ were volunteers and area managers. Tens of thousands more came out to cheer loved ones and friends. Together, you produced so many great moments. Of course, great moments are intensely personal: setting and achieving new personal goals; going the distance for a charity that is a vital part of your life, or in memory of a loved one; returning from a major injury, or coming back from childbirth to top fitness; qualifying to represent your country in the Olympic Games. What follows, then, is my own personal list of highlights from our year together. Even that has been enormously difficult to pick, so apologies to those I’ve missed!

My highlights, I think, reflect 3 key aspects of our 2016.

2016 was an Olympic year, and the exploits of our Canada Running Series stars featured prominently for me: our super-nice, fellow runners like Eric Gillis or Krista DuChene regularly lit up our races, and then went on to represent us and our country so proudly on the world’s greatest athletics stage.

Our ongoing, shared commitment to “building community through running” was another outstanding feature.

Finally, change was another important aspect of 2016. Just as we see an astonishing rate of change in the broader world around us, so our Series is caught up in this, driven by technology and the need to be fresh, new, innovative, to create a leading-edge, international-class running experience.

Here then, are my top 10:

  1. The unquestionable top story for 2016 was Ed Whitlock’s new M85 age group World Record of 3:56:34 set at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 16th. Ed has amazed and inspired us, has challenged us to do better, so many times since 2003 – when he became the first septuagenarian to go under the magic 3 hours at STWM – but this year took the cake! To say Ed’s remarkable achievement went viral would be the understatement of the year. From The New York Times to The Times of London, from Australia to Roumania, the silver-haired, 105 lb Milton-maestro captured the headlines.  Two days after the race, the Olympic Channel posted a video clip on their Facebook page. To date, it has 7,703,611 views! The clip on BBC Sport has another 595,797.  For me, to be right there, and at the post-race press conference where Ed with his usual sublime modesty chatted about the merits of his 20-year-old shoes and 30-year old singlet, was a very special moment. “They don’t make shoes like they used to,” said Ed. And as he continually reminds us, “Don’t Limit Yourself!’
  1. “Never give up!” Just two years after fracturing her femur in the same race, Krista DuChene, at age 39, came back from the glue factory to win the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal in 72:30, and with it “prove fitness” to seal her final selection to the Rio Olympic Marathon team. Her unrestrained joy at the Finish Line was only equaled by the one she gave at that Rio Finish Line in August. Krista remembers, “When I crossed the finish line [at Montréal 21k], the memories of the last time I participated in this race came soaring back. In 2014, with 500m to go, I broke my leg. I was limping along and in the crowd I heard someone shout ‘Crawl if you have to, but finish your race.’ I knew at that moment the injury was serious, but had no idea how serious it was. The race organizers were fantastic. They are like my family. They helped me and supported me. The care I received at the hospital was also extraordinary. Two days after my surgery, I told myself that I could make the Olympic standard in one year and that’s what I did.”

  1. The other side of what we do at CRS, besides athletic performance, is building community through running and your combined performance for community in 2016 was nothing short of spectacular. Together, you raised $5,595,834 and created vital awareness for a record 342 mostly-local charities. To put that in perspective, that’s an average of $104 raised for every participant across the entire Series! I could fill all of this Top 10, certainly a Top 100, just with stories of great courage and achievement amongst our charity runners. As examples, let me mention two, both in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at STWM.

    Four years ago Robert MacDonald fell 30 feet while vacationing in Los Cabos, Mexico. He dislocated his spine in two places, fractured nine vertebrae, broke eleven ribs and his scapula, and punctured a lung. The fractured vertebrae pinched his spinal cord, obstructing vital blood flow; the longer the obstruction went on, the more extensive the damage. He was given a 5% chance of ever being able to walk again. Cared for by the physios at Toronto Rehab Institute, maniacally determined, Robert worked tirelessly, one step at a time. Last year, he completed the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-marathon. This year he formed Team “I Will” and together they finished the full STWM 42k, raising a fabulous $90,000 for the institute (see header photo at top). The journey: “First patient. Then fundraiser. Now Board Member. Always a Believer.”

    Last year JP Bedard astounded us by running a Triple STWM – that’s running the Waterfront Marathon 3 times, back to back to back, the final time with every else from the mass Start – to raise awareness for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. This October JP went a few steps more, forming “JPs Team”, successfully completing four x STWM, or a total of 168.78 kilometres, and raising funds for Gatehouse and Little Warriors. JP began his journey at 2pm on Saturday and it was a special moment to be at the Finish line his final time around on Sunday afternoon with his family, friends and JPs Team.

