Feb 01 2016
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Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Earns IAAF Gold Label, by Paul Gains

By | Uncategorised | No Comments

TORONTO February 1st 2016. Earning an IAAF Gold Label from the International Association of Athletics Federations represents the epitome of road race management and for the second consecutive year the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has been awarded this distinction.

Meeting the very strictest criteria, not once but twice, puts the race in the elite category of city marathons around the world, a fact not lost on Race Director Alan Brookes.

“We’re thrilled to receive the Gold Label for the second year in a row,” Brookes declared after receiving the news from the IAAF head office in Monaco. “It’s the Michelin 3-stars of running.

“To be placed in the same category as Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo and the great city marathons of the world is an enormous honour. It really testifies to the prestige of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and our commitment to being a leader in road running in Canada.”

For IAAF Competitions Director, Paul Hardy, the awarding of the Gold Label was especially pleasing. He hails from nearby London, Ontario.

“The IAAF Label programme recognizes the best road races in the world,” he declares.  “To achieve Gold Label status takes hard work, commitment and a passion to want to be the best.  I congratulate the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on receiving the IAAF Gold Label.  Having grown up just down the highway from Toronto, I know what a great city it is and what a great place it is to run.  Keep running Toronto.”

Blog 02-01-2016 Eric Gillis

Eric Gillis, STWM 2015

The news was also greeted warmly by two of the Waterfront Marathon’s greatest athletic personalities, Eric Gillis, whose five fastest marathon times have come at various editions of the race, and Lanni Marchant, who famously broke a 28 year old Canadian women’s record in 2013 with 2:28:00.

“I thought Alan was a gold label race director since the first year I ran STWM back in 2010,” Gillis says. “He has just been phenomenal for Canadian athletes. He is passionate about every athlete he has running in Toronto. This (Gold Label Award) is just a really nice thing to have happen. I am very happy for Alan and his crew at the Canada Running Series.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to race a competitive international race just over an  hour’s drive from where I train and live. It has meant a lot to me over the years. It is special.”

Gillis ran 2:11:31 in Toronto last October to beat the 2016 Olympic qualifying standard. If he is named to the Canadian team it would be his third Olympic games. Marchant also achieved the Olympic qualifying standard with 2:28:09 in Toronto on the same day.

Blog 02-01-2016 Lanni Marchant

Lanni Marchant, STWM 2015

“I just think it speaks volumes for Canadian running in general,” says Marchant who is presently in the midst of high altitude training in Kenya.  “You used to have to go elsewhere to get Gold Label events and to get the best competition, and having it in our backyard now kind of shows where we are as a country in athletics.

“It shows the kind of events that Alan Brookes has been putting on. It just makes it exciting as a Canadian runner that I can line up in my home country and have one of the best fields to line up against.”

Over the years the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has attracted some of the world’s greatest marathoners.

Ethiopia’s Derissa Chimsa set a course record of 2:07:05 in 2013.  Sharon Cherop of Kenya set a course record of 2:22:42 in 2010 then went on to earn a bronze medal at the 2011 IAAF World Championships and a victory in the 2012 Boston Marathon. In 2011 Mare Dibaba finished 2nd in Toronto behind her Ethiopian compatriot, Koren Jal. Last August, Dibaba was crowned World Marathon Champion with an impressive victory in Beijing.

But along with the many elite athletes who compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money are thousands of runners racing on an accurately measured, well managed course to challenge themselves or to raise money for local charities. Last year another $3.5 million was raised by Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon runners for 173 charities.

Entries are now being accepted for the 2016 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon which is set for Sunday October 16th.

“It puts Toronto on the world stage,” Alan Brookes says summing up the value of the Gold Label, “and it is recognition for our amazing Canada Running Series organizing crew, the thousands of volunteers, charities, City of Toronto staff, runners and spectators alike, who have built something very special for the sport and the city we love.”

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To register:
www.stwm.ca

 

Jan 08 2016
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New iPod for Christmas? Share the joy by donating your old MP3 player to Music Heals.

By | Modo Spring Run-Off 8k | No Comments
January 8, 2016 – Vancouver, BC

Is your old MP3 player really doing its best work in a drawer?

Modo, Metro Vancouver’s only local carshare co-op, and the Modo Spring Run-Off 8k, part of the Canada Running Series, are teaming up to help bring the healing power of music to more people through Music Heals’ iPod Pharmacy! Imagine giving your old MP3 player to someone spending hours waiting for treatment, or sitting on dialysis. You can help take their mind off things and allow them to lose themselves in their favourite music.

Thanks to Modo, there are now over 450 locations where you can drop off your old iPod! You can still donate your MP3 player by mailing it directly to the Music Heals office, but now you can also drop it off in any of Modo’s 450+ vehicles or at the Modo office during business hours. After you donate your iPod, Music Heals cleans them up and pairs them with new Skullcandy headphones and an iTunes gift card. The iPods are then given to a music therapist for use with their clients.

