Sep 09 2024
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Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your First 10K: Tips for New Runners

By | Eastside 10k, Run Gear, Training Tips | No Comments

Running your first 10K is an exciting milestone, whether you’re a seasoned athlete exploring a new distance or a beginner tackling your first major race. However, this excitement can sometimes lead to avoidable mistakes that can hinder your performance and enjoyment. Here’s a guide from our title sponsor, Under Armour, to help you navigate the 2024 Under Armour Eastside 10K with confidence and success.

Ignoring Nutrition and Hydration

Neglecting proper nutrition and hydration can lead to disastrous results. Maintain a balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats, and stay hydrated throughout your training. On race day, eat a light meal a few hours before the start and hydrate sufficiently. Here are some great resources: (runningmagazine.ca) (unlockfood.ca)

Using Worn-Out Shoes on Race Day

Relying on old or worn-out running shoes can lead to injury. Regularly replace your shoes to ensure proper support and cushioning. Look for a lightweight pair that provides the support and comfort you need, like the UA Velociti Pro Running Shoes.

Not Having the Essential Gear

Running without the right gear can be a mistake. Invest in gear that enhances your comfort, such as the UA Launch Short Sleeve for moisture-wicking, or the UA StealthForm Uncrushable Hat for sun protection.

Starting Too Fast / Poor Pacing Strategy

Starting the race too quickly due to adrenaline can lead to early fatigue. Begin at a comfortable pace and gradually increase it if you feel good later on. A steady start helps conserve energy for a strong finish. Here’s a great article on pacing strategy (runningmagazine.ca).

For more training tips, be sure to check out the 2024 8-week training plan. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll ensure a more enjoyable race day at the 2024 Under Armour Eastside 10K. Good luck, and happy running!

Aug 27 2024
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Creating Inclusive Events

By | Community Leaders, General | No Comments

How CRS Ensures Everyone Feels Welcome

Creating a welcoming environment for all participants is at the heart of Canada Running Series (CRS) mission. Recognizing the diverse needs of runners from various backgrounds, CRS has implemented several initiatives to ensure inclusivity and accessibility at their events. 

This article explores how CRS cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that celebrates diversity and encourages participation from all community members.

Proactive Inclusion Policies 

CRS has established proactive inclusion policies that promote diversity and accessibility. These policies address the broad spectrum of participants’ needs, ensuring that everyone feels supported and valued.

  • Examples: CRS has developed policies that explicitly prohibit any form of discrimination and harassment. These are communicated through all event materials and are visible on our website.
  • Registration Adjustments: CRS offers registration options that are sensitive to gender diversity, including non-binary categories, and ensures that registration forms are respectful and inclusive of all participants.

Enhanced Accessibility Measures

CRS events are accessible to people of all abilities, incorporating specific measures to accommodate adaptive athletes and those with other needs.

  • Course Design: All CRS race courses are evaluated for accessibility, ensuring that they are free of barriers that could hinder participants.
  • Facilities: Accessible restrooms, changing areas, and race packet pick-up locations are standard at CRS events. 

Promoting Diverse Representation

Visibility and representation are key elements in CRS’s strategy to enhance inclusivity. Efforts are made to ensure that all groups are visibly represented in promotional activities and among event staff and volunteers.

  • Marketing Campaigns: CRS uses promotional materials that reflect the diversity of the community, including varied age groups, races, and abilities.
  • Diverse Teams: Recruitment strategies for staff and volunteers focus on diversity, ensuring that the event planning and execution team is as varied as the participants themselves.

Community Engagement and Feedback

CRS values the input of its community, using feedback to continually refine and improve its inclusivity efforts.

  • Community Consultations: Regular engagement with community groups and participants helps CRS understand diverse needs and expectations, guiding the planning process.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: After events, CRS actively seeks feedback specifically targeted at evaluating the inclusiveness of the event. This helps identify strengths and areas for improvement.

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Canada Running Series’ commitment to inclusivity is a cornerstone of its operations. Through thoughtful policies, careful planning, and open dialogue with participants, CRS ensures that its events are welcoming spaces for everyone. 

The goal is not only to organize races but to celebrate the diverse community that comes together to run, cheer, and support each other. Each CRS event is an opportunity to strengthen community ties and promote a culture of inclusivity and respect in the world of competitive running and beyond.

