Canadian Running

10 questions with… lindsey butterworth

(Brice Ferre)Butterworth had a breakout 2018, running a personal best of 2:00.87 and winning the women’s 800m finals at the Canadian National Championships in Ottawa this past summer. The North Vancouver native attended Simon Fraser University, and she is also a former Division II ncaa 800m champion.1 What are your defining characteristics as a runner?I try to not centre my whole life on competing and take a more laid-back approach. I’m competitive in my nature, but not aggressive. I think that reflects my approach to running.2 What is your most vivid running memory?My first cross-country race in Grade 5. My mom saw me coming out of the woods in first place and thought5Who’s your favourite social media follow? I had gotten lost because she did not expect me to be…

the half

TKTK (Matt Stetson)The marathon is the traditional crown jewel of distance running with a narrative that’s hard to beat. Ever since (as legend would have it) Greek messenger, Pheidippides, ran about 40 kilometres from Marathon to Athens to announce Greece’s victorious battle over Persia in 490 BCE, then promptly collapse and die from exhaustion, the marathon’s owned the distance-race branding game; its embodiment of the human spirit to endure persists to this day as the only distance road race that gains widespread media attention each year when the big marathons take place in cities such as Boston, New York and London.Yet it’s the half-marathon that’s gaining ground in recent years. As Alex Cyr points out in his feature on the history of the half-marathon in Canada (p.58), when averaging last…

contributors

The Science of Running p.34ALEX HUTCHINSON is a Toronto journalist specializing in the science of running and other endurance sports. His latest book, ENDURE: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, was published in February 2018.Alan Brookes: The Man Behind the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon p.52LARRY HUMBER is a writer and former editor with a focus on sports and culture. Humber’s articles have appeared in publications that include the Globe and Mail, WestJet magazine and Baseball Digest.Canadian Creations: Dr. Chul Park p.16Lab Rat: Sleep Banking p.38The Fix: The Value of a Running Coach p.31MARYLENE VESTERGOM is a regular contributor to Canadian Running. She’s covered sports for over 20 years, including multiple Olympic Games.Profile: Nick Lo, Myodetox Clinic p.32Destination Race: Sacramento, Calif. p.40Exotic Destination: Côte Basque, Southwest France…

the warm-up

Ed WhitlockGene Dykes’ M70 Record Invalid, Whitlock’s StandsGene Dykes, whose name has spread rapidly since he supposedly broke Canadian Ed Whitlock’s 2:54:48 M70 (Men’s 70–74 age category) marathon record at the Jacksonville Marathon in Florida in mid-December, posted on Facebook on Christmas Eve that his record time of 2:54:23 was invalid as the Jacksonville Marathon is not USATF (USA Track & Field) sanctioned.Dykes stated: “Before running the Jacksonville Marathon, I reached out to the race director for assurance that it was a suitable venue for setting a world record, and I received the response that ‘you should have a good shot at the record.’ I assumed that he was correct, but I was remiss in not doing my own homework. It appears that, although the Jacksonville Marathon is certified by…

what’s new

PolarVANTAGE M MULTISPORT WATCH$390With the release of the Polar Vantage M, Polar integrates sophisticated high-performance training features in a stylish new look. Simultaneously, the company has also released the more expensive Polar V ($680), with additional features, such as a barometer and longer battery life geared toward professional athletes. For the rest of us, the M model includes more than enough features to optimize training and performance on race day.The waterproof Polar Vantage M has an attractive circular contour and fits comfortably due to a wristband made of silicone that’s durable and comfortable. Weighing just 45 g, the Polar Vantage M is one of the lighter all-purpose, high-performance GPS watches available for runners. And with its interactive interface and intuitive set-up, we had the Polar Vantage M up and running…

dr. chul park

“It’s exciting to see how the running shoe industry has been open to engineers who are able to bridge the left and right brain throughout the design process.”The next time you put on your running shoes, take a moment to admire the foam sole. That material might have been developed by Dr. Chul Park, a mechanical engineer, scientist and professor at the University of Toronto’s Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory.Park, along with his students and the Consortium for Cellular and Micro-Cellular Plastics, works with a variety of industrial sponsors from Canada and around the world to develop state-of-the-art technologies for manufacturing and producing plastic foam.Still puzzled? Well, when Nike and Saucony were looking to inject new life into their running shoes, Park was the wizard their R&D teams sought out.What’s the…