Molly Hurford has been writing basically since she could hold a pen. As an adult, she has paired her passion for sports and the outdoors with being a professional author who has written for various publications and published several books. She also supports cycle athletes as a mentor and podcaster at The Consummate Athlete with her partner, Peter Glassford. If that wasn't all enough, she has her own publishing company, Strong Girl Publishing, which shares the work of outstanding female athletes (recently Micha Powell!). Molly also writes the series Shred Girls, which helps encourage young girls to find their place in sport. Her whole work ethos is centred on women supporting women and creating role models for girls. We need more Molly Hurfords in our world.

Follow The Consummate Athlete @consummateathlete

Follow Molly @mollyjhurford

Follow Strong Girl Publishing @stronggirlpublishing

Find all of Strong Girl Publishing's books wherever you buy books or at https://stronggirlpublishing.com/ 

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause, February 22, 2025

On Saturday, February 22, join the cause at the Toronto Zoo, and move your paws to help one of the world’s most vulnerable species – polar bears! 2025 marks the 11th edition of Move Your Paws. There will be 5K and 1K distance options open to runners, walkers and wheelers of all ages and abilities. Bundle up and bring the whole family for a day of outdoor fun, fitness and fundraising! 

Visit www.canadarunningseries.com to register now!

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Ryan Chilibeck loves the run community, from elite athletes to first-timers. He is passionate about bringing everyone together and showing them what an amazing team sport running can be. Ryan founded East Van Run Crew, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024. Coming from a long history of loving both team sports and being outside in the ocean and the mountains, Ryan doesn't just participate on the roads and trails; he has built his career around it. Many of you west coasters have probably seen him hard at work at one of CRS West's events, still others know him as the person who brought together the Women's Marathon Group at this year's TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. We discuss that experience and how raising two girls challenged his views of raising active kids. Make sure you have a beverage because at the end of the episode we play a game of Never Have I Ever, and you can play too. 

Follow East Van Run Crew @eastvanruncrew

Follow Ryan @ryanmeatysauce

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EPISODE SPONSOR: CANADA RUNNING SERIES

Time is running out to lock in the best price for the 2025 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Whether you're gearing up for the 5K, Half Marathon, or Marathon, this is your moment to lock in your commitment before prices go up on Tuesday, December 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Visit www.canadarunningseries.com  for details and to register now.

Theme Song: Joseph McDade

Aristotle Domingo started life as an active kid, but his life took a dramatic turn in his twenties when he fell into a three-month-long coma and spent a year in the hospital battling sepsis and its life-altering aftermath. After a series of severe bone infections, he ultimately became a double below-knee amputee. 

His adaptability, positivity and relentless drive to embrace new challenges turned that chapter of his life into an opportunity for growth and new experiences. Today, he is a multi-sport athlete, focusing on blade road running and competes in the para wheelchair division of men's shot put in Track and Field. Recognizing the need for support in the amputee community, Aristotle founded the Amputee Coalition of Toronto, where he continues to educate and empower both people experiencing limb loss and the broader sports community on how to better support adaptive athletes. 

Follow Aristotle @ampu_TO

Amputee Coalition of Toronto https://www.facebook.com/amputeecoalitionTO/ 

The AmpuTO Show Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-amputo-show/id1522957731 

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Canada Running Series

The 2024 race season may have officially closed for Canada Running Series, but now is the perfect time to set your sights on new goals for 2025. The best part? Registration is already open for most of these events! Secure your early bird pricing and get motivated towards your next goal.

For more information and to register visit https://canadarunningseries.com/

Theme music: Joseph McDade

Today we are celebrating two Canadian charities that are working diligently to support Canadian youth in becoming and staying active in sport.

The Kickback Foundation's Kickback Run Club brings together community families for 20 weeks over the summer in both Scarborough and downtown Toronto. The program  provides relatable role models for youth and meaningful connections for mentors. In addition to the community runs, Kickback brings program participants to the next level by bringing them to the start line of races that they likely never would have seen without it.

