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Krista DuChene Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Canada Running Series

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

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December 6th, 2016. By Paul Gains

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

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

The CRS overall winner earns $5,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oct 06 2016
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Competitive Fields Set for Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

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October 6th 2016 – By Paul Gains

Kenya’s Ishhimael Chemtan returns to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in defence of the title he won a year ago. On that occasion his margin of victory was merely a stride length as the race came down to a final sprint.

Chemtan’s compatriot Gilbert Kirwa was on the receiving end of this desperate finish, a deficit that cost him $10,000 in prize money. In Toronto the winner receives $25,000 while the runner up earns $15,000.

The pair will reenact their rivalry at this IAAF Gold Label race October 16th. By no means are they assured of occupying the top podium places either.

Seboka Dibaba carries Ethiopian hopes with the 28 year old possessing a 2:06:17 personal best. Only Kirwa (2:06:14) has run faster. And, Philemon Rono, who trains in a group led by Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and 2014 Toronto champion, Laban Korir, is another potential winner. Rono has a best of 2:07:07.

The race will also feature several talented East African runners marking their marathon debut chief among them Aziz Lahbabi. This 25 year old Moroccan won the 2014 Rome Ostia Lido Half Marathon in Rome with a superb 59:25 and, if he has prepared adequately, his performance shall be memorable.

Abraham Habte is the first Eritrean elite to compete in Toronto. Although he has completed a marathon he was not supposed to. The 20 year old had been hired to pace the leaders through 30km at January’s Xiamen (China) marathon and felt so good he kept going. This time he has done the work to make an impact in Toronto.

Canadian hopes rest on the 36 year old Eric Gillis who ran the race of his life to finish 10th at the Rio Olympic marathon just six weeks ago. Gillis has recovered well and with three Olympic Games to his credit has announced he will throw caution to the wind and go for a fast time in Toronto. Could Jerome Drayton’s 41 year old Canadian record of 2:10:09 finally be beaten?

Race Director Alan Brookes has done well to have both defending champions back. Shure Demise, 20, ran 2:23:37 a year ago and will be heavily favoured to win again. In January 2015 she ran an unofficial world ‘under 20’ record in Dubai (2:20:59), unofficial because the IAAF does not maintain junior records in the marathon. She will face the 2015 runner-up Fatuma Sado and also Tadelech Bekele providing a 1-2-3 punch for Ethiopia.

A Kenyan challenge will be mounted by 24 year old Rebeca Chesir who finished 2nd at the 2015 Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon. Her personal best of 2:25:22 came at the 2015 Dubai Marathon.

Once again Toronto Waterfront will serve as the Canadian Marathon Championship and the women’s field, especially, is a competitive one.

Canadian Olympian Krista DuChene (2:28:32 personal best),  Rachel Hannah, the Pan Am Games bronze medalist, Tarah Korir of St Clement, Ontario  who ran a personal best of 2:35:46 in Ottawa,  Leslie Sexton (2:33:23), Erin Burrett (2:37:50) and debutante Dayna Pidhoresky all have their sights set on a berth on Canada’s 2017 IAAF World Championship team. It is very possible all three places could come from this race.

At this point Athletics Canada has not announced the qualifying time standards. The IAAF standards are 2:19:00 for men and 2:45:00 for women. The athletes know full well that the standards will be much, much tougher and, no doubt, will request pacemakers to ensure they are nearer to 2:29 than to 2:39.

For a complete Start List, click here.

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Sep 13 2016
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Olympian Krista DuChene to Race Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

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September 12th 2016 – By Paul Gains

After realizing her dream of representing Canada at the Rio Olympic Games, marathoner Krista DuChene has chosen the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon for her next challenge.

The IAAF Gold Label race is set for October 16th and, if that seems rather soon following the Olympics, DuChene disagrees.

“Part of me felt I can wait until I am forty to run my next marathon,” says the 39 year old from Brantford, Ontario. “But January seemed too far away.”

