Marcella Zatwarniski

Marcella is a runner from Regina. On this episode we talk about her recent accomplishment at the Canada Goose Ultra where she ran her furthest distance ever even though Mother Nature was making it difficult with rain and lightning. We also talk about her training and why she is such a tenacious and determined runner. (CORRECTION- I wrongly said that she has two boys but in reality she has a boy and a girl- my apologies) 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Marcella Zatraninski is a runner from Regina. She recently ran her furthest ever distance at the Canada Goose 24-hour event in Regina. In this episode, we talk about that event and Marcella's running background and how a tough upbringing contributes to her tenacity and resilience. Enjoy the episode.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

The last day of the summer vacation. Walk the long train track. We didn't think about going back.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

You are listening to the Saskatchewan podcast with your host, Jason Burns, a podcast where we talk to Saskatchewan about the people and places that inspire them. On this episode of the Saskatchewan podcast, we are joined by Marcella Zapornitsky from Regina. How are you tonight, Marcella? I'm good. How are you? Very good. Thank you so much for taking some time out of your busy schedule to share your running story with the listeners.

SPEAKER_03 1:04

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

So why don't you tell us uh a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_03 1:11

Um I'm married, have two kids, 23 and 17.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

And what do you do for your work in your life?

SPEAKER_03 1:22

Um, I work in retail. I work at the uh airport at the relay duty-free shop. So I'm on my feet most of the day. And uh yeah, serving customers and yeah, basically that's it.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Awesome. How long have you been there?

SPEAKER_03 1:38

I've been here for the city.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

So you get all the uh so you get all the people with the nervous energy and bad morning breath coming in, getting ready for their flights, I bet.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And wanting to be free alcoholics.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

That's right, yeah. Airport energy always uh always worries me because when you're like at the gate, there you know, people just stand up and they're like waiting and all anxious. It's just like you just just wait, they'll they'll let you know how it works. You know, it usually works out okay.

SPEAKER_03 2:08

So yeah, so I get all kinds of different oh, sorry, I get all kinds of different shifts. So really early, like 4 a.m. in the morning till or 6 a.m. starts or 7:30 starts. So you know, I'm used to getting up early, and you know, it kind of helps with uh running because a person is used to you know being up those early hours and basically ready to go.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

So yeah, yeah. I had another guest recently who works nights usually, and he had mentioned how when he runs an overnight ultra, kind of when the the sun goes down, that's when he really wakes up, which is kind of cool.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Yeah, for sure. Uh yeah, I also wanted to mention too, um, as to uh where I like part of my upbringing where I grew up. Um, yeah. Uh so yeah, so I was, you know, in a small town like Lembrog, Saskatchewan. And um I guess I didn't really have uh I had a kind of a tough upbringing. Not not a very good uh childhood, I guess. You know, mother had like mental health problems, parents, yeah, they didn't like kids had a tough upbringing, so didn't come from much, and then parents ended up separating and uh so my mom was with you know single parent with three kids, you know, we grew up on the system, so I guess I kinda with that upbringing kind of gave me like uh strong uh mental um upbringing and strong uh will, if you will.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Yeah, kind of taught you how to maybe deal with some adversity at a young age.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

Yes, so which definitely you know helps, you know, in tough situations or tough challenging situations to uh you know overcome them and just to push push on and yeah, basically.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

Yeah, well that's great. Thanks for sharing that. That's it explains some of your toughness out there.

SPEAKER_03 4:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

So you mentioned um that you had the two boys and then a little bit of your upbringing and what you did for work, and then uh how did you uh get back into running after your boys were born?

SPEAKER_03 4:31

Uh I guess my son is the real reason why I kind of got back into running. Um, I always was a runner, I ran as a kid a lot. We had a big, huge yard. I just ran back and forth up and down the yard constantly or playing running games. Yep. And then I ran in uh school, high school, and then kind of fell out of running. And then this only ran here and there. And then after having my son in 2003, about 2004, 2005, I got back into running to lose uh the extra baby fat that I gained while being pregnant.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Okay. And uh, where did you grow up when you were running as a youngster?

SPEAKER_03 5:18

Uh Lemberg, Saskatchewan.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

Okay, cool. Yeah, yeah. I know some some folks out there as well. Yeah, so then um that was you said um kind of got back into running after your second kid, you said?

SPEAKER_03 5:32

Uh first kid, Javin is my son Javin. Yeah, I have two kids. So okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

So that was 2003, two what or 2004 kind of area you got back in?

SPEAKER_03 5:41

2004, 2005, yeah. Okay. Kind of got back into it to lose the extra weight that I gained. So I had a hard time losing the weight. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Okay. And then what kind of uh running were you doing then?

SPEAKER_03 5:54

It was basically just mainly on the treadmill. The treadmill had uh 20 uh running uh settings. Um, there's like a performance setting and a weight loss setting. So I just started off with uh performance settings. Okay, it was basically just shorter runs, like half-hour runs, like a run-walk kind of thing. So did that for you know a while, kind of got bored with it, and then I, you know, was getting faster. So I like speed up the runs and then did more running and then uh walking and kind of ventured outside here and there. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

Okay, nice. And then your second child came along, and then did you were you able to run? Kind of were you one of those people who runs during pregnancy, or were you were not able to?