  1. Fun, combining tradition and innovation! With the support of our new partners Race Roster, we added an entirely new twist to our 38-year old Race Roster Spring Run Off with the “Kill The Hill Challenge”. A complete set of results were generated for everyone’s time running the last 365 yards up the (in)famous Spring Road Hill for both 8K and 5K. Our inaugural winners were Luka Senk (79.7 seconds) and Pascale Gendron (1:34.9) in the 8k; to Miles Avalos (79.0) and Jenni Dwyer (1:40.2) in the 5k. We’re gearing up to challenge those High Park Hills and #killthehill again on April 8th, 2017. Can you take those records down?
  1. Running crew support was everywhere in CRS 2016 and the energy, passion, caring and “crew love” enormously helped bring our races alive. From The “Montréal Mile” hosted by East Laurier Running Club and the RunTOBeer fun run with La bière St-Ambroise brewery to launch Banque Scotia 21k weekend; to the Tribe Fitness paddling pool with pink flamingoes on the Toronto Waterfront 10 course; the Parkdale “Tunnel of Love” at 41k into STWM; to the Fraser Street Run Club vs East Van RC community challenge to raise funds for Watari & the Breakfast Club in the rain at Eastside 10k, you guys were super-dope! Through the rain, monsoon! You ran, you cheered and you volunteered to make it happen. Better weather planned for next year.
  1. The success of the 1st annual Toronto Waterfront 10. It was a celebration of running! As many of you who’ve been part of the Series for a while know, we’ve always had a major Spring 10K and STWM in the Fall to anchor CRS in Toronto. After several years of discussions and finally collaboration with the City and Mayor John Tory’s office, a butterfly emerged and took flight with the Toronto Waterfront 10. An enormous thanks to the 6,200+ who came out to our fresh, new, urban Toronto race, and to all the running crews and clubs who were a vital part of the design, planning and execution of the event that is a definite keeper! It also provided a wonderful platform for a Rio send-off for 3 of our Olympic marathoners, Eric, Reid and Krista, complete with Brazilian drummers, samba dancers, the Consul General of Brazil, the Mayor, the Canadian Olympic Foundation, and MP and former Olympic marathoner Peter Fonseca.
  1. The strength and depth of women’s distance running in Canada, that we saw month after month in CRS 2016. Besides trailblazers Krista and Lanni Marchant, we had the great pleasure of racing with Rachel Hannah, Natasha Wodak, Dayna Pidhoresky, Rachel Cliff, Leslie Sexton, Tarah Korir, Erin Burrett, Neasa Coll, Erin McClure, Bianca Premont, Sandra McLean, and more, from coast-to-coast and all year round. The injuries, setbacks, and battles many of them had to face, particularly Natasha, Rachel Cliff and Lanni, as well as Krista, was especially inspiring. I also had the added pleasure of seeing some of the outstanding performances from our strong women at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff in March, at the Run Barbados Festival in December, plus Rachel Hannah’s 2016-top-ranked 2:32:09 in Houston in January, as our regular CRS stars represented us so proudly on the world stage.
  1. Innovation and design. Symbolized by our 2016 race t-shirts and medals, especially the Eastside 10k and the STWM 2016 participant shirt; the latter designed by Parkdale Road Runner and artist Mango Peeler. From our beginnings in 1990 we aimed to provide “t-shirts you want to wear not wash the car with!” Many of you, including Reid Coolsaet commented on the STWM shirt, as a serious keeper. It truly was artwork at the races. On the same theme of innovation and design, our image to the world, I’d want to add our beautiful new websites, RunCRS.ca and www.STWM.ca, our first-ever app, for Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, available from the App store, and our STWM “live” broadcast that was watched by more than 70,000 people in 129 countries!
  1. Eric Gillis and Krista DuChene delivered outstanding, professional performances once again on a tough day at STWM, to claim the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championship crowns and become CRS 2016 Overall Champions.  “Toronto (Waterfront Marathon) was the icing on the cake after coming back from becoming an Olympian and winning a national title. I couldn’t ask for a better season really,” said Krista. Eric’s 10th place in the Rio Olympic Marathon was truly outstanding – the best placing by a Canadian since Drayton’s 6th in 1976. He then came back just 7 weeks later to cap it off, with us, on October 16th.
  1. I’m a bit embarrassed by this one, but want to include my own induction to the new City of Toronto Sports Hall of Honour in February as a “Builder”. Last year was my 30th year of getting permits to organize road races in Toronto [before expanding to Montreal and Vancouver in 1999]. I wasn’t sure if I’d get an award or a ride to the airport. The smart money was on the latter. But life is full of surprises, and I truly appreciate the recognition, along with the likes of Milos Raonic, Marilyn Bell (Legend) and Archie Allison (Builder) from Variety Village. This one was for ALL of us. If its one thing I’ve learned in 30 years, its that you can’t do it on your own. Thanks. Let’s make the next 30 years even better. Together.
Dec 07 2016
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gift registrations

Canada Running Series Gift Certificates Now Available!

By | General | No Comments

Surprise the runner in your life this holiday season with a gift certificate to their favourite race!

Gift registrations are available for every race in the 2017 Canada Running Series in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Eligible races include:

Race Roster Spring Run-Off 8k, 5k & Kids Run | Saturday April 8th 2017

Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 10k, 5k et course des enfants | Saturday April 22nd – Sunday April 23rd, 2017

Toronto Waterfront 10 | Saturday June 24th, 2017

Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5k | Sunday June 25th, 2017

Vancouver Eastside 10k | Saturday September 16th, 2017

Oasis ZooRun 10k, 5k & Cub Run | Saturday September 23rd, 2017

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half Marathon & 5k | Sunday October 22nd, 2017

How to purchase a gift certificate:

Visit the registration page of the race of your choice (listed above) and select “Gift Registrations” from the left side menu.