DuChene laughs at her witticism, but since recording her Krista DuChene Blog 2personal best time of 2:28:32 at the 2013 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon – making her the second fastest Canadian of all time behind friend and foe Lanni Marchant (2:28:00) – she should obviously be taken seriously.

“We are taking more risks,” she says of her approach to the upcoming race. “I am not going to just do it just to run. We are taking more risks in that there is, obviously, not a lot of time to recover from Rio and jump into it.

“Having said that, I felt really fresh after my recovery from Rio and mentally didn’t feel like my season was over. A lot of that probably has to do with the fact that the last marathon I did was my qualifying in April 2015 (2:29:38 Rotterdam). Some other athletes had to do spring marathons to qualify. I didn’t have that fatigue behind me.”

DuChene and her long-time coach, Rick Mannen, were pleased with her performance in Rio. Finishing 35th in the Olympic marathon is no small feat especially since she ran 2:35:29 in searing heat. Most of the women’s field ran five or six minutes slower than their best owing to the twists and turns which the course presented along with the weather conditions.

The mother of three was also delighted to experience life in the Olympic village where she shared an apartment with Canadian 10,000m record holder, Natasha Wodak, an archer and five members of the Canadian women’s basketball team.

“I definitely felt old compared to everyone else. but that wasn’t going to stop me from enjoying the experience,” she reveals. “To have three meals cooked for me every day, that was a treat in itself.

“I got to know some of the athletes. I had what I wanted to do in a day. If I met up with other people great, but I didn’t feel I needed to do something with everyone every day. I went to the 50k race walk and to the track a couple of nights. It was quite nice.”

Along with ‘Coach Rick’, her husband Johnathan, her children, her sister and two brothers were on hand to greet her at the finish. They had her walking for recovery right after the finish line.

DuChene knows she will have to be at her best for the Toronto race as it doubles as the Canadian National Championship. The next generation of Canadian women, who have been inspired by her running, are lining up to compete against her.  Kenya based Tarah Korir, Rachel Hannah, the Pan Am bronze medalist and fastest Canadian this year, along with Leslie Sexton of London, Ontario, Dayna Pidhoresky of Vancouver, and Erin Burrett of Nanaimo have all confirmed their entries.

The lure of a Canadian championship medal has been sweetened too by the prize purse. The first Canadian will earn $5000 with $3,000 and $2,000 going to the silver and bronze medalists, respectively.

It is yet to be determined whether Athletics Canada will select a team for the London 2017 IAAF World Championships from this race. They have not announced their standards which are normally superior to the IAAF standard of 2:45:00. The qualifying window opened in January of this year and all of these Canadian athletes will be keen to wear the maple leaf in London.

ij_tw10-16_b0114“I don’t have a set time goal yet,” DuChene declares, “I think it’s safe to say I’d like to go under 2:30 and obviously be on the podium for top Canadian finishers. I am not sure what kind of field there will be internationally, but I know there are going to be some strong women from Canada which makes a great national championship.

“I would like to run at the World Championships next summer so this provides an opportunity between Rio and London to go for a faster time.”

As she pushes forty, the inevitable talk of retirement from competition raises itself but she dismisses it with wisdom and experience.

“I don’t know exactly, I have always felt I am bit different from most athletes because I came from a university hockey background,” she explains. “So I have never felt I have been at this for so long. I think when there is no joy or motivation or fun in getting out the door to run 25 or 30k I am going to know that will be the time when I will start running recreationally. So age doesn’t matter to me.

“I look at people like Meb Keflezighi and Jo Pavey and Bernard Lagat. Those guys are still running well in their 40’s so they are an inspiration for me. And with the kids in school full time it’s much easier because I drop them off, I go to the gym, I go to the pool, I go for my run, get treatment. Lunch, nap, shower and pick them up again. So there are no interruptions in the day for me.”

The freedom to train as she sees fit is something she has only enjoyed since her youngest entered school full time last year. Invigorated by her Olympic success, DuChene will no doubt challenge not only for a place amongst the top Canadians but also amongst the very strong international field.