01-08-16-modo-locationsModo members, when using one of the 450+ vehicles available in the Lower Mainland and Victoria, simply put your donated iPod/iPhone/MP3 player in a ziplock bag and place in the trunk of the vehicle. The Modo fleet team will pick them up. Afterwards, feel free to tweet @modo_carcoop and @musicheals_ca that you donated to the iPod Pharmacy.

Not a Modo member yet? Any runner in the Modo Spring Run-Off 8k signing up for a new membership will get $50 free drive time! Then, you can drop your iPod off in the vehicle during your first booking, or anyone can drop one off at the Modo office.

Modo and the Modo Spring Run-Off 8k are proud to collaborate with Music Heals to support Music Therapists in our community. Register now to run and to raise funds for Music Heals, which will directly expand the Music Therapy programs at the Dr. Peter Centre in Vancouver.

01-08-16-lydia-ipodDrop off your iPod at the Modo office between 9am–5pm at 470 Granville Street, Suite 200 Vancouver. Find your closest Modo on their map!

Registration is now open for the March 20th event at www.springrunoff.ca

 

The Modo Spring Run-Off 8k is the opening event of the Canada Running Series. The Series is Canada’s premier running circuit with 8 events of varying distances in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal that attract 60,000 participants and raise $6 million for charity, annually. We’re strongly committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels, and to making sport a meaningful part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. Our mission is “building community through running”. To register and learn more about the Canada Running Series events, please visit www.canadarunningseries.com

The Music Heals Charitable Foundation raises awareness and fundraises for music therapy across Canada. Their mission is to increase patient access to music therapy for children, seniors, palliative care, burn units, bereavement, rehabilitation and more. Music Heals donated nearly half a million dollars to music therapy programs in Canada in their first three years. www.musicheals.ca

Modo Since 1997, Modo has provided a practical, cost-effective alternative to car ownership without the hassle. Founded in Vancouver’s West End with 16 members and two cars, they now serve Victoria and the Lower Mainland with a diverse and growing fleet of cars, trucks, hybrids, EVs and more. With gas, insurance, maintenance, toll-bridges and more included in low hourly rates, why own a car when you can share 400? Learn more about carsharing and Modo at www.modo.coop

Jan 06 2016
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Alan’s Journal: Happy New Year! Let’s Do It Together!

By | Alan's Journal | No Comments
TORONTO January 6th 2016.

Hey fellow runners!

I hope you had a great holiday period with family and friends. There are probably a few of us with food hangovers out there [speaking for myself]. For those who had more difficult times, I hope that family and friends were there with support for you, and with help to move forward.

Speaking of that, 2016 awaits us, pregnant with possibilities, goals, hopes and dreams! What are yours? I’ve SO enjoyed seeing so many of your social media posts over the last few days. Your first runs of the New Year; or your first club and crew runs of 2016, with the Running Room Resolution Runs from coast to coast; from the Paradise Run Club in St.John’s to Longboat Road Runners first run in High Park, to East Van Run Crews first “Monday-Nighter” from Red Truck Brewery in YVR. Please keep them coming; they are great INSPIRATION and MOTIVATION as we start to make our plans for 2016 at Canada Running Series.

Let’s get after 2016 TOGETHER, and make it a banner year!

For sure, it’s now time to set some goals. Maybe it’s your first marathon at STWM or a new 8k PB at the Race Roster Spring Run-Off or a 10k PB at the Toronto Waterfront 10k? If you’re Lanni or Eric, our CRS 2015 Champions, it could be the dream of a great performance at the Rio Olympics. Or it could be a shorter-term goal like Night Terrors’ #JanuaryBattle in TO & LA. Maybe it could be a running streak like Matt Galloway’s epic #365daysofrunning Challenge, which he just finished! If you haven’t read Matt’s interview on the life-changing impact running had for him in 2015, and how it helped him discover his neighbourhood, city and world, as well as himself, it’s really worth a read. And check out the photo of Matt with his #SpringRunOff 2015 finishers’ medal!

cherry blossoms

New Year’s Tips Du Jour: Training helps! 

  • Out on the West Coast, our Modo Spring Run-Off 8k #Modo8k “Learn To Run” training starts this week. Get the training plan here.
  •  Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal #Scotia21kMtl training with Boutique Endurance starts January 17. Details here.
  •  Race Roster Spring Run Off 8k #SpringRunOff “Learn To Run” with Tribe Fitness starts February 7th! Join the training crew here. 
  • Always give yourself three goals: an ACCEPTABLE goal; a CHALLENGING goal; and an ULTIMATE goal, to avoid “all or nothing” disappointment.
  • Plan REWARDS, treats along the way for your daily, weekly, monthly triumphs.
  • In training, VISUALIZE yourself at that Finish Line – the joy, achievement, hands up high!
  • And don’t forget to share these moments with us all on our CRS SOCIAL HUB. It’s a great place to connect as well as getting all the latest news.

At the office, we’re busy, busy, busy getting ready for the 2016 CRS season, and I’ve challenged all of our team to be able to tell each and every one of us:

  • What’s NEW and EXCITING for 2016, for each and every CRS event?
  • Why should I want to sign up for them?