Aug 12 2024
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Maximizing Your Race Day Performance: Nutrition and Hydration Strategies

By | Uncategorised | No Comments

Race day success is the culmination of training and the precise implementation of effective nutrition and hydration strategies. Whether you’re aiming for a personal best or simply looking to finish strong, the fuel you provide your body can make a significant difference. 

This article explores essential nutritional tactics and hydration tips to help runners optimize their performance on the big day.

How to Fuel Before the Race 

Pre-race nutrition starts well before the morning of the event. In the days leading up to the race, focus on carbohydrate loading, which involves increasing the percentage of carbs in your diet while tapering your workouts. This helps maximize the storage of glycogen (energy) in your muscles.

  • What to Eat: Opt for complex carbohydrates like whole grains, pasta, rice, and potatoes. These foods provide a slow and steady release of energy. With 28-31g of carbs in each bar, real food bars like Made with Local are an excellent option for some fast fuel.
  • When to Eat: Have your last big, carb-rich meal the night before the race. On race morning, eat a simple, high-carb breakfast 2-3 hours before starting, such as oatmeal or a bagel with peanut butter, to top off your energy stores.

Hydration Before and During the Race: 

Hydration should be a focus during the race and the days leading up to it. Start hydrating several days before the race to ensure you’re well-hydrated on the starting line.

Choose to hydrate with the options that will be available on the course. For example, the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon uses Nuun on the course, so we’d recommend practicing fueling with Nuun during your training and before the event.  

  • Before the Race: Drink plenty of water and electrolytes the days before the race. Avoid alcohol, as it can dehydrate you.
  • During the Race: Use hydration stations to maintain hydration levels, sipping on water or Nuun containing electrolytes. This is particularly crucial in longer races, where sweat loss can significantly affect performance and health.

What to Eat During the Race? 

Nutrition on the Run: 

Maintaining energy during the race is crucial, especially for events longer than 60 minutes. Consuming carbohydrates during the race can help maintain good blood glucose levels, vital for sustaining performance.

Again, try to practice with what will be available on the race course, or be prepared to carry your own nutrition. The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon offers GU gels on course, so we’d recommend practicing fueling with these during your longer runs. 

  • Energy Gels and Chews: These are easy to carry and can quickly provide a burst of energy. Aim to consume a gel approximately every 45 minutes during the race.
  • Sports Drinks: These can serve a dual purpose by providing hydration and a quick source of energy through carbohydrates. If you prefer to use your own sports drink, we’d recommend bringing a bottle and using the stations on the course for water. 

Post-Race Recovery: 

After crossing the finish line, the recovery process begins. Eating the proper nutrients after the race can help repair muscles, replenish energy stores, and reduce inflammation.

  • Immediate Recovery Meal: Within 30 minutes of finishing, consume a meal or snack rich in carbohydrates and protein. A 3:1 ratio (carbs to protein) is often recommended. Options include a fruit smoothie with whey protein, a turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread, or a rice bowl with lean protein.
  • Hydration: After the race, continue to hydrate to replace fluid losses. Water, sports drinks, and even milk are good options. We love a good post-race chocolate milk! 

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Effective nutrition and hydration strategies are pivotal for achieving peak performance on race day. By carefully planning your pre-, during-, and post-race nutrition, you can enhance your energy levels, optimize performance, and speed up recovery. 

Remember, practicing these strategies during training runs is crucial to ensure they work for you on race day. Here’s to a successful and energized run!

Jun 25 2024
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Running as a Family: How to Get Everyone Involved

By | Training Tips | No Comments

Running or walking doesn’t have to be a solo journey; it can be a bonding experience that brings the whole family closer. Physical activity promotes a healthy lifestyle and instills lifelong values of perseverance, goal setting, and the joy of achievement. 

Whether your family includes young sprinters or more mature marathoners, participating in races and events as a family is about creating memories, sharing successes, and enjoying the great outdoors together. This guide will explore practical ways to involve every family member in running, making it an inclusive, enjoyable, and regular family activity.

Start with Fun Runs and Themed Races

Choose Family-friendly Events

Look for local fun runs or themed races designed with families in mind. These events often have shorter distances, such as 1K or 2K fun runs, and incorporate entertaining themes that appeal to children and adults alike, like superhero runs, colour runs, or obstacle courses.

Benefits of Participating Together

  • Motivation and Encouragement: Running alongside family members provides motivation and builds a supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to do their best.
  • Making Exercise Fun: Themed races can transform the concept of exercise from a chore into an exciting adventure. They provide unique experiences that are much more about enjoyment than competition.
  • Building Confidence: Completing a race gives children a tangible sense of achievement and can significantly boost their confidence. It shows them that setting goals and working towards them is rewarding.