Fast and Female’s goal is to empower girls through sport, physical activity and education. Through programming and step up opportunities, participants are provided with R.E.A.L. role models. As they progress through the program, they are encouraged to become role models for the participants that come after them. Leadership is built into every step to build a strong, active future for all of them.

If you are in a position to support these organizations, you can find them here:

Kickback Foundation @kickbackfoundation

https://linktr.ee/kickbackfoundation

Fast & Female @fastandfemale

https://fastandfemale.com/support/ 

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EPISODE SPONSOR: The party that was the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon this year was incredible - 30,000 runners over three events with Canada's official largest marathon all in the books. You can make sure you don't miss your chance to join in on the fun for 2025: registration is now open for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon and many other of CRS's iconic events. Visit www.canadarunningseries.com and plan YOUR next big start line. 

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Mirna Valerio is both an ultra trail runner and an ultra human. This former teacher is the author of A Beautiful Work in Progress, and is now able to devote herself full-time to being a speaker and advocate for health awareness, promoting diversity on the roads and trails, and inspiring others to find their joy on the run. Mirna is busy with a myriad of things, but you may have most recently heard her name when she participated in lululemon's initiative FURTHER which was a six-day challenge for ten athletes to find their new limits while being supported by resources and innovations that have often been reserved for male athletes. So dive in and let the Mirnavator inspire you to reach for your next adventure. 

Follow Mirna @themirnavator

Order a copy of her book https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/a-beautiful-work-in-progress/9781503943391.html 

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EPISODE SPONSOR: The party that was the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon this year was incredible - 30,000 runners over three events with Canada's official largest marathon all in the books. You can make sure you don't miss your chance to join in on the fun for 2025: registration is now open for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon and many other of CRS's iconic events. Visit www.canadarunningseries.com and plan YOUR next big start line. 

Theme music: Joseph McDade

Anyone who knows me knows I love shiny, happy people who bring a bit more sunshine to the world just by being in it. Lauren Roberts is one of those people, but she's also so much more than that. She is a kick-butt entrepreneur who created The Running Physio: a place where runners in the GTA can go to help them enjoy their sport longer, more comfortably and more safely. Lauren's story starts with a speedy young girl feeling the good vibes from early successes that led her to some really cool experiences as an adult, both in triathlon and marathon racing. 

Lauren is bringing her sunny self and MANY years of wisdom to the speaker stage at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo on Saturday, October 19, from 5-5:45 PM. She will both answer questions live from the crowd and advance submissions. 

YOU can submit your questions by DM to any of the following:

@runcanadapodcast

@the_running_physio

@towaterfront42K 

If you can't attend the expo in person, follow the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon to learn how to participate. 

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Theme Music: Joseph McDade

How does an entrepreneur take a passion for supporting women and girls in sports and pair it with a love for research and technology? By starting a women's specific shoe company! Join me for a conversation with Lindsay Housman, founder and CEO of Hettas, as she shares her journey to creating a line of shoes researched and designed to support women runners and create longevity in the sport. Lindsay is not just designing footwear; she's cultivating an environment where women can run longer and stronger, fostering deeper connections within their communities. This, in turn, paves the way for more women to become role models for the next generation of girls in sports. Don't miss this inspiring conversation, which will have you thinking about your experiences as a runner... and your own feet. 

Find a full nerd out conversation on all of the studies and technology that have gone into creating Hettas by listening to this episode of The Nitty Gritty Podcast with Jess O'Connell: https://tinyurl.com/yckbby6x 

Follow Hettas on Instagram @wear_hettas or find them at www.hettas.ca

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EPISODE SPONSOR: TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The countdown is on to the biggest, brightest party on the streets of Toronto! There is no better way to start your race weekend off on the right foot than to join me at the Expo Speaker Stage at the Enercare Centre on October 18 & 19, 2024. With an incredible line up of speakers and panels, there is something for everyone. For a full stage schedule, watch www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com and follow on Instagram @towaterfront42K. I can't wait to see you there!