So keep your eyes on our website, newsletters, and especially Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the new, exciting stuff they roll out for us, as it’s unveiled. I think today’s a great beginning for them! How do you like the Race Roster Spring Run-Off 2015 medal? I love it. Especially the robin! And what about #KillTheHill Challenge?

That’s a sign. The early bird gets the worm! Gotta run,

Alan

@alnbrookes on Twitter and Instagram

P.S. Keep an eye on the Houston Marathon next weekend too! A whole bunch of our CRS stars will be starting 2016 with a BANG and a BOOM, chasing dreams to represent us and our country – in Rio and at the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Wales. Rachel Hannah will be chasing that Olympic qualifying standard [2:29:50]; Dayna Pidhoresky makes her marathon debut; Krista DuChene, Rob Watson & Sami Jibril are racing the Half, aiming for Cardiff. See the preview, and follow me on Twitter. I’ll be there! [and hopefully in Cardiff and Rio, too]. Here’s a great race preview from Canadian Running as well as information to track your favourite runners throughout the race!

Dec 15 2015
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2015 Canada Running Series One for the Books. By Paul Gains

By | General | No Comments

TORONTO December 15th 2015. The 2015 Canada Running Series is now behind us and will be remembered, once again, for providing runners of all abilities, from novice to Olympians, the chance to lace up, strip down and challenge themselves over certified accurate and fully supported courses.

The Modo Vancouver Spring Run Off 8k (March 22nd) set the tone for perhaps the most competitive series ever with Canadian internationals Kelly Wiebe (the winner in 23:42), Geoff Martinson and Chris Winter occupying the first three places while Canadian marathon record holder Lanni Marchant fought off a challenge from hometown favourite Rachel Cliff to win the women’s race in 26:43.

Marchant would go on to win the Toronto Yonge Street 10k, the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon and finish 5th overall (and first Canadian) in the Series climax, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The event also doubled as the Athletics Canada National Championships.

Marchant’s finishing time of 2:28:09 was her second fastest time ever, missing her national record by merely nine seconds. Nonetheless, she was all smiles as she was rewarded with an Olympic qualifying mark.

The London, Ontario native’s consistency earned her perfect points in a year when no fewer than 131 runners scored points and she also claimed the $5,000 overall CRS prize. Two years ago she was also the CRS overall champion. Asked what she considers the highlight of 2015 she responds quickly.

“Qualifying for Rio in two events,” says the 31 year old. “The CRS races are kind of the bread and butter for Canadian runners; they put on the top events you are going to run in Canada, outside Ottawa Race Weekend.  (Race Director) Alan (Brookes) makes sure to put on great races and invites us out. He invited me up to Toronto Yonge St 10k where at the time it was my fastest 10k ever and it kind of gave me the confidence to run on the track.

“Winning the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon told me my fitness was still there for the longer stuff even though in the summer I had been focused on the shorter distances.  I knew I was going to be able to roll right into a good marathon in the fall.”

The $5,000 overall prize will come in handy as she prepares to represent Canada in either, perhaps both, the 10,000m and the marathon in Rio next summer.

“I was fortunate enough to get carded this year but I won’t get the enhanced funding that other athletes get that help them go to training camps and physiotherapy and stuff like that,” she declares. “So having that boost of money from CRS, well, it’s going to get put to good use this year. Definitely having that extra $5,000 in my pocket will cover Kenya and one other training camp.”

With the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon earning IAAF Gold Label status for the first time, the international field was once again exceptional. Racing fans in over 100 countries watched the live stream on the STWM.ca website with the first four men finishing within 38 seconds of one another.

Canada’s Eric Gillis placed 7th in 2:11:31 achieving what he had come for – the Olympic qualifying standard. Should he be named to the 2016 Olympic team he would join Lea Pells, Paul Williams and Kevin Sullivan as the only Canadian distance runners to make three Olympic teams.

Gillis, who comes from Antigonish, Nova Scotia but is a long time resident of Guelph, Ontario, also had an incredible season.

Victories at Harry’s Spring Run Off 8k, Toronto Yonge Street 10k and the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal earned him enough points, together with his Canadian championship marathon title, for the overall CRS prize for the second consecutive year.

“Definitely (the highlight) was getting the Olympic marathon standard in Toronto,” he reveals. “Setting that goal of being around the same time I had run there before and be comfortably under the standard. Setting that goal and achieving it in Toronto was special.

“The (other CRS races) were great setup races (to get the standard). I was hoping to get the standard in the spring nice and early but after a couple of injuries in the buildup for Rotterdam I didn’t feel confident going into that. I didn’t run the marathon and it was so great to have those CRS races in the spring to re-focus myself at home. It was a good ‘plan B’ and it gave me a good vibe going into the summer and in the buildup to Toronto.”

While Marchant and Gillis achieved Olympic standards, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon also saw Leslie Sexton smash her personal best with a solid performance of 2:33:20. At 28 she is poised to join a growing list of elite Canadian women thanks in no small part to the Canada Running Series.