SPEAKER_03 6:42

I actually ran up until I was maybe in my eighth month uh being pregnant. Um just mainly walking on the treadmill at that point, and then yeah, so and then after yeah, after a while, kind of this got back and like started running again more full-time. And uh yeah, so I guess I entered in my my first color vibe. I entered my first run in 2014 was the color vibe 5k run. So okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Which uh where was that?

SPEAKER_03 7:21

That was in Regina.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Okay, I don't think I've ever heard of that one. That was pre-my running day. So who put that one in?

SPEAKER_03 7:35

Yeah, it was really fun.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

And and where did that happen?

SPEAKER_03 7:41

It was in I think it was at what through Wascana Park, if I remember correctly, yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

Okay, fun. And what's that like running when you're getting blasted with that?

SPEAKER_03 7:55

It was fun, yeah. I was like all c colored it, c colored up and up with all kinds of colors pink, green, uh, orange. It was like yeah, crazy. I think I might have did that run in maybe like I don't know, 26 minutes and change. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Okay, yeah. And you said that was a 5k, yeah. Yes, yeah, that was 2014, and then where did your running journey go after that?

SPEAKER_03 8:23

So in 2015, that's when I signed up for my first QCM event. It was a half marathon. So just last year I've ran, I've been I've entered my uh 10th year, the 10-year club, I guess if you will.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

So good, congratulations.

SPEAKER_03 8:40

Thank you. So I would usually enter on the half marathons in that, and then two years into it, they or I don't know, they did they entered or they added in like the beast beast challenge where you do like all five events.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 8:57

So I did that like five times. I didn't do it alone. I did it, you know, with my friend uh Carrie and Megan. We would, you know, either do the full together or do the half together, or you know, mostly the fulls together. We would do run that as a virtual and then all run what we can as like in person, and then a couple of the events just run virtually. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Oh, okay. Yeah, I was wondering when you said knowing that the uh half marathon goes into the full marathon, doesn't it? Like it would be kind of happening at the same time. So I was wondering how you got creative with that. Do you have uh a favorite distance of like when you were would do that, the beast? Like, was there did you enjoy the virtual or the ones you did in person or a certain distance that you found you like better?

SPEAKER_03 9:50

My favorite distance is the half marathon, yeah, for sure.

unknown 9:54

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

I always I always think the half marathon is probably the most reasonable of of all things runners do. It's long enough that it's challenging and it's but it doesn't absolutely crush you or destroy you as you're training for it.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

And yeah, exactly. Yeah, just an manageable distance.

SPEAKER_01 10:11

That's right, yeah. And if it starts early enough, you can be done in time for a reasonable brunch and get on with your life. Yeah, yeah. So have you um so you said that the beast you did five times, hey?

SPEAKER_03 11:00

Uh yeah, we did it, they they ran it for uh I think maybe six years, but I've done it five times. So yeah, and then they quit doing it like a couple years ago.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

So okay, yeah. I had never really heard of it. So yeah, it makes makes sense. And then since that shut down, you've just been um doing the halves and a QCM.

SPEAKER_03 11:18

Yeah, the half, and I usually do also the night owl. And I'll also sign up for the virtual uh 10k.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Okay, yeah. I love love how much you you love the local stuff, it's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 11:31

Yeah, I mostly do only run local stuff. I really don't venture out to sorry, the dog is going crazy.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

Oh, that's okay. I'm surprised my dog isn't going crazy. I did an interview earlier, and he was hitting the microphone with his tail and squeaking his ball, and he seem he seems to have uh found something else to do now, though, thankfully. Yeah. So is there um have you ever done any uh events outside of Regina then?

SPEAKER_03 12:01

Um, I guess the only one really I've done outside is the the Fort Capel run, the Lions run that they usually do in uh I think oh when was that?

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Is that the one like the 20 kilometer around the lake one they do?

SPEAKER_03 12:14

Yeah, so that one they have a 10k. So I did that one this year, yeah. And that one had a little bit of everything in it snow, rain, wind.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Yeah, I think that one's in in May, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 12:26

Yeah, it's May, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:27

Oh, okay, yeah, yeah. I always um I've ran around Echo as just a run with a friend, and I always tell people how beautiful that is. It's kind of the little rolling hills and the lakes, really nice and the valley, and yeah, it's really, really a nice, and I'm sure the race, I've never been out to it, but I'm sure it's awesome as well.

SPEAKER_03 12:46

Yeah, it was, but uh, I think a lot of people dropped off because of the way how the weather was. Like it was like raining, snowing, windy. It wasn't very pleasant, but whatever. You you take it how it comes, right?

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Yeah, for sure. Whole whole part of the game.

SPEAKER_03 13:00

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Do you ever have any um desire to um like have like a bucket list race somewhere, or are you just kind of happy?