Title Music: Joseph McDade

This week, we travel back to the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Speaker Stage to hear from Frontrunners Toronto. An institution of Toronto's Gay Village, this run crew's goal is to welcome every runner regardless of who they are or how fast they run. Trevor McGrath moderates this panel of members who share their experiences with this beautiful community of runners and what it means to them to have this family they choose. You can join Frontrunners Toronto and experience the community for yourself: visit their Instagram @frontrunnerstoronto for their run schedule and special events. 

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EPISODE SPONSOR: TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront full and half marathons may be sold out, but you can still register for the 5K on Saturday, October 19. Join the FREE expo on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19, for all the excitement and to watch some amazing speakers at the Speaker Stage. Watch @towaterfront42K for speaker details (coming soon) and visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com to register for the 5K. 

Theme Music by Joseph McDade

Briana Scott started her athletic career playing volleyball at McGill University. After that, she continued her schooling, stayed fit and flirted a bit with running half marathons and other fun races. However,  her true love was found when she joined Mile2Marathon in her home province of British Columbia. She found out she was fast. And then she found out that the track was a really good time. A lot of passion and a dedicated postpartum comeback saw Briana making two national teams in 2023 and landing herself a spot on the start line of the 5000 metres in Paris. But it takes a village to make an Olympic dream possible, and Briana shares some of what it took to make hers happen. 

Follow Briana @_briana_scott

Connect with Coach Briana at Mile2Marathon @mile2marathon

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Under Armour Eastside 10K

The Under Armour Eastside 10K is almost upon us, taking place September 22, 2024 in Vancouver, BC. BUT there are still a small number of bibs available! Don't miss this iconic west coast event: participate in person or virtually from wherever you are. Visit www.canadarunningseries.com for information and to register.

Theme Song: Joseph McDade

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon wants more women to run the marathon. Last year, they spent some time identifying challenges women face and having honest conversations with female runners about what can hold us back. This year, they launched the Women's Training Program: a free group for women planning to take on the full or half marathon on race day, October 20th. This group has been sharing their journey together online, in person on supported runs, and accessing resources, including a training program. 

This training group is half way to their goal, so I caught up with a couple of them for a chat. Mandy Mundell is tackling training for the full for the third time after being sidelined in the past by injury and illness. Joan Broto, a mother of two teenagers, is working to prioritize her training time, and show her kids how amazing it can be to work towards a big goal. Kardia founder Heather Gardner joins us to bring her veteran perspective and provide some insight. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll definitely relate. Thanks to the participants and to TWM for letting me share this piece of the journey with everyone. 

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon AND Half Marathon are officially sold out, but you can still catch the vibes by registering for the 5K on Saturday, October 19

www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com 

Follow TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon @torontowaterfront42k

Follow Mandy @tri_ingfitnesslife

Follow Heather @catchingheather @kardiaathletica

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Theme by Joseph McDade

It's time to wrap up our training journey with the wonderful Emelyn Jade. Emelyn has put in all the work and survived the taper crazies to arrive at the big day. She completed the Half Ironman in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia at the end of May. Emelyn takes us through the good, the challenging and the amazing moments of her big day. We also talk a bit about her next adventure and what her future athletic experiences might look like from what she learned. 

Follow Emelyn on Instagram @emelynjade

EPISODE SPONSOR: TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon is 95% sold out! If you were waiting for your sign to register for this epic race, this is it. Secure your spot now before it's too late. Whether you're aiming for a personal best or just looking to enjoy a run through the beautiful streets of Toronto, this is your moment. Green bibs are still available as well. Register now and join thousands of other runners at the start line. Let's make this race unforgettable together. Go to www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com to register now!