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For More Information and to join Krista DuChene and 2015 STWM champion Shure Demise (Ethiopia): www.STWM.ca

Header image photo credit: Photo Run

Jun 25 2016
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Canadian Olympians Dominate Toronto Waterfront 10

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June 25th, 2016 – By Paul Gains.

Three of Canada’s Olympic bound marathoners chose the Toronto Waterfront 10 to test themselves this morning, coming away with confidence boosting performances on a very warm day.

FullSizeRender (5)Eric Gillis pushed the pace from the start, leading a pack of five through the first 5km in 14:44, but only his fellow Olympian and Speed River Track Club partner, Reid Coolsaet could hang on. As the temperature soared into the mid 20’s Celsius it was Gillis crossing the line first in 29:23, with Coolsaet just two seconds behind.

An up and coming Speed River runner, Tristin Woodfine, rounded out the top three (29:54) ahead of roughly 6,000 runners in this, the newest Canada Running Series race.

“That’s a decent time for where I am in my buildup, eight weeks out. I have got some good mileage in my legs,” Gillis said afterwards. “It’s a new race, it’s a quick one, so I wanted to get a decent time under my belt.

“It’s a bit muggy, but that’s good to use as training as well. And just good to go through the motions. It was good rooming with Reid again and us both racing. We haven’t done that much since 2012. It’s nice to get out there run with him.”

With the race starting at 7:30am, Gillis and Coolsaet spent the night at a nearby hotel rather than driving in from Guelph. Both very much have Rio on their minds and admitted to racing with lots of high mileage covered in the past few weeks.

“Before (the 2012) London (Olympics) I did not have control of my form,” Gillis revealed. “There were a lot of sore cool downs. I am focused and I am moving a lot better now and I can’t see how it won’t improve my fitness. Even though I am ahead of the game, anything can happen so I have to be on the ball for the whole buildup.”

Coolsaet has been nursing a lower back injury since returning from his winter high altitude training camp in Kenya. Between chiropractic and massage treatments, he ran 200 kilometres last week. In addition, he married his long-time girlfriend, Marie, last weekend.

“I still fit in 33k the morning of my wedding so I am not changing my training at all, “ Coolsaet admitted with a smile. “On Thursday we move into our house, these two or three weeks (distractions) will be heavier than normal. The last six or seven weeks will be 100% focused on running.

“My injury is getting better every week. I am noticing improvement. I am still not quite 100%; I have to hold back all the time in training. I didn’t notice it too much in the race today so that is a really good sign. Now that I have five really good weeks of solid training under my belt, I can see the momentum starting to build now. I am happy where I am.

“I am definitely in marathon mode and not sharp. I didn’t want to back off for this race and take away from Rio. I want to do the best I can in Rio which means training for the marathon. Training for the 10k is a bit different and tapering is a lot different. I am looking for the best result I can get on August 21st not June 25. Today was a good day.”

FullSizeRender (4)Krista Duchene, who will represent Canada in the women’s Rio Olympic marathon chased down and caught Vancouver resident Dayna Pidhoresky just before the 8 kilometre mark and opened a gap which she extended to the finish. DuChene, who resides in Brantford, Ontario was pleased with her winning time of 33:50 having run 180 kilometres in the preceding week in preparation for Rio.

“I had absolutely no time goal in mind,” DuChene said. “I knew you had to go under 34 minutes for the prize money but that is never what it’s about for me. It was about racing hard and knowing it’s going to hurt the whole time. And Dayna is fast. I knew she would go out hard and I kept my eye on her. There was that hill before 8k and I thought ‘if I am going to do it I have got to do it now.’ So I made my way towards her and had to pass her strong and then hang on for the last 2k.

“I thought if I have got to be hurting, I can probably run better hurting than she can, because of all my marathon training so far. Speed, I mean I think she is probably faster than me. That hill worked to my advantage today.”