Tips for a Successful Family Race Day

  • Pre-Race Preparation: Get everyone involved in the preparation process. Let children help pick out race outfits or create signs. Discuss race day logistics as a family to ensure everyone knows what to expect.
  • Set Realistic Expectations: Understand and respect each family member’s fitness level and enthusiasm for running. The goal is to finish feeling good, not necessarily to set personal records.
  • Celebrate Together: Plan a post-race celebration. Whether it’s a special meal, a family outing, or simply relaxing together at home, make sure there’s something to look forward to after the race.

The Finish Line is Just the Beginning

Embracing running as a family activity is more than just a way to stay physically active; it’s a journey filled with laughter, challenges, and unforgettable moments. Each reach training session, each taken together, strengthens the bond that ties your family, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

In the grand scheme of things, the distances run or the times achieved are secondary to the shared experiences and the values instilled through running together. Commitment, perseverance, mutual support, and collectively reaching a goal are lessons so far beyond the running track. Life lessons prepare children for the future and remind adults of the importance of health, happiness, and family.

So, as you lace up your running shoes and set out on this path together, remember that every finish line crossed is not an end but a beginning. A beginning to new challenges, higher goals, and more shared adventures. Whether it’s the cheering as you cross the finish line, the high-fives after a particularly tough hill, or the laughter shared over a pancake breakfast post-race, these moments make running as a family beneficial and invaluable.

Let the running journey bring your family closer, one step at a time. Here’s to many miles, laughs, and finish lines ahead.

Jun 24 2024
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Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K Celebrates Exhilarating Race Day and Fundraising Success

By | Charity, General, Vancouver Half Marathon | No Comments

Vancouver, BC – June 23, 2024 

The Vancouver Half Marathon & 5K, hosted by Canada Running Series, celebrated a record-breaking day on the streets of UBC and Kitsilano this morning. Over 4500 participants in the half marathon and nearly 1000 in the 5K – the most in recent history – tackled the scenic course, showcasing the best of Vancouver’s running community with no shortage of joy, athleticism, and perseverance. The runners came from 8 Canadian provinces, 24 American states and 30 countries. Fully 4000 of the 6000 were aged 18-39, underscoring the arrival of a new running boom.

Thrilling Elite Races and Local Victories 

The Half Marathon distance boasted a solid elite list of Vancouver’s locals. In the Men’s Elite race, Justin Kent celebrated his return from injury and the recent birth of his daughter by taking off early and cruising to a convincing victory. Kent broke the tape with a 1:05:09, an impressive solo performance. As a new father, Kent’s lack of sleep from early parenting didn’t prevent his success, one he noted wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his wife and baby girl who cheered him across the line. While he can add the Vancouver Half to his portfolio of wins, Kent won’t be slowing down anytime soon, with sights now set on the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Canadian National Championship in October. Matthew Walker (1:11:30) and Sam Wensink (1:11:38) had a good battle for the second and third podium places.

Canada’s 2020 Olympic Marathoners Natasha Wodak and Dayna Pidhoresky paced alongside each other for the first 15 kilometers before Wodak took the lead, to finish in a time of 1:13:52. Pidhoresky hung on for second in 1:15:22 with Burnaby’s Jamie Hennesey 3rd in 1:18:47. “I wanted to run the first half of the race more on the more conservative side and I pushed myself over the last 6-8K,” said Wodak, giving her the chance to catch a pack of men over last mile joking “it’s always fun to hunt [them down]”.  

Charity Challenge Surpasses Goals 

Canada Running Series is proud to announce that the annual Charity Challenge surpassed its initial goal of $300,000 by nearly $100,000 expecting to round out donations at $400,000 for the 2024 Vancouver Half Marathon, an increase of over 52% from 2023. Fundraising remains open until July 22nd . 

Half Marathon Male:

  1. Justin Kent 1:05:09
  2. Matthew Walker 1:11:30
  3. Sam Wesnick 1:11:38

Half Marathon Female:

  1. Natasha Wodak 1:13:52
  2. Dayna Pidhoresky 1:15:22
  3. Jamie Hennessy 1:18:47

About Canada Running Series    

Canada Running Series is the nation’s premier running circuit with seven events: four in Toronto, two in Vancouver and one in Montreal. It annually attracts over 70,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly local charities. The Series includes the World Athletics Elite Label TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization.      

