Michelle Leduc, RMT

👟 Thirty years ago today, I went for a run👟

I had no idea where those first few kilometres would eventually take me. Or that, 30 years later, I would somehow end up right back where I started.

This latest blog turned into more than a story about running. It’s about confidence, belonging, proving myself, losing parts of myself along the way, and maybe finally figuring out what all of it was really about.

Funny how things can come full circle in more ways than one.

Check out my latest blog to find out how the journey ended. 👇
https://littleduker.ca/30-years-of-running/

Not sure what is more news worthy...Vol State and the Rideau Trail FKT or the fact I pulled them off so close together. Just wait for 2027 😁
Thanks Canadian Running Magazine for the feature.

Ontario runner sets new Rideau Trail unsupported speed record - Canadian Running Magazine Only a few weeks after finishing second overall in the Last Annual Vol State race across Tennessee, Michelle Leduc set an unsupported FKT on Ontario's Rideau Trail

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what comes next, what I need to step away from, and where I still belong.

Five years ago, almost a dozen of us got together for a dress rehearsal for this strange, free 5 km thing called parkrun.

We had no idea what we were starting. A community would grow, friendships would form and lives would change. Mine included.

Five years later, I found myself back there for parkrun #200, but in a completely different capacity. An observer this time. Standing back, watching and reflecting.

I went there wondering where I fit now.

I left remembering how much this community has been part of who I’ve become.

Happy 5th Birthday Parkrun: We are glad you were born - Leduc Running The New York Central Fitness Trail parkrun turns five this month. I’m no longer involved with the event. I stepped […]

. Just a reminder that sometimes your goals and dreams don’t happen when you planned.

Over the last few months and years, I’ve watched and listened as athletes and clients have had their plans derailed by injuries or circumstances completely outside their control.

I’m reposting this one from two years ago because I’m certainly not immune to it.

Two years ago, I was crushed that my Rideau Trail FKT wasn’t going to happen. A laceration on my leg during another unsupported FKT left more than a physical scar. For a long time, I was afraid of being alone on the trails again.

Last year, I was devastated when a hip injury delayed my return to Tennessee and the ambitious goals I had there.

I had to be patient. Focus on the day in front of me. Trust the process.

This year, I finally went back to Tennessee. And I didn’t just make it back. I crushed it. I proved to myself that I was enough. Strong. Tough. Maybe even stronger than I knew.

Five weeks later, I stood alone at the start of the Rideau Trail. I didn’t know what was waiting for me down the road or trail, or what the next four days would ask of me.

When you’re in the middle of it, it can be really hard to see beyond where you are right now. But plans change. Timelines change. Sometimes the goal has to sit there for a while. It doesn’t mean the story is over.

This day is here. Six weeks ago it couldn't come fast enough. The last 12 days I have been dreading it - mainly because of the emotions that it will stir.

This morning I should have been starting a 330 km journey carrying everything I needed on my back. Alone on the roads and trails. No computer, no social media, no podcasts, no people except for those I cross paths with. A return to feral life for a few more days.

Now today is another day of appointments, meetings, scheduling social media posts, emails and enjoying the comforts of life. I try to avoid looking at my watch and thinking of where I should have been or what I should have been doing this week only if I didn't trip, only if I didn't do that FKT attempt, only if....

Today is the day every injured runner does not look forward to. The day they should be celebrating the hard training over weeks and months. Now it's mourning over what didn't happen. But only for a bit. Each injury I've had is a blessing...I am just patiently waiting to see what this one brings.

🔺 Rideau Trail Unsupported Fastest Known Time
4 days, 8 hours, 54 minutes, 27 seconds.

Completely on my own. Carrying everything I needed to get myself from Ottawa to Kingston. The Rideau Trail Association advertises the trail at around 330 km. Somehow, I had recorded more than 350 km.

“You are coming out of Vol State stronger than before you started.”

I was told that less than a week after reaching the Rock at Vol State. Before long, I was pulling out my RTA binder, poring over maps and trying to figure out if I could pull this off in a few weeks. It was going to be a delicate balance between recovering from LAVS and getting my trail legs back.

I have a lot more to unpack about this adventure, and eventually I'll get it into a blog. In many ways, this ended up being a much-needed “walk in the snow.”

But the short version? It was hard. Lonely. Scary. Painful. And wet. Oh the feet.

Over the entire four-plus days, I managed about an hour total of actual sleep. That eventually caught up with me and turned what should have been a fairly straightforward 60 km stretch to the end into a long, adventurous and very confused trek.

But somehow those parts fade when I saw the seemingly untouched nature. Watch another sunrise rescue me from a gruelling night. Being completely alone. Escaping the stress and grind of everyday life for a few days. Nothing to think about except taking care of myself and following the trail ahead.

And with all that being said, I'd do it again in an instant.

A few important thank-yous:

To my coach, Derrick Spafford, who planted the idea of attempting the full Rideau Trail in my head many years ago while I was attempting the K&P Trail FKT. It took five years, a few false starts and a whole lot of life to finally get here.

