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Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k

Oct 27 2016
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L’Événement Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal Double Le Plaisir

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Le populaire et prestigieux événement devient festival : deux jours de course et de collecte de fonds, et une nouvelle épreuve de 10 km.

Montréal, le 27 octobre 2016 – Le rendez-vous printanier numéro un des coureurs à Montréal, l’événement Banque Scotia 21k, fait peau neuve pour sa 15e année! La populaire et prestigieuse collecte de fonds se convertit en un festival dont la 1re édition se tiendra la fin de semaine des 22-23 avril 2017, et répartira les courses – auxquelles s’ajoute une épreuve de 10 km – entre le samedi et le dimanche. Comme par le passé, le tout aura lieu sur l’emblématique circuit de Formule 1 Gilles-Villeneuve, ainsi que dans le cadre magnifique du parc Jean‑Drapeau. « Nous sommes on ne peut plus heureux de poursuivre la croissance et le développement de l’événement Banque Scotia 21k, déclare François Lecot, directeur de course du Circuit du Canada. Le 10 km a été ajouté à la demande générale, et favorisera l’évolution de la course comme événement sportif d’envergure nationale et comme précieux véhicule de collecte de fonds, tant pour les Montréalais que pour les coureurs qui profitent de l’occasion pour visiter la métropole quelques jours au printemps. »

Le populaire 5 km sera déplacé le samedi 22 avril 2017 et commencera à 11 h; il suivra le 10 km, qui aura débuté à 9 h. Le 21 km sera toujours le dimanche avant-midi, soit le 23 avril. Il s’agira de la 15e édition de la course, qui porte le nom de son commanditaire, la Banque Scotia, depuis maintenant 11 ans. Fait intéressant : à sa création en 1999, la course faisait 10 km; ce n’est qu’en 2003 que « La Grande Course de Montréal 10k » s’est divisée en une épreuve de 21 km et une autre de 5 km.

Attirant plus de 5 000 participants chaque année, l’événement Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal est la plus grande course printanière sur route à Montréal, et se double de la plus importante collecte de fonds en son genre au Québec grâce au Défi caritatif de la Banque Scotia. En 2016, 66 organismes de bienfaisance locaux ont recueilli plus de 1,2 million de dollars dans le cadre du Défi. Au cours des huit dernières années, l’événement a permis la collecte de plus de 5,3 millions de dollars pour les jeunes et les œuvres caritatives de Montréal. Avec le nouveau format sur deux jours et l’ajout du 10 km, il va sans dire que l’on s’attend à accueillir plus de participants et à recueillir plus de fonds pour la soixantaine d’organismes visés!

Et c’est sans compter que le 21 km attire traditionnellement certains des meilleurs coureurs de fond du pays. L’événement a été l’hôte du Championnat canadien de demi-marathon d’Athlétisme Canada de 2009 à 2014, et l’édition du printemps dernier a été marquée par le retour de Krista DuChene, qui est venue décrocher les lauriers de l’épreuve féminine et démontrer sa « forme olympique » avant les Jeux de Rio. Eric Gillis, qui s’est classé 10e parmi les hommes au marathon de Rio – le meilleur rang pour un athlète masculin du Canada depuis la sixième place de Jerome Drayton à Montréal en 1976 – est d’ailleurs quadruple champion du 21 km de Montréal.

D’après Carole Chapdelaine, première vice-présidente, Québec et Est de l’Ontario à la Banque Scotia, « l’événement a eu de belles retombées dans la collectivité et a permis aux œuvres caritatives locales d’en faire plus. À la Banque Scotia, ajoute-t-elle, nous avons à cœur de redonner à notre milieu de vie et de travail, et c’est donc avec immense plaisir que nous contribuons à la croissance de cet événement d’envergure. »

Les inscriptions pour les épreuves 2017 (le 5 km, le 10 km et le 21 km) ainsi que pour la collecte de fonds dans le cadre du Défi caritatif de la Banque Scotia sont maintenant ouvertes au https://canadarunningseries.com/banque-scotia-de-montreal/inscription/.