SPEAKER_03 13:10

I do have a few in mind that I wouldn't mind doing. Like I wouldn't mind running in BAMF, I wouldn't mind I wouldn't mind going all over the place really, but it's just I don't know, just a matter of finding the time and uh basically the money to do it. Those things are so expensive and whatnot.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

Yeah, yeah. Racing is not cheap, especially if you have to fly somewhere or even driving driving's not cheap.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

No, no.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

Um what are some of uh your other uh local events that you enjoy doing? I know see you see you every time I'm out, so I'm sure I'm sure you have a few favorites.

SPEAKER_03 13:48

Um I definitely like the goose ultra. That's one of my favorites. I have ran that one one six times. Oh, awesome. Yeah, six times.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Yeah, well, we might as well uh get into your your goose from this year. You um said that was your new farthest distance ever, eh?

SPEAKER_03 14:11

Yes. Um previous to that was uh I guess in 2024, I ran 104.31 kilometers. Um I was signed up for the 24 hours, but I didn't stay out the whole 24 hours. I was only on site for I guess 17 and a half hours, and my runtime was just over 15 hours.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

Okay, well awesome, yeah. Yep, and then this year you were what did you end up getting to?

SPEAKER_03 14:41

I end up running 121.86 kilometers, and I stayed out the whole 24 hours in that soggy goose ultra.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

When I um asked you, you had said 121, and then today I just looked it up and saw the 121.86, and I thought you could just round that up to 122, I think. It's probably just a little bit of watch air. Yep, let's say one twenty-two. Yeah, that's really good. I uh I know um I don't remember what time I was there off and on all day, but earlier in the day, maybe like at 10 or 11, when I stopped by, I said to Melissa, I'm like, holy smokes, Marcella, just look so so strong and so focused. I was super super impressed. I was like kind of expecting a big day from you. You just looked uh so so good out there. So I'm glad glad it paid off for you.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

Thank you. I had three goals set in mind for that day. Um, I had well to beat my previous distance of 104 kilometers. So once I reached 105 kilometers, anything after that was this bonus.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

And then my second goal was to try and last all 24 hours. Well, being the conditions of what they were, um yeah, I I did that. Yeah, and then uh my second goal was to reach 120 kilometers.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

So okay, you shattered all of them.

SPEAKER_03 15:58

I did, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

Lots of uh, I know the Canada Goose is uh starting to gain a little bit of a reputation even outside of Regina. I know lots of people I talked to that mentioned that they might want to try it some year. And I always say it's such a such an awesome, awesome experience for sure. Why don't you uh for those who aren't there or to hear about it, tell the listeners a little bit of what you uh went through as far as weather that day. It was quite the quite the I don't know, kind of like you were in a washing machine all day, really.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

Well, it started off okay and fine. And looking well, looking into the forecast, it was saying, well, first I was saying, oh, maybe 40% chance rain. And then it said, nope, it's definitely gonna rain. So um I knew we were probably in for uh a wet one. So then the rain came. It was like uh first started off like you know, lightly drizzling, then it was kind of like a downpour and rain off and on, and then we it got actually stopped at one point because it was a torrential downpour.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 17:02

And so I think it was halted for maybe a half an hour, and then um and then it didn't well, it kind of stopped a little bit, then it was just kind of like lightly drizzling throughout the whole day, really. And then at night there was another period where uh lightning showed up and thunder and started raining again, pouring and like, well, whatever. I already changed my shoes like three times, changed my clothing a few times. I thought I am not changing my shoes anymore. I don't care what my feet look like. I'm just gonna keep keep going.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Yeah, yeah. Sometimes at that point in the race, you're changing your shoes seems like the biggest biggest thing you could do, hey. Just like it's too much of a task.

SPEAKER_03 17:46

Yeah, yeah. So yeah, it was definitely very wet and thunder, lightning. I'm not a fan of thunderstorms either. So at one point there, when it started thundering and lightning again, I was on the other side of the lake. I thought, oh my god, please don't open up. So I sped it up a little, and that's when I came in, that's when they kind of paused it again for the second time. So it's like, okay.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Yeah, you were did you uh kind of happy for the the forced break anyway, or or did you did you feel like you wanted to keep going before you cooled off or got stiff or sore?

SPEAKER_03 18:20

Or I wanted to really like keep going, but um maybe it was kind of like a godsend, really, too, because you know, it kind of gave me a chance to you know get a little bit dry and a little bit, you know, warmer or whatever, so and just really grab a breather, if you will.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 18:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

Did did you have um like a kind of food and water plan going in and were you able to stick to it, or did you have to modify it as the day went on?

SPEAKER_03 18:52

I kinda I had a plan like to basically keep drinking, keep eating anything. I I usually um have like maple syrup. Um just amount to basically have protein, some sugar and hydration, electrolytes.

SPEAKER_01 19:11

Okay. Yeah, and then um would you kind of just stop every lap, or did you tend to take stuff with you every every lap?

SPEAKER_03 19:22

Um, I would take stuff on the run with me, or I would, you know, this take uh when I came in on the laps, this kind of take a bit of a break, you know, eat something, drink something, and then take something with me, shove my pockets full of like pretzels and gummies and gels, and off I go. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

I always like bringing like a sandwich out because I just think, well, I can't run and eat a sandwich at the same time, so I'll have to walk for a little while.