Another leading light was Rachel Hannah, the 2014 CRS overall champion who elected to run the Pan Am Games marathon, an event for which members of the Canada Running Series staff provided on-site support. She was rewarded with the bronze medal.

Then at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront she entered the half marathon distance finishing with a time of 72:25, good enough to earn a place on Canada’s team for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff in March. Both Canada Running Series and Ottawa Race Weekend are contributing finances to send that team to Cardiff.

Not to be outdone, there was a terrific competition for the CRS Masters’ titles with Vancouver’s Stan Jang earning the victory with 83 points while Lioudmila Kortchaguina, a familiar name to race fans, collected 135 points to win the women’s Masters’ title. They each collected $1,000 prize money for the overall titles.

“Congratulations to Lanni, Eric, Stan, Lioudmila, and all of the runners who crossed the finish lines of CRS 2015,” says Alan Brookes. “We saw so many great races, so many great achievements, so many great stories. So many runners, of all shapes and sizes, all abilities, came together to create a wonderful season. We’re already excited for 2016, which will be a massive year at home with 8 more CRS events to celebrate, plus Cardiff and Rio!”

Almost 60,000 runners participated in the 2015 Series and together raised $5.8 million for local charities. No doubt the numbers will continue to grow as the Series heads into 2016.

For complete Canada Running Series 2015 standings see http://www.canadarunningseries.com/crs/crsRESULT.htm

Registration for Canada Running Series 2016, including “Combo Packs”, is now open at http://www.canadarunningseries.com/crs/index.htm

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Dec 04 2015
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Thriving Through the Winter Months

By | Community Leaders, General, Modo Spring Run-Off 8k | No Comments

Well the Race Season is pretty much wrapped up and Winter is definitely here. It can be tough to stay motivated at this time of the year, so we’ve turned to one of Canada’s top runners, Chris Winter, for his tips on Winter training!

Winters on the West Coast are cold, dark, and damp. It is dark when you leave for work in the morning and it is dark when you get home. It rains continuously. These are less than inspiring conditions to get you out the door for your workout. So how do you stay motivated through the Winter months? Here are 4 tips:

  1. Set Goals. (This is important!) It’s much more difficult to lace up your shoes on those less than motivating days without a purpose. Challenge yourself to run a new distance, new race, or a PB. Once you’ve set your goal, write it down somewhere where you’ll see it every day. I like to set a daily alarm on my phone that reminds me of my goal.
  2. Workout in the morning. (If you are simply not a morning person you can ignore this.) During the Winter months I find the mornings are the best time to train. Especially around the Holidays there is always something looking to derail your training. Whether it is an office lunch or party or family “obligations”, if you put your training off until the evening there’s a good chance you’ll have to sacrifice one for the other. Also, getting your training done in the morning means you can “earn the party” later in the day without feeling too guilty.
  3. Find a training partner. This can be tough as everyone has different schedules that can be tough to align but, even if you can only meet 1-2 times a week, it can help break up the monotony of training alone and keep you honest on those couple of days.
  4. Go inside. Some days it just plain sucks to run outdoors. Depending on the weather it might even be dangerous. On those days where the streets are flooded, it’s howling a gale out there, or there’s a fresh layer of snow/ice on the ground, opt to do your workout inside. Try a form of cross training you haven’t done in a while and/or do the strength work that you may normally neglect on the sunnier days. The Winter can be a great time to build strength and flexibility that will pay off in the Spring and Summer months of racing.

With the Winter Solstice quickly approaching on December 22nd we can all look forward to the days getting longer again and then it’ll be Spring before you know it. In the meantime, stay true to your goals and when the first races come around your results will reflect the hard work you put in and you’ll be happy you did so.

With much motivation!

Chris

Looking for a goal race in the Spring? Check out the Modo 8k on March 20!

12-04-winter-profile

 

Chris, a New Balance athlete, is an elite middle distance runner based out of Vancouver. He’s competed on numerous national teams, including representing Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Chris ran both the Modo 8k and Eastside 10k this last year. In 2014 he was the Canadian Cross Country Champion and he’s currently aiming for a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team to race the 3000m Steeplechase in Rio! You can follow his journey through the blog Chasing Rio 2016.
Dec 03 2015
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Announcing the Race Roster Spring Run-Off and Toronto Waterfront 10k!

By | Alan's Journal, Race Roster Spring Run-Off | No Comments
TORONTO December 3rd 2015.
A Message from Canada Running Series Race Director Alan Brookes:

I hope you are enjoying some nice, easy running in this down season, giving yourself the time to recover physically as well as mentally after the race season. In the planning department at Canada Running Series, we are all systems GO! The 2016 Canada Running Series season will be our 27th year and it’s shaping up to be a thriller! Most of you know our shared mission of “building community through running”, based on the twin pillars of organization and innovation. 2016 will be no exception with some exciting new changes and growth.

We have two big news items to share!