Au sujet du Circuit du Canada

Le Circuit du Canada est un circuit de course à pied de haut niveau comportant sept événements : quatre à Toronto, deux à Vancouver et un à Montréal. Chaque année, quelque 60 000 personnes participent à ces événements, qui permettent d’amasser plus de six millions de dollars ensuite remis à environ 320 organismes caritatifs, la plupart locaux. Le circuit comprend le marathon Waterfront de la Banque Scotia à Toronto, certifié Or par l’IAAF, et les championnats canadiens de marathon d’Athlétisme Canada. Mondialement reconnu pour son innovation et son organisation depuis 1999, le Circuit du Canada se donne la mission d’offrir une expérience hors pair aux coureurs de tous niveaux, qu’il s’agisse d’athlètes olympiques canadiens, de vedettes internationales ou de personnes qui veulent simplement rester en forme ou appuyer une bonne cause, en plus de contribuer à intégrer le sport au développement durable des villes et des communautés.

À propos de la Banque Scotia

Grâce à sa stratégie mondiale d’investissement dans la collectivité, la Banque Scotia et ses employés appuient des causes qui répondent aux besoins des populations locales. Reconnue comme chef de file au chapitre des dons de bienfaisance et des activités philanthropiques, la Banque Scotia a versé, en 2015, 67 millions de dollars pour aider les collectivités dans le monde.

La Banque Scotia est la banque internationale du Canada et un leader parmi les fournisseurs de services financiers en Amérique du Nord, en Amérique latine, dans les Antilles, en Amérique centrale et en Asie-Pacifique. Elle s’est donnée pour mission d’aider ses 23 millions de clients à améliorer leur situation au moyen de conseils et d’une vaste gamme de produits et de services, dont des services bancaires aux particuliers, aux entreprises et aux sociétés, des services bancaires privés, d’investissement et de gestion de patrimoine ainsi que des services liés aux marchés des capitaux. Au 31 juillet 2016, l’effectif de la Banque Scotia s’élevait à plus de 88 000 employés et son actif à 907 milliards de dollars. Les actions de la Banque Scotia sont cotées en bourse à Toronto (TSX : BNS) et à New York (NYSE : BNS). Les communiqués de la Banque Scotia sont diffusés par Marketwired. Pour en savoir davantage, veuillez consulter le www.banquescotia.com et suivre le fil @ScotiabankViews sur Twitter.

Renseignements et demandes d’entrevue

Deborah Bourne
High Road, pour la Banque Scotia
514-798-6149
deborah.bourne@highroad.com

Jenna Pettinato
Circuit du Canada
416-944-2765, poste 511
jenna@canadarunningseries.com

Oct 27 2016
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Twice the Fun for Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal

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Popular prestigious running and fundraising event expanding to 2-day festival and introducing new distance.

MONTREAL, October 27th, 2016 – Montreal’s number 1 Spring running event, the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal, is bringing in big changes for its 15th edition.  The prestigious running and fundraising race is transforming into a weekend running festival for the first time on April 22 and 23, 2017, with races on Saturday and Sunday. A whole new distance, 10km, will also be introduced for the first time. All courses will remain on the iconic Gilles Villeneuve Formula 1 Circuit and the surrounding rounds of magnificent Parc Jean Drapeau.“We are thrilled to continue the growth and expansion of the Banque Scotia 21K weekend,” said Race Director Francois Lecot of the Canada Running Series. “The addition of the 10K has come from popular demand, and it will facilitate our continued evolution of the race as both a national sporting event and a vital community fundraising event, for both Montrealers and those using the run as a great reason to visit the city for a long-weekend in the Spring.”

The popular 5K will move to Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 with an 11 a.m. start, following the 10K that will start at 9 a.m.  The 21K will remain on Sunday morning, April 23.  This will be the 15th edition of the race, and Scotiabank’s  11th year as title sponsor.  Interestingly, the event began as a 10K back in 1999, “La Grande Course de Montreal 10k”, before changing to the 21k and 5k event in 2003.

With more than 5,000 participants annually, the Banque Scotia 21K de Montreal is the largest Montreal road race in the Spring season, and the #1 fundraising road race of the year in Quebec, driven by the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. In 2016, 66 local charities raised more than $1.2 million through the Challenge. Over the last eight years, the event has raised more than $5.3 million for young people and Montreal community charities.  With the new two day format and the addition of the 10k race, higher participation and greater fundraising numbers for the 60+ local charities are expected!

