20 minute read
Mastering the Marathon
Since discovering the marathon distance, Natasha Wodak is running some of the best times in her life
BY LOUISE HODGSON-JONES TODD DUNCAN
LOUISEHODGSONJONES LOUISEHODGSONJO IMPACT guest editor, communications and event specialist in Victoria, B.C. MAKEUP/HAIR: FARRAH SANEI CLOTHING: ASICS
She is strong, competitive, and focused with her sights set on more Canadian records, preferably in her ‘newfound’ distance—the marathon. At 40 Natasha Wodak is in the prime of her running life. Her 13th place finish in the Tokyo Olympic Marathon in 2021— 2:31:41—capped over 18 months of intense training which saw her set a (then) new Canadian HalfMarathon record in Houston in January 2020 (1:09:39) and in December run a 2:26:19 in the Arizona Marathon Project.
At the time IMPACT went to press Wodak had just completed the Boston Marathon finishing in 2:35:08, 19th overall and third in her age division. She is looking ahead to another major marathon in the fall, potentially Berlin. And that is just the beginning, she says.
The former 10,000 metre track champion enjoys marathon training and has taken to it like a duck to water. “I enjoy the challenge and how different it is than training for track,” she says. The Arizona Project was just her second marathon, her first was in Toronto in 2013. She reflects at that time with mixed emotions and admits that, despite a credible 2:35 finish, things didn’t go well.
“It was a difficult time for me, I was going through a divorce, my training wasn’t going well, I wasn’t in the right place mentally or physically and I felt broken.” She got injured—a tear in her pelvis followed by planta fasciitis. “I was turned off the marathon.” Despite this setback she knew she wanted to try another one, but the timing wasn’t right. She set a Canadian record in the 10,000 metres in 2015 sending her to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. ➝
“After the Olympics I thought maybe I could give it another try When Kanuka decided to retire they both discussed who would but then I had surgery on my foot and then qualified for the World be a suitable candidate to replace her and agreed that Stellingwerff Championships in London in 2017.” The 2018 Commonwealth would be perfect. As a sports science specialist with the Canadian Games came after that. “It seemed there was never a right time.” Sport Institute Pacific, in Victoria, B.C. he accompanies athletes to Until the Arizona Project came along. World Championships and Olympic Games. They both made it an
Her former coach, Olympic Bronze Medalist Lynn Kanuka, knew easy transition. Wodak had it in her to run another marathon. “In the back of her mind “I immediately talked to Lynn and Natasha to understand how/ she'd always thought she may try another marathon, and that idea where they felt their successes came from, and where there were began to grow as we thought about what to focus on next. I definitely opportunities. There are still a lot of training elements still in saw her potential there. There was no doubt in my mind she could run Natasha’s program from Lynn, but I’ve also put my own fingerprint faster but it wasn't going to be easy. She has a history of injuries, and on tweaking training a bit too,” he says. we knew we needed to be careful about how we progressed with the Wodak had some high-volume training in the run-up to Boston. volume. So, we talked about it, and planned How is the training different from her days it, and our constant communication about on the track? “The overall volume and how she was feeling almost daily was really cross-training per week are the same, but important as we evolved her sessions.” we’ve switched to a 10-day cycle, instead
Everything fell into place, and she had of seven days, and have included longer/ a great race. “I had a great marathon build harder marathon specific workouts for this and a great team. I am addicted now! I like build. She has adapted and handled it all the whole marathon vibe.” brilliantly,” adds Stellingwerff.
