Running historian Roger Robinson and ultra runner Adam Campbell, are among the speakers at the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Speaker Series, to be held on Saturday October 11 at the Marathon Race Expo. The Speaker Series runs from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm and will be held at the Victoria Conference Centre, Level 1 in the Auditorium.
Robinson is a celebrated running writer and historian having published five books including The Spirit of the Marathon: the Challenge and the Journey. In his presentation, he will screen excerpts from the two inspiring, award-winning Spirit of the Marathon movies. In addition he will cover Canada’s role in the beginnings of the running movement, and the story of women’s running, including his break-through research on the way women’s distance races were banned from the Olympic Games.
Campbell – who in 2012 in Victoria became the Guinness World Record Holder for running the fastest marathon in a suit – talks about the highs and lows of running ultra marathons. Recently struck by lightning in a trail race, he will talk about some of his biggest challenges and his personal approaches to training in environments that are as beautiful as they are ruthless.
Other speakers confirmed are Marilyn Arsenault, recently voted Canadian Running Magazine, Master of the Year, who will talk on healthy running form, and Trent Stellingwerff, Director of Innovation and Research at the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific, who will look back on 35 years of training trends, sports nutrition and equipment.
Three past champions – six-time Marathon winner, Cindy Rhodes, two-time Marathon winner, Catrin Jones and 2013 Half Marathon winner Hilary Stellingwerff – will talk about the women’s running movement from their perspectives such as: how women have changed as runners, how they manage to stay competitive, and why they’ve completely altered the running landscape.
There will also be a question and answer session on the race from Race Director, Rob Reid and General Manager, Cathy Noel. “Our Speaker Series continues to grow, and we continue to offer participants high quality sessions from internationally renowned presenters,” say Reid.