The 21K also has a tradition of attracting some of Canada’s best distance runners. The event hosted the Athletics Canada National Half-marathon Championship from 2009 to 2014, and this past Spring Krista DuChene returned to take the women’s crown, and show her final “proof of fitness” before the Rio Olympics. Eric Gillis, who placed 10th in the Rio men’s marathon – the highest place for a Canadian man since Jerome Drayton’s 6th at Montreal 1976 – is a 4-time champion at Banque Scotia 21K de Montreal.

According to Carole Chapdelaine, Senior Vice President – Quebec & Eastern Ontario, Banque Scotia, “the event has helped make such a positive impact in the community, helping local charities make a difference. At Scotiabank, we are committed to giving back to the communites we live and work in, and we are delighted to support the continued growth of such a powerful event”

Registration for the 2017 Banque Scotia 21K, 10K and 5K runs, and for fundraising in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is now open at https://canadarunningseries.com/banque-scotia-de-montreal/inscription/

About Canada Running Series

Canada Running Series [CRS] is the nation’s premier running circuit with 7 events: 4 in Toronto, 2 in Vancouver and 1 in Montreal. It annually attracts some 60,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly local charities. The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization. It is strongly 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.

About Scotiabank

Through our global community investment strategy, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2015, Scotiabank contributed $67 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 88,000 employees and assets of $907 billion (as at July 31, 2016), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank’s media releases using Marketwired. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

For more information or interview requests:

Deborah Bourne
High Road for Banque Scotia
514-798-6149
Deborah.bourne@highroad.com

Jenna Pettinato
Canada Running Series
416-944-2765 ext 511
jenna@canadarunningseries.com  

Jun 28 2016
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Scotiabank Charity Challenge raises over $50 million for local Canadian communities

By | Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k, Scotiabank Charity Challenge, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Scotiabank Vancouver Half | No Comments

Runners at 6 marathons across the country set the pace for giving back to the community

TORONTO, ON – (Marketwired – June 24, 2016)

Since 2003, participants at six Scotiabank-sponsored road races from coast to coast have made every step of their run count, raising more than $50 million for local charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This turnkey fundraising program surpassed the $50 million mark thanks to continued efforts from races in Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa and Calgary so far this year, and in the lead-up to the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon and 5k this weekend.

06-28-16-charitychallenge1200x900The Scotiabank Charity Challenge launched in 2003 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon as a way for runners to fundraise to support local charities. Every dollar raised goes directly to the charities. Scotiabank pays for all transaction fees, credit card fees and the cost of the fundraising platform.

Scotiabank proudly hosts a Scotiabank Charity Challenge at each of six sponsored race events across Canada each year including:

For links to Scotiabank’s races and the charities supported by runners at each one, please visit the Scotiabank Marathons’ page.

“On behalf of all of my colleagues at Scotiabank, I want to congratulate all participants who have run in the Scotiabank road races since 2003 and made every step count by signing up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge,” said Kyle McNamara, Executive Vice President and Co-Head Information Technology, Business Systems, and Executive Champion for Marathons at Scotiabank. “We encourage everyone to keep the fundraising going, and to work together to support local charities that have a significant impact on Canadian communities.”

“We launched the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in response to runners who told us that they wanted to make their race more meaningful,” said Jacquie Ryan, Vice President, Sponsorships at Scotiabank. “It has been an honour to witness the commitment and dedication of all participants – both on the course and off – as we have grown this fundraising program together.”

About Scotiabank
Through our global community investment strategy, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2015, Scotiabank contributed $67 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of $895 billion (as at April 30, 2016), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank’s media releases using Marketwired. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

Apr 24 2016
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Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal Post Race Report.

By | Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k | No Comments

MONTREAL April 24th 2016. The 14th annual Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal presented by Asics took place this morning under almost perfect weather conditions for fast times.  It was 4 degrees and the sun was shinning; the perfect combination to get a personal best!

The 21k men’s race took off at a rapid pace. Kip Kangogo and Sami Jibril broke away at the 3k mark, with Josh Bolton, Francois Jarry, Anthony Larouche and Baghahd Rachem following behind. Kangogo and Jibril battled hard, and were side by side for 19 kilometres. At the 19.5 kilometre mark,  Kangogo, originally from Kenya and now a Canadian , dropped the hammer and surged away from Jibril. Kangogo won in 1:06:49, with Jibril not far behind him securing second place with a time of 1:07:02.