After you checkout, Race Roster will email you a unique, 100% off code to pass along to that special someone.

Gift registrations are available all year round or until the race sells out, so you can give the gift of running for any occasion.

Gift certificates are non-refundable but giftees may transfer their race to another runner or sell their spot in the race via the event transfer tool.

Please send any questions regarding gift certificates to info@canadarunningseries.com.

Dec 06 2016
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Olympians Gillis and DuChene Win Canada Running Series Overall Titles

By | General | No Comments

December 6th, 2016. By Paul Gains

As he crossed the finish line of the 2016 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in fifth place, Eric Gillis knew he had capped off a brilliant year.

The 36 year old Guelph, Ontario resident won both the Canadian championship and the overall Canada Running Series title with this performance in Toronto. And, coming just nine weeks after a superlative 10th place finish in the Rio Olympic marathon, it signaled he has more running in his legs – not to mention a little more cash in his bank account.

The CRS overall winner earns $5,000.

“As soon as I finished Toronto (Waterfront) I assumed that my points would have been enough from the three races to probably win (the CRS title),” the three time Olympian admits. “It was on my mind. It was one of the reasons I went out to Vancouver to race the Eastside 10k in September. Credit to (race director) Alan (Brookes) for putting the series together and for putting that amount of money up for winning the overall series. I feel really fortunate to be the overall champion.tf_tw10-16_5152-jpeg“There is not a lot of guaranteed money in this sport. Until I finished that race in Toronto – you have to finish all three races – so you can’t take anything for granted. It gets myself out racing on Canadian soil which I enjoy. It’s definitely a help to have that $5,000.”

Along with scoring the maximum 60 points by winning the Canadian marathon championship as well as the Vancouver Eastside 10k, Gillis emerged the victor at the Toronto Waterfront 10k which he used to gauge his fitness going into the Olympics. His total points score of 180 easily beat second place Kip Kangogo.

Kangogo, the Kenyan born Lethbridge resident, who gained his Canadian citizenship two years ago, finished with 142 points on the strength of his silver medal Canadian Marathon Championship performance in Toronto (9th place overall) and a pair of victories at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon and Banque de Scotia 21k de Montreal. The latter two events were lesser weighted in terms of point value than the three events Gillis won.

The Toronto Waterfront Marathon, for instance, is an IAAF Gold Label event the highest international level awarded by athletics governing body. Kangogo, who is equally supportive of the Series, earned $2,000 for finishing second.

The women’s overall winner was another Olympian, Krista DuChene. She topped the table with 165 points having won the Canadian Marathon title and the Toronto Waterfront 10k, which were both worth 60 points. Her victory at the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal earned her an additional 45 points.

This isn’t the first time DuChene has emerged at the top of the CRS points standings. She also won the overall CRS title in 2012.

“The funny thing is the first time I won it I didn’t even know,” the 39 year old from Brantford, Ontario says laughing. “Now obviously, having run with Alan all these years, first of all it’s an honour, I never take my competition lightly. So to win the series overall is an honour.

“I think the three races that I won, that allowed me to win the series, all three were pretty important. The Montreal Half Marathon was where I proved my fitness to get the (Athletics Canada) stamp of approval for Rio. And it was the first time I had run the course since I broke my leg on the course. So that was pretty special.”

“And the 10k was the first time that race had been run. So that was exciting to run and win it for the first time. Toronto (Waterfront Marathon) was the icing on the cake after coming back from becoming an Olympian and winning a national title. I couldn’t ask for a better season really.”310_ij_21kmtl_a0959On January 9th DuChene will turn forty and has her eyes set on beating some of the Canadian masters records as well as improving her personal best times. No shopping sprees are planned so the $5,000 CRS prize will help pay down the mortgage on her house.

The Canada Running Series also recognizes the achievements of the country’s best masters runners too. Kevin Smith (Mississauga) by the slimmest of margins (93 to 91) beat Jerry Ziak of Vancouver to the overall men’s masters title. He earns $1,000 while Ziak takes $500 for second. The pair never met in head to head competition.

Montreal’s Sandra McLean was overall women’s masters champion taking maximum points at the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal (45 points) and at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (60 points).

While the Canada Running Series serves runners of all ages and abilities there is also an incredible fundraising initiative which accompanies the program. In 2016 more than 53,000 runners raised a total of $5,595,834 for 342 mostly local charities. That translates to roughly $104 for every participant in the series.

The 2017 Canada Running Series launches April 8th with the Race Roster Spring Run-Off 8km an annual tradition in Toronto’s High Park for almost forty years. Some exciting changes lie ahead for the Series including the inclusion of both a 5km and 10km with the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal, an initiative designed to give more runners an opportunity to participate in a spring time event.

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For more information:
https://canadarunningseries.com/#races