We are passionately committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels, from Canadian Olympians and international stars to healthy lifestyle people and charity runners, and to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. Our mission is, “building community through the sport of running.”   

More info: https://canadarunningseries.com/    

Jun 17 2024
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Announcing the Elite Field for the 2024 Vancouver Half Marathon

By | Elite Athletes, Vancouver Half Marathon | No Comments

Women’s Start List – Half Marathon

First Name Last Name City Province
Natasha Wodak North Vancouver BC
Dayna Pidhoresky Vancouver BC
Emily Andrews Vancouver BC
Andrea  Lee North Vancouver BC
Ellen Pennock Vancouver BC
Jamie Hennessey Burnaby BC
Catrin  Jones Victoria  BC
Sabrina Wilkie Surrey BC
Christine Bant Victoria  BC
Nadine Robinson Vancouver BC
Olivia Law Vancouver BC
Katrina Lim Burnaby BC
Eriko Soma Vancouver BC
Moeko  Sanada  Vancouver  BC

Men’s Start List – Half Marathon

First Name Last Name City Province
Justin Kent Burnaby BC
Derek Scott Vancouver BC
Thibault Mouchart Vancouver BC
David Morrissey Vancouver BC
Drew Nicholson Surrey BC
Carlos Lesser Vancouver BC
Rob Watson Vancouver BC
Sam Wensink Langley BC
Patrick  Sperling Edmonton AB
Jeremiah Ziak Vancouver BC
Gus Amundson Vancouver BC
David Tapia Vancouver, BC
Luis Benitez Vancouver BC 

 

Start List – 5K

First Name Last Name City Province
Ally Ginther Vancouver BC
Jouen Chang Vancouver BC
Lissa Zimmer Vancouver BC
Katherine Watson Vancouver BC
Marley Beckett North Vancouver BC
Ria  Gill Delta BC
First Name Last Name City Province
Nathan Dehghan Vancouver BC
Kyle Kimura Vancouver AB
Caleb Graham Chilliwack BC
Matt Melnick Vancouver BC
Conor Dunne Vancouver BC
Jun 15 2024
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JP Flavin and Erin Mawhinney Victorious at 2024 Under Armour Toronto 10K

By | Uncategorised | No Comments

By Paul Gains

JP Flavin rang up Under Armour Toronto 10K organizers last week and asked if there was a place in the event for him. His eleventh-hour plea came just before the race limit of 7,500 was reached. Lucky for him.

The 25 year old New Jersey native showed his gratitude by front running his way to a victory in 29:20 and in the process pulling top Canadian Andrew Davies to a new personal best of 29:25. Third place overall went to Lee Wesselius in 29:49 and the third Canadian was Rob Kanko in 30 minutes flat.

“I am very thankful they let me in the race,” said Flavin, a member of the Brooks Hanson Project based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. “I did really well. I kept 4:40 miles throughout, which was my plan. It was fun.”

Midway through the race – the lead pack of seven runners reached 5K in 14:32 – he went to the front with the objective of breaking pre-race favourite Andrew Davies.

The Sarnia native has been training in Vancouver, where he is a law student at the University of British Columbia. Earlier this year, he ran a personal best 10,000m on the track (28:34.63) and also finished 2nd in the NAIA (collegiate) national championships in that event, which caught the attention of his peers.

“I knew if I stayed with Andrew to the last two kilometres, odds are he would outkick me,” Flavin added. “So a little before 5K, I started picking it up. I wanted to use that long hill [at the Canadian Legion] to come hard off it.”

“When I made my move and started feeling bad at mile five, I could hear from the crowd; they were screaming his name a little bit. So I knew I had to pay attention, stay on it, and not let up too much. I was able to grind and finish off strong.”

Davies was satisfied with his personal best. When Flavin made his move, he made an effort to maintain contact but could never close the gap.

“I was trying to cover it as best I could without risking blowing up at the end,” he revealed. “I couldn’t quite cover it. I stayed pretty close. I couldn’t catch him over the last two kilometres. He held that gap the whole way.”

Despite his earlier 10,000m success in the spring, Davies admitted he has lately been focusing on the 5,000m, the event he will race at the Canadian Olympic trials June 26-30 in Montreal.

While the men’s race had its drama, the women’s race saw the same podium finishers as in 2023, although Erin Mawhinney’s title defence was emphatic. The 28-year-old Hamilton,

Ontario, nursing consultant won by 25 seconds over Salome Nyirarukundo.

