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

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

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

iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn�t – Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun because it�s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter , Alberta

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

iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

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

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

iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

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

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

iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall , Alberta

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

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

iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston , Alberta

iRun because I can�t dance – Mario Javier , Ontario

iRun so I don�t say never ever again – Linda Klaric , Manitoba

iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur , Quebec

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

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

iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy , Ontario

iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur , British Columbia

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

iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop , Yukon

iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter , Alberta

iRun because otherwise I�m grumpy – Alexandre Charest , Quebec

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

iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang , Alberta

iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey , New Brunswick

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

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

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

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan , Alberta

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

iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour , Ontario

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

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

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

iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin , Manitoba

iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith , Manitoba

iRun because it�s fun when it�s done – Sue Matte , Ontario

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

iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas , New York

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

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

iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston , Nunavut

iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan , Ontario

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

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

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

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

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn�t – Peter Cicalo , Ontario

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Still waters run deep: Beneath Simon Whitfield's calm surface lies an unrivaled intensity. Just don't get in his way at the pool.

By Mark Sutcliffe

Simon Whitfield comes across as mild-mannered and self-deprecating. He smiles a lot. But that's Simon Whitfield in an interview. You don't see Simon Whitfield when he's training.

"I'm an emotional trainer," says Whitfield, the gold medalist in the 2000 Olympic triathlon.

And he doesn't just mean he's intense and likes to train hard. "No, I've had my shoving matches at the track," says Whitfield. "And Colin Jenkins and I tried to drown each other one time."

Clash of the (not so) titans

According to Whitfield, he and Jenkins, also an elite Canadian triathlete, bumped into each other a few times during a training exercise in the pool.

"We were each 150 pounds soaking wet, so it was a pathetic fight," says Whitfield. "And we were laughing about it five minutes later."

Whitfield says he also once threw a pull buoy at another fellow athlete and realized his mistake right away.

"Someone said, 'You can't do that.' And I said, 'I know.'"

Whitfield says he doesn't know what gets into him sometimes, but that competitive fire is probably what sustained him through a two-year transformation in which he hired a new coach and rededicated himself to improving his performance, especially at swimming.

"If I was a hockey team, that would have been a rebuilding phase," says Whitfield, a native of Kingston, Ontario who now lives in Victoria, B.C.

Tuning out the ego

Like other experienced triathletes moving into their 30s, Whitfield briefly considered working without a coach. But he decided he needed someone who was more demanding of him than he would be of himself.

"There's a common theme among guys as they get older," says Whitfield. "The classic line is, 'I know what I'm doing.' You get older and your ego says to you, 'I've got this covered. I'm a self-directed athlete.'

"Some guys like that are too smart for their own good. They shed that accountability and they answer only to themselves. But you're never as demanding on yourself."

The result has been one of the best years of his career. So far in 2007, Whitfield has won three World Cup events, is second overall in the standings, and has qualified for his third trip to the Olympics next year in China.

Whitfield says his coach, Joel Filiol, provides the perfect balance because he's unemotional. And he's helped Whitfield improve his times in what has always been his weakest sport: swimming.

"It used to be that if you weren't a good swimmer, you could make it up in the bike or the run," says Whitfield. But now, the athletes who are first out of the water are strong enough to maintain their lead, he says. "So I've invested the last two years in getting better at swimming so I could put myself back into the front of the race."

"It's a billion-dollar industry. And there are still guys who make nothing."

Under a new program announced last week, Canadian athletes will now be given cash for every medal they win at the Olympics, up to $20,000 for a gold. Whitfield isn't against the idea, but is not sure how effective it will be.

"I'm really torn about it," he says. "I think it's a great step, but I also don't think it's an incentive. If I'm a young athlete, I'm not going to put my life on hold and skip university because I think I'll get $20,000."

While he has no complaints about his own situation or the support of Triathlon Canada, which he says should be the model for other sports governing bodies, he points out that most Olympic athletes are still struggling to make ends meet.

"It's a billion-dollar industry," says Whitfield. "And there are still guys who make nothing."

Regardless of what happens in Beijing, Whitfield will be remembered for the dramatic fashion in which he won the gold medal in Sydney. He was one of several riders who crashed during the bike portion of the race, but he recovered and caught up to the lead pack, before pulling away during the run.

"When I chased the lead group down, I realized I had just pulled something off that I didn't think I could do," says Whitfield. That gave him the confidence that winning the race was possible. "The crash actually ended up being a positive thing."

"It was like, what now?"

It was a historic and surprising win. But reaching the pinnacle of his sport at age 25, says Whitfield, was a mixed blessing. "Winning the Olympic gold was definitely a double-edged sword," he says. "It was like, what now? I had to find ways to remotivate myself."

Eight years later, after winning another gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 but finishing 11th in the 2004 Olympics, Whitfield says he has no trouble finding motivation.

"Now, my motto is: I'm going to get my damn medal back."

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