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Instructor Profile/Des Kappel–Kenaston/Winnipeg, MB

The main reason I return to the Running Room year after year is the people I meet. I have made (and continue to make) many great friendships through the sport. I ran my first marathon in 1980 with no training or knowledge of what I was doing. I began training and running more seriously in 1999. Since that time, I have completed dozens of races at all distances, ranging from 5Ks to marathons. Continue reading “Instructor Profile/Des Kappel–Kenaston/Winnipeg, MB”

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The Sixth Star

The Tokyo Marathon

 Below, another Canadian runner shares her story of completing the Tokyo Marathon, the sixth event in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series (the other five are Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York). Now in its 12thyear, the series attracts thousands of runners from 190 countries. Amateurs can vie to complete all the races in the coveted Six Star Finisher program, which was launched in 2014. Continue reading “The Sixth Star”

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Running with Asthma: Using the Air Quality Health Index to Plan the Perfect Time to Be Outside

Having asthma or another respiratory condition doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy exercise, reach your fitness goals, or even become a champion. But it does mean paying close attention to your body and the main triggers of symptoms, such as outdoor air conditions.

And the best way to do that is by checking the Air Quality Health Index, or AQHI.

The AQHI assigns a rating between 1 and 10 for the air quality in your region: the higher the number, the greater the risk. People with asthma and other health conditions often experience more severe symptoms — issues like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or irritated eyes and throat. But even people who are otherwise healthy can feel the effects of air pollution (and especially when poor air quality combines with extreme heat). Continue reading “Running with Asthma: Using the Air Quality Health Index to Plan the Perfect Time to Be Outside”

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A Change for the Better

by Shane Dixon

If anyone tells you that running will change your life, you should listen, because it’s true. I’m living proof.

Throughout most of my life, the bulk of my time was spent going to the gym, lifting weights, and, like most younger men, trying to become bigger and more muscular. I often neglected the importance of cardio activities, and instead focused mostly on weight training. During this period of my life, I also enjoyed Toronto’s night life, and spent many nights going out to bars and binge-drinking with friends. Partying served as the perfect outlet for me as I was unhappy with parts of my life, miserable with my sales job, and chose to drown my sorrows with alcohol. Continue reading “A Change for the Better”