To my strength coach, Jamie Wright, who kept reminding me just how tough I am, particularly when I needed to hear it.

And to my husband, who trusted me to take on another big challenge, especially one that involved disappearing alone onto a trail for several days.

https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/michelle-leduc-rideau-trail-canada-2026-09-01

A doodle on an athlete/coach account?
I learned a lesson from this one when I looked at the finished product.

What was supposed to be a 60-minute break turned into almost two hours. I wish I had taken progress photos.

I messed up the outline. It looked nothing like the image I was trying to follow. This is going to be an ugly mess, I told myself.

Patience. Determination. I convinced myself to keep going. Or at least get to the next step before quitting.

Just finish the outline. Add the colours. Embellish. More colours. A few accents. And somewhere along the way, the ugly mess started coming together.

This little sketch gave me a lesson that feels appropriate for me right now.

Things can feel crazy, chaotic and disorganized. You might not be able to see how it's all going to come together.

Just get to the next step.

Eventually, you start to see the finished product. For me, it's a few finish lines ahead.

🏃‍♀️Youth Run Club Update👟

It's been a very busy year for Russell Run Club, and there's still lots on the horizon before 2026 wraps up, including the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Challenge and the Russell Run. It's also been a very full year for me personally.

I've made the difficult decision not to offer a Youth Run Club session this Fall. I'll be taking a break from coaching for the remainder of 2026. I'm am being realistic about how much I can take on and, more importantly, do well.

As Head Coach and founder, youth running is something I'm very passionate about. I've loved coaching these kids and watching the program grow. Interest from kids and families certainly isn't the problem.

What we do need are more coaches and volunteers. For the program to continue and grow, we need a bigger team around it rather than relying on one or two people to keep it going. If you've ever thought about coaching or volunteering with our young runners, I'd love to hear from you.

For the remainder of 2026, my focus will be on the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail Challenge and the Russell Run, making sure both events are delivered to the standards we've set. This break will also give me an opportunity to step back and reassess our youth programming, our priorities and where the Club goes heading into 2027.

Thank you to all of the kids, families and volunteers who have been part of the program this year. I care a lot about what we've built and want to make sure we can continue to do it well.

Michelle
Head Coach, Russell Run Club
[email protected]

Ever since I came home from Tennessee, I've been trying to make sense of what Vol State meant to me.

Some parts of the experience were easy to understand. Others took much longer. It wasn't until I started writing that I realized what the real gift of Vol State had been.

This isn't really a story about running 314 miles. It's about finding simplicity in a complicated world, discovering peace in the middle of uncertainty, and learning to trust that the next step really is enough.

Writing it helped me understand why coming home felt harder than crossing the finish line.

I hope you'll find something in it that speaks to your own journey.

The Gift of Vol State - Leduc Running Prologue: The Aftermath Nothing ever prepares me for the aftermath of Vol State. The blisters, swelling, and throbbing foot pain? […]

Fresh off the Tennessee Highway - still damp and stinky - I go through what's left of my pack and let you know what worked and what didn't.
Grab a bottle of Sundrop and bag of Cheez-its and enjoy.

2026 Last Annual Vol State: What's in my pack - THE AFTERMATH Four days post the Last Annual Vol State. Heres what actually work...

Last Annual Vol State 2026
314 Miles: 4 days, 14 hours, 17 minutes, 30 seconds.

I came into this race with an ambitious goal. I wanted to break 5 days. Not just sneak under it, but finish comfortably under. A 5 or 6 day LAVS is considered a strong performance. But I know what I'm capable of when things come together. Secretly, my goal may have been closer to 4 days than 5. 😉

So this time, the plan was simple.

Move.

I ran. I walked. Every other activity existed to support those two things. Eat. Rest. Repeat. Most of the time I had no idea what time of day it was, how far I'd travelled, or how far it was to the next town. I just kept moving.

I removed social media and email to eliminate distractions. The outside world could wait.

I knew the challenges this event would bring, so I kept my contact circle small. I'm incredibly thankful for every one of them.

I checked in with my running coach, Derrick, every day. Shiloh and Tara from the Russell Run Club got the late-night and early-morning phone calls when things got dark. They listened to me ramble, talked me through the rough patches, and reminded me to keep moving.

Jamie, my strength coach, kept me focused. On the morning of the final day, he knew I was struggling. Getting me out of that mindset completely changed the outcome. He reminded me that the first few days had prepared me for this moment. My only job was to move as fast as I could. I did exactly that, covering 42 miles in the final 12 hours. Compare that to the 48 miles I covered on fresh legs during the first day.

And finally, Sean. Despite his worries and concerns, he embraced the event by following the runners and all the stories. He answered the dozens of phone calls when I simply needed someone to talk to.

This finish line photo says it all. I stuck to the plan, adjusted as needed, and left nothing in the tank.

There's a lot more to this story... but first I need to catch up on about four days of sleep. Then I'll try to make sense of it all.