SPEAKER_03 19:50

Yeah, and then also had uh like uh soup broth they had at the age station. That was very helpful and came at a good time. And I also had like uh cup of soup, like uh or like Mr. Noodle cup had that as well. So that's basically was helpful and like with the sodium and just extra calories.

SPEAKER_01 20:12

Nice when you um are trading for events. Do you have uh like a plan you kind of follow, or do you do it yourself, or how do you uh how do you do that?

SPEAKER_03 20:26

I basically do my own thing. I don't run with the coach. I know the basic runs that you basically need. You need you know, do most of your runs at a slower pace, work in speed work, do strength, do a long run, yeah, and also rest. Rest is very important. That's how you get your gains is through rest.

SPEAKER_01 20:45

Yeah, that's right. I was actually listening to uh running podcasts today, and the guy kept saying that when you're out on a long run or doing your speed work, that's not that's not what's making you better. That's like stressing your body, and then when you're recovering and your body adapts to the stress, that that's what's making you stronger. So if you it's kind of like the more, more, more isn't the best for evolving as a runner, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:06

No, like and you know, and some people can figure out well, how come I'm not progressing? How come how come I'm not getting any better? Well, are you are you resting enough? Yeah, I don't yeah, I don't I've probably not because that's why you're not getting the gains that you're seeking.

SPEAKER_01 21:23

For sure, yeah. So, how many days a week would you say you run on average?

SPEAKER_03 21:28

It varies. I try to run maybe four times a week. Okay, um, sometimes it ends up being less, sometimes it ends up being more, like with work and family obligations. Like it it's hard to fit it in sometimes, but I try to make the best of it. And you know, also fitting in like strength work as well is important. So I'll basically oh go ahead. Okay, sorry. Um, like I'll usually like do like uh like a smaller run, like 5k or 6k, and then right after that I'll go uh fit in a strength workout. I'll do use like resistant bands. Um we have a weight machine, so I do leg extensions, um box jumps, um arm work, you know, anything, core work.

SPEAKER_01 22:23

Yeah, that sounds good. This all makes sense because we've been watching you evolve into a pretty darn good runner. So you've been you've been putting in the work, as I always like to say at the end of the podcast. Yeah.

unknown 22:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

It sounds like you got it dialed right in for your own kind of know what works best for you. That's great.

SPEAKER_03 22:40

Yeah, I always say that too. Do it what works best for you. If running every day works for you, yeah, do it. But you know, it that that's not for me. So I I run when I can and and rest when I can too. So for sure.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

Yeah, there's uh former guests on the podcast, she used to run like try to do over like hundred kilometer weeks. And I think the last couple of years she's been hurt and not feeling great. And then she, I believe she's tried to not go over 75 kilometers per week in her training, and she's just crashing it all over, like uh you know, podiuming for her age group or not even for her age group, just just doing really well, and that's just all just on a little smarter training and less kilometers. So, yeah, it's definitely, you know, I think from what I understand, lots of people, I don't know, like the the run influencers and stuff. There's people doing like whatever 200 kilometer weeks and just trying to get attention and stuff for that, but uh, but yeah, it seems like you don't actually have to run that far just to end up beating yourself up.

SPEAKER_03 23:42

No, I actually uh like for myself, I usually set myself for a month to do like at least a hundred K a month, not let alone not a week, but a month. And if I do more than that, then that's great, you know. Or I'll try and breathe my previous year's month, whatever I did. So, you know. Okay, yeah, that's cool.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

How do you uh keep track of all your kind of what what uh like app app would you use?

SPEAKER_03 24:07

Or I use both uh Garmin and mostly Garmin and so what would you say?

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Um so you uh kind of say from your first goose ultra you've done till till your most current one where you did so well, what would be like the things you think that you or maybe you didn't even change, maybe you've just progressed, but is there certain things that you changed or adapted to your training or your approach that you think it have helped you evolve?

SPEAKER_03 24:38

Um I think basically adding in strength work helps. Um, like leg work, you need like strong legs to run. So I'll do a lot of squats, I'll do a lot of leg extensions with the weight machine. Um I think basically that has helped definitely is strength work, that's very important.

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 25:01

You it's hard to run on weak legs, right? And my legs really they don't really don't get all that sore when I'm running.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

Yeah, I just got the the good muscle base on you, and it's good. Do you have a preference? I know different coaches and different people do do it differently, but do you do more of like a high volume, low weight or a higher weight, lower volume? What's your approach?

SPEAKER_03 25:26

Um, I'll start with like lower, like lower volume weights, and then this uh work my way up to higher volume. I can start with like say like with my leg extensions. Right now I'm at like the lower volume would be like 40 pounds, and now I'm up to like 50 pounds, working my way up to 60 pounds.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

So okay, yeah, nice.