From an early age growing up in Surrey, A typical week for Wodak is twice-daily B.C. Wodak enjoyed running, entering workouts. “I would do a 90-minute fartlek her first road race with her dad at eight- in the morning and strength training in years-old. She realized she was good at it the afternoon and sometimes an elliptical and joined the school cross-country team, although she also enjoyed in the evening, or a double run. There are usually two things going other sports. Running led her to a scholarship in in the U.S. but after on during the day whether it’s chiro, massage, strength training or 18 months she transferred to Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. running.” She is enjoying the challenge and likes that Stellingwerff Running a combination of track and road races led her to being is trying new things. picked for the National team in 2011. They both know that adequate recovery is important in
It was at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, in Stanford, marathon training. And Wodak doesn’t want a repeat of the California in 2015, where she set the 10,000 metre Canadian record injuries she incurred in the past. “I try not to get wrapped up about (31:41:59). She enjoyed both track and road. “Running 25 laps around mileage and having a number at the end of the week. If I am tired a track is mentally challenging but I enjoyed it and it translates well then Trent will back off the training but then if I feel good, we will into road for a 10-kilometre race or a half-marathon.” push forward.”
After the Arizona Project all sights were on the Olympics with the Wodak looks forward to her rest days when she spends time marathon event being run in Sapporo, Japan. Her Team Canada support with Oliver and Elliot her two-year-old cats. Calling herself the team, led by her current coach, Trent Stellingwerff, acclimatized Wodak ‘crazy cat lady,’ for eight years she has volunteered at a cat shelter and her teammates—Malindi Elmore and Dayna Pidhoresky—well. in Vancouver, VOKRA. “I would have more cats if I could, but my “Fortunately, we had a hot summer here so I would pick the hottest partner isn’t as crazy about them as I am.” time of day to run and practised with gels and hydration.” She would In the meantime, Wodak will continue her phenomenal rise in also run with Elmore who lives in Kelowna. But the key was getting the world of marathoning. Both of her coaches say that she could to Japan two weeks before the race and following the race plan. continue competing for many years. “Tash is absolutely in her
“I needed to be realistic. If it was 30 degrees, then I knew I would prime right now. At this moment she is the fittest she has ever been not run a PB. By accepting that and following through with the training and now has experience she can draw on for the marathon—it's not plan, I knew I would have a good run. If you go out conservatively "new" anymore. She knows what it takes. She loves the training, and do all the things you are told to do—pour water over you before and she knows how tough she will need to be to push through when you get hot, put ice down your chest—then you will have a good run. it's necessary,” says Kanuka. I probably took water and ice 25 times and I got it done.” Stellingwerff agrees: “Age limits in sports are continually being
Stellingwerff became Wodak’s coach in the fall of 2021 after redefined with “new” data by the likes of Natasha, and Malindi four-and-a-half years with Kanuka. After guiding Wodak through and others, showing that if you are a smart athlete, and wise with many events, including a gold medal in the 2019 Pan Am Games in your body, and open to adapting training away from structures and Peru, Kanuka decided to step away from athletics but is still vested cycles that work with 20-year-olds, you can have a very long and in Wodak joining her on some training runs when she is in B.C. productive career.” “I'm her "#2 Coach now but #1 in her heart," she says. “I do feel as Wodak can’t quite believe that at 40 she is getting faster. “I am if I have two coaches,” says Wodak. going to continue to run until I slow down. Why wouldn’t I?”
I am addicted now! I like the whole marathon vibe.
PERSONAL BESTS 1500 m - 4:15.27 - Harry Jerome, Vancouver, B.C. 2018 3000 m - 9:00.8 - Time Trial, Burnaby, B.C. 2020 5000 m - 15:29.47 - Portland Track Festival, Portland, OR, 2018 10,000 m - 31:41.59 - Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, Stanford, CA, 2015 - Canadian Record 5 km - 15:36 - St. Paddy's Day 5K, Vancouver, B.C. 2019 8 km - 25:28 - Pioneer 8K, Saanichton, B.C. 2013 - Canadian Record 10 km - 31:58 - Ottawa 10K- Ottawa, ON, 2015 Half-Marathon - 1:09:39 - Houston Half Marathon, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2nd fastest all time in Canada Marathon - 2:26:19 - The Marathon Project- Arizona, 2020 - 2nd fastest all time in Canada
Running for Safe Water
How Veronique Bourbeau’s epic African Journey will impact hundreds of communities
BY LOUISE HODGSON-JONES MATT CECILL VISUALS
LOUISEHODGSONJONES LOUISEHODGSONJO IMPACT guest editor, communications and event specialist in Victoria, B.C. CLOTHING: FRONTRUNNERS/SAUCONY/ASICS
Veronique Bourbeau exudes passion and commitment when she talks about for her latest adventure—the African Run Project. Her face lights up, talking animatedly as she describes why she is running 13,000 kilometres across 19 countries in the African continent from Alexandria, Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa. Quite simply, she wants every country in this vast continent to have safe, drinkable water and she will run—and walk—until this goal is reached. “The number of people dying for lack of clean water is insane,” she says. She is looking to be the first woman, and only the second person to take on this remarkable task.