Mahwinney’s 33:40 time was a pleasant surprise after she learned earlier in the year she was iron deficient.

“This was the first race since February that I haven’t felt dizzy, so this is the first one in a while that has felt like that,” says Mawhinney, who was greeted at the finish by her coach, two time Canadian Olympic marathoner, Reid Coolsaet.

Respect for her competitors was evident in her further comments.

“At no point was I confident of winning,” she declared. “Salome is so talented, and I knew there was a good chance she would come flying by but someone yelled at me with a kilometre to go that I had a good gap.

To run in the 33s, especially today, it’s hotter and windier than last year, to run the same time as last year off much less training is great.”

Mawhinney also credited Toronto running coach Paddy Birch for helping her through the windy stretches along Lake Shore Boulevard.

“I owe my life to Paddy Birch. He was sort of breaking some of the wind and pacing up to about 8K, so I didn’t have to think quite as hard about it,” she added. “He is much faster than me, but I think he was going for an easy run. He was (pacing me) on purpose when he was talking to me.”

Nyirarukundo, who competed for Rwanda at the 2016 Olympics, now lives in Ottawa. She complained about having an upset stomach last night and into the race morning.

“I was a little bit tired. This morning I had a problem with stomach. Even now, I have it,” she said with a smile, “so I was struggling even to finish, but because I am a fighter, I just tried to finish. It was not bad.”

“I appreciate the organisers; they are very, very good to the elites. It is really good and I enjoy the people (on the course) who are cheering.”

Rachel Hannah, now recovered from her 3rd place finish in the Ottawa Marathon, was 3rd in today’s race. Her time of 34:10, almost a minute faster than her 2023 finish, pleased her.

Once again, the Under Armour Toronto 10K served as the Canadian Masters’ championships, with Toronto’s Allison Drynan crossing the line first in the 45-49 age bracket, recording a time of 38:46. She finished just 8 seconds ahead of Miriam Zittel (40-44).

In the men’s master’s race, Bryan Rusche earned top honours with his 33:33 performance, and Brian Byrne of London, Ontario, finished next in 33:49.

Race director Alan Brookes was delighted with the sold-out event and pointed out that runners from nine provinces, two territories (the Yukon and the Northwest Territories), eighteen American states, and twenty countries enjoyed the day.

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Jun 12 2024
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CANADA RUNNING SERIES TO HOST UNDER ARMOUR TORONTO 10K ALONG BEAUTIFUL LAKESHORE THIS WEEKEND

By | Under Armour Toronto 10K | No Comments

CANADA RUNNING SERIES TO HOST UNDER ARMOUR TORONTO 10K ALONG BEAUTIFUL LAKESHORE THIS WEEKEND

TORONTO, ON (JUNE 12, 2024) – Canada Running Series (CRS) is excited to announce that the annual Under Armour Toronto 10K will take place on Saturday, June 15th along the scenic Toronto Lakeshore, one of the signature events of Canada’s road running calendar. 

The Toronto waterfront is the perfect backdrop for this Father’s Day weekend event, offering an inspired experience for amateur and competitive runners, walkers and adaptive racers alike. A sold out crowd of over 7,500 participants ages 8 through 80 will toe the start line on Lakeshore Boulevard from Ellis Avenue to Remembrance Drive and back. They will represent 11 Canadian provinces and territories, 18 American states and 20 countries. 

What makes the Under Armour Toronto 10K unique is its expert course layout and event planning, designed by feedback from the local Toronto running community and run clubs. Many of those clubs will be supporting participants across eight cheer sites hosted by Black Runners of the GTA, Frontrunners, Chix Run the Six, We Run North York, Rogue Runners, Culture, Kardia and Midnight Runners. Cheers will be even louder for those running to raise $35,000 for KidSport Canada, a not-for-profit organization that helps remove financial barriers that prevent kids from playing sport by providing assistance for registration fees and sport equipment to children aged 18 and under.

This year’s Under Armour Toronto 10K race will also serve as the Canadian Masters Athletics (CMA) 10K Championships, with medals for the top 3 male and female CMA finishers. Up front, it promises a thrilling men’s race with British Columbia’s Andrew Davies taking on Ontario’s Lee Wesselius, Phil Parrot-Migas and Kyle Grieve, plus JP Flavin from Michigan’s Hansons Project, all of whom are hovering at or below 29-minute personal bests for the 10K distance.  The women’s contest will be no less exciting with all 3 of last year’s top finishers returning to battle it out again: defending champion Erin Mawhinney from Hamillton, Ottawa’s Salome Nyirarukundo, and Huron County’s Rachel Hannah.   

