iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk , Vancouver, BC

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava , Calgary, AB

iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel , Calgary, AB

iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishment – Helen Kolodziejzyk , Calgary, AB

iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw , New Westminister, BC

iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris , Winnipeg, MB

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan , Brampton, ON

iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua , Caledon, ON

iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh , Nottingham, UK

iRun because I live – Georges Schneller , Laval, QC

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter , Clearwater , BC

iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt , Halifax, NS

iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friend – Nathalie Joncas-Caissie , St-Antoine, NB

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette , Carp, ON

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling , Ottawa , ON

iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley , Stittsville, ON

iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve , Ottawa, ON

iRun for me – Kiza Francis , Ottawa,ON

iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan , Brampton, ON

iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker , Etobicoke, ON

iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier , Gatineau, QC

iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch , Ottawa, ON

iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham , Avonmore, ON

iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre , Ottawa, ON

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan , Ottawa, ON

iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil , Lombardy, ON

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Toronto Marathon
October 19, 2008

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I'm Evan Solomon and iRun

Name: Evan Solomon
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Resides: Toronto, Ontario
Age: 40
Occupation: Writer and broadcaster, co-host of CBC News: Sunday and Sunday Night

Whether it's on a warship in the Persian Gulf or on his regular route through Toronto, Evan Solomon manages to fit running into his busy schedule at least four times a week. But as long as he stays in his current job, you won't see him at a race on a Sunday morning. I always ran, but I was never a runner. I always did it as kind of a necessary evil. It was part of playing sports: you just ran to keep in shape.

I really started to enjoy running in my late 30s.I guess it took me a while to be old enough to get the patience for it. Until then, I really didn't understand the zen of jogging. Later in life I realized that I really enjoy the rhythm of it, the being outside.

I probably run four times a week, sometimes more. I leave the house at 6:15 a.m., I'm back home at 7:30 a.m. The kids have to be woken up and I have to take them to school. There's almost zero deviation from that routine.

That's a great time to run because it's early. You see the mist, you see the day begin. In the winter it's dark. You see all the seasons at that time of the day. When you have kids, you suddenly realize how amazing solitude is. It becomes a really important part of the day to be that quiet, to be that alone. When I run alone, it's a totally different experience than running with a friend.

I run regularly with a guy that I've known for more than 20 years, Andrew Heintzman. We started Shift Magazine together in the early 90s. We've written two books together. His son is my godson and my son is his godson.

We talk about everything. It's a really important part of our lives, because we work very closely together on a number of different projects. We talk about our history in business, we talk about our passions, we solve problems. It's always an interesting conversation. A lot of ideas come up on those runs. Those are good runs.

I travel a lot, so running is a great, efficient way to stay in shape. I see a whole lot of new cities. I've run in all the cities across Canada. I love running in the old port in Montreal. I love running in Stanley Park in Vancouver. Running around the harbour in Victoria is an awesome run. In Halifax, you can run right around the Citadel.

I did a morning jog on the deck of the HMCS Charlottetown, which is a Canadian frigate in the Persian Gulf. We got up at six o'clock with the elite boarding crew and we jogged around the helicopter deck. It's 6:00 a.m., you're in the Persian Gulf, 40 kilometres off the coast of Iran, and you're jogging.

Every time I go to Las Vegas, I love jogging the strip at 7:30 in the morning. I'm like the only guy there. People are still gambling and I'm jogging the strip. They look at me like I'm the biggest nerd in history. What are you doing in Las Vegas jogging? It's the place where you do everything but that.

On my show, I have a producer and a cameraman that I run with a lot. We've run in a dozen countries together. One day we were in Washington. That night, we ran down the full Washington Mall, from the Abraham Lincoln memorial to the House of Representatives. The sun was going down as we ran past the Vietnam Memorial. We were giving my producer the full tour while we were running.

Literally at the top of the stairs at the House of Representatives, the sun was setting on the other side. And a marine band started playing the national anthem. It was like it was choreographed. Even though we were there for only a day-and-a-half, that made the trip special. I don't do a lot of races. My problem for the past seven years is that I work Sundays. I'm live Sunday mornings. Every race is a Sunday. One day, when I stop working weekends, I'd love to do a couple of races. But now, my life on weekends is essentially booked. What am I going to do? That's the way it goes.

My life is so often in fast forward because they're sending me to a place and I have to come and go so quickly. I find a run is a way to stay healthy. In a world where you're jetting in and jetting out, it's a way to reconnect to a sense of place. It's a way to slow down your life and see the world a bit.

I played hockey last night and I got hammered on my knee. I've been icing it for three-and-a-half hours. All I could think about is: Will I be able to run? I'm icing my knee as we speak. All I'm thinking is, I'm screwed for running. It's a big part of my life.