Announcing the Race Roster Spring Run-Off 8k & 5k! The Spring Run-Off is Toronto’s oldest, continuously-held road race, going into it’s 38th edition, with the killer Spring Road Hill, piper McGonigal, fresh maple syrup, Councillor Doucette flipping pancakes, and hopefully some blossoms in Toronto’s most magnificent park! Race Roster has signed on as new title sponsor and we’ll be working with them on state-of-the-art, customer-friendly online registration and referral incentives for you and your friends! And don’t forget Tribe Fitness’ free “Couch to 8k” training program, designed to get you to the start line on Saturday April 9th. Use hashtag #SpringRunOff to connect with others also training for this race. Registration opens this Monday December 7th at 12 noon!

Perhaps the biggest news of the day is that the Toronto Yonge Street 10k is evolving into the Toronto Waterfront 10k! We are working on an exciting new course with a tentative date of either Saturday June 25th or Sunday June 26th. We have submitted our application based on recommended dates and a fabulous new course which starts on University Avenue, runs down the Lakeshore, out and back past the CNE, and then returning from the West to finish at Coronation Park. Pending final approval from the City, we are planning to open registration in the new year. Stay tuned and feel free to connect with us on Twitter @alnbrookes and @RunCRS using hashtag #Waterfront10k to chat and ask us questions about this exciting new development

Are you ready?

Let’s get our CRS 2016 on! View our full race calendar at RunCRS.ca  

Connect with me on Twitter and Instagram and let’s keep the conversation going!

Nov 16 2015
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Important 2016 Canada Running Series Registration Update!

By | Alan's Journal, Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k, Oasis ZooRun, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments
A message from Canada Running Series Race Director Alan Brookes:

Hello fellow runners;

As 2015 fades into our log books, 2016 is coming up fast! Canada Running Series is ALMOST done – bar the wrap up! WHAT a year it was! In addition to 8 great Series races, we also had the Pan Am Games to organize and enjoy. A massive THANK YOU to all of you for the important part you played in an outstanding year. Almost 60,000 participants; more than 5,000 volunteers; 19 fabulous sponsors; tens of thousands of spectators and cheer squads; and a whopping $6 million raised for our 339 Official Charities. So many great stories, and reasons to cheer. Beyond EPIC!

Although there’s still a lot of tidy-up activity happening at the CRS offices – paying bills and prize monies, mailing out unclaimed awards, writing 2015 reports for our sponsor partners, we’re also full swing into 2016 – designing next year’s medals and t-shirts, fun new activations and more.

Are you ready?

We have some VERY exciting stuff in the works, including a new race. What will it be called? When will it be held? Where will it run?

Because of these tasty updates, we’ll be LAUNCHING online registration tomorrow for the following Individual Races:

  • Banque Scotia 21K et 5K de Montreal: Sunday April 24th 2016.
  • Oasis ZooRun, 10k, 5K & Cub Run: Saturday September 24th 2016.
  • Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-marathon & 5K: Sunday October 16th 2016.

COMBO PACKS, with multi-event discounts, for our full Eastern Calendar [including Toronto Spring races] will be coming SOON. We’ll have that up and available as soon as we have finalized our plans – and you’ll be among the first to know! ‘Til then, let’s keep running, keep in touch, and get planning for new goals, and thrilling new adventures together in 2016.

Alan, @alnbrookes

Nov 03 2015
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Music Heals brings a fresh beat to the Modo Spring Run-Off 8k

By | Modo Spring Run-Off 8k | No Comments

November 3, 2015 (Vancouver, BC) – The 2016 Modo Spring Run-Off 8k is proud to announce a new partnership with the Music Heals Charitable Foundation. The Foundation raises funds for Music Therapy programs across BC and represents a new opportunity for runners to get behind yet another great charity, aligned with Modo’s broader desire to support the arts.

“Partnering with the run is a great opportunity for us to expand awareness and fundraising for local music therapy programs, specifically in this case, the amazing music therapists at the Dr Peter Centre in Vancouver’s West End.” said Chris Brandt, Executive Director of Music Heals. “Music therapy uses music for non-music goals, including physical, social, and emotional support. With the Modo Spring Run-Off we can make a difference in the lives of those in our community who need it most.”

“Modo is thrilled to support Music Heals and the great work it does in our community!” said Modo Marketing Director, Selena McLachlan. “Our roots go back 18 years in the West End. The community holds a special place in our hearts, so being able to direct donations to the Dr. Peter Centre means a lot to us. Modo has been helping residents of the West End – and now dozens of other communities – get easy and affordable access to a car, without all the hassles of ownership.”

The Modo Spring Run-Off 8k is happening March 20th and is the most competitive seawall run in Vancouver attracting some of Canada’s top runners. The run is also one of the most scenic in BC representing great value for the avid runner out to race as well as for the runner that is out to simply enjoy the nature and beauty of Stanley Park. Every registrant receives a technical fabric event shirt, finish medal, post-race food and access to an after party in the Stanley Park Pavilion. Runners new to Modo will each receive a trial carshare membership valued at $50.

Stay tuned for more surprises as we work closely with the Music Heals’ team and its supporting artists to create unique experiences and memories for each runner and fundraiser that participates in the Modo Spring Run-Off 8k.