Pidhoresky who had led by five seconds at halfway (16:36) admitted to losing concentration as her rival passed her.

“I knew she was behind me. I felt really comfortable at that point but I think in the second half of the race I was starting to feel the heat a lot,” Pidhoresky said. “It has been a little chilly back home in Vancouver. I didn’t think it was going to be an issue. I sort of felt a little goose-bumpy in the last 4k going up the hill. I think I just had a lapse of mental strength. She sort of gapped me and that gap remained the same.”

Pidhoresky’s time was 34:01 with Cleo Boyd finishing strong for third place in the women’s race (34:19). Catherine Watkins, the 44 year old who represented Canada in the 2015 Pan Am Games, was fourth and won the master’s race. Her time was 35:09. Based in Vancouver, she too found the heat surprising.

Following the race, Toronto Mayor John Tory, MP Peter Fonseca, who ran for Canada in the 1996 Olympic marathon, and Ms. Ana Lelia Beninca Beltrame the Consul General of Brazil paid tribute to the Rio bound trio.

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Jun 09 2016
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Krista DuChene to race Toronto Waterfront 10 on Road to Rio

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June 9, 2016 – by Paul Gains

Although the official announcement won’t be made for another month Krista DuChene has checked all the necessary boxes and is poised to represent Canada in the 2016 Olympic Marathon.

Now the 39 year old Brantford, Ontario native can look forward to racing the Toronto Waterfront 10 on Saturday June 25 without the pressure of anyone looking over her shoulder and assessing her fitness. Nevertheless, she will approach the 10km race with a specific target.

“I think it’s just to throw a bit of a changeup in the pace, just try to switch it up from the half marathons that I have done,” she reveals. “It will be a tune-up speed workout that’s the way we will look at it.

06-09-16-krista-finish

Photo credit: Inge Johnson/Canada Running Series

“In four of my last five races I have been second place. So, to be honest, if I get second again that day: whatever! I have been fit and healthy all year with injuries so who cares if I don’t get the win. What matters at the end of the day is that I am healthy and fit and ready to put it all out there on August 14 (the date of the Rio Olympics marathon).”

DuChene raced several times in the winter and early spring looking to satisfy Athletics Canada’s “proof of fitness”. She achieved the Olympic marathon standard with 2:29:38 in Rotterdam (April 2015) and this proof of fitness was required. After winning the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal (April 24) she accomplished her task then managed a week off during which she admits to enjoying culinary treats. The rest was short-lived, however, as her 15 week marathon buildup toward Rio began immediately afterwards.

Although her legs will no doubt feel the effects of the extra training miles she will race to win the Toronto Waterfront 10, the newest race on the Canada Running Series calendar. She chose to run jt rather than fly across the country to compete in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon which is on the same weekend.

“It’s an early start so I will go to Toronto Friday night,” she explains. “I am there and back in less than 24 hours. There is a lot to be said for staying close to home, in your own environment, in your own bed, your own food and everything like that. I love going out to Vancouver to do that race but I think it just made sense to throw a 10k in there and also so I could focus more on those harder longer runs locally.”

Amongst her fans in Rio will be husband Jonathan and her three children. They have booked tickets for the marathon finish at Copacabana Beach. Now that all three kids are in school she no longer has to wake up before sunrise to get in her training and is obviously feeling the benefit of additional sleep.

On the Toronto starting line she will face Dayna Pidhoresky, who beat her at the Vancouver First Half Marathon in February, as well as Vancouver’s star master’s runner, Catherine Watkins. The latter a 44 year old rising star represented Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games marathon where she finished a solid 8th. More recently she raced in the Ottawa 10k on May 28. She was the first Masters woman and finished 12th overall.

06-09-16-watkins

Photo credit: Inge Johnson/Canada Running Series

“I went into Ottawa feeling pretty fit but the conditions there weren’t ideal for a fast time,” Watkins recalls of the heat and humidity which plagued the race. “I kind of suffered in that heat. But I think in a few weeks in Toronto that is definitely my chance to go under 34 minutes again. That’s the goal.”