Kip

On the women’s side, the stakes were high for Krista DuChene. Having achieved the qualifying standard a year ago to be part of Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic games, Krista still had to prove her fitness. To secure her place on the team, she had to achieve a time of 1:13:00. She did just that and crossed the finish line in 1:12:30. Boom! Mission accomplished.

The Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal 2016 event brought back a lot of memories in her running career. She said, “While walking to the start line, I was calm and concentrated. I took my coach’s advice and I used this race as a solid workout.”

“When I crossed the finish line, the memories of the last time I participated in this race came soaring back. In 2014, with 500m to go, I broke my leg. I was limping along and in the crowd I heard someone shout “Crawl if you have to, but finish your race.” I knew at that moment the injury was serious, but had no idea how serious it was. The race organizers were fantastic. They are like my family. They helped me and supported me. The care I received at the hospital was also extraordinary. Two days after my surgery, I told myself that I could make the Olympic standard in one year and that’s what I did.”

tf_21kmtl16_a0969

Krista is a 39 year old athlete and a mother of 3, she finished today’s race on both feet, secured the time she needed to participate in the next Olympic games and was the winner of the women’s race.

“Even if it wasn’t my main objective to finish first, because I was concentrating on my time to achieve my proof of fitness standard, I am happy that I finished first, this is an added bonus. I came in 2nd  in the last 3 events I raced in. I admit, I was eager to break that finish tape once again!

“We will not officially know until late May which athletes will be on the Canadian team, but there is a good chance that my children, my husband, my sister and my brothers will be in the stands at Rio this summer. I will be going to the half-marathon championships in Calgary next month, but in a more relaxed manner. That’s good.”

Catherine Cormier and Bianca Prémont came in second and third in the women’s race with respective times of 1:20:17 and 1:21:21.

At press time, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge had raised more than $1.1 million for 66 charities in the Montreal area, including this year’s featured charities – The Diabetic Children’s Foundation, Share the Warmth and the Huntington Society of Quebec.

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners in these races to support local causes that make a significant impact on Canadian communities. Participating charities keep 100% of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees.

Scotia21kMtlFrancois

 

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Ce matin, la 14e édition de la course Banque Scotia 21 km de Montréal présentée par Asics, s’est tenue sous un soleil radieux. Une température clémente quoiqu’un peu fraîche oscillant autour de 4 degrés a assuré pour les nombreux coureurs, une course sous d’excellentes conditions. Outre sur une certaine partie du parcours longeant le bassin olympique, les coureurs ont peu ressenti le vent durant l’épreuve.

Le profil de la course du 21km s’est dessiné rapidement chez les hommes. Kip Kangogo et Sami Jibril se sont détachés dès le 3e kilomètre du peloton formé des coureurs Josh Bolton, François Jarry,  Anthony Larouche et Baghdad Rachem. Kangogo et Jibril ont bataillé fort  et furent côte à côte durant près de 19,5km. C’est à ce moment que l’athlète originaire du Kenya et désormais canadien, a choisi pour larguer son vis-à-vis. Ils ont respectivement réalisé les temps de 1:06:49 et de 1:07:02 pour occuper la première et la deuxième place.

Les enjeux étaient grands pour la marathonienne Krista DuChene. En effet,  ayant réalisé le standard de qualification au marathon pour les Jeux olympique de Rio il y a quelques mois, Krista devait prouver qu’elle avait toujours la forme physique adéquate. Pour s’assurer une place dans la cohorte d’athlètes, elle devait réaliser aujourd’hui un temps de 1:13:00. Maintenant son allure durant tout le parcours, elle a franchi la ligne d’arrivée à 1:12:30. Voilà!  Mission accomplie!

L’édition 2016 de la course Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal se révèle assurément comme un baume dans son parcours sportif à plusieurs niveaux. « En marchant vers la ligne de départ, j’étais calme et concentrée. Je repassais les conseils de mon entraineur et j’ai pris cette course comme un solide entraînement. »

« En finissant la course, les souvenirs de ma dernière participation à la course Banque Scotia 21 km de Montréal me revenaient à la mémoire. En 2014, à 500 mètres de l’arrivée, je suis brisée la jambe. Je boitais énormément.  Dans la foule, j’ai entendu quelqu’un crier : « Rampe si tu dois, mais finis ta course! » À ce moment-là, je savais que la blessure était grave, mais pas à ce point. Les organisateurs ont été fantastiques : ils sont comme des membres de ma famille, ils m’ont aidé et m’ont supportée. Les soins que j’ai reçus à l’hôpital ont été extraordinaires. Deux jours après la chirurgie, je me suis dit : « Je peux faire les standards olympiques dans un 1 an. Et c’est ce que j’ai fait.»

