Today we're hanging out with Quebec trail phenom Maïka Lamoureaux. Maïka somehow makes balancing life as a PhD candidate at HEC Montréal and a fiercely competitive trail running career look easy.

In 2022, she was selected to represent Canada at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Thailand—and at just 24, she was the youngest athlete in the 80K. That experience lit a fire, building confidence and a hunger to explore just how far her limits can go (spoiler alert: she's still finding them).

These days, Maïka's sweet spot is a vert-heavy 50K, though she still carves out time for her third passion: gravel biking. She also talks about how recovering from a broken ankle brought unexpected clarity, showing her that chasing both academic and athletic goals at the same time makes her more balanced and happy.

Follow Maïka @maikalamoureaux

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EPISODE SPONSOR: CANADA RUNNING SERIES

Registration is open for all Canada Running Series 2026 events, and here are a few highlights that you don't want to miss!

Beneva Spring Run-Off — April 4, 2026 Kick off your racing season with a Toronto classic. Run the 5K, 8K, or Kids Race and enjoy High Park in full spring bloom.

UA Toronto 10K — April 18, 2026 Now on a new date for 2026! Experience Toronto's waterfront like never before with this fast, scenic 10K, plus a fun Kids Race for future runners.

Beneva Vancouver Half — June 28, 2026 Soak in ocean views and mountain backdrops at the Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon or 5K — one of Canada's most beautiful races.

Visit www.canadarunningseries.com for more details and to register

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Giddy up—because today, Michelle and Kim Krezonoski are back! Kim and Michelle have been crushing their own running goals—most notably finishing as the top two Canadian women at the 2024 Boston Marathon—yet they stay grounded and remind us that life is full of different pursuits that fuel us.

Beyond their own training, they've spent the past few years inspiring athletes through their coaching company, Startline Strength. And now, they've added a brand-new venture to their roster: Pairr Socks. Pairr is the result of nearly two years of passion, testing, research, and fine-tuning—and the result is pretty incredible. So gear up for a spicy workout and pair it with this a chat with Kim and Michelle Krezonoski.

Follow Kim @kimkrezonoski

Follow Michelle @michellekrezonoski

Follow Pairr @Pairrsocks

Find Startline Strength at www.startlinestrength.com

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EPISODE SPONSOR: CANADA RUNNING SERIES

As we wrap another incredible race season, it's time to look ahead: registration is open for all Canada Running Series 2026 events, including:

Beneva Spring Run-Off — April 4, 2026: Kick off your racing season with a Toronto classic. Run the 5K, 8K, or Kids Race and enjoy High Park in full spring bloom.

UA Toronto 10K — April 18, 2026: Now on a new date for 2026! Experience Toronto's waterfront like never before with this fast, scenic 10K, plus a fun Kids Race for future runners.

Beneva Vancouver Half — June 28, 2026: Soak in ocean views and mountain backdrops at the Beneva Vancouver Half Marathon or 5K — one of Canada's most beautiful races.

Visit www.canadarunningseries.com for more details and to register

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Sarah Deeb, along with her sister Maysoun, launched Womensfitsauga in 2020 to get more women moving together in a social, supportive space - and to become the role models they wished they had had growing up in sport. The journey hasn't been without bumps (looking at you, COVID), but every pivot they had to make and new activity they had to try helped shape the dynamic, welcoming run space they have today. Sarah's outlook on showing up as you are and moving together reminds me of my favourite run quote from the amazing Alexi Pappas: "Running is a team sport masked as an individual sport". When we chase our own goals side by side, the work feels lighter, the joy gets bigger, and you just never know who might join you along the way.

Follow WFS @womensfitsauga

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Under Armour Toronto 10K

On April 18, 2026, it will be the same race. Same community. New streets. All gas.

Start and finish at Nathan Phillips Square and feel the city move with you. Registration includes your race bib, UA tech shirt, medal, and a 40% Under Armour discount. Choose an Impact Bib to donate $10 to KidSport instead of receiving a shirt.

Registration is open — sign up now at www.canadarunningseries.com

Regular listeners of the show might already know, but I have had something on my running bucket list for a very long time: crewing at a trail ultramarathon. My amazing friend Jenn Walton granted my wish like a fairy when she ran the 48-hour race at the Beaudry Fall Classic. And of course, I brought my microphones so you could come along for the ride.

