Lanni Marchant of London, Ont., broke the Canadian women’s marathon record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Sunday October 20; a mark that was held by Silvia Ruegger since 1985. Marchant crossed the finish line in 2:28:00 dipping below Ruegger’s performance of 2:28:36. Krista DuChene of Brantford, Ont., also went below Ruegger’s time clocking in at 2:28:32.

Krista DuChene & Lanni Marchant

 

Lanni Marchant (LM) – I have been wanting to go after the Canadian record for a bit over a year now, but honestly was not sure if it was an attainable goal for me. I knew after the training I had put in this summer that I was fit, but lining up on Sunday I had no idea how that fitness was going to translate into the race. I went into the race with the feeling that I could run under the record, but without putting the pressure on myself.

Lanni Marchant – Canadian 10km Champion

 

AC – What does it feel like to be the Canadian Record holder?

 

LM – It is definitely a surreal feeling. Entering into athletics, I did not imagine that I’d ever be a record holder. It is exciting, but I think I am more excited by what it means for Women’s running in Canada. I am very fortunate to be the record holder now, but hope that it means that our sport is growing and we will have a lot more Canadian ladies chasing down these records.

 

AC – Can you outline your season; peak training, tapering, mileage?

 

LM – I started building for the World Champs marathon in January with a training camp at altitude in Kenya. I got my mileage up to anywhere around 90-110 miles per week with additional cross-training, depending on races etc. For Around the Bay 30k in March my coach, Dave Mills, and I treated it like a mini-marathon and had my mileage come down into the 80s, and then I had a nice recovery week afterwards. After that, everything was a continual build for Worlds. After Worlds, I took a week off completely and then started back with some easy runs. We brought my mileage back up close to 100 miles a week, but the focus was the 10km Championships in Toronto. After the 10km Championships, we decided to keep training and see how my body recovered from the race effort. Unlike Worlds, we didn’t do a big taper for Scotiabank. I think we both recognized that the more normal I treated my training in the two weeks – 10 days before the race the better mindset and confidence I’d have lining up. Since STWM, I have taken a full week off of training and am now back to some easy runs and cross-training this week. My mileage will get back up into the 80s over the next few weeks to get me ready for the Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan.

 

AC – How did you get into the marathon? What distance is your favourite to race in?

 

LM – I first decided to do a marathon because I was about to graduate law school and thought that I was going to have to move away from competitive running and training. My coach and I thought what better way to close out my career as a long term student athlete, than to run a marathon a few weeks after my graduation ceremony. There was also the financial incentive to race the marathon and win a bit of cash to help pay the bills while I studied for the Bar exam. I am not sure if I have a favourite distance to race. I love the tenacity that is involved with marathon racing and training, but I also love racing the shorter stuff and the excitement that comes with digging in and finding a new gear.

 

 

 

 

Lanni Marchant is the recipient of the BioSteel Athlete of the Month award and will be featured on www.athletics.ca for the month of November. As the BioSteel Athlete of the Month she receives a complimentary sports supplements package consisting of BioSteel NSF and Informed-Choice certified products.

Athletics Canada members are always eligible for discounts on all BioSteel products. Have your membership number ready and click here to order.

For all the latest heading into the event stay tuned towww.xcountry.athletics.ca.

Two-time Olympian, two-time World Champion and two-time World Championship silver medalist Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., announced her retirement last week. “The last 12 years racing for Canada have been the most formidable years of my life”, explained Perdita to a crowd of children and supporters. “They were a sobering cocktail of triumph, heartbreak and perseverance.”

Felicien retires as the Canadian record holder in both the 100-metre hurdles and 60-metre hurdles, she’s a 10-time Canadian Champion, a two-time Olympian, a two-time World Champion, a two-time World Championship silver medalist, a two-time Pan American Games silver medalist and a three-time NCAA Champion. She qualified and competed in eight World Championships over a ten year span.