For more information, visit us at www.springrunoff.ca

The Modo Spring Run-Off 8k is part of the Canada Running Series, Canada’s largest and most-prestigious running circuit with 8 events of varying distances in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. We are dedicated to the sport and the neighbourhoods we run in. Building Community through Running is what CRS is all about. To register and learn more about Canada Running Series events, please visit www.springrunoff.ca

The Music Heals Charitable Foundation raises awareness and fundraises for music therapy programs across Canada. Their mission is to increase patient access to music therapy for children, seniors, palliative care, burn units, bereavement, rehabilitation and more. Music Heals donated $250,000 to music therapy programs in Canada in their first two years. www.musicheals.ca

Modo is a true Vancouver original and the only local, member-owned carshare. Founded in 1997 in Vancouver’s West End, Modo now serves over 13,000 members across the Lower Mainland and Victoria. With a diverse fleet of sports cars, sedan, trucks, SUVs, hybrids and electrics – why own a car when you can share more than 400? Modo is a mission-based, not-for-profit co-operative, helping communities all over the world reduce consumer dependency on car ownership by donating its booking software to new carshare start-ups. Learn more at www.modo.coop

Oct 26 2015
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STWM 2015 Blog Round-Up

By | Digital Champions, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

A selection of race recaps from the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:

“I ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times on the same day; that’s a total distance of 126.6 km. As a survivor of both childhood sexual abuse and rape, I was running to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence in our communities. But more importantly, I was running to demonstrate the resilience we all have inside to overcome life’s greatest obstacles and trauma.”
Author: Jean-Paul Bedard, iRun Magazine
Link to blog: http://www.irun.ca/blog/index.php/like-forrest-gump-meets-groundhog-day-a-triple-marathon-one-kilometre-at-a-time/ 

“This race represents a homecoming of sorts.  It’s the first half marathon I ever completed, so emotionally, it is near to my heart.  It is also so big that it attracts a lot of people from the running community, in-person and online.  In that respect, it feels like a big family reunion.  And much as I enjoy travelling around the province (and beyond) for races, there is a sense of comfort that comes from competing in your backyard. ”
Author: Darren Cooney
Link to blog: http://darrencooney.blogspot.ca/2015/10/race-report-scotibank-toronto.html 

“As for STWM, however, I’m a lifer. This race has changed my life. I was overwhelmed by this year. It was emotional for me. I realized that this race has brought amazingly positive people into my life.” 
Author: Karyn Cooper, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: https://tenminutemile.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/marathon-monday-14/ 

“To my surprise, witnessing 26,000 runners take on the course was much more powerful than any personal running experiences have been. I became obsessed watching each runner pass me wondering what their story was, how they got to the start line, and who they were they running for.” 
Author: Sasha Exeter
Link to blog: http://www.sosasha.com/2015/10/scotiabank-toronto-waterfront-marathon-btgyyz-weekend/ 

“I crossed the line in 3:18:33 – a PB of more than 20 minutes, a Boston Qualifier, but most importantly, a race effort I could be proud of. I started to cry in the finishing chute, which seriously creeped out a lot of the race volunteers. I couldn’t help it – like I said, I’m a giant wuss.” 
Author: Amy Friel, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://thelongslowdistance.com/2015/10/22/the-war-of-attrition-one-marathon-of-a-race-recap/ 

Steve’s Training Vlog: Episode 14 The Race
Author: Steve Lennon, STWM Digital Champion
Link to vlog: https://youtu.be/xIJsxDWrPkE 

“The course was fairly wide open from the beginning and there was always plenty of room to run the pace I wanted. There were more spectators out than I expected, and I was even surprised to see people cheering along the Spadina Road overpass. I finished in 2:07:02 (9:41 min/mile), which was much better than I anticipated.”
Author: Vicky Leung, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://menubyvicky.com/2015/11/02/2015-scotiabank-toronto-waterfront-half-marathon/ 

“Since running this race I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support of friends, family and other runners in the community. It has been incredible.  If I had one word to describe this race experience, it would be “gratitude.” I’m so grateful for everything (and if you made it to the end of this very long post, thank you for reading it!). Marathons are hard. But we did it. I am so proud of all of us.”
Author: Mei Ling, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://plaincanbelovely.com/2015/10/24/chafing-the-dream-scotiabank-toronto-waterfront-marathon-stwm-2015-race-recap/ 

“Jean-Paul ran the marathon three times so people would learn that lesson. A lesson that should never even need to be taught. So, I got to run with this man. This great, wonderful, funny, fantastic, superhero of a man. I got to cross the finish line with this man and share in this glorious victory, and I had fun. I had so much fun! We laughed, we joked, we shared funny and stupid stories.”
Author: Michael Lobsinger, Get Out Do More
Link to blog: http://getoutdomore.com/2015/10/running-with-heroes/ 

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this community we have in Toronto is really something special and I am at a loss for words when it comes to the many friends and strangers who reached out to me last week on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and in person at local runs to thank me for cheering at STWM. While it is humbling for people to be appreciative of me being out on the course, truthfully I feel that it is what I should be doing and I don’t do it for the thanks or appreciation. I do it because if we aren’t running we should be cheering.”
Author: Allison Miceli
Link to blog: https://kmhungryyogi.wordpress.com/2015/10/25/stwm-2015-wrap-up/ 