I can now proudly attest that I know firsthand that trail races and the trail race community are MAGIC. The volunteers, the vibes, the snacks, the setting. It's all so wonderful. I hope you lock into it when listening to these interviews and clips from Jenn's unbelievable 100 mile achievement. Grab some of that second-hand runner high with this special on location episode.

Follow Jenn @jennrunsontheprairie

Find out more about the Beaudry Fall Classic & a few other awesome Manitoba trail races @ontheedgerunning

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EPISODE SPONSOR: Under Armour Toronto 10K

On April 18, 2026, it will be the same race. Same community. New streets. All gas.

Start and finish at Nathan Phillips Square and feel the city move with you. Registration includes your race bib, UA tech shirt, medal, and a 40% Under Armour discount. Choose an Impact Bib to donate $10 to KidSport instead of receiving a shirt.

Registration is open — sign up now at www.canadarunningseries.com

This episode makes a three-peat for one of my all-time favourite guests, Gabriela DeBues Stafford. Gabriela has had an extremely challenging few years, focused on injuries that were so consistently unresolved that she actually contemplated retirement. However, the resilience that defines this remarkably unstoppable athlete, paired with the support of healthcare professionals and the boundless love of her partner and coach Rowan, has helped her rediscover her fire, and she is back chasing big goals on the track all over again.

Follow Gabriela on instagram @gabrielastafford

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EPISODE SPONSOR: TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Before you join 30,000 of your closest friends at the start line or get ready to cheer on your lungs out, join us at the 2025 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo Speaker Series!

On October 17th and 18th at the Enercare Centre, we're bringing together the voices that keep our running community moving: from elite athletes and beloved run-crew leaders to experts in training, recovery, and nutrition. Come and share stories, ask questions, and feel that sense of community that makes running in Toronto so special. Check out the full lineup at torontowaterfrontmarathon.com — and join us at the Speaker Stage. Your best race weekend starts there.

Theme music: Joseph McDade

Alex and Vince Huynh have a bit of a competitive streak. They are constantly seeing how far and how fast they can go. But their drive goes beyond personal goals: they're passionate about welcoming new runners and helping people challenge themselves. They also saw a need for more Asian role models in the sport, which led them to create the Asian Toronto Running Club just over a year ago. Vince, Alex and their dedicated team of volunteers embody leadership and inclusion: everyone is welcome at ATRC, Asian or not. The club hosts a social run on Saturdays and a more focused workout on Wednesdays, offering something for every type of runner. And in just a short time, their impact is already being recognized: ATRC recently received the Community Leaders Award for the Spadina–Fort York region. It's inspiring to see how quickly this community has grown, bringing people together and celebrating Asian culture at the start line.

Follow ATRC @asiantorontorunclub

Follow Vince @vincehuynh_

Follow Alex @alex.huynh_

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EPISODE SPONSOR: UNDER ARMOUR EASTSIDE 10K

Chase your PB, and tour Vancouver at the same time! Run the Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sunday, September 21 and fly through Gastown, Chinatown, and East Van on a fast, scenic course. Enjoy big race-day energy, a premium UA technical shirt, and a standout medal. Don't miss this unforgettable run!

Register today at www.canadarunningseries.com

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

I'm excited to bring it to you today's chat from the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon's Women's Training Group. After the pandemic, Canada Running Series and ASICS Canada set out to address, and work to find solutions to, the considerable gap between the number of women and the number of men running marathons. In 2024, they launched the Women's Training Group to support and empower more women to chase big goals on race day.

Last year, Heather Garner and I followed Mandy and Joan on their inspiring journey to the finish line. This year, we're back with two new runners—our "Positive Patties"— Candice Combdon and Bianca Magdangal, who are pushing toward their own start lines.

Whether you're training for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, another fall race, or just love the grit and grind of big mileage, this conversation is packed with honesty, smart strategies, and all the feels of marathon training.

