Designer Richard Kuchinsky on how a clean, simple design can make a shirt that stands out, both home and away. The 2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon shirt does just that
Read More
More than 6,700 people took part in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k, raising an estimated $970,000 for 70 local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This brings the grand total since 2007 to over $8 million.
Krista DuChene, who surprised the running world with her third-place finish at the 2018 Boston Marathon, announces she’ll race the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon to highlight the second half of her 2018 campaign
Every year we’re joined by hundreds of new runners at both the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and the 5k. For many people, it’s their first time participating in an event of this size. We’ve taken some tips from the seasoned runners out there and come up with the ABC’s of how to set yourself up for a great race – both before and after the event.
For many who have grown up in Ontario, the camp experience is one of the highlights of childhood. It’s an opportunity for personal growth, building confidence and learning life skills, and experiencing the wonderful activities offered in Ontario’s rural landscape during summer.
Two Toronto runners offer a Save Our Scruff alumni the chance to live his best life thanks in part to their active lifestyles
Two time Canadian Olympian Reid Coolsaet easily handled a competitive field at the Toronto Waterfront 10k leading 8,500 runners across the finish line in a time of 30:13. Toronto’s Sasha Gollish, crossed the line in 33:05 – a new event record – and she was delighted with the victory.
Photo credit: Inge Johnson/Canada Running Series
by Paul Gains
Injury free for nearly two years now, Dayna Pidhoresky has been enjoying an unprecedented block of consistent training and is raring to go at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon & 5k on June 24th, a Canada Running Series event.
“I want to win for sure,” the 31 year-old Vancouver resident says of her goals. “Time-wise it depends on the day. If I am feeling good then maybe I can really push it a little bit more. I think the main thing is to get some Canada Running Series (CRS) points and try to win.
“Last year I ran really slow there because I was in my marathon recovery phase, so I am in need of a little bit of redemption. I am familiar with the course now and I know the second half can be harder coming off a pretty long downhill section. I think Natasha (Wodak) is doing it so it will be good if she ends up racing – I am ready to put up a fight.”
She laughs at her last comment knowing that Wodak registered a fine 5th place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and remains the Canadian 10,000m record holder at 31:41.59.
At the same time Pidhoresky has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2018 season. In March she won the Around The Bay 30k Road Race in Hamilton, scored a personal best 10k when she finished 5th in the Vancouver Sun Run and then claimed the silver medal at the Canadian Half Marathon Championships in Calgary. Toronto’s Sasha Gollish was the victor that day.
“So far I have been very consistent,” Pidhoresky declares. “I haven’t had that special race that I have been wanting where everything kind of shines, but I have put in a lot of solid races. The main thing is I have been healthy – no injuries at all for going on two years.”
During the 2016 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon she suffered a painful sacral fracture that crushed her physically and emotionally. Yet she battled back seven months later to run a personal best marathon of 2:36:08 in Ottawa. That performance has led to selection for the Canadian team at the 2017 World Championships marathon in London, and suggestions that she is destined to follow Lanni Marchant and Krista DuChene into the ranks of top international class marathoning.
The men’s field features Lethbridge’s Kip Kangogo who last year won this race for the sixth time, and former Canadian international Rob Watson, of Vancouver. To view the complete elite field for the 2018 Scotiabank Half Marathon & 5k, please click here.
Kangogo was 4th in the half marathon at the Vancouver Marathon festival in early May, then three weeks later, finished 2nd at the Canadian Half Marathon Championships in Calgary. Despite his advanced years – he will be 39 next month – the Kenyan born Canadian citizen never fails to turn up ready to do battle, and perhaps feels he owns this race.
Watson ran 2:13:29 at the 2013 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and once claimed to have retired. Yet his ‘fun running’ has left him in fairly good condition. Despite extensive coaching duties with the Mile2Marathon group, he has returned to serious training to win the Vancouver Marathon last month. He also finished 5th in the Vancouver Sun Run in a very good 30:01. On such evidence this certainly promises to be a competitive race.
The picturesque course starts on the grounds of the University of British Columbia and traces the Pacific Ocean shoreline through Point Grey and Kitsilano to Stanley Park. With turns, some hills and the challenging climb over Burrard Bridge at 18km the event records are quite extraordinary. Lioudmila Kortchaguina set the women’s record of 70:50 in 2003 while Kenya’s Patrick Nthwia ran 63:10 in 2007 to establish the men’s standard.
The top Canadian man and woman will each receive $1,500 as well as 45 CRS points which count toward the overall title and the accompanying $3,000 awarded to title winners.
For further information and last-minute entries, see www.scotiahalf.ca.
presented by:
With all of the training and planning for your upcoming race, it’s easy to miss some of the small details along the way. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re prepared for a successful race day!
1. Run or bike the course.
Checking out the course beforehand will help you mentally prepare for race day. You’ll know what to expect and where the hills are.
2. Nothing new on race day!
This includes fuel! Have a familiar breakfast on race day, something you’ve had during your training that sits well in your stomach. It’s also a good idea to try out the fuel that will be available on course during the race.
3. Train at the time of the race.
As much as possible, complete your long training runs around the same time as the race will be, particularly if you aren’t a morning runner. Your muscles and your mind will be better prepared on race day.
4. Hydrate properly!
Having a set hydration plan will set you up for success. This includes pre-race hydration (including how much you drink the day before your race), as well as which aid stations you’ll stop by to re-hydrate with Nuun. Remember to plan for recovery hydration as well!
5. Have multiple goals.
Your “b” goal should be slower than your “a” goal, and your “c” goal should be to have fun! Having multiple goals means you still have a target to keep you going, no matter how you’re feeling during the race.
6. Then tell someone!
If you need help holding yourself accountable, tell your goals to a friend. Saying them out loud makes them real, and you’ll also have a friend that will check in with you to help keep you on track.
7. Wear extra layers at the start line.
It can be cold at the start of a race. Grab some old clothes to wear as extra layers at the start line, then shed them before the race begins. You’ll stay warm without overdressing for the race.
8. Avoid aid station bottlenecks.
Head to the end of the aid station to avoid the large crowds. And no, you don’t need to learn to run and drink at the same time from those small cups. It’s okay to slow down to a walk, just remember to pull over to the side.
9. You can’t bank time.
You might think that you can “bank” time by running extra fast in the beginning, but it doesn’t work that way. Running too fast in the beginning will just tire you out.
10. Find your mantra.
Having a positive mantra will help you power through the harder parts of the race. Don’t be afraid to say/shout it out loud!
See you out there!
A 90-minute evening with Canada’s best marathoners, summed up in 10 quotes
Recent Posts
Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon Achieves Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport
Canada Running Series Welcomes Beneva as Official Title Partner of the Vancouver Half Marathon
12TH ANNUAL UNDER ARMOUR EASTSIDE 10K RAISES OVER $55,000 FOR DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE CHARITIES
Getting Race Day Ready For Under Armour Eastside 10K