Non seulement cette athlète de 39 ans, mère de trois enfants, a-t-elle terminé sur ses deux pieds le parcours, elle a du même coup réalisé le temps prescrit pour participer aux prochains Jeux olympiques dont l’ouverture officielle se tiendra le 5 août prochain, et a obtenu la première place.

« Même si ce n’était pas mon objectif premier, car je me concentrais sur mon temps, je suis heureuse d’être arrivée première. C’est une satisfaction supplémentaire. Je suis arrivée deuxième à mes trois dernières courses, j’avoue que j’avais hâte de sentir le ruban de la première place! »

« Nous ne saurons pas officiellement avant la fin mai quelles athlètes feront officiellement partie de l’équipe canadienne, mais il y a de bonnes chances que mes enfants, mon mari, ma sœur et mes frères soient dans les gradins de Rio cet été. »

« Je participerai au Championnat canadien du demi-marathon à Calgary le mois prochain, mais d’une façon plus détendue. Ça c’est bien. »

Catherine Cormier et Bianca Prémont se sont classées deuxième et troisième chez les femmes avec un temps respectif de 1:20:17 et 1:21:21.

Au moment de publication, le Défi Caritatif Banque Scotia avait amassé plus de 1,1 million de dollars pour 66 organismes caritatifs de la région montréalaise, incluant les trois organismes vedettes de cette année – la Fondation pour enfants diabétiques, Partageons l’espoir et Société Huntington du Québec.

Le Défi caritatif de la Banque Scotia est un programme de collecte de fonds simple et efficace, qui permet aux coureurs d’appuyer des initiatives locales faisant une grande différence dans la vie des gens. Les organismes de bienfaisance qui y participent conservent la totalité des fonds amassés, puisque la Banque Scotia paie tous les frais d’opération et de carte de crédit.

Apr 12 2016
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Kip Kangogo to Race Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal. By Paul Gains

By | Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k | No Comments

TORONTO April 12th 2016. Kip Kangogo will open his 2016 racing campaign at the prestigious Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal – a Canada Running Series event – on Sunday April 24th.

The Kenyan-born distance runner has become one of this country’s best. He is the reigning Canadian Half Marathon champion having won the title at the 2015 Scotiabank Calgary Half Marathon. He beat Canadian Olympian Reid Coolsaet by eleven seconds on that day.

Another winter has passed in Lethbridge, Alberta, where Kangogo has lived since graduating from the University of Lethbridge, and he looks forward to lining up in Montréal’s Parc Jean Drapeau. Being a favourite, the race will offer him the chance to score maximum points and chase the CRS overall title which he won in 2013. He was the 2014 CRS runner up finishing just 9 points behind two time Canadian Olympian Eric Gillis.

“I think my training is coming along nicely but you cannot say until you get in a competitive race,” says the 36 year old runner. “But it’s coming along.

“The winter this year wasn’t too bad. You couldn’t really call it winter because it wasn’t too bad. That was nice. I did most of my runs outside. I never went on my treadmill this winter. It gets windy in Lethbridge but, other than that, it was good.”

STWM 2015. Photo Credit: Photo Run

STWM 2015. Photo Credit: Photo Run

For the past two years he has been coached by Rick Mannen, who has been responsible for Krista DuChene’s success. DuChene is expected to represent Canada in the Rio Olympics marathon. A year ago Kangogo improved his marathon personal best time to 2:15:26 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and so has nothing but good things to say about his coach.

“Rick is very good,” Kangogo says. “He can get you into 10k shape, he can get you into half marathon shape and marathon shape.

“He is always studying you, he wants to know how you are feeling, how the body is responding. You will always get that feedback and then you will receive training according to how it fits you. It has always been a good relationship with him and I like it.”

At the moment Kangogo runs around 200 kilometres a week, sometimes as much as 240km, but will reduce that mileage for Montréal. Since his wife Florida is studying biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge and he is the primary caregiver during daytime, he must sometimes run at 5:30 a.m. or wait until she returns from classes. It’s all part of raising a family, he acknowledges.

