Safety on the run can be a difficult subject to talk about. We want to believe that the places we run and the people we run with will always help us feel safe and happy. But for many runners, thoughts about safety are always top of mind—whether because of lived experience or uncertainty about the spaces we're in.

I was lucky to be joined by three generous humans who are constantly looking for ways to help keep people safe: on the roads, on the trails, and during a race: SarahRose Black, Erin Doucette and Steve Dowler.

While this episode is full of practical tips for running in all spaces, I hope you also come away from it with a sense of hope—that, as a community, we can work together to create safe spaces for everyone who wants to run.

Make sure you listen to the end and find out how you can get involved in Finish the Run, taking place this weekend, Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Toronto. And if you aren't in Toronto, you can check out @finishtherun_to to find out how you can support Metrac, an Ontario-based not-for-profit organization working to end gender-based violence.

Follow SarahRose @finishtherun_to and @chixrunthe6ix

Follow Erin @a_girl_called_ernie @torontotrailrunners @the.trail.collective

Follow Run Calgary & the Calgary Marathon @calgarymarathon @runcalgary

EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

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Music by: Joseph McDade

A record-breaking 14,000 participants trained for months for the 2026 Manitoba Marathon. At the office, we spent 11 months planning for them.

Ever wondered what it takes to get thousands of runners safely to the finish line? Who's thinking about medals, water stations, road closures, bananas, and porta-potties while you're focused on race day? The answer: a whole lot of incredible people.

In part two of this special behind-the-scenes episode, we're pulling back the curtain for a candid look at everything from race week through the days after the finish line comes down. It's a bit of a wild ride, but we're grateful to play a small part in helping thousands of runners achieve something extraordinary.

If you missed part one, you may want to go back and listen to that one first... or just dive right in for race weekend!

EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

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Music by: Joseph McDade

A record-breaking 14,000 participants trained for months for the 2026 Manitoba Marathon. At the office, we spent 11 months planning for them.

Ever wondered what it takes to get thousands of runners safely to the finish line? Who's thinking about medals, water stations, road closures, bananas, and porta-potties while you're focused on race day? The answer: a whole lot of incredible people.

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we're pulling back the curtain to introduce you to just a few of the nearly 2,000 people who make race weekend happen—from organizers and volunteers to race partners, contractors, and the many others working behind the scenes to bring the event to life.

Join me for a candid look at everything from race week through the days after the finish line comes down. It's a bit of a wild ride, but we're grateful to play a small part in helping thousands of runners achieve something extraordinary.

This is part one of two: hit subscribe to get part 2 automatically when it is released next week.

EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

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Music by: Joseph McDade

After more than 250 episodes and one question asked over and over again—When did you first fall in love with running?—This special clip show brings together some of my favourite answers from the archives.

From Olympians and Team Canada athletes who seemed destined to run, to everyday runners whose journeys began with friendship, community, adventure, or self-discovery, these stories highlight the many ways people find their way into the sport. Along the way, you'll hear funny memories, unexpected moments, inspiring reflections, and reminders that running is about so much more than miles and finish lines.

Featuring Lanni Marchant, Sarah Wells, Natasha Wodak, Leslie Sexton, Malindi Elmore, Angela Whyte, Jess O'Connell, Shanda Hill, Melanie Murzeau, Nadya Stewart, Gen Lalonde, and many more, this episode is a celebration of the people, places, and experiences that make us fall in love with running—and keep us coming back.

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EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount not applicable on this offer.

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

Like so many great stories in the running community, So Far So Good Run Club started with an idea shared on a long trail run. Greg Hanycz had an idea, and somewhere out on the trails with Brock Fraser, that idea started to take shape. With the help of a few key people, So Far So Good Run Club was born.

Talk to anyone who's run with So Far So Good and they'll tell you the same thing: it's people and vibes first, performance second. Sure, there are goals, training blocks, and progression along the way, but what really drives this crew is the community they've built and the fun they have doing it.

From creative theme runs to unforgettable community events, SFSG has created something people genuinely want to be part of. This is a crew that loves where they live, loves running together, and makes you want to move to Kamloops just to join the Sunday morning run and post coffee at Logjam.

Follow So Far So Good Run Club @sfsg.rc

Follow Greg @ghanycz

Follow Brock @brockfraze

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EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

Theme Music: Joseph McDade

Lauren Gale may now live and train in Ottawa, but this Newfoundland-born sprinter, raised by two Nova Scotians, still carries the warmth and spirit of the East Coast everywhere she goes. Friendly, thoughtful, and deeply connected to her family, friends, and community, Lauren's positivity stands out just as much as her speed on the track.

Over the years, she's experienced the highs and lows that come with life as both an individual and relay sprinter, but her resilience and dedication to the sport have never wavered. A track athlete for more than half her life, Lauren continues to raise the bar. In 2024, she set a Canadian record in the 300m with a time of 36.53, and this month she helped Canada earn bronze in the 4x400m at the World Relay Championships in Botswana while also running a season's best.

With two Olympic appearances already behind her and her sights set firmly on a third, Lauren's journey is far from over — and wherever the sport takes her next, you can count on her bringing that same positivity and East Coast charm along for the ride.