SPEAKER_03 25:51

I'm always and then for squats, I like to try and do like try to do every day, if not every second day. Like I'm usually do like 50 squats.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

Okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:04

So it helps the quads, I find. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

Yeah, yeah. When I worked with uh coach who also prescribed me strength, yeah, I did lots of jumping squats and it was part of a workout that he called bulletproof quads. So yeah, they must they must hit the quads good.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

They do, yes.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

Yeah. Do you have a favorite uh little strength routine that you like?

SPEAKER_03 26:26

Or I like really using uh resistant bands. Um I'll use like 30 pounds, 40 pound resistant bands where I use like work my arms with.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:37

Yeah, I'll do like crossovers, uh bicep curls. Um yeah, that's basically I guess that's my favorite. And I also like doing like planks as well.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Okay, yeah, yeah. Planks always feel good, don't they?

SPEAKER_03 26:54

Yeah, it gives the abs a good workout.

SPEAKER_01 26:56

For sure. Um, when you're out running and trading, do you prefer to run alone or with a group or a little bit of both?

SPEAKER_03 27:03

A little bit of both. Sometimes I like to be by myself, and and then there's that times where I'm wishing someone was uh with me.

SPEAKER_01 27:12

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 27:13

Um you know, run with you know a group of people like this right before like park run. We'll usually meet, you know, 7:30, 8 o'clock, and you know, lap a lake or so. Okay, nice. And then go ahead and do park runs. So you know, it's not like doing that.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:31

Or sometimes I'll bug my husband husband to bike beside me while I run like a longer distance.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Okay. Does he enjoy that?

SPEAKER_03 27:41

Uh, I think so. I hope so. I've I don't know. It might be a little bit boring because he's going so slow while I'm running, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:51

You must be getting quite the uh collection of uh park run participations, too. What are you up to for that?

SPEAKER_03 27:57

I am up to 106.

SPEAKER_01 27:59

Oh, Emoly, that's that's really good.

SPEAKER_03 28:02

Yeah, I remember I did my first park run, it was June 1st, 2019. It was really hot that day, and they they kind of changed up the route somehow. Well, I don't know, I I didn't know what they were really. I guess I didn't really know what to expect, so it was my first time, but I remember it ending up kind of up on top of a hill. I'm like, okay, well, this is different. And I remember my time for that was like 30 minutes and or 36 minutes and 20 seconds or something like that. So it's like okay, and then yeah, and then I think my second park run was like 31 minutes, so yeah, it wasn't as hot or anything, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Yeah, was that maybe I feel like that was the one time maybe we went uh east of Broad Street along like the little there's like that little single track trail around the lake, and we ran to like Douglas Park Hill and back.

SPEAKER_03 28:53

I think Craig and Karen had um I remember doing I remember doing that one as well, but this one was and kind of ended up it was yeah, it was on a like a grassy hill, like um yeah. Um, and it was with yeah, Craig and Karen, yeah. So yeah, I don't know. Yeah, it was definitely interesting.

SPEAKER_01 29:15

Yeah, for sure. And you still try to make it almost Saturdays end for park run?

SPEAKER_03 29:20

I do because I I use actually use park run as like a speed workout. So as one of my like as I like a my uh training runs. So I like to use park run as a like a threshold run or like a speed work run. So yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:34

It's kind of yeah, you get probably find it a bit easier to push when there's other people there. I know I do.

SPEAKER_03 29:42

Sure, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:42

You can run like 20 seconds a kilometer faster, it seems like, but but it feels like the same pace or the same effort at least. Yeah, yeah. So out of so we've talked about uh QCM and the goose and park run. Is there some other local events that you really look forward to every year?

SPEAKER_03 30:00

Um, I also like I've done this run like twice now. Is the lost our lost our marbles run that Chris Tetla um hosts in November for the like it's for like mental health?

SPEAKER_01 30:12

Yeah, that's a that is a neat, a neat one.

SPEAKER_03 30:15

Yeah, so that one um I think he offers three hours, six hours, and twelve hours. I've done the 12 hours. Uh this this past year, like in 2025, I did 75k.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

Nice.

SPEAKER_03 30:31

So that was nice. Yeah, that was good. I I don't mind that one, but you know, it's running indoors on the track, that's kind of challenging too, because you know, the track is hard and there's no air movement, so it's hotter, but yeah, it's all right.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

It's so stuffy that field house, isn't it? I always say I wish they had built like uh some like a sunroof or like uh I don't know, like you know, in shopping malls when they used to have like live trees growing in the middle just to get some oxygen in there.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

So we yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Yeah, I did the three-hour, I think, this year, and yeah, really it was much funner than it I thought it would be. Because if you just say it on paper, you just run around a 240-odd meter track for three or six hours. It sounds horrible. But again, like most things running related, it's just like your connections and the community that makes it so fun. Like you get to basically visit the whole time and see everyone the whole time, and yeah, I really I really enjoyed it. I'll maybe I'll try to stay a little longer this year. Yeah, so that's lost your marbles, and I I imagine he's doing it again this year.

SPEAKER_03 31:34

I've yeah, I hope so. Yeah, pretty committed and people are kind of really into it, and yeah, yeah, and it's for a good cause, so yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:42

Yeah, for sure. And you do do gopher attack usually too, or do you volunteer at that one?