Kangogo calls the Montréal race a ‘litmus test’ as he still harbours the intention of running a spring marathon. His best time for the half marathon distance is 1:03:22 from the 2011 Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon. That time doesn’t appear on Canadian rankings since he was not yet a Canadian citizen. That honour was bestowed upon him in April 2014 and ranks alongside the birth of his daughter Emma in his lifetime highlights.

“It’s meaningful to me. When I first came to Canada I wanted to be Canadian because I fell in love with the people of this land and their values and how they approach life,” he says quietly. “And it’s peaceful. I knew for sure I want to call this home.

“I wrote my citizenship test at 10:30 in the morning and then I was invited for the swearing in ceremony at 2 pm. My wife was writing an exam. So I called her and told her the ceremony has to be at 2 pm so all of us have to be there. Emma was there, my brother, my sister, it was special. It was like getting married again.”

Last summer Kangogo proudly represented Canada at the Pan American Games in Toronto finishing 9th in the oppressive heat.  Today his brother Edmond and sister Florence also live with him and his family which helps retain their Kenyan roots. It is an atmosphere they clearly enjoy.

“There is a special Kenyan dish called Chapati and we make Chapati and beef stew for special occasions,” he explains. “And Ugali is a more staple food in the evening. My daughter likes that. She is always saying ‘Daddy we have to cook Ugali.’

“We speak Swahili and we speak Kalenjin, which is my native language, and we speak English so nothing is lost. Emma she is different, she speaks English most of the time and some Swahili – a little bit.”

It has been nearly four years since Kangogo was last in Kenya. He would like to take Emma back for a visit in a few years, when she is older and will probably remember more about the trip. Until then Kangogo continues to seek personal best performances on the roads knowing he is nearing the end of his racing career.

As he prepares for the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal he doesn’t know or, for that matter, care who else is in the field. The overriding goal will be to race to his full potential and if fast times and podium finishes are the result then so be it.

Leading the pack of podium contenders is Toronto’s Sami Jibril who notably chased Eric Gillis around this course in 2014 to claim the Canadian championship silver medal. Jibril ran a personal best of 1:04:30 in Houston on January 17th of this year.

Amongst the Quebec contingent is Anthony Larouche who sports a decent personal best for the distance of 1:07:47 which he ran at the Philadelphia Half Marathon last November.

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For more information and to register:
http://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/index.htm

Nov 16 2015
0

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

Apr 27 2015
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Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k Race Report

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MONTREAL April 26th 2015. Under a clear sky with favourable conditions, more than 5,500 runners participated in the 13th edition of the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k presented by Asics, this Sunday April 26th.

Scotia21kMtl Eric Gillis winning

Eric Gills wins in 65:31

Olympian Eric Gillis of Speed River TFC in Guelph, Ontario won the 21k for the fourth consecutive year in 65:31, in from of teammate Terrence Attena (66:39) and Quebecker David Le Porho in 66:55. Le Porho improved his personal best by more than a minute.

Gillis took the lead from Behanu Degefa after the 11k mark to make it a solo effort from then on and win far ahead of everybody else.

“When the fight is on until the finish line it keeps you on the edge. There is a challenge. But I enjoy running by myself too because I run to win. If I’m alone the win is easier [laugh]. I’m very proud of this victory. I was apprehensive before the race because I had to deal with some small health issues that have preoccupied me for the last few weeks. Today’s race was like a test for me. It gave me a better sense of where my fitness is right now and my efforts paid off. I really like running the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal. It is a great race, well organized and placed well in the race calendar. Certain years we had to fight with the wind, but this year wasn’t the case.” Gillis said.

“The conditions were perfect this morning. We were scared at the beginning of the day because it was a bit windy. It went well for me. I ran alone most of the way. I ran without my watch because wanted to run by feel. I kept the same pace and I passed runners one by one to finish in third place. It was a superb race. I realized my best time in this distance” Le Porho said after improving his personal best by more than a minute.

Scotia21kMtl Bianca Premont Winning

Bianca Premont breaks the tape in 1:20:40

It is with great joy that Bianca Prémont from Sainte-Julie won the half-marathon event with a time of 1:20:40. Pia Nehme who owns the national half-marathon record for Lebanon took second place is 1:21:39, right before Manon Letourneau in 1:21:48.

Although the marathoner, who won the Athletas Award in 2014, didn’t beat her personal record this morning, winning the race was a great accomplishment. “The lead pack I was with started at a relaxed pace. We were 5 runners up to 10k. I kept my pace. To win the race is a like a dream on the perfect day. I love this course.” Prémont said.

