Athletics Ontario Running Podcast

"Gratitude is what drives me."
This week, we are joined by Jovica Savic (Yatzi) to discuss his incredible journey from fleeing war in the former Yugoslavia to becoming a pillar of the Kitchener-Waterloo running community.
What makes you lace up your shoes? For Yatzi, the answer went far beyond fitness—it became about survival for his neighbors.
On this week's episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podca...

What happens when a casual 10K bet among friends turns into a complete lifestyle overhaul? On this episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, host John Shep sits down with Andrew Kim from Runners' Choice Waterloo to trace his incredible journey.
From his first strides in 2020 to shedding weight and shifting careers, Andrew shares how running became the catalyst for a new life. We dive into how he u...

What does it take to turn a lifetime of running into a thriving business?
This week on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, we are joined by the dynamic duo, Kim and Michelle Krezonoski. From their roots in Northern Ontario to the streets of the 2024 Boston Marathon, the sisters share how they've evolved from competitive athletes to business owners.
In this episode, we cover:
- The Boston Experience: Re...

"I stopped trying to prove them wrong, and started trying to prove myself right."
Lanni Marchant's athletic evolution is nothing short of inspiring. In this 200th episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, the Rio 2016 Olympian and one of Canada's fastest women gets vulnerable about the reality of professional running and opens up candidly about the hurdles she faced off the track. We dive deep int...

Join us for an inspiring conversation on this week's episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast with Tara Logue, leader of the Run905 crew in Newmarket!
Tara recounts her unexpected running start, which began with a half marathon challenge. Hear how her husband's unwavering support helped her navigate the journey despite their different speeds.
The core of this episode is Run905's pace-inclusive phi...

In this powerful episode, we interview Jessica Nguyen, founder of the Girls Just Wanna Run Club in Newmarket, about building community and protecting your peace.
Jessica shares her game-changing philosophy: "Don't Spiral, Evolve." Hear how she pulled herself out of a "dark time" by prioritizing service and giving herself grace for her evolving passions. For her, running is spiritual meditation—a crucial t...

Lace up for an inspiring episode with Samir Mourani, the first Canadian Ambassador for Movember!
Samir shares his journey from a sporadic gym-goer to an upcoming 50K ultramarathoner this Movember. He's tackling this immense physical challenge to raise crucial awareness and funds for Movember's mental health initiatives.
Discover the profound mental and emotional benefits Samir unlocked through consistent ...

Meet Sean Sharp and Kathy Webber, the heart behind N89 Trail Running!
Hear Kathy's powerful journey: creating N89, born out of COVID-19 race cancellations. Sean then shares how running helped him overcome a difficult period and why he partnered with Kathy, driven by his love for N89's supportive community focus (especially the Great Mansfield Outdoors).
They detail their diverse events: from the beginner-...

Get ready for an episode that's all heart, hustle, and pavement!
Host John Shep on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast interviews the insightful Alejandro De La Cruz, co-founder of Running Waters in Durham Region.
Alejandro shares his journey from a running novice in San Jose—learning the conversational pace—to becoming a community pillar. Hear how moving to Whitby, Ontario, in March 2020 turned the wat...

Ready to hear about Migz Pink's journey to becoming a running icon?
In this episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, we sit down with Migz Pink, an absolute force in the Toronto running scene and the founder of the electrifying "Me Versus Me" Mentality run crew. But here's the twist: Migs used to hate running!
We trace his incredible path from a competitive basketball background to how the COVID-...

This week on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, meet adaptive athlete Mike Greer! Mike shares his powerful journey in wheelchair racing, from his first 5K to conquering marathons like the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
He gives a candid look at the unique challenges adaptive athletes face, highlighting the need for truly accessible race configurations and the specialized gear—especially his racing c...

The world of running isn't just about PRs and miles—it's about connection. Join us on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast for an electrifying conversation with Lauren Mantha, the former nurse who traded her scrubs for running shoes and ignited a movement with "A Running List." What started in 2023 as a single charity challenge didn't just transform her body; it reshaped her life. Lauren dives into the u...

This episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast features a special guest from the heart of the city of Toronto: Joe Francisco (@joooe.francisco). Joe sits down with us to share his incredible journey toward a 3:10 marathon at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, an endeavor that is teaching him the true meaning of strength and self-confidence. He also reflects on his homecoming to the Toronto runnin...

Join us for a powerful conversation with Christine Marinho, an endurance athlete whose journey proves that running can be more than just a workout—it can be a path to healing.
Christine opens up about how she used running as therapy after her divorce and how it ignited a passion that led her to become a multi-sport athlete and a marathoner. She shares the story of conquering her fear of swimming to comple...

This week on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, we sit down with Meher Pavri, London, Ontario native and the Parsi-Canadian soprano who's conquering both the stage and the road.
From starring in West Side Story to her award-winning work in Canadian theatre, film, and TV, Meher's passion for performance is unmatched. But what's her secret? We're diving into how she uses running as a "mind-calming pract...

You'll want to lace up for this one! In this episode of the Athletics Ontario podcast, we sit down with elite marathoner Ben Preisner to unpack his remarkable journey from an athlete in Milton, Ontario, to a national and international competitor.
Ben shares candid insights on his transition from a team sport to running and his time as a collegiate athlete at the University of Tulsa, where he balanced a de...

From accidental runner to ultrarunner and literary maven, Riley van der Linden is a force of nature. Find out how a move to a new city sparked a passion that led to a jaw-dropping 1000-day run streak and a new perspective on life. We dive into the world of Toronto's vibrant running communities, the secrets behind her popular @runtobooks Instagram account, and the one piece of advice they have for anyone s...

This week, we're joined by local running legend, Harvey Steinhoff, and he's not holding anything back! We're celebrating a milestone as we go inside the incredible second-anniversary story of the Shores of Erie run club—from a simple idea to a thriving community.
But that's just the start. Harvey, an official ambassador for the Windsor Waterfront Half Marathon, takes you behind the scenes of the city's pr...

On this episode of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast, we sit down with Burlington firefighter, mental health advocate, and runner Ryan Gallagher. Ryan shares the deeply personal story behind his mission to run 21 half-marathons in 21 days to raise funds for Pathstone Mental Health in September 2025. He opens up about how he's navigated his own mental health and sobriety journeys following the loss of ...