Kiera Verbonac started her journey as a runner, then got the biking bug and tried out a duathlon.  After success in that category, she donned a wetsuit and now she trains like a beast in the triathlon. Kiera is an amazingly dedicated athlete who also happens to be hearing impaired. We talk about some of the challenges that come with that in her training and racing, none of which hold her back at all. She's also got a ton of great first-time triathlon tips for newbies!

Women Run Canada

EP 82. Kiera Verbonac

It's the Pride of the Rock: Newfoundland's Kate Bazeley! Kate holds the provincial record for the marathon, but don’t think she’s let that slow down her drive. This former Canadian Half Marathon Champion has been setting big goals, but at the same time balances the things in life that are most important to her: her family. Kate’s a firecracker and fueled by competitive spirit – we talk about some of her races and how she takes a wider view when it comes to injury and setbacks.

EP 81. Kate Bazeley

This is what it looks like when passionate, driven women work together to make change. The founders of Winning Within, Delilah Topic, Teagan MacDougall, Dhana and Samantha Cruikshank and Rachel Cliff join me to talk about the foundation's mission: encouraging positive body image self-acceptance and empowering women to find self-worth outside of sport.  We discuss their personal experiences and why they are so focused on helping to change the conversation for women in sport. 

EP 80. Winning Within

Polly Moody is a runner who takes a licking and keeps on ticking. She is a mother of two, a kindergarten teacher and one fast runner. She lives in Calgary but she has travelled all over chasing amazing race experiences and speedy courses. We talk about race day feels, and about some of her experiences chasing a sub-3 race. We dig into how she has been recovering from an ACL reconstruction the past few months and what that experience has really been like: the fears, the frustration, the sadness and the light at the end of the tunnel. 

EP 79. Polly Moody

People have been talking a lot about Tokyo hopeful Julie-Anne Staehli lately: she has been lighting up the track taking huge bites out of her PBs race after race, and has reached the elusive Olympic qualifying time in the 5000m. But this is no overnight success: Julie-Anne is the epitome of “rise and grind”. She’s been plugging the meter for years and is at that exciting moment in her career where she is watching it all come together. We talk about her time at Queen's, race tactics and staying in the moment, and her favourite way to beat the summer heat. 

EP 78. Julie-Anne Staehli

Co-host of the Inspired Soles Podcast, Carolyn Coffin interviews the amazing Masters' marathoner Paula Wiltse. Paula is a coach with Mile 2 Marathon, a mom, and one of a select few Canadian women who have run a sub-3-hour marathon over the age of 50. Paula shares what it takes to set and reach big goals as a masters athlete (spoiler alert: it takes dedication and hard work) and how she has supported her family through their own goals and through the pandemic. To unlock a lifetime of running like Carolyn, download the Runkeeper App today. 

Meet your Sheroes, Paula Wiltse

It seems really fitting that my guest on Global Running Day is Olivia Levy. Olivia embodies the spirit of community in running: she may only have been focusing on running and racing for a few years, but in that time she’s used her marketing savvy, desire to give back, and her bright and friendly personality to draw more awareness and inclusivity to our sport. She works with Runners of the Six, The Longest Stride podcast, and is an ambassador for Saucony and she's leaving a trail of joy for running everywhere she goes. You know I love that. 

EP 77. Olivia Levy

Yana Hempler is a marathon machine. Last year, she decided to run ten marathons in ten days to raise money for the Victoria Hospital Foundation. Right now, she’s back on the road fundraising again, working to complete an incredible 30 marathons in 30 days. Yana talked to me in between marathons and we dug into why she is so passionate about running and the Victoria Hospital Foundation. 

EP 76. Yana Hempler

Olympian Hilary Stellingwerff is a jack of all running trades. Her journey began on the track then lead her to the road. She became a mom which made her into an advocate for women in sport, and now she coaches at the University of Victoria. Hilary is brilliant and driven: she and her husband Trent are always working hard while saving space for flexibility which makes her so great at everything she does. We talk about everything from food poisoning to finding ways to wear out young kids. 

EP 75. Hilary Stellingwerff

Creator of @blackrunnersofthegta Melanie Murzeau interviews track and field legend, Valerie Jerome. From a long legacy of runners and Olympians, including brother Harry Jerome, Valerie is a huge part of the history of running in Canada. Not only does she hold multiple national and international medals, but she is also the only Canadian athlete to compete in five track and field events in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Pan-American Games. She remains an active teacher, community leader, and activist. To unlock a lifetime of running like Melanie, download the Runkeeper App today. 

Meet your Sheroes, Valerie Jerome

Madeline Price lives and trains in the United States but thanks to two Canadian parents, we get the privilege of claiming her for Team Canada. Maddy is a sprinter and 4x400 relay specialist who graduated from Duke University and still continues to support the team there as an assistant coach. Maddy was raised to be brave and take on challenges head on: she is relentlessly positive and always grateful. We talk about the challenge of staying relaxed while racing, why Canadian teammates are amazing, and how she is supporting the next generation of female track runners. 

EP 74. Madeline Price

Perdita Felicien is an Olympic hurdler and the first Canadian woman to win a gold medal at the World Championships in track and field. She is also a mom, television host, sports broadcaster, and now a national best-selling author. We talk all about "My Mother's Daughter" and about her upcoming dream gig co-hosting "Tokyo Today" with Andrew Chang. I also talk to Christine Roper, Olympic rower all about CAN Fund's #150Women program and why it's so exciting. 

EP 73. Perdita Felicien

Meet 100-metre hurdler, mother, and coach Nikkita Holder. Nikkita is a two-time Olympian and international medalist but her achievements on the track are just a fraction of who she is as a human. After splitting with her husband just months after her son was born, Nikkita had to navigate a whole new life for herself while pursuing her running goals. She is an inspiration to anyone who is trying to find their way through any kind of tough situation and a model of resilience, gratitude and kindheartedness. 

EP 72. Nikkita Holder

Heather Hennigar is a native of Halifax, but she now lives in Victoria and works as an Athletics Canada staff coach at the West High-Performance Hub with both able-bodied and para-athletes. Heather is a former Canadian record holder in the 4x800m relay, has traveled the world as an athlete and as a coach, and has become a pretty incredible role model for a whole lot of aspiring Olympians. We talk about coaching lessons from her brother, supporting athletes on the world stage, and a few of the magical moments along the way.

EP. 71 Heather Hennigar

Shana Goulbourne and Rachael Kalaba are the incredible creators of the Peg City Steppers: an inclusive crew for all levels that encourages people to keep active and find joy in movement. They created something that is truly incredible: supporting members in person but also embracing runners from across Canada by hosting online events to encourage connection and discussion. We talk about first race experiences, how they learned to love winter running, and our thoughts on Grey's Anatomy. 

EP 70. Peg City Steppers

Women Run Canada is a podcast that celebrates Canadian women runners from all walks of life and the community we create within this fantastic sport. Hosted by Kirsten Parker, this show is the perfect partner to get you inspired, laughing and best of all, gets you out running this beautiful country we call home.

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Women Run Canada

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