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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Simon Says...Oh, he can cycle and swim, but running is Simon Whitfield's favourite sport. As the 2000 Olympic gold medalist prepares to reclaim his glory in Beijing, he takes a few minutes to talk to iRunNation. In the first of a regular series of contributions to iRun, Simon gives us tips on training, music, books and websites, and takes us inside his new training shed.
"I certainly like running the most. Nothing beats going for a run with the boys. We'll run by Thetis Lake and I'll say, "We're at church." We'll run up into the mountains and I'll be at 7,000 feet and I'm with the boys, and that's just the greatest. Give me the latest Iron and Wine song on my iPod and I can run for two hours and it goes by like nothing." Read this:Wharton StretchingI don't do a lot of stretching in the "hold for 30 seconds" kind of way. But I like this approach. Phil and his dad are kind of the pioneers of the rope stretching, where you go for less than two seconds per stretch. And Phil is great. He's just got the most infectious, joyous attitude. I recommend getting into a light routine of that kind of stretching. Go to whartonperformance.com. Brain TrainingHe's got a lot of ploymetrics in there. And a lot of core activity drills. Our whole squad just kind of passed that book around. And our coach, who is a big skeptic, gave it his seal of approval. His blog is just fantastic. Listen to this:I know most people like to listen to head-banging stuff, but I like the slow, folksy stuff like Iron and Wine, Craig Cardiff, Blue Rodeo and Hawksley Workman. Anything with a slow drawl to it. If somebody comes and borrows my treadmill, they usually change the CD pretty quickly. Follow these tips:Don't go lower frequency, higher intensity. One of the most common mistakes I've seen is people who run only three times a week but they run super hard to get the most out of it. They're thinking more quality and less frequency. But I think their legs are saying, "What the hell are you doing? You pound me for an hour and a half and then I get a day off and then you do it to me again." Instead of three one-hour runs, I'd much rather see someone do six or seven 20-minute runs. I do 30 minutes almost every day. My tendons and my joints seem to appreciate it. I don't get tight or injury-prone. Walk barefoot in a grass field. It strengthens your feet. We'll get together and walk around barefoot and then maybe kick a soccer ball around. It's great for your feet. Don't turn running into a high-stress hobby: Keep it in balance. Find that joy of running again. Make sure what you're doing is sustainable. Otherwise, you'll run for one year or two and then drop it. When you train at 120 per cent, you're going to pay back that 20 per cent at some point. I try to be very consistent and not overstretch myself. Don't be a stickler for distance or time: In our group, I pioneered this thing called "ish." I'll swim 3k-ish. It's a great mental break for me to not be precise. For most of the fall and winter, I'm not concerned with "minite-mizing." If I'm at the end of a run and I haven't made my time yet, I'm not going to run around the block three times to get a full hour in. But at the same time, if I feel good, I may go a bit longer.
Check out my shed:"I like to think my competition is not doing this." Check out my training program:Monday: Either a day off or a 30 to 40-minute super light run, nice and slow. I run about 13 days out of 14. When I take a day off, it's a Monday. Speedwork:
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