Watkins has seen remarkable improvement in her running career since joining up with BC Endurance Project coach Richard Lee. Among those she often trains with are 2012 Olympian Dylan Wykes, 2016 Olympic qualifier Natasha Kodak, Pidhoresky, and, when she is in Vancouver training, Canadian marathon record holder Lanni Marchant. They all live within a few kilometres of each other.

With two children in school full time Watkins is able to fit in her training while pursuing altruistic activities.

“I have been doing some volunteer work with a group out here called Street 2 Front,” she reveals. “They are a school out here that works with children from the Downtown Eastside. They are kids who generally haven’t made it in the regular school program. The man who runs the program has developed an amazing running program with them and has inspired them through running.

“A couple of years ago we organized a run to raise money. They took all the kids to Mount Kilimanjaro. They are doing another trip next year, to Peru to hike the Inca Trail.”

While the women’s race at Toronto Waterfront 10 is compelling stuff the men’s race holds great interest too. It will feature Olympians Reid Coolsaet and Eric Gillis.

Both represented Canada in the 2012 Olympic marathon while Gillis also ran the 10,000m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And with DuChene soon to become a first time Olympian there will definitely be an Olympic edge to the race.

Organizers are throwing a “Rio Send-Off” post-race party complete with Brazilian drummers and samba dancers from 8:45 a.m until 9:15 a.m. to celebrate the Olympians. There will also be presentations by the Honourable MP Peter Fonseca, himself a 1996 Olympic marathoner and the Brazilian Consul General.

Join the celebrations at the Toronto Waterfront 10k on June 25th!

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

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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.”

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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.

Sep 22 2015
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Canadians Chasing Medals and Prize Money at Toronto Waterfront Marathon. By Paul Gains

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments

TORONTO September 22nd 2015. History will be made at this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon October 18th as the event will serve as the Canadian Marathon Championships for the very first time.

The race has also been honoured with IAAF Gold Label status joining Boston, New York and Chicago as the only marathons to enjoy such stature in The Americas.

Canadian citizens will be eligible for Canadian Championship prize money with the first domestic male and female runner earning $5,000 each – in addition to the open prize money. Medals are also at stake.

The fields are superb and with several athletes eyeing the Rio Olympic standards the Canadians are likely to battle each other while offering the foreign contingent all they can handle.

_NGE7361Leading the Canadian women is Lanni Marchant who set a national record of 2:28:00 here two years ago. She was third overall on that occasion earning $8,000 for her position and another $28,000 bonus for beating Sylvia Ruegger’s 28 year old record. Scotiabank has put up another $30,000 for a new record this year.

The 31 year old Marchant, who works part time as a criminal lawyer in Chattanooga, Tennessee, needs to run under 2:29:50 in order to be eligible for the Rio Olympics.

At present only Krista DuChene of Brantford, Ontario has the standard having raced to a 2:29:38 clocking at the Rotterdam Marathon this past April 12th. Unfortunately, DuChene will not be running Toronto having suffered an acute fracture of a metatarsal bone. She will, however, be on site as part of the “live” broadcast team for the race.

Marchant, who earned a Pan Am Games bronze medal in the 10,000m and also finished 18th in the IAAF World Championships 10,000m in Beijing announced her participation at a Toronto press luncheon earlier this month. She noted the strength of Canadian women’s distance running which has surged since 2012 when she and DuChene narrowly missed the Olympic standard.

“I don’t think Krista or I ever expected that we would help ignite a spark in women’s marathoning in Canada when we lined up at the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon,” she said. “We had some great ladies before us – obviously Sylvia but also Nicole Stephenson and Tara Quinn-smith. But women on the road hadn’t really gained the same following the men had.

“Now, just looking back over these years since 2012 we have seen more and more women line up and debut with some pretty amazing marathon performances. I think right now is the best time to be part of the Canadian running scene as there is such a charge of Canadian women absolutely killing it on the roads and I’m excited to see what will happen next.”