SPEAKER_03 31:48

Uh no, I do go for attack as well. I usually do the half marathon.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:53

And I believe this year was a bit of a cooler one, it was like snow on the ground. Um, yeah, but yeah, you just gotta take whatever mother nature deals you, right? You you can't change the weather, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, and that one, yeah, that had some spots where like people who are going for it's a Boston, I think it's I feel like it's Western Canada at least earliest Boston qualifier.

SPEAKER_03 32:18

It is, yeah, I think so. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Yeah. So there were people trying to do that and who are right on the cusp of being able to do that, and then there's kilometers here and there that actually had like kind of like a slick snow and ice coating on it, so that kind of kind of sucked for them.

SPEAKER_02 32:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:33

Yep.

unknown 32:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

Do you ever plan on kind of it's kind of neat because you do like halves and then you also do like big ultras. Do you ever plan on having a go at a marathon again?

SPEAKER_03 32:47

Um, well, actually, I ran uh a marathon and QCM uh in 2025.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

Oh, okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:55

Yeah, I ran the full. And other than that, the last couple years um I've been pacing for the QCM. I usually pace the the half marathon.

SPEAKER_01 33:09

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:10

So uh 2023 I paced uh 2024, and then I'll be pacing as well this year. I'll be pacing the 225 half marathon time.

SPEAKER_01 33:22

How do you uh you get nervous to make sure you stay in the right zone for that, or you got it dialed in pretty well at this point?

SPEAKER_03 33:31

Like um, I constantly watching my watch for sure. Um I get I get I kind of trained to you know to run at that pace. It's a much like a slower pace than what I typically run a half marathon at, but you just kind of have to dial back and you know you're doing it for other people and not just for yourself. So you want to help other people meet their goals.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

Yeah, there's kind of that sweet spot that most people I think you kind of like your kind of long run, easy effort pace where you can even without a watch or something, it you kind of just know what it feels like. Yeah, yeah. I know I might had a friend at uh hit the run regina Halloween last year. She was wanting to uh PR a 5k, so I was pacing her for that too, and I was so nervous. You know, that was just one person that kept looking at my watch, and then I think we went way too fast at first, and then I think I think I ruined it for her. She didn't get it, but but it wasn't her fault. I don't think she was we were going way too fast, so yeah. So, do you have any um other races on the coming up for this year?

SPEAKER_03 34:43

Um, I'm signed up with uh Megan and I think Carrie, but I'm not sure if she's running it or not. But we're signed up for the Hoot and Howl that Jason um um post.

SPEAKER_01 34:57

So oh nice, yeah, yeah. And have you done that one before?

SPEAKER_03 35:00

Did it last year, yeah. Okay, that's right. Yeah, yeah. Um we did like 30 kilometers. Yeah, so that one's like done in the dark is like pretty pretty pretty crazy, actually.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

Yeah, that's another one though, hey, with a fun uh fun atmosphere, fun vibe kind of with you. Anytime you have like that main meeting area that everyone gets to stop at. I get I guess that's already coming up. Uh what are we recording this on the 16th? So next Saturday then, hey.

SPEAKER_03 35:31

Next Saturday, yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:33

Nice. Do you have any like a goal pace or you or a goal distance, or you're just trying to enjoy it?

SPEAKER_03 35:41

Um no, I'm just gonna enjoy that one. That was that's really not my goal race. Uh like goose and um Royal Road race were my two goal races for this year. So okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:54

Yeah, and then how what did you do at the Royal Road Race this year?

SPEAKER_03 35:58

I did uh 10k, and I think I did that one in like 57 minutes and change.

SPEAKER_01 36:04

Nice, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:06

Yeah, so I beat my I wanted to beat my like uh previous time from that, and I I managed it, so it was it was good, it worked out good.

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Awesome. So you would say you were having a very successful year.

SPEAKER_03 36:20

Uh yes, I guess so. Hard work pays off.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Yeah, no, that's true. That's that's good. Um, when you do, I know sometimes I have non-runners who listen to the show too, and they always I always forget to ask, but they like to know for say yourself when you're either you know doing a half or maybe more specifically when you're doing like those long distances where you really have to dig deep. And you know, most I would say quote unquote sane people would think it's a kind of a stupid way to spend 24 hours, but why do you do it? That's people always like to know that.

SPEAKER_03 36:58

Well, I I like running, so like I like running and I like to uh challenge myself, I guess, and push those limits and see how far I can go.

SPEAKER_01 37:10

Yeah, awesome. Yeah, that's a that's a good good answer. And I usually tell people who ask, yeah, kind of say say the same thing. You don't don't really know what you're capable of till you you keep pushing and see, kind of find that limit.