Whether it’s your first race, or you’re a racing veteran, the Under Armour Toronto 10K offers a beautiful, scenic, and accessible course. Much more than just a race, it underscores Canada Running Series’ commitment to diversity, inclusion and sustainability. There will be a dedicated Adaptive Athlete start at 7:25 a.m. for wheelchair participants before the mass start at 7:30 a.m., which will include a non-binary category as well as male and female gender choices. There will also be a separate 800m Kids Race for children aged 2-10, and new this year is the Green Bib program where participants choose not to receive a t-shirt and finishers’ medal in return for a portion of their entry fee being donated to a sustainability charity.

With a beautiful course and picturesque scenery, the Under Armour Toronto 10K is the event for everyone and promises to be an unforgettable experience. 

 

Details of the race day schedule are as follows:

Media Check-in & Availability

Located at the VIP tent in “Race Central” (Parking Lot 852 in Exhibition Place)

Open as of 6:50 a.m. 

Photos and brief interviews are available at the finish line for the media. If you are interested in setting up an interview, please email media@canadarunningseries.com.

 

Race and Event Times

7:25 a.m. 10K Adaptive Athlete Start 

(Start Line located on Lake Shore Blvd. W, west of Ontario Dr.)

7:30 a.m. 10K start 

(Start line located on Lake Shore Blvd. W, west of Ontario Dr.)

8:45 a.m.         Podium ceremony announcing race winners and top fundraisers 

(Main stage located in Race Central, Parking Lot 852 in Exhibition Place )

9:10 a.m. 10K final finish 

(Finish line located on Lake Shore Blvd. W, west of Newfoundland Rd.)

9:45 a.m. Kids Race start 

(Start line located on Lake Shore Blvd. W, west of Ontario Dr.)

The following area of Lakeshore Blvd. W will be closed temporarily to accommodate the Under Armour Toronto 10K on Saturday, June 15, 2024 between 4:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.:

  • Lake Shore Blvd. West from Windermere Ave. to Bathurst St.
  • Strachan Ave. from Lake Shore Blvd. West to Fleet St.
  • Fort York Blvd. from Lake Shore Blvd. West to Fleet St.

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ABOUT CANADA RUNNING SERIES (CRS) 

Canada Running Series is the nation’s premier running circuit with 7 events, 4 in Toronto, 2 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal. It annually attracts over 70,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 Canadian and local charities. The Under Armour Toronto 10K is the second Toronto race of the Series, which concludes with the World Athletics Elite Label TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization. To learn more about CRS, visit https://canadarunningseries.com/.

 

Media Contact

Emma Hunt, Sutherland Corp. 

media@canadarunningseries.com

416-708-9612

Jun 10 2024
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MAHWINNEY AND DAVIES LEAD ELITES AT UNDER ARMOUR TORONTO 10K 

By | Elite Athletes | No Comments

By Paul Gains 

Erin Mawhinney will defend her Under Armour Toronto 10K title Saturday June 15th the next stop on the 2024 Canada Running Series. 

A year ago, the Hamilton resident won the race, which traces Toronto’s scenic Lake Shore Boulevard, in a personal best of 33 minutes 34 seconds. The result was a pleasant surprise and confirmed her arrival as one of Canada’s elite road racers. 

“I would like to take a stab at defending my title I know there are some fast girls running,” the 27 year old says before adding, ”Truthfully I have struggled with some low iron the past couple of weeks. But being able to defend the win would be great. Running close to 33 minutes flat would also be great at this time. 

Despite the medical hiccup – which is now behind her – Mawhinney has followed coach Reid Coolsaet’s training program closely and has gradually increased her training volume. Indeed, she has had weeks where she has run as much as 160km while working full-time as a nursing consultant. 

Mawhinney completed her Master of Nursing degree last year after spending six years nursing in the intensive care unit at Hamilton’s St Joseph’s Hospital. Combining long, demanding shifts with her training program was challenging but she credits Coolsaet, a two-time Canadian Olympian, with providing a flexible plan. 

“I did straight night shifts and I found that sticking on straight nights was a little bit easier for running,” she remembers. “I found the flipping back and forth between days and night was sort of chaotic. 