Follow Lauren @laurenngalee

EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "RUNCANADA2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

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Music by: Joseph McDade

Ali McPherson was born with running in her blood. What started as childhood bike rides alongside her mother during long training runs has grown into a remarkable career on both the trails and the roads. In 2025, she claimed first female at both the Sinister 7 Ultra 50K and the UTMB Challenge 50K in Fin del Mundo. On the road racing side, she won the Manitoba Half Marathon and returned to the Boston Marathon start line with her mother for the second time, running a new personal best along the way.

When Ali isn't chasing her own goals, she's helping other athletes pursue theirs. She's the founder of Rhythm Run Coaching and Dig Deep — a customizable carbohydrate fuel company with impressive sustainability features. Warm, upbeat, and incredibly generous, Ali shares plenty of great advice for winter running in this conversation. You're also going to hear my hot take on trail mix…

Follow Ali @ali.mcpher

Rhythm Run Coaching @rhythmruncoaching

Dig Deep @digdeepef

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EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE SPORTS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "runcanada2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

You need to create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount is not applicable on this offer.

---

Music by: Joseph McDade

Michael Betteridge is the kind of person who doesn't just show up for his community—he helps build it. In Regina, he's become a driving force in creating spaces where queer people and allies can be active, feel welcome, and show up exactly as they are. That vision comes to life through Queer Fit Club: a free, community-driven fitness pop-up built on collaboration and connection.

Spend a little time with Michael, and a few things quickly become clear. He loves his mom—who, by all accounts, sounds truly incredible. He also loves, as Amy Poehler likes to say, to talk well about his friends behind their backs. So it's only fair that I return the favour.

Michael is an intentionally caring person who uses his skills to take up space and give voice to the queer community: lifting people up and making spaces stronger and more inclusive. What started as a thoughtfully crafted idea has grown into a movement, with over 700 members and chapters in both Regina and Winnipeg.

And he's nowhere near done. Whatever comes next will almost certainly be just as thoughtful - and just as fabulous.

Follow Michael @mbetteridge

Follow Queer Fit Club @queerfitclub or www.queerfitclub.com

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EPISODE SPONSOR: ALTITUDE FITNESS

[This collaboration is part of an advertising campaign led by the Podpass agency for Altitude Sports]

Shop now at Altitude Sports and enjoy up to 20% off your first order with the promo code "runcanada2026"

Click here to order 👉https://bit.ly/altitude-runcanada2026

Create an account or sign in to access the discount. Valid on items at regular price only. Valid for a limited time only after sign up. Cannot be combined with any other discount code and/or promotion. Limited to one use per customer. Membership discount not applicable on this offer.

---

Theme Music by Joseph McDade

In this episode, we're exploring the connection between grief and running.

When Marcella Sangregorio was just two years old, her mother, Lisa, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour behind her left eye and given two to five years to live. Remarkably, Lisa lived for another twenty years. Marcella and her father acted as Lisa's primary caregivers until her passing. Moving forward and finding her footing without that part of her life was a challenge. She began by focusing on her own well-being—and in the process, discovered running.

She quickly moved from running her first 10 km to running an impressive 70 km at The Dark 24. Last weekend, Marcella carried her mother's ashes on her back from her home in Calgary to Ghost Lake and back – a 100 km trip that both opened doors to personal discovery and closed chapters of negative self-care. With the support of her family and friends, Marcella is learning who she is in this new chapter, discovering that grief is anything but black and white.

Follow Marcella @ultramarcella

If you are in a position to help support with Marcella's fundraising for Janis Care Services, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/nbfpv8-100km-ultra-carrying-my-mothers-urn

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EPISODE SPONSOR: CALGARY MARATHON

Be part of the 2026 energy at Canada's longest running marathon. RUN WALK CHEER VOLUNTEER at the Servus Calgary Marathon Race Weekend – happening May 23 and 24 at Stampede Park. Lace up for any distance from 5k to the full marathon.

For more information and to register, visit www.calgarymarathon.com

THEME MUSIC: Joseph McDade

Need a little spring sunshine in your day? This is the episode for you.

Nat Severino is a Toronto-based runner who grew up loving sport, but like so many, drifted away from it in adulthood. It wasn't until the stillness of the COVID era—through virtual run challenges and a search for calm in the chaos—that Nat found their way back.

Now, Nat shows up as their full, authentic self: a proud nonbinary athlete running with the Queer Run Crew and embracing the power of community. Hearing them speak about the belonging they've found—through QRC and the broader Toronto run scene—gives me all the feels.

This is why we run together, the moments that create community and inspire us to bring more people along for the ride.

Follow Nat @sevstrides

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EPISODE SPONSOR: BENEVA SPRING RUN OFF

The Beneva Spring Run-Off is almost here, taking over beautiful High Park on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Steeped in history and tradition, this race is all about community and kicking off the Canada Running Series season in style.

With a focus on family-friendly fitness, participants can choose from 8K, 5K, and Kids Race distances, offered both in-person and virtually. All in-person runners will receive a Columbia souvenir apparel item and a finisher medal, featuring designs inspired by the beauty of High Park.

It might not be a walk in the park—but it's the perfect way to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring.

Register now and learn more at www.canadarunningseries.com

Music by: Joseph McDade