This annual meeting of thousands of runners, supporters, and partners is one of the sporting events that raises the most funds in Quebec. The 2015 edition kept pace with that tradition, raising $1,018,000, which is $140,000 more than the goal that was set for the event, for a total of 66 official charities. There were 3 featured charities at the event: Fondation A Pas de Géant, Fondation CHU Sainte-Justine, and Fondation les petites trésors.

Scotia21Mtl Defi Caratif

Thanks to all who helped raise over $1,000,000!

“For sure welcoming elite runners of Canada is one of the objectives of the race and we are proud of it. The organization, the course, the team of volunteers, everything is set to stage a great event, but this year what touches me the most is to know that the 2015 edition raised over a million dollars. To see all those participants mobilize to try to make a difference in the lives of others is a big thing. I hope this phenomenon will be contagious and exponential” said Francois Lecot, Race Director of the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k. “All the participants should be very proud of their performance, along with how much money they were able to raise.”

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Montréal, 26 avril 2015. C’est sous un ciel clément et un timide retour du printemps que plus de 5500 coureurs ont participé à la 13e édition du Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k présenté par Asics, ce dimanche 26 avril.

L’Olympien Eric Gillis, de Guelph en Ontario, a remporté le 21k pour une quatrième année consécutive en 1h05min31, devant Terence Attema (1h06min39) et le québécois David Le Porho de Montréal (1h06min55).

Gillis a pris le contrôle de la course dès le départ pour distancer un à un les coureurs, au 11e kilomètre il se séparait finalement de Degefa pour faire la seconde moitié en solo et gagner loin devant les autres.

«Quand la bataille dure jusqu’aux derniers mètres, il y a un challenge qui nous pousse à nous dépasser. J’aime aussi courir en solo parce que je cours pour gagner, seul devant la victoire est plus facile [rires]. Je suis très fière de cette victoire. J’attendais cette course avec appréhension puisque quelques ennuis de santé m’ont préoccupé au cours des dernières semaines. La course d’aujourd’hui était comme un test pour moi. Ça me permet de voir où en est ma forme et que mes efforts ont porté fruits. J’adore courir le Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal. C’est une course super bien organisée, bien placée dans le calendrier et j’aime le parcours. Certaines années, on a dû se batailler contre le vent mais cette année ce n’était pas le cas.» a dit Gillis.

Le Porho a réalisé un nouveau record personnel en soustrayant environ une minute à son ancien temps sur cette distance. «Les conditions étaient parfaites ce matin, on a eu peur en début de journée parce qu’il ventait un peu et il ne faisait pas beau. Cela a bien été pour moi. J’ai couru seul tout le long et je suis parti sans ma montre, je voulais courir au feeling. J’ai remonté un à un les coureurs. C’était une super belle course.» disait-il.

C’est avec émotion que Bianca Prémont de Sainte-Julie a remporté le demi-marathon en 1h20min40. Pia Nehme, détentrice du nouveau record national pour le Liban au demi marathon s’est pour sa part classée deuxième (1h21min39) devant Manon Létourneau (1h21min48).

La marathonienne détentrice du prix Athlétas 2014, a frôlé un nouveau record personnel et réalisé un rêve ce matin. «Le peloton de tête est parti relaxe, on était environ 5 coureuses jusqu’au 10e kilomètre. J’ai gardé mon rythme. De gagner, c’est comme un rêve, c’était la journée parfaite. J’adore ce parcours.» disait Prémont après sa course.

Ce rendez-vous annuel pour des milliers de coureurs, leurs supporteurs et les partenaires essentiels est l’évènement sportif caritatif qui amasse le plus de fonds au Québec. L’édition 2015 s’inscrit dans cette même lignée généreuse! En effet, le total amassé par les 66 organismes de bienfaisance s’élève à plus de 1 018 000$, soit plus de 140 000$ que l’objectif fixé. À noter que les organismes de bienfaisance vedettes du Défi caritatif Banque Scotia était la Fondation À Pas de Géant, la Fondation CHU Sainte-Justine et la Fondation les petits trésors.

