I never even considered running a marathon until I was 39 years old — with a newborn baby and a toddler at home.
A few friends were training for the Chicago Marathon, and after jumping into a couple long runs with them, I was suddenly hit with a serious case of FOMO.
In a caffeine-fueled, postpartum moment of energy, I decided I had to join them.
At the time, I had no aspirations of elite performance. Like most women balancing work, family, and multiple identities, I simply wanted to prepare properly, enjoy the process, and see what was possible.
The results felt secondary to the experience.
But something unexpected happened.
In my first marathon, with my exclusively breastfed baby waiting for me at the finish line, I ran 2:32.
A year later — just days before my 40th birthday — I set a Canadian record and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
Eight years later, I still can’t quite believe where the sport has taken me:
Two Olympic Games, including 9th in Tokyo and the oldest finisher in Paris
Fastest Canadian man or woman over 45 years
World record for 45+ years (pending ratification)
Fastest Canadian woman in Boston
What has inspired me most along the way has been coaching other athletes toward their own breakthrough experiences.
Because I truly believe strong performances don’t have an expiration date.
As women over 40, we often train differently. We recover differently. We carry more responsibilities, more wisdom, and sometimes more self-doubt.
But we are also capable of extraordinary things when we train smart and stay consistent.
That’s why I’m launching:
My goal is to build a premier coaching community for women pursuing ambitious endurance goals with structure, education, support, and connection.
The first cohort will target Fall Marathons with a focus on the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 16, 2026. Other fall marathon athletes are also welcome to join!
This is only the beginning.
My hope is to create future opportunities around:
Boston qualifying goals
International marathon experiences
Endurance adventures and retreats
Building confidence through smart training
If this feels like the right season for you to chase something big, I’d love to have you join us.