Bourbeau, 49, is from Quebec but recently lived in Singapore where her husband works. Covid brought her back to Canada and Victoria where her son lives. She is partnering with Tanzania-based NanoFilter to provide 1000 filter kiosks for each country. NanoFilter is a water filtration technology that uses a combination of sand and nanomaterials to remove 99.9 per cent of contaminants from water. “Once a kiosk is installed, local entrepreneurs—usually women with children to support—can afford to sell water in reusable containers at rates as much as 10 times cheaper than bottled alternatives all without creating additional waste,” she says.
Each kiosk is $250 US which Bourbeau feels is an achievable goal for her. She is actively fundraising and seeking corporate sponsorships, and as soon as she has secured funds for herself and her support team—her ‘Thirst for Life’ crew—she will start her journey which she hopes will be in August. During her journey she will talk to schools in communities as her crew installs clean water kiosks along the way.
She will face many challenges during her quest, from difficult terrain and extreme temperatures to cultural differences and political instability. But she is taking it all in stride. “It will be hot but that is fine I run well in warmer temperatures. I am more wary of Sudan and Egypt where I might have to have security. It can be tricky running in Muslim countries so I am not sure what to expect but I will have appropriate clothing like head coverings.” There is also the growing instability in Ethiopia. “If I worry about all of these things I will never start,” she says.
One thing she is in control of is her training bringing a vast experience in long distance running. She only started running in 2008 on a treadmill, until she felt comfortable running for 45 minutes outside. Her first marathon was that same year, the
Marathon des Deux Rives in Quebec. She has since completed many races and what she calls adventures.
She has run the 250-kilometre Sakura Michi Nature Run in Japan twice, in 2015 and 2018, finishing in 35 hours and 34 hours, respectively. In 2016, again in Japan, she ran 3010 kilometres in 72 days averaging a marathon a day. In 2019 she was the overall winner in the 444-kilometre Coast to Coast ultra marathon in Malaysia, completing it in 98 hours. “I am the race record holder and was 10 hours faster than the previous record,” she says proudly.
Bourbeau’s current training is a combination of long runs and walks gradually building up to 120 kilometres a week. Her trainer is Dr. Tim Noakes, the acclaimed South African author of Lore of Running. He will also be her doctor and nutritionist in Africa. “He says that if I put in more than 12 hours a day run/walking I will put my body at risk. So, I will base my run on what I did in Japan which was a marathon a day.”
Why Africa and why safe water? A journalist for 15 years, Bourbeau was volunteering in Senegal and living with a local family who had no access to clean water. “They walked miles to get their water. This prohibited their kids from going to school as they had to help. I was safe as I had a pill, I could use to purify the water, so I asked myself why as a Canadian was I safe and not this family?”
Her African adventure is just the beginning, she says. “My life mission is to bring clean water to most people on this planet and the first stage is Africa.”
To follow Bourbeau’s African journey go to veroniquerun.com
Aristotle’s Story
Double amputee Aristotle Domingo has overcome incredible challenges in his life. Today he is an inspiration and advocate with thousands of followers.
BY SCOTT CRUICKSHANK
EMMA E. ARSENAULT
A writer covering all levels of sport for more than 35 years on websites and in magazines all over Canada, from Calgary, AB.