“I now officially hold the Guinness World Record for fastest half-marathon in a suit with an adjudicated time of 1:35:47 (1:35:48 chip time), just a little more than four minutes faster than the 2012 record I set out to break. It was as tough as you’d expect. Even training in my Indochino suit didn’t entirely prepare me for how I’d feel during the attempt. When Coach gave me my race plan, I actually laughed out loud. Thankfully, my Pace & Mind teammates refused to let me settle for less and encouraged me every step of the way. It would result in the personal best of a lifetime.”
Author: Nicholas Mizera, Guinness World Record Holder for Fastest Half-Marathon in a Suit
Link to blog: http://thegentlemanjournalist.com/2015/11/01/photo-finish-how-i-set-the-world-record-for-fastest-half-marathon-in-a-suit/ 

“On one hand all I can think about is how much I’ve accomplished and how I only have 5 kilometers to go, and on the other hand every 100 meters feels like a kilometer and I am almost ready to fall over and cry. I am holding back tears and I can feel myself getting more vocal with my breathing. I am huffing and puffing but I will not give up.”
Author: Katie Neilsen, iRun Magazine 
Link to blog: http://www.irun.ca/blog/index.php/experiencing-the-marathon-for-the-first-time/

“When I was selected as a Digital Champion, I never thought I’d be thrown so deeply into the race, and into the running community. Over the summer, I was asked to be part of a photo series for the race, featuring runners from across the city. As I entered the race expo on Octber 17th, I was greeted with a giant version of myself on the wall, where people were signing their names and writing messages to fellow runners. Is this real life?”
Author: Danielle O’Hanley, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://runhanley.com/post/131748943206/toronto-waterfront-marathon-race-weekend-report 

“When I crossed the 40k check point, I knew it was gonna be a PB. And that was my goal! I needed it so badly after trying so many times to break my previous PB of 3:50 from the very first marathon I ran. What a feeling crossing that finish line and watching over your head the numbers you imagined in your training dreams! 3:42:57 is my new PB.”
Author: Jarek Pachocki, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: https://frjarek.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/chasing-pb-at-stwm-what-a-journey-it-was/ 

“I turned onto Bay Street with it’s multiple meter markers of agony. With about 400 meters to go, I totally started to struggle and slowed my step. A tall guy running next to me glanced back and with a big smile pointed to the finish. I nodded, smiled and picked up my pace. We ran side by side until 50 meters before the finish when he smiled again, waved and zoomed ahead, leaping up in the air repeatedly. Thank you random stranger, I thought laughing. I had no kick left to give but I smiled and trekked across the finish with pride. And a personal best of over 4 minutes!​​” 
Author: Cathy Vandergeest
Link to blog: http://www.runningdesigner.com/blog/more-than-a-race-stwm 

“The last 2k were the great!  We ran through the Parkdale Roadrunners cheer section then made our way up Bay street.  Going up Bay street was a sea of cheers and spectators.  We again saw Allison and the Tribe Fitness cheer station; Thank you all again for the cheers during the last 200m.  From then on I grabbed Karen’s hand and we crossed the finish line!”
Author: Mike Van Mil, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://paramedicmike.ca/2015/11/04/we-are-now-marathoners-runcrs-stwm-recap-a-marathon-of-a-post/ 

“The Canada Running Series group does a great job at the finish line with cameras going and an announcer to tell you how the elites were doing. I totally stuck around to see how Lanni was doing. Someone at the finish line said she was super close and lucky for a couple of us, they let us stick around to watch Lanni cross. Lanni came in at 2:28:09 or so, just 10 seconds off her own Canadian record. BUT – she did qualify for Rio 2016! YAY!”
Author: Rebecca Wemyss, STWM Digital Champion
Link to blog: http://runningfoodbaby.com/2015/10/stwm-half-marathon-race-recap/ 

“The last part of the race was extra special, a feeling I will never forget. As we make our way up Bay St., a few hundred metres from the finish line, all I hear is someone screaming “GO VICTORIA GO!” and jumping up and down from the corner of my eye.  It was Maya and the rest of the Blacktoe cheer squad!! It was so great to see them at the 6km mark but I didn’t expect to see them again at this point. All that energy helped me push to the finish.”
Author: Victoria
Link to blog: http://victakes.com/stwm-half-marathon-race-recap/ 

Oct 22 2015
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Bedard Accomplishes Triple Toronto Waterfront Marathon. By Paul Gains

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

TORONTO October 22nd 2015. Runners waiting nervously for the start of last weekend’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon had little idea that one man amongst them was about to successfully complete his third successive run around the 42km course.

Jean-Paul Bedard stood next to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne when she fired the starter’s pistol looking haggard and pale then joined her in the second wave. They would run the first five kilometres together before the 49 year old Torontonian pushed on, completing a staggering total of 126.6 kilometres.