«Il est certain qu’accueillir des coureurs d’élite du Canada est un de nos objectifs et nous en sommes fiers. L’organisation, le parcours, l’équipe de bénévoles, tout est mis en place pour créer un événement de qualité, mais cette année, ce qui me touche le plus c’est de savoir que l’édition 2015 a dépassé le 1 000 000$ en levée de fonds. Voir tous ces participants se mobiliser pour faire une différence dans la vie de quelqu’un d’autre, c’est quelque chose. J’espère que ce sera contagieux de façon exponentielle.» dit François Lecot, directeur de course du Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k. «Tous les participants devraient être extrêmement fiers de leur performance, autant en ce qui concerne la course que la collecte des fonds amassés.»

Apr 22 2015
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Three Time Winner Eric Gills Returns to Banque Scotia 21k De Montreal. By Paul Gains

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Scotia21kMtl Eric Finish Line BlogTORONTO April 22nd 2015. Eric Gillis returns to the Banque Scotia 21k De Montreal (April 26) seeking his fourth consecutive victory on the scenic Parc Jean-Drapeau course.

The two time Canadian Olympian will also attempt to make it three for three in this young 2015 season.  Already he has won the Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8k and, this past Sunday, the Toronto Yonge Street 10k. All three races are part of the Canada Running Series.

Gillis was the 2014 Canada Running Series champion and appears a good bet to repeat if he can stay in form.

Success however is not only due to his commitment to training hard at Speed River Track Club but also an uncanny ability to balance family life with his training and competitive schedule.  Gillis, 34, is the father of two young children Heidi, 5, and Luke, seventeen months. His wife Emily is a nurse and recently returned to full time work following maternity leave.

“It is flexible, that’s the biggest thing with kids, and, with my wife Emily back at work now,” he declares. “We have chats the night before or a couple of nights before and get things down on calendars but it is always a very fluid process.

“That is probably the biggest challenge – my ability to plan ahead. But once we do it usually involves getting up just before 7am – the kids might already be up. Emily will get up first with the kids, and then from 7 until 9 it’s breakfast. Then I am taking Heidi my youngest to the bus stop at 8:30am. She’s in junior kindergarten and then it’s taking Luke to daycare after that.”

While Emily heads off to the clinic where she works Gillis heads out for the first of his two daily runs around 9:00 a.m. and after he returns there are breakfast dishes to tackle.

“I am usually pretty flexible through the day,” he offers. “My usual routine is either doing some stretching mobility exercises or even sometimes some core exercises.”

Once a week he also drives to Georgetown, Ontario where he visits an acupuncturist and also has a weekly physiotherapy appointment with Brenda Scott-Thomas, the wife of his long-time coach Dave Scott-Thomas. Then there are the occasional appearances for his sponsor, New Balance which might entail visiting a local high school or a running shoe store.

“Those things I usually book for around noon when I am not running or have children responsibilities,” he adds.

Scotia21kMtl Eric For Blog“Getting in the second run is more challenging right now.  Sometimes I try to get out before 3:30pm when I have to get my daughter off the bus. I also have practice (with Speed River TC) at 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday now so Emily and I will do the trade-off. I will get Heidi off the bus and then leave for practice.”

If it all sounds complicated it’s something the family takes in stride. Gillis is a true family man and enjoys the opportunity to travel together. A year ago, for instance, he and the family took the train to Montreal. His wife and children were at the finish line when he collected the National Half Marathon title that day.

“With all of us staying in one room it’s a little tougher with my little guy older now,” says Gillis. “He’s up through the night whereas last year when he came to Montreal for the 21k it was easier because he slept through the night.”

This week Gillis will travel alone to the competition.

“It’s a little tougher knowing that it’s more work for Emily at home when I am away at a race,” he admits, “so there’s a tradeoff. To go to a road race and you consider it’s a work trip. But it’s also more work with only one parent being home or you have to ask your in laws to come and stay. It’s a tradeoff.”

Between Emily’s salary, his New Balance contract and the money he picks up from road race appearance fees and prize money, the family is able to live comfortably in Guelph, Ontario.

He is a heavy favourite to win on Sunday. Although Quebec athletes are showing promise on the track, none are yet approaching the level required to challenge an athlete of Gillis’ strength. Consequently, he is taking a relaxed approach to the event.

“It’s not the Canadian championships this year so I doubt there will be the same level of competition,” he explains. “I am treating it like a solid half marathon race training Hopefully I run a similar time to years past but I am not looking to run a personal best.”

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For More Information and registration:

http://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/index.htm