SCOTTLCRUICKSHANK BYCRUICKSHANK
During the darkest of days, Aristotle Domingo paid attention to his wardrobe. Fashion choice, however, had little to do with trends. His priority was to wear clothes that effectively covered up any sign of his affliction. Even through the summer months, he would pull on long pants to ensure his leg braces weren’t visible. And full sleeves were the answer to keeping his scarred arms out of sight.
“I was ashamed,” Domingo says now. “You’re in your 20s, you’re supposed to be in the prime of your life, you’re supposed to be having the best time. And here you are with a disability, with scars to hide so people don’t judge you.”
“Who’s going to want this person? Who’s going to accept you in the world?”
Dressing defensively was only part of his grim routine during what he describes as “15 years of lull.” A bout of sepsis—a body-wracking infection that produced an excruciatingly painful aftermath—had forced him into a monotonous existence. “Waking up and dreading the day, going to work with a foggy head because of medications, coming home, not wanting to do anything because I just want to take my leg braces off, then going to bed and waking up and doing the exact same thing the very next day.”
All of which is a far cry from Domingo’s life now. His fortunes changed course, resulting in a startling transformation. These days, it’s hard to imagine a more dynamic person than Domingo.
A double amputee since 2019, he runs and golfs and cycles. He plays, and introduces others to, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball. He excels at parathrowing events such as discus, shot put, javelin. He founded the Amputee Coalition of Toronto, a peersupport group encouraging active lifestyles. He hosts a weekly podcast, The AmpuTO Show. In 2020, he was named the ParaSport Ontario Ambassador of the Year.
The 46-year-old’s growing list of acting credits includes an appearance on the television show The Handmaid’s Tale. And Domingo is literally the poster boy for the Scarborough Health Network Foundation— everywhere are life-size photos of the man promoting healthcare. A fitting association given that Centenary Hospital was the setting for two of his plot twists.
That is where he had been rushed in 2001 after collapsing in the hallway of the family home. Sepsis nearly killed Domingo, then 25, putting him in a coma for three months, in a hospital bed for more than a year, in leg braces for what would feel like forever.
The Scarborough hospital is also where he initiated his dramatic about-face. In 2016, tired of the endless complications, broken by the bottomless agony, he told medical staff he was eager to explore the last resort— amputation.
The standard warning was issued: “You can’t grow it back. Once we cut it off, that’s it.” Domingo did not care. His left leg, below the knee, was amputated in January 2017. Post-operation, he looked down and felt relief. “It was like getting rid of a ball and chain. Amputation freed me from my disability.” He remembers thinking: “This is a definite, tangible new chapter. What do you want to do now? This whole new world just opened up.”
Despite a modest goal initially, “walking two blocks without crying,” he decided to celebrate his freedom from pain by entering a road race. While still in hospital, he signed up for a local five-kilometre race, which alarmed his healthcare team. But Domingo dug in. ”It was a selfish thing,” he says. ”I just wanted to run this one race to prove to myself that I can do it. I don’t care if I walk it, if I jog it, if I run it.”
Five months after amputation, he joined thousands of runners in the start zone. He finished. Two years later, he underwent the procedure on his right side and six months after surgery, he completed another fivekilometre race.
The sense of accomplishment is always overwhelming. ”Like, ‘Wow, I want some more. What else can I do?’”
In addition to ongoing devotion to the limb-loss community, Domingo continues to run. Three times weekly, minimum. “My form of meditation,” he says. “I’m troubleshooting my life. It’s when I get into my Zen mode.”
All these years later, fashion remains a serious consideration, but there has been a telling evolution in wardrobe choice. Domingo wears shorts daily. That way, everyone can get a load of his matching prostheses. “It’s to show pride in what you’ve accomplished as an amputee, ‘Look at me, I’m walking. I’m doing the things I love.’”
Sleeves are short, too. During a Zoom chat the other day, he raised his arms to the laptop camera to offer a better look at his sepsis scars. Then he tugged down the collar of his T-shirt—emblazoned with the slogan: “Life Without Limitations”—to reveal the hole in his neck where he’d had a tracheostomy.