Follow the journey to the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon start line @towaterfront42k

Follow our Positive Patties, Candice @candice_combdon and Bianca @bianca.runs

Follow our marathon guru Heather @catchingheather and @kardiaathletica

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EPISODE SPONSOR: UNDER ARMOUR EASTSIDE 10K

Chase your PB, and tour Vancouver at the same time! Run the Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sunday, September 21 and fly through Gastown, Chinatown, and East Van on a fast, scenic course. Enjoy big race-day energy, a premium UA technical shirt, and a standout medal. Don't miss this unforgettable run!

Register today at www.canadarunningseries.com

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Today we're getting optimized with Nicole Sifuentes. We might keep things casual in our chat, but don't let that fool you—Nicole was an absolute force on the track. She's a twelve-time NCAA All-American, a five-time Canadian Championship medalist in the 1500 and 5000, and she repped Team Canada at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. She also still holds the women's record for the BAA Invitational Mile, just for fun. These days, Nicole pours her energy into Sifuentes Coaching, where she helps athletes dream big and go bigger.

Follow Nicole on insta @sifuentescoaching

Find out more about Sifuentes Coaching at www.sifuentescoaching.com

EPISODE SPONSOR: UNDER ARMOUR EASTSIDE 10K

Chase your PB, and tour Vancouver at the same time! Run the Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sunday, September 21 and fly through Gastown, Chinatown, and East Van on a fast, scenic course. Enjoy big race-day energy, a premium UA technical shirt, and a standout medal. Don't miss this unforgettable run!

Register today at www.canadarunningseries.com

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

Crossing Lines founders Kortnee Borden and Matt Geofroy had spent many years running with Parkdale Roadrunners: they had always been able to find ways to push for their own goals while helping others feel the magic of getting out in equal measure. But when they entered the ultra endurance trail space, they noticed something missing: people of colour. So they decided to take action and create change.

Crossing Lines is a movement that is making the ultra endurance space more welcoming for BIPOC runners: they teach people the skills they need to be set up for success and do everything they can to support their journey to the start line. Now deep in their second season, they are getting ready for another huge race and making amazing memories along the way.

To broaden the conversation even further, they also host the Crossing Lines Podcast, with their friends Meddy, James and Adam. They talk trails, gear, culture, current events (Harry Styles and MothTech, anyone?) and hang out with interesting guests.

Follow them on Instagram @xcrossinglinesx or visit their website

https://xcrossinglinesx.weebly.com/

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EPISODE SPONSOR: CANADA RUNNING SERIES

Whether you're racing for a personal best or just soaking up the run vibes, you have the chance to make every step count by supporting an incredible cause through the TCS Charity Challenge and Oasis ZooRun fundraising program. At the Oasis Zoo Run, Your donation helps bring the Toronto Zoo's new Community Conservation Centre to life; a state-of-the-art, hands-on education hub that will inspire the next generation to take action for wildlife. The TCS Charity Challenge supports a wide range of local organizations tackling food insecurity, supporting children with disabilities, and creating stronger, healthier communities. Whether you're running or cheering, your donation can help these organizations keep up the pace. For more information on how you can help raise funds through either of these amazing events, visit www.canadarunningseries.com

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

After graduating from the University of Tulsa, Ben Preisner took his years of track and cross-country training and started testing them out on the roads. Following a couple of progressively faster half marathons, he set his sights on the full.

When COVID derailed his original plan to debut at the London Marathon, Ben applied for and ran The Marathon Project in 2020, where he ran a remarkable 2:10:17.

In this episode, we discuss qualifying for and racing at the Tokyo Olympics, his rise from being the fifth fastest Canadian marathoner to now being the second fastest, and his gutsy run at scoring a spot on the Paris Olympic team.

Ben is ridiculously smart and I think you will really enjoy hearing how his logical mindset and calm, steady approach to life shows up in both his training and racing.

Follow Ben @ben.preisner

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EPISODE SPONSOR: UNDER ARMOUR EASTSIDE 10K

The Under Armour Eastside 10K is quickly approaching on September 21 in Vancouver. The CRS West team has just revealed the race shirt, and it's amazing: with sizes ranging from women's XS to men's XXL and a fantastic technical fabric, this will be your new go-to training shirt. You also have the option to choose the Impact Bib program, where $10 from your race registration will be donated to charity instead of receiving a shirt!

To find out more about the Under Armour Eastside 10K or to register now, visit www.canadarunningseries.com

Theme music: Joseph McDade