iRun Magazine

MEC Hits the Trails
Promising a new commitment to running and their best-ever stock of running sneakers and gear, MEC launches Train for the Trails. Go inside the Canadian company's latest innovation and discover its long-term running plans.
For trail running goodness, click here: https://irun.ca/training/mec-is-running-things-with-train-for-the-trails/

🌋 🏃🏻‍♀️Under the Volcano
What sounded like therapy for Pamela Blair was a chance to represent her country from the inside of an Icelandic volcano. If you think you've heard everything, guess again, and click here: https://irun.ca/travel-news/a-dream-come-true-the-iceland-volcano-marathon/

Trail Race Review: 5 Peaks Albion Hills
After being deterred by inclement weather, Sabrina Young bounces back to the trails in an inclusive, friendly and all-around excellent trail offering from Five Peaks in Albion Hills. Read about her race here: https://irun.ca/racing-news/race-review-albion-hills-5-peaks/
📸 credit 5 Peaks

Trail Race Review: 5 Peaks Albion Hills
After being deterred by inclement weather, Sabrina Young bounces back to the trails in an inclusive, friendly and all-around excellent trail offering from Five Peaks in Albion Hills. Race review found in our Linktree

🚨🎙From hating sports as a child to crossing 49 marathon finish lines. 🏃‍♀️✨

Robyn Michaud's story is a masterclass in resilience. Diagnosed with a spinal cord injury and syringomyelia, Robyn didn't back down. Instead, she laced up her running shoes and transformed physical discomfort into unstoppable mental grit.

As an Indigenous woman, trail running is more than just exercise for Robyn—it’s a sacred connection to the land and her ancestors. Through international races and gruelling trails, she has found a global community that lifts her up, and now she’s paying it forward by modelling strength, wellness, and perseverance for her children and students. 🌲💛

Ready to be inspired? Tap the link to listen to Robyn's full journey! 🎧 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/athletics-ontario-running-podcast/id1607376732?i=1000788820004
🚨🎙🎙

Look, Ma, No Chip!
In shopping malls and subway stations, caves and the wee small hours of major Canadian races, runners are assembling not for Boston Marathon qualifying times but for the pleasure of community and fun. A look at the country's best underground races and the madman responsible for most of them.
Get weird, click here: https://irun.ca/community/radical-underground-canadian-races/

From DNF to the Starting Line

After being taken off the course during her 2024 marathon, Ashley Rowe assumed she'd never run again. Then something happened and she registered for next month's TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and she's making a documentary about her journey.

Forget Limitations and Meet Ashley Rowe here: https://irun.ca/racing-news/from-did-not-finish-to-the-starting-line/

🏃 Your journey. Your distance. Your achievement.

Registration is open for the Oakville 21.1! Choose the distance that fits your goals and join us in Oakville on October 4, 2026.

👟 Half Marathon (21.1K)
👟 10K
👟 5K

Whether you’re chasing a new PB, stepping up to a new distance, or simply looking for a great fall race, we’d love to see you at the start line.

📅 October 4, 2026
📍 Oakville, Ontario
👉 Register at enduranceeventproductions.com

Pick your distance. Set your goal. Register today!

From a local outdoor shop to the heartbeat of Ottawa’s endurance scene. 👟🚲

On the latest episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, we sit down with Darius Arjang to talk about the history, heart, and community impact behind Bushtukah.

Since 1999, Bushtukah has grown into far more than just gear on shelves—it’s a home base for local runners, cyclists, and hikers across the region.

Darius opens up about:
- Fostering Community: Why supporting local run clubs and events creates an inclusive environment for every athlete.
- Going the Distance: His personal path from schoolyard cross-country to tackling a grueling 50-mile ultramarathon in England. 🇬🇧🏃‍♂️
- The Lifelong Pursuit: How endurance sports build deep social connections and personal resilience that last long after crossing the finish line.

🎧 Ready for some inspiration for your next run? Tune in here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/athletics-ontario-running-podcast/id1607376732?i=1000787608763

Marathon Strong 40+
Malindi Elmore is a 46-year-old three-time Olympian working on qualifying for her fourth Olympic Games. In the meantime, she's launched a marathon training program for Canadian women over 40. What's her secret?
Catch Up with Malindi here: https://irun.ca/training/malindi-elmores-marathon-training-for-canadian-women-over-forty/