Making a running playlist takes me longer than the actual run itself. Some people pick songs based on having the beat match their pace, some listen to only podcasts, some don’t listen to music at all. I make playlists based on my planned workout; certain songs just scream “hill repeats,” “speed” or “long runs.” When a new album drops, my go-to move is to give it a test run – literally. But with an injury sidelining me, I’m living vicariously through Taylor Swift’s latest release, “The Tortured Poets Department” (TTPD), imagining where each track will fit into my playlists when I’m back out th ..read more

Clarence Hung ran 2:38 in his marathon debut. He’s 29-years-old. He has never taken a sip of alcohol and he almost always runs—inspired by Cam Levins—more than 150 kilometres-per-week. He doesn’t often run very slowly. He wants to win the Toronto Marathon.  You are not Clarence Hung.  However, self-coached, his approach to training offers pointers for us all.  “I’m not invincible. I fear the worst,” says Hung, a data analyst aiming to finish the Toronto Marathon next month—in first place—in 2:33. “What drives me to train hard is imagining race day. I train hard so race day is e ..read more

The sixty runners assembled by iRun and MediPharm Labs at the Miss Jones shop on Fort York Boulevard in Toronto for 4/20—the international cannabis holiday—were blown away by the vast array of CBD products. The runners, curious about minor non-intoxicating cannabinoids and fans of MediPharm Labs, looked over bottles of CBN oil and, among other things, soft chews with CBG to promote relaxation, and were amazed. Miss Jones isn’t exactly Healthy Planet. However, cannabis, as our attendees discovered, has more uses than the stereotypical jokes about Pink Floyd albums and video games. In an effort ..read more

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