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iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun to eat Maureen Tritscher, Alberta

iRun to inspire my kids to tryGlen Johnston, Nunavut

iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! Cathy Brzoza, British Columbia

iRun because I liveGeorges Schneller, Laval, QC

iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids Catherine Empey, British Columbia

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

iRun whenever I feel the need to escape Iona Hillis, Ontario

iRun iRun because it's cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter, Alberta

iRun because iEat Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun because there is no finish line Claire Kilgour, Ontario

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

iRun because running is like breathing to Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario

iRun to prove to them that iCan Catherine Smith, Manitoba

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sonsKeith Bradbury, Newfoundland

iRun for meKiza Francis, Ottawa,ON

iRun because it makes me whole Denis Ladouceur, Quebec

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings meMichelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON

iRun iRun because walking is too slow Barry Knapp, Ontario

iRun because when I run I feel most aliveMeghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON

iRun iRun for me! Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan

iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brainMarie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia

iRun iRun because it's a great stress release Brooke McKenzie, Yukon

iRun because I love the solitude Janene Tailleur, British Columbia

iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter, Alberta

iRun iRun to kickstart my day Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment Amber Moase, Nova Scotia

iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly Jennifer Pitts, Ontario

iRun because I never thought I would be able toGary Morris, Winnipeg, MB

iRun iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia

iRun iRun because it's better than almost everything else Nathan Carey, Ontario

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

iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was Hanna Baer, Quebec

iRun iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia

iRun because food tastes better afterwards Patrick Houston, Alberta

iRun iRun because I like to be healthy Melanie Oickle, New Brunswick

iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun slowly! Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

iRun iRun all the livelong day Pierre Saint-Laurent, Québec

iRun iRun because i love to Mirella Petriello, Ontario

iRun because it has saved my life John Marshall, Alberta

iRun because I can and I’m gratefulTerry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC

iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia

iRun for overall wellbeingTrish McCourt, Halifax, NS

iRun to stay ahead of the weight gainMyra Abstreiter, Alberta

iRun iRun away from the abyss Charlene Thomas, Ontario

iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge Tim Nixon, British Columbia

iRun because it gets my husband out there Tricia LaLonde, Alberta

iRun because people around me inspire mePina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON

iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't Peter Cicalo, Ontario

iRun for the cool t-shirts! Pina Bevilacqua, Ontario

iRun iRun to inspire my children! Wendy Bowen, Manitoba

iRun because it makes me feel powerfulCarlene Paquette, Carp, ON

iRun because I get foot rubs afterward Kate Howerton, British Columbia

iRun so I don’t say never ever again Linda Klaric, Manitoba

iRun to someday win the race Lindy Dunlop, Yukon

iRun therefore I amDuncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK

iRun iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin Charlyn McGregor, Saskatchewan

iRun slowly!Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

iRun away from the negative and towards the positive Teri Lepard, Alberta

iRun because endorphins are freeCassandra Chouinard, Ontario

iRun for health, iRun for life Pat Cheung, British Columbia

iRun iRun to correct years of sedentary living! Mike Scott, Ontario

iRun because otherwise I’m grumpy Alexandre Charest, Quebec

iRun because I learn more about who I am with every kmSteph Mansell, Quebec

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

iRun iRun for the individual pursuit Robert Pelletier, New Brunswick

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

iRun because I’ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun Cheryl Kelly, Ontario

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

iRun because it makes me feel powerful Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta

iRun iRun to challenge my perceived limitations Cassandra Williams, Ontario

iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground Catherine Anderson, British Columbia

iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km Steph Mansell, Quebec

iRun because iLoves my man Beverly Huang, Alberta

iRun iRun because endorphins are free Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario

iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be Monique Lavoie, Ontario

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

iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live Pascale Synnott, Québec

iRun because couch potatoes die young Cathy Andrew, Ontario

iRun see where my feet will take me todayMegan Dolinskas, New York

iRun because I can’t dance Mario Javier, Ontario

iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy Sara Campbell, Nova Scotia

iRun to unleash my inner athleteAdelle Densham, Avonmore, ON

iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger Derek MacPhail, Ontario

iRun because not everyone can Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick

iRun because it’s in meMichael Foley, Stittsville, ON

iRun because it’s a great way to see the world Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia

iRun because it’s like flying, only lower Glenn Johnson, Ontario

iRun but not enoughMichael Shaw, New Westminister, BC

iRun to prove to myself I canLesley McGougan, Brampton, ON

iRun so my daughters know that they can, too Shelley Kirkpatrick, New Brunswick

iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther Steven Matejka, Alberta