Bedard was running to raise awareness of campaigns to combat sexual assault. As he ran with the Premier, the pair discussed ways Bedard could be part of the Liberal government’s #ItsNeverOk campaign. The Premier was interested in having a male voice and she could not find a more articulate nor, sadly, a more appropriate candidate.

When he was 12 years old two men took Bedard to a ravine and raped him. For years he suffered psychological issues including depression, drug and alcohol addiction. He attempted suicide.

Two years ago he finally revealed to his wife Mary-Anne and their adult son what had happened to him. He entered a treatment centre for victims of sexual violence. Running, he says gave him back his life.

STWM15_JP Bedard Night Running

Photo Credit: Edison Yao

Initially he was going to embark on his epic run around midnight Saturday.  But when Premier Wynne’s office confirmed she’d be delighted to run with him it meant he had to alter plans slightly for security purposes.

“I started a bit earlier,” he recalled. “It is not a great thing to have a lot of gap time between marathons. I had no down time between 1 and 2 and I planned a very short gap time between 2 and 3 but because of this we had to go a bit longer. And then when we saw the weather forecast and how cold it was going to be we realized it was not going to end well.”

He laughs at that statement. The temperature was hovering below freezing when he began with only his wife in support around 10:30p.m. Saturday night. A photographer, Edison Yao, accompanied them recording the adventure. Bedard says he often experiences a dodgy stomach and had to be careful with his refueling during the race.

“I ate my big meal at noon Saturday and then had some toast later in the afternoon before I went out,” he continues. “Then it was just gels and PowerBars every once in a while. And between each of the marathons Mary-Anne gave me rice cakes and peanut butter.

“I was trying to run each of the first two marathons in 4 hours 15 to 25 minutes – in that  range. That would include the time of running, the time of running towards a car to get something to eat and then time to get to the start because the start and finish aren’t in the same place.”

Twice he stopped to do live television interviews. Mostly he ran on the roads. He chose to run the first ‘lap’ alone but was joined on the second by runners of different abilities.

“The hardest part of this whole thing was getting the first one done,” he says. “I had my phone on me and it was just beeping the whole time I was running. There were messages coming in all night.

“The second one went really well. I finished that and I got in around 7:30 a.m. and then I got the second medal put on me. Then we had to try to make our way to an area to get changed. I was quite wet from running in the damp for so long.”

Shivering and suffering from the effects of having run 84 kilometres in freezing cold temperatures he had to be ready to meet the Premier before security was further heightened. When he reported to the official start with the 26,000 other runners he was warmly greeted by the Premier.

“I was walking towards her and she saw me,” he recalls. “I was completely pasty, my lips were blue and I was shaking and wrapped in blankets. She had her staff around her and she pushed them aside and just wrapped her arms around me and said ‘we have got to warm this guy up.’”

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

After she and her security team reached the 5 kilometre mark he ran with another victim of sexual assault, named Athena. This young lady was a ‘friend of a friend.’ She had been sexually assaulted while running in a Toronto park just two months before the marathon. And she was tormented by the ordeal.

“Every time she ran it would bring up all the issues with the sexual assault,” Bedard explains. “So I said ‘why don’t you run with me and I promise I will stay with you.’ She was worried about slowing me down. I said ‘I will have run two marathons, it’s not about time, it’s about getting it done.’ After the Premier pealed off Athena and I ran together.

“There were points where I wanted to stop and there were points where she wanted to. Then we hit a really low point after about 22km. We were on an isolated part of the course on Bayview. It’s quiet there. It’s nice to run on but when you are suffering it’s not the place to be.”

As they slowed to a walk and contemplated dropping out, a group of runners dressed as characters from the Justice League comics literally came to the rescue. They recognised Bedard and offered support.

“They were supporting us and so I just said to Athena ‘listen I am not crossing that finish line without you,” Bedard continues. “If it takes us five hours to get through this last two k it takes us five hours, I don’t care. We are crossing this line together. So stop crying and let’s not talk about this again.”

Bedard texted Canada Running Series staff to keep them abreast of their location.

“When we came up Bay Street with 300 metres to go I looked over at Athena we both started to cry,” Bedard reveals. “We crossed the finish line holding hands with the ‘Superheroes’ right behind us.”

Photo Credit: Canada Running Series/Christine Spingola

Photo Credit: Canada Running Series/Christine Spingola

“It was the most emotional thing. We wrapped our arms around each other hugged and kissed. It was a special moment. It was exactly why I was doing this.”

With three finisher’s medals hanging around his neck he set about answering the thousands of messages sent from victims and supporters around the world. Three days after the run he was still dealing with them. People were asking where they could donate money.

Running four consecutive Toronto Waterfront Marathons is not in the cards, Bedard says. But fundraising is very much on his mind for 2016.

“I have talked to Alan (Brookes) about this,” Bedard says. “In New York they have Fred’s Team (named after New York Marathon co-founder Fred Lebowitz). I would like to find a way of bringing more people in and make a team. I want to raise awareness while tapping into a huge way of raising funds.”

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