While Domingo prefers to look forward, there is no denying the remarkable journey on display. From coma patient—his family had been given the option of pulling the plug—to inspirational role model to, well, who knows what.
“For me now, it’s, ‘What adventure can we go on next?’”
The Octogenarian Record-Breaker
Age is no boundary for Newfoundland runner Florence Barron
BY COLEMAN MOLNAR TRUDIE LEE Canadian writer and journalist. Find him wherever there’s sunshine and Wi-Fi, from Vancouver, B.C.
LIETCO CLOTHING: DECATHLON CANADA
There are few runners on the island province of Newfoundland who draw as much fanfare as Florence Barron.
It’s perhaps not surprising that the crowds cheer so enthusiastically when she runs by, because Barron is precisely what you look for in a role model athlete: disciplined, ambitious, talented, kind, and dominant amongst her peers. In short, an inspiration.
And at 84 years old, she’s very fast, too.
“There’s no one for me to beat” says Barron, commenting on the local competition within her age category. “So, I’m just running for the joy of running.”
Indeed, Barron moves with an efficient and considered stride, and wears the casual expression of someone who’s enjoying the journey as much as she is looking forward to the destination. The St. John’s resident discovered the sport at age 59 after a lifetime of activity—cycling, swimming, skating, skiing, often with her five children—when she signed up for the province’s oldest and most well-attended event, the Tely 10 Mile Road Race, on a whim.
“I thought, ‘well, I can do aerobics for a couple of hours, so I guess I could go and run that race with everybody else,’” she says. “Without a bit of training, I went, and I ran the ten miles and got the first-place trophy for my age.”
She admits that she was sore after that first Tely 10, and the year after, too, when she again won her age category with little to no training leading up to it. But things got more serious the year after when Barron signed up for running lessons at a local running store. “I was doing everything wrong,” she recalls. “I was wearing the wrong shoes. I didn’t know how to stretch or eat or how to train, so the lessons were wonderful.”
Barron has since updated her gear and technique, and joined several local athletic groups that offer running-oriented training programs. Today, she blends running, weight and bodyweight training, and yoga into her weekly activities.
She’s also padded her list of victories and titles. Over the years, Barron has set and beat times not only at the beloved local Tely 10, but also at one of the Atlantic’s toughest events, the Cape to Cabot 20K, a grueling and intensely hilly jaunt from Cape Spear to Signal Hill in St. John’s, culminating in a mile-long climb. And there are many others.
On the nearby French island of Saint Pierre, for example, Barron ran a 25 kilomtetre event and won, setting a record that she’d return to top the following year. Then, when she turned 80 the year after, she was invited to return to compete as the oldest racer to lace up for the event in its 35 years. “They had me on TV in France and everything, because I technically have three records there,” she says.
Barron’s talent and youthful energy is a boon not only to her sport, but also to her family and community, as she has spent much of her decades in Atlantic Canada volunteering with various organizations. In 2014, the Canadian Red Cross bestowed its highest honour, the Order of the Red Cross, on her for over 50 years of volunteer service.
“We are so truly proud of her and all of her accomplishments,” says Lana Nielsen, one of Barron’s daughters. “She has always inspired us to go after our dreams, be respectful and be the best possible us we could be. I’m so blessed to call her my mother.”
The community seems to share the sentiment, as evidenced by the cheering section present at Barron’s races. “Oh my gosh, they’re just terrible,” says Barron, referring to her vocal roadside supporters. “They’re just out on the road—and they know me here now—and they’re going crazy. I go, ‘oh, stop it! Stop it!’.
But the public isn’t likely to stop supporting Barron until she slows down. And she doesn’t have any plans for that just yet. With her dedicated activities and God-given genetic fortitude, she’ll keep on running. “I don’t really plan on getting faster. I just want to keep and maintain what I have,” she says. “As long as I feel good and I can go out and run comfortably without having any issues, that’s what it’s all about.”
Barron is currently gearing up for another season of races. You can find, and cheer, for her on the roads and trails of Newfoundland.