Marchant also said she doesn’t expect her record to stand nearly as long as Ruegger’s did. That record lasted twenty-eight years until Marchant and DuChene bettered it in Toronto. DuChene, a Brantford, Ontario resident, ran her personal best that day with 2:28:32.

Amongst those expected to challenge for medals are two female marathon debutants who have excelled on the roads in the Canada Running Series, Tarah McKay-Korir and Dayna Pidhoresky. The latter is finally healthy after several injuries and appears ready to perform to her potential. After all she ran an excellent 1:11:46 half marathon in 2011.

Another promising talent is Natasha Labeaud who debuted on the streets of Toronto a year ago finishing in 2:35:33. That earned her 8th place overall. She focused on 5,000m this past summer finishing 8th at the Pan Am Games.

Not to be forgotten is the 2014 Canadian marathon champion, Rhiannon Johns who, at the age of 23, ran cautiously to a 2:40:24 debut in Birmingham, Alabama. The fight for medal podium places is sure to be epic.

Thirty-five year old Eric Gillis will also be seeking the Rio Olympic standard and a berth on what could be his third Olympic team. The men’s standard is 2:12:50. Gillis represented Canada in the 10,000m in Beijing eight years ago and in the marathon in 2012. A year ago he raced to a new personal best of 2:11:21 in this race earning 9th place.

If everything goes according to plan Gillis will follow specially assigned pacemakers through 30 kilometres and defend the Canadian title he won a year ago in Ottawa. But should he falter both Kip Kangogo (2:15:35 PB) a Kenyan born resident of Lethbridge, Alberta, who acquired Canadian citizenship just a year ago, and Toronto’s Matt Loiselle could be there to claim his medal.

Though Loiselle’s personal best is just 2:16:01 he is determined to produce a great race when it counts.

“I have got up to about 30k at 2:12 pace. Both times that I ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon I got to 30k at 2:12 flat pace. That’s when the pacemaker dropped out,” says Loiselle.

_NGE7011“If you look at my best half marathon time, which is under 1:04, I think it’s doable. I just believe in myself and I believe we will get good training in. And, it will help having Sami there too.”

Loiselle’s training partner, Sami Jibril is making his marathon debut in Toronto. The 26 year old works the 3pm to 11pm shift installing and repairing street car lines for the Toronto Transit Commission.

“I am definitely aware of the Olympic standard,” says Jibril. “However, my goal for Toronto Waterfront, in my debut, is to run the best race I can and the rest will take care of itself.

“Matt and I do train three days a week when we can but not always, due to shift changes mainly on my part. However, we both have to do what we have to do in terms of getting miles in the legs. There is no short cut to a marathon.”

Competitive fields and a fast course await the entrants and when it is over will two new Canadian champions be crowned? The prospects of a memorable day are immense.

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For more information and to run with Canada’s best marathoners:

http://www.stwm.ca

Jun 16 2015
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Krista DuChene to race Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on the road to Rio. By Paul Gains

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It gives us ENORMOUS pleasure to announce that Krista DuChene will be on the start line at STWM — vying for overall as well as National Championship honours, chasing records, and moving inexorably towards an Olympic dream. In SO many ways Krista captures the spirit of the marathon, of what can be achieved by dedication, determination and great courage. As a marathoner, as a mom, as a nutritionist, as a Canadian hero, Krista is a great inspiration to all. Never give up! Never quit! Even against great odds. We’re thrilled she’ll be on that Start Line with us all on October 18th. 

Enjoy Paul’s feature, and stay in touch with @kristaduchene on Twitter and on Instagram. #ShareTheJourney to #STWM. #InItTogether  –Alan (Brookes), Race Director

TORONTO June 16th 2015. A little over a year has passed since Krista DuChene struggled across the finish line of the Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal with what would be diagnosed as a broken femur – a potentially career ending injury.