SPEAKER_03 37:24

Exactly. And you know, you can train all you want for an event, but race day is never promised, as you can see how goose was like the weather did not cooperate, but I just in embrace it for what it is and accept the challenge and just be in it for the long haul because there's nothing that you can do to change the weather, it's just how how you're going to respond to it and react to it. So you can't go in it thinking, oh my, this is gonna suck, this is gonna suck. Well, if you go in with that kind of attitude, it most definitely will suck for you. You have to go in with an open mind and embrace it and accept the challenge and just give it your all.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

Yeah, yeah. I love I love all of that. That's great. Did you um I was just thinking, pardon me, did you find at the goose um there was probably some people there who you maybe had noticed the the rain and the weather maybe did affect them, but did you notice anybody who maybe I don't know, just came out of their shell a bit and they're like, okay, wow, this actually isn't that bad. Like it's raining and it's wet, but it's kind of fun and you know it's kind of kind of adds to the challenge.

SPEAKER_03 38:38

I yeah, I don't know, it's hard to say. Like with some I've noticed, you know, they I was kind of surprised that they you know called it, but um, yeah, I yeah, I don't know. That's hard to say. Um I think definitely some did give in to the elements, if you will.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:59

And yeah, so yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 39:03

Yeah, yeah, it's fun. I did a a Spartan race in Montana in 23, I think it was, and it was I forget the exact, it was like four degrees and and kind of like a misty slash started to snow a little bit, and um yeah, it was just a struggle fest. I think it had the one of the highest DNF rates of any Spartan race ever. But yeah, point of my story is all our friends and stuff who were there, we've kind of you bond over those experiences when it's nasty. Like when it's there, it's like wow, this is kind of kind of awful and kind of terrible, but you all know you kind of persevered and stuck together, and it kind of just bonds you.

SPEAKER_03 39:39

Yeah, I think like with that for the goose, I think at towards the end of it, there is maybe only six of us left on course for the 24 hours, so yeah. I think so.

SPEAKER_01 39:50

Yeah, I think so. Yeah, did you make any new friends out like that you were able to share a few miles with, or do you're kind of in your own zone most of the night?

SPEAKER_03 40:00

I was basically in my own zone. I was you know, I walked a couple laps with uh a couple local runners, like with gay and uh Mike and Carrie, um and Jennifer Robinson. I think she was just there for support though, and Steve Stefan uh Black Sue. Sorry if I'm saying his name wrong, I'm not sure. And uh Deedra Roberts. So um they were like pushing hard all day as well. And I think Deidra her goal must have been I think 100k. Yeah. Because when I came in for one from came in from like finishing a lap, she had already come in and um I guess met her goal because she was like actually sitting on the chair, like sleeping. I was gonna tell her, you know, way to go. And I asked, you know, what she did, and the girls told me, Oh, she she got her hundred. I'm there, oh wow, that's good.

SPEAKER_01 40:59

Yeah, that was amazing. And I think she walked the whole thing because I think she did. She yes, yeah, had some maybe bad knees or something, I think, but to walk, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:08

Yeah, she did it, she did really good. I found that very inspiring.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Yeah, no kidding. Walk 100K anytime is impressive. So yeah, that's great. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:19

And then another runner. Um, I met him actually at Lost Our Marbles run last year. His name is uh Stefan Black Sue.

SPEAKER_01 41:27

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 41:28

Um you know, we would you know pass each other on you know loops and you know, say, you know, way to go, good job, uh keep going, you know. And at one point we even like stopped and chatted, and it was like really really early in the morning. So we had a bit of a chat and um you know, told each other, you know, way to go and keep going. And so I found that also very inspiring. And I think he clocked a lot of kilometers as well, like I'm not sure it was maybe 140 or something.

SPEAKER_01 42:00

Yeah, he was up there, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:02

Yeah, so I found that very inspiring uh as well. So yeah, I think yeah, that was really good.

SPEAKER_01 42:10

Yeah, it's neat when you can kind of find those people out on the course that you kind of have a connection with and that that shared suffering, and then you have a have a relationship with them.

SPEAKER_03 42:18

It's kind of cool, yeah, for sure. Yeah, and I just want to mention they like even at the aid station, everyone was very supportive and helpful, and you know, you know, just kind of coaxing you on and you know, telling you way to go and keep going, and just yeah, it was really good. So awesome.

SPEAKER_01 42:40

And I heard those those two new race directors did an outstanding job, I've heard.

SPEAKER_03 42:44

Yeah, they smashed it out of the park. I thought they did really well.

SPEAKER_01 42:47

Yeah, well, that's good. Was there um anything else you wanted to discuss or chat about, or do you think we got it all covered?

SPEAKER_03 42:58

Um, well, I just want to say basically, like when I first started running, um I guess I got I I'm um really like really shy. Um and when I first went to my when I was going to park run, I was, you know, I didn't really know a whole lot of people. I knew of some runners, like I knew, you know, the steam camps, you know, because you know, they were you know really good runners and whatnot. You always see them on, you know, mentioned on like face, like on, you know, marathon matters and whatnot.

SPEAKER_01 43:31

Um we could call them local legends, I think.

