24 hours after finishing the Boston Marathon and earning a PB, Winnie Lai, 46, reflects back on four years ago when she attempted her first long run with her husband. “We had a course mapped out for 34K, and my husband Derek wanted to have a 45 minute buffer, so he started out first,” says Lai, whose children are 16 and 19-years-old. “2K away from home I caught up with him and I was like, ‘Oh, Derek, were you waiting?’ He says: ‘No, I’m trying to run home!’ So I passed him and called dibs on the first shower.”  That competitive edge mixed with fun and companionship has been a hallmark o ..read more

Monday will be my 20th consecutive Boston Marathon because I decided not to go in 2004. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I regret it. I went back in 2005 because my mother qualified for her first Boston at age 65.  I have been going ever since. I qualified for my first Boston Marathon at the National Capital Marathon in 2002. Back then if you crossed the finish line under the qualifying time you knew were in. You could even wait until February to see how the training was going before you entered. A lot has changed since then. When I ran my first Boston, I was so excited ..read more

When someone comes into your lane on the track it’s an automatic disqualification in the shorter distances. But what does a marathoner do when love comes into his lane? Do you try to outsprint the emotion leaving it behind or do you let it pace you to the finish? The beauty of the marathon is that it has no end. Sure you cross the finish line but what comes after, all those emotions, the feelings of accomplishment or the lessons learned along the way are things you carry with you into the marathon of life.  I’ve never had a marathon build go so fast. This season I had to share my focus ..read more

I was called chicken when I first got into running. Then what was supposed to be a one and done thing, led to so much more and it gave me a reason to run and give back. Some people can’t run. I am fortunate, and often we take that for granted. I run for a different charity every year at next month’s Servus Calgary Marathon. I’ve raised over $30,000 for charity. I love to run and how it makes me feel and I want to use that power and emotion to help other people. I know I am lucky to be able to do what I love. In the last few years, I have let my peers choose what I raise money for. This year ..read more

The 128th Boston Marathon is April 15, and it’s one of the six Abbot World Marathon Majors—the most prestigious six races for amateur runners all over the world.  But, when every one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, New York City, Chicago, Berlin & London—is the ‘race of a lifetime,’ how can you rank one over another?  These six have been chosen from hundreds of marathons worldwide to be the gold standard of races. I’ve run them all and was awarded the coveted six-star medal in 2021. As of November 2023, only 563 other Canadians have this medal of achieveme ..read more

The delicious new non-alcohol flavour of Athletic Brewing is called Personal Record, and it’s a collaboration between the brewery and IRONMAN. It’s our new favourite drink for spring and here’s where you can buy it. Containing tropical hops and mango, Personal Record is fresh and crisp and the combination profile behind the IPA is thirst-quenching and unique.  As part of our second year of collaborating with Athletic Brewing, iRun is pleased to offer a sample of their new portfolio at our event in Toronto for the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and Otto’s Power Crew at BlackToe Running on ..read more

Keith Strachan is training for his first half marathon in Barrie, Ontario in June. On the cusp of his 40th birthday, Strachan goes to the gym three times a week, runs a publicly traded company and uses CBD as part of his work-life balance. “CBD is something I use to destress and relax,” says Strachan, whose MediPharm Labs makes a variety of pharmacy-quality CBD products, including CBD50 oil, Relax Wildberry soft chews and CBD Olive Oil formula. “I find CBD a calming product for the same reason I like to stay physically fit as a busy business professional—our product helps you unwind and destr ..read more

I almost cancelled Sunday’s race because of what’s going to happen after it. Recently I was diagnosed with a large kidney tumour and it never sunk in, but what happened was the operation date kept getting closer. I wasn’t thinking about it. I was busy. Except: sometimes I couldn’t sleep. And my friends and parents began to worry, which was lovely, but also I didn’t want to upset my kids. A desire overcame me to not do anything. Clear all plans. Answer no phone calls. Basically: hide, and quietly await what was coming. My running partner told me not to do that. Deciding to run Around the Bay f ..read more

Growing up in a small town, sports weren’t exactly my thing. Sure, I tried volleyball and basketball in middle school, mainly because my friends were into it, but it was more about the social scene than the game itself. Fast forward to adulthood, and a move from the quiet of Northern Ontario to the hustle and bustle of Toronto and I somehow fell into the running crowd. Suddenly, everyone I knew was training for races, planning running vacations, and sharing stories of epic runs that seemed more like adventures. I was mesmerized by their dedication. If you’re a longtime reader of iRun, you mig ..read more

Lowell Greib is the founder of the SportLab, which offers performance medicine to a galaxy of professional athletes, and he’s been writing a Guide for Racing Tips for iRun. This is his first instalment. Lowell also helps train middle of the pack runners and, as medical coordinator of the Toronto Marathon on May 5, he has lots of ideas on how to train smart, and train safe. Here’s part II of our our four part series on how to get you ready for spring race season. Incorporate Cross-Training Adding cross-training activities, such as swimming, cycling, or strength training, to your marathon ..read more