Yet, this 38 year old mother of three is now poised to represent Canada at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

On April 12th of this year DuChene finished 3rd at the Rotterdam Marathon with a time of 2:29:38 beating the Olympic standard by twelve seconds.

The miraculous comeback has afforded her the luxury of going into her next marathon, not having to chase standards, but to run the race the way she wants to. Accordingly, the Brantford, Ontario native has chosen to run the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon October 18th.

The event is the only IAAF Gold Label marathon in Canada and this year will also serve as the Athletics Canada National Championship Marathon.

“You know it’s an absolute wonderful feeling to have that standard so early in the qualifying period,” she declares, “and just to be able to sit back and reflect, and let it soak in, and make wise decisions moving forward, as opposed to panicking and thinking ‘oh what race am I going to do now to get the standard.’

“But, at the same time, I am not taking that for granted. Certainly we do have a couple of women who are making their mark and I have to watch out for them if they do run faster than my 2:29:38.”

Krista DuChene Blog 2DuChene is fully aware that she has beaten the odds, so to speak, being much nearer to 40 than most of her competitors and being able to recover from an extraordinary fracture. There surely were times where she wondered about her future as an elite marathon runner.

“You know it all comes down to my faith, everyday,” DuChene explains. “I knew it was part of a bigger plan. I had peace in the hospital. I had my share of crying. That was difficult but, not once did I have this fear or panic that something better wouldn’t come of it. I didn’t know what it would be.

“I said, the day after surgery, it would take two years to run my next marathon. Two days after surgery I knew I could do it in one year. I didn’t think I would get the standard on my first try; I was fully mentally prepared for three tries. I think that is why my recovery from Rotterdam was longer this time. Physically I was fine but emotionally, just understanding and reflecting on the significance of the previous year, was pretty hard to grasp. So I really needed to take the time to emotionally recover from it in a good year.”

The decision to run Toronto and forego an opportunity to represent Canada at either the Pan American Games or the World Championships in Beijing was a difficult one for the athlete and her coach, Rick Mannen. They consulted and reflected and ultimately decided that she should completely recover from Rotterdam and build up gradually for a fall marathon. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was a natural choice.

The Toronto race has been good to her. It was the scene of her assault on Sylvia Ruegger’s then 28 year old Canadian record of 2:28:36 in 2013. Though she did dip under the time with her 2:28:32 personal best she was beaten to the line by Lanni Marchant’s 2:28:00.  And, she doesn’t have to think long and hard for reasons to return to the event.

“There are numerous things I can say I love about the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon,” DuChene reveals. “Number one (race director) Alan Brookes and his amazing Canada Running Series team. I call it my home marathon because it is close in distance; I don’t need to travel. Family and friends are close, the crowd is fun. The comfort and the familiarity of the race, the international field, it’s our national championship and it’s an IAAF Gold Label event. That’s probably more than a half dozen reasons.

“There’s no pressure for me to hit a certain time. At the same time, I can maybe go for a faster time and be a bit more risky with that. I still tend to be an even paced, conservative, runner going out at a pace I think I can hold to the end. The nice thing after making the decision to not do a summer marathon I just kind of went right back to the bottom and I am going to slowly build a base and get my routine back, thin out the sweets a bit, increase the mileage and intensity in a really gradual way.”

Two of her three children are currently in school and the youngest, at 4, will start school next September which will give her a little more freedom. For the past several years she has risen at 5:00 a.m., even in the coldest winter months, to run before her husband Jonathan, leaves for work. Then she would often run on the treadmill at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre while her daughter was in childcare on site.

With the luxury of building up for Toronto ever so gradually DuChene could well be in a position to beat her personal best and challenge Marchant’s national record. The Rotterdam performance was inhibited somewhat by windy conditions and the lack of a pacemaker for the latter stages of the race. She’s proven she can beat the odds time and time again. Maybe a record is in the cards October 18th.

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For further information and to register to run with Krista, visit www.STWM.ca