“I would let Reid know and he was great with being flexible. I worked a lot of overtime during Covid because we were overwhelmed in the ICU during that time. There would be some days where I was too tired to double. There were even times when I had to sleep at the hospital between shifts because there was a risk of exposure in my apartment building.” 

In addition to winning the 2023 Under Armour Toronto 10K Mawhinney captured first place in the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon last October (1:13:50). Now she and Coolsaet are targeting a possible marathon debut this coming fall. 

“We are thinking TCS Toronto Waterfront in the fall will be my marathon debut so that is the main focus for the rest of the year,” she reveals. 

Recently Mawhinney’s concerns for the homeless crisis in the Hamilton neighbourhood she has called home the past seven years resulted in her penning an essay on her observations. Her advocacy is paying off. 

“A big win recently was having City Housing Hamilton approve a new public health nurse role I proposed to them,” she adds. “(It is) to help those in higher social-need subsidized housing keep their tenancy and avoid needing to use the emergency room.” 

Among those lining up against her Saturday are 2015 Pan Am Games marathon bronze medalist, Rachel Hannah, who was 3rd in the 2024 Ottawa Marathon last month and, most significantly, was 3rd in the Under Armour Toronto 10K last year and last year’s runner-up, Salome Nyirarukundo the 26 year-old Rwandan who has made Ottawa her home. 

The men’s field is led by Andrew Davies, a second-year law student at the University of British Columbia. Although his 10k best is 29:32 last month he ran a superb 10,000m on the track recording 28:34.63. 

“If you get one of the really fast road courses I definitely feel you can be just as fast, maybe even faster, on the roads (than on the track) with the new shoes,” he declares. 

The 23-year-old Davies claims, however, he will focus more on the competition than on recording a fast time. 

“I am not really going to focus on the time too much,” Davies, who hails from Sarnia, Ontario, says. “I have been transitioning now to focus on the 5,000m leading to the track Nationals at the end of the month. I will focus on racing whoever else is (at the Toronto 10k). I am not going in with a time goal. 

“My 5,000m PB (13:37.39) is three years old and I would like to lower that into the (low) 13:30’s and run Nationals and then in the fall I’d like to run as well as I can in the Canadian cross country championships. I was 4th there this past year. If I could medal there that would be awesome.” 

The fastest performer in the men’s field is Lee Wesselius whose personal best 29:13 earned him 7th in the 2021 Canadian 10k Championships held on a slightly modified Toronto Waterfront course. Also racing is Rob Kanko who was 3rd in the 2023 Under Armour Toronto 10K in a personal best of 30:02. 

The race will once again serve as the Canadian Masters 10k championships. Baghdad Rachem will defend the title he won a year ago on this same course. The Verdun, Quebec resident won that day in 32:05 beating 44-year-old Reid Coolsaet by 13 seconds. 

Edmonton’s Jay Smith finished 3rd in 2023 in 39:23 and leads the female master’s division entries. 

Jun 10 2024
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Une nouvelle ère pour le 21K de Montréal avec Courons MTL/A New Era for the 21K de Montréal with Courons MTL

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Montréal, le 10 juin 2024 – Une nouvelle ère pour le 21K de Montréal avec Courons MTL

C’est avec enthousiasme que Canada Running Series annonce la cession du prestigieux 21K de Montréal à Courons MTL, producteur du Marathon Beneva de Montréal. Cette passation symbolise bien plus qu’une transaction : elle marque le début d’une nouvelle ère pour cet événement phare de la course à pied au Canada.

Les familles Brookes et Arsenault partagent depuis plusieurs décennies un riche héritage dans la promotion et le développement de la course à pied sur route, tant au niveau national qu’international. 

Alan Brookes, figure emblématique de la course à pied au Canada, a joué un rôle déterminant dans la réorganisation du Marathon de Toronto en tant que co-directeur de course entre 1986 et 1988. En 1990, il se lance dans une aventure qui allait devenir la Canada Running Series. Sous sa direction, la série est devenue le circuit de course sur route le plus prestigieux du Canada. 

Le 21K de Montréal, initialement introduit dans le cadre du Canada Running Series, a su évoluer, passant d’un 10K en 1999 à un demi-marathon en 2003 accompagné de courses de 5K et 10K, reflétant ainsi le dynamisme et la croissance de la communauté de coureurs. 