SPEAKER_03 43:34

I guess so, yeah. And so that's I really didn't know a whole lot. And then I was at this one park run, I was kind of standing towards the back, and I'll never forget this. Um Joanne, her name was Joanne Noel. She, you know, in introduced herself and took me around to you know, introduce me to some other people, you know, runners. And I thought that was really like really awesome and amazing. So I guess I really never used to yeah, I guess I really didn't really feel a part of the running community because I you know just felt like an outsider until I started meeting meeting people. And yeah, so and then I you know I'd see people running in groups and think, well boy, I wish, you know, I wish I was running with them, you know, or you know, knew them. So now that you know that I'm more out in the community, the running community, I am running with you know groups of people.

SPEAKER_01 44:34

people and you know feel more uh welcomed I guess if you will yeah for sure so and yeah being that you you had that experience um when you were new when do you kind of make an effort if you notice somebody's new do you try to you get it I always say it's kind of easy to spot like you know if you're at park run and there's people that are a little bit shy or it's their first time you always try to you know say hi to them or say good job it's just make can make such a difference.

SPEAKER_03 45:04

Yeah you know say good job or whatnot because I you know I still find myself as kind of shy but um yeah that's right I guess I guess it's a matter of you know someone approaching me first and then it's kind of a little bit easier but um yeah I guess it's basically breaking that ice and you know saying good job or you know asking a couple questions trying to get to know the person I guess and making them feel welcome too kind of helps yeah yeah yeah so that would kind of be your your lesson for people is even if you're shy and feel maybe like an imposter like you don't belong you just keep at it and you make friends and community and and you're become become a part of it too. Yeah and I also remember running one of the I love Regina runs I remember coming in crossing the finish line and Jan Steen Camp and uh Darwin Weimer were standing there and they go oh here's a here's a future uh pacer I'm like what I don't think so oh and then Jan goes oh maybe you can pace ultras and they're what I didn't even ran an ultra I don't think so and then here I am pacing for the QCM like this will be my third time yeah and and running ultra distances too so yeah and running ultras and and I never used to like running long distance I remember in high school my phase teacher thought it'd be fun that I enter in a cross country run.

SPEAKER_01 46:38

Well I used to be a sprinter so entering the cross country run well what do you suppose I did well go all out like crazy and then end up dying almost crossing the finish line so I did not like running long distances back then no what would the um cross country long distance uh distance have been then I have no idea I remember I know what we went to some small town I don't remember even know where I think it was an Earl Grey we went and oh I don't I don't even remember what it really what the distance was I just remembered it was hell yeah if yeah I forget if it's like five kilometers or ten but yeah I don't know it is really long anyhow yeah all right so um yeah I think that will probably be good for for this one hey okay yeah sounds good yeah and I was uh gonna tell you I had quite a few requests to to interview you so it's uh oh really I had thought it too yeah for sure yeah you have a a couple for sure three secret admirers out there so that's good oh my goodness they're probably not so secret you would know who they are because I always when I saw you a goose I was like I think Marcella would be be a good good guest to talk about or just to tell her story and also recap goose a little bit and then I think in the next two weeks I had uh three other people mention it so yeah you were oh wow interesting well that's cool okay and good to know yeah you yeah you were a sought after guest so yeah yeah it did well it was definitely uh challenging run and I'm yeah I'm very proud of what I accomplished for that run and it's just a matter of sticking sticking to your guns and just being very determined and don't let the elements bother you yep do you think next year you'll uh try to best this year's time or distance as well or are you happy with that um I hope so because really with this run um there was like basically 50 minutes that were you know that were paused so I could have been running you know a little extra time and maybe gotten more of a distance but yeah it was what it was so I I definitely think it's doable yes yeah and then if you you know like you said a few times you can't depend on the weather or predict it but if you happen to get a a good day you could probably get get 130 or more I would say hey with especially if you're gonna have to stop sure that'll be a number to shoot for sure yeah maybe maybe you'll even try the uh 100 mile in 24 hours someday the way you're progressing oh my I don't know yeah there's some pretty crazy ultras out there that's for sure yeah I remember a couple years I don't remember what year it was anymore like three or four years ago and uh John Sloman did the 24 hour 100 miler and wow I wasn't uh close to close to that but I was we were kind of running kind of the same laps towards the end and I didn't really realize what what he had done till after and I was like holy moly no wonder he was he was really focused and just just so dialed in so yeah that was yeah and that's that's really a fun I think there was no sorry go ahead yeah oh no I was gonna say yeah that's kind of what it's about just pushing and figuring out your limits yes that's for sure and being yeah focused and determined yeah it's like how bad do you want it basically is what it works out to be yeah yeah and we should also mention that if there's people out there who do 20 kilometers in 24 hours that's and that's their limit that's super cool too exactly yeah do what you can do like yeah your body can do amazing things yep all right well thank you so much and we will uh hopefully see you out on the around the park sometime very soon all right thank you have a good evening yeah you too thanks a lot Marcella all right okay you're welcome okay bye bye yeah bye bye you have been listening to the Saskatchewan podcast please subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to pods and remember to get in touch at jasontburns40 at gmail.com for suggestions of who you think may make a great guest on this podcast and for comments in general and as always thanks to this wonderful Canadian band The Burning Hell for the use of its song holidaymakers check them out at theburninghell.com and until next time keep putting in the work