|
Why A Newsletter?
I’m so excited you’re here.This newsletter is my way of sharing behind-the-scenes moments throughout my season, on the track and beyond. I created Strides with Graywolf to give consistent, personal updates on what’s happening in my world and to bring you along for the ride.
For those who don’t know me, I’m a 2x Paralympic medalist in the 1500m, proudly representing Canada. I’ve been running for as long as I can remember, track is in my blood. My Mother was a Canadian national champion in the pole vault, so you could say I was raised at the track. My mother has always been my idol, but not for the reasons you might expect. She had me during a time when she was experiencing a lot of success in her own athletic career. It would’ve been easy for her to walk away from it all. I don’t know if she was trying to show me that no matter what life throws at you, you keep pushing toward your goals or that challenges aren’t an endpoint. Maybe that’s just who she is. Either way, the example she set became a masterclass in resilience and a pillar I’ve leaned on throughout my life.
The Origin Story
I started running in 2005 as part of my recovery from a traumatic brain injury, I wasn’t very good at the start, I had to be motivated by winning a sweet necklace for the person who ran the most laps that running club season. In college, it morphed into a pursuit to see how far I could go. When I entered the Paralympic scene, my mission evolved again; becoming the best in the world while inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Then, after the Tokyo Paralympics, I ran into Cherie at a coffee shop in our hometown. I had no idea that chance encounter would become one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Among many things, she’s shown me how powerful it is to have someone in your corner, to share not just the highs, but the challenges too. When I accomplish something now, it doesn’t feel like my win, it feels like ours. We tied the knot this past Saturday, surrounded by all our loved ones, what a magical night!
Asics Tokyo Speed Race
My season officially kicks off on June 7th in Boston, where I’ll open with an 800m. Since November, I’ve been steadily building volume and intensity, and training has gone really well. I’ve kept my mileage right where it needs to be, with minimal disruptions which, as any athlete knows, is a huge win.
Earlier this month, I flew to Tokyo to compete in the ASICS Speed Race, my first real fitness test of the season. It was an unforgettable experience for a few reasons: I met some amazing North American ASICS teammates like Drew Hunter and Biya Simbassa, explored more of Tokyo (my last visit was during the COVID-restricted Paralympics), and most importantly, got a clear read on where my current fitness stands.
It was also a valuable opportunity to test my ability to perform on demand after a international flight something I’ll need to master with the World Championships around the corner. I genuinely don’t know of another brand that supports its athletes the way ASICS does. Whatever I’m passionate about, they show up. A great example is the documentary I created with Damien Surprenant last year, they helped support the project.
The race itself took place just a stone’s throw from the Paralympic Stadium where I stood victorious four years ago a full-circle moment, to say the least. It was a 5000m road race on a fast 1.2k loop at night. I wish I could say I crushed it and came away with a personal best, but that’s not how it played out. I went for it early, jumping on PB pace from the gun. I felt strong for the first two kilometers, but I bit off more than I could chew and ended up all aboard the struggle bus to the finish line.
Even though it wasn’t the result I hoped for, it was a huge step in the process. Great interval sessions are one thing, but racing is a different beast. I was frustrated at first, but my coach and my fiancée reminded me: I’m exactly where I need to be. One of my goals going in was to stay in the “hurt locker” as long as possible and I can confidently say, mission accomplished. I’m using this race as fuel for the rest of the season.
Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where I’ll be sharing more about my upcoming race schedule!
Graywolf Out.
| 