Pour sa part, le Marathon de Montréal est le premier marathon d’importance de calibre international à avoir vu le jour au pays et plus grand événement de course à pied au Québec depuis 45 ans. Il rassemble les adeptes de tous les niveaux de performance, ainsi que le public, à la recherche d’une expérience urbaine mémorable en mettant en scène Montréal dans toute sa beauté et sa diversité. Depuis novembre 2020, l’événement est produit par Courons MTL, sous l’égide et l’expertise du groupe produisant également les Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, et les Championnats du Monde Route UCI qui auront lieu à Montréal en 2026. 

« Notre expertise dans la production d’événements majeurs internationaux et notre engagement dans le monde de la course, qui date de 1979, sont les fondements sur lesquels nous bâtirons le futur du 21K de Montréal, » affirme Sébastien Arsenault, président-directeur général, Courons MTL. Pour en savoir plus sur l’histoire de l’organisation.

En confiant les rênes à Courons MTL, l’événement est promis à un avenir brillant.

« C’est un privilège pour notre organisation de prendre le flambeau et ainsi assurer la pérennité de ce précieux événement pour la communauté de course montréalaise, ajoute Sébastien Arsenault. Notre engagement envers les coureurs et coureuses sera ainsi rehaussé puisque nous pouvons désormais leur proposer des objectifs autant en début qu’en fin de saison, puis les accompagner tout au long de leur préparation. »

« Ce passage de témoin est très symbolique pour nous. Il représente non seulement la continuité de nos efforts, mais aussi une expansion vers de nouvelles possibilités pour le 21K de Montréal, » mentionne Charlotte Brookes, directrice de course, Canadian Running Series.

L’équipe de Canada Running Series restera impliquée le temps nécessaire afin d’assurer une transition harmonieuse, tout en continuant de développer ses autres événements à Toronto et Vancouver. Ce changement stratégique permettra une concentration accrue sur des initiatives majeures comme le TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. 

Cette nouvelle configuration est une promesse d’innovation et de croissance pour la scène de la course à pied au Québec, bénéficiant ainsi à l’ensemble de la communauté des coureurs au Canada. 

Pour plus d’informations et suivre les développements à venir, veuillez consulter. 

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Montreal, June 10, 2024 – A New Era for the 21K de Montréal with Courons MTL

It is with great enthusiasm that Canada Running Series announces the transfer of the prestigious 21K de Montréal to Courons MTL, the producer of the Marathon Beneva de Montréal. This transition signifies much more than a transaction: it marks the beginning of a new era for this flagship running event in Canada.

The Brookes and Arsenault families have shared a rich heritage in promoting and developing road running, both nationally and internationally, for several decades.

Alan Brookes, a prominent figure in Canadian running, played a crucial role in the reorganization of the Toronto Marathon as co-race director between 1986 and 1988. In 1990, he embarked on an adventure that would become the Canada Running Series. Under his leadership, the series became Canada’s most prestigious road racing circuit.

The 21K de Montréal, initially introduced as part of the Canada Running Series, has evolved from a 10K in 1999 to a half marathon in 2003, accompanied by 5K and 10K races, reflecting the dynamism and growth of the running community.

The Montreal Marathon is the first major international-caliber marathon in Canada and has been Quebec’s largest running event for 45 years. It brings together enthusiasts of all performance levels, as well as the public, seeking a memorable urban experience, showcasing Montreal in all its beauty and diversity. Since November 2020, the event has been produced by Courons MTL, under the guidance and expertise of the group also producing the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and de Montréal, and the UCI Road World Championships to be held in Montreal in 2026.

“Our expertise in producing major international events and our commitment to the running world, dating back to 1979, are the foundations on which we will build the future of the 21K de Montréal,” says Sébastien Arsenault, CEO of Courons MTL. For more information about the organization’s history click here.

By entrusting the reins to Courons MTL, the event is promised a bright future.

“It is a privilege for our organization to take up the torch and thus ensure the continuity of this valuable event for the Montreal running community,” adds Sébastien Arsenault. “Our commitment to runners will be enhanced as we can now offer them goals both at the start and end of the season, and support them throughout their preparation.”

“This handover is very symbolic for us. It represents not only the continuity of our efforts but also an expansion towards new possibilities for the 21K de Montréal,” says Charlotte Brookes, Race Director of Canada Running Series.

The Canada Running Series team will remain involved as long as necessary to ensure a smooth transition while continuing to develop its other events in Toronto and Vancouver. This strategic change will allow for increased focus on major initiatives such as the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

This new configuration promises innovation and growth for the running scene in Quebec, benefiting the entire running community in Canada.

For more information and to follow upcoming developments, please click here.