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing meTeresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentallyKathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON

iRun iRun because couch potatoes die young Cathy Andrew, Ontario

iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me Andrei Lucaciu, Ontario

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn’t Peter Cicalo, Ontario

iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit Lisa Groulx, Ontario

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphinsLiliana Plava, Calgary, AB

iRun because my heart tells me to William Martin, Manitoba

iRun iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries Joanna Skomra, Ontario

iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state Tammy Rainville, Ontario

iRun iRun to feel great Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland

iRun because I want to live to be 100! Colette DeJean, Ontario

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

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful countryCheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC

iRun iRun because I like buying running clothes Pamela Blaikie, Ontario

iRun iRun because iEat Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun because it’s fun when it’s done Sue Matte, Ontario

iRun to my happy place and some days it’s very Doreen May, Alberta

iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul Sonia Mendes, Ontario

iRun iRun because it sure beats the bus Robin Robbins, Alberta

iRun because the wall is meant to be broken Jonathan Bird, Ontario

iRun because it’s better than almost everything else Nathan Carey, Ontario

iRun so I can eat ice cream Sandy Bolan, Ontario

iRun because I like buying running clothes Pamela Blaikie, Ontario


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Photo of Mark Sutcliffe's new book - Why I Run
  In This Issue
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Tania Jones on balancing family and athletic goals

Does fitting in a regular running schedule on top of all your other responsibilities seem impossible?

Is trying to squeeze in a training program for a marathon around a marriage, kids and a job stressing you out?

Follow the example of one of Canada’s top marathoners, Tania Jones. Nobody can speak from experience like she can. Just a few months after the birth of her second child, Jones is striving through careful planning and management to find the ideal balance between training, work and family. And she still holds on to the dream of a PB sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Jones balances the household responsibilities of a young family, the duties of a successful career with a major pharmaceutical company and the training demands of an elite athlete. She shares with us her advice for fitting it all into your busy life.

The life of an athlete

We are all asking, how do I achieve a high level in more than one aspect of my life? A professional needs to perform like an athlete. I have found that my fitness level actually helps me perform better in the other parts of my life. I simply have the energy to do more.

I’ve seen the clock of the elite athlete who focuses only on athletics. I’ve never chosen to have that life and now I’ve decided that I don’t want that anyway. I’m choosing to have these other parts of my life as well.

I spend time looking at how all the different components of my life fit together: mother, wife, career, community, athlete. I consider how all these different components are going to fit together. My job requires a certain number of hours a day. I want to spend time with my kids. I want to do all these things. All the goals in each area must be compatible for it to work. Plus, we want to have some down time and have fun as a family.

"I’ve seen the clock of the elite athlete who focuses only on athletics... I don’t want that."

Choosing to let some things go

I have made choices to maintain this complicated life. We don’t spend time watching television.
I no longer race in exciting far away places. We don’t travel to my races as a family as much anymore and instead focus more on Canadian races closer to home. With my first son, we traveled with him a lot in the first year. We started out saying, we’re going to experience this together, now I travel to races alone.

I used to go train with a track club training group two to three times per week. Now I almost always run by myself. I don’t train on a beautiful track. I train on a dirt track full of weeds because it is on my way home from work. It gets a bit lonely now. But that’s one of the choices I make to be more efficient.

Everything has its cycle

I put an emphasis on different parts of my life at different times of the year. I call it periodization. I don’t train for a marathon in the winter when there’s less daylight and the cold is hard on my body. As a result, I won’t be ready for a marathon in April.

Career is always intense. It doesn’t have periodization. I don’t have down cycles at work anymore. I can’t expect to have up and down cycles. I fit other things around work.

To maintain high performance, I have found that I need to build in down time for recovery and regeneration. This has allowed me to stay competitive in the sport for over 20 years.

"It’s okay not to be with your kids 100% of the time"

Planning for more than just training

You have to find some way to be strategic in each role. In our house, we’re looking
for simpler ways to do things. This creates time for the activities we love.

For me, this includes building the perfect team. I always search out the best expertise. My list of experts who have helped me includes physicians, therapists, chiropractors, exercise physiologists, chefs and a cleaning service.

I have to be really discerning about who’s part of the team. For massage therapy,
I need someone who will come to the house since I can’t leave the boys.

It’s also anticipating problems before they happen. That’s at work, with kids,
with life in general. Maintaining the car properly or having the right babysitter. The
little details save time and effort in the long run.

It’s also being realistic about things. I try to look realistically at life rather than attempting to meet an ideal. For example, it’s okay not to be with your kids 100% of the time. It’s about quality time not quantity and about being a good role model. I have created my own unique vision of success.

  WEB EXTRA:  Tania´s tips to build the right team around you.
  WEB EXTRA:  How Tania has conquered the modern cooking crisis.

 

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