Toni-Lee: I am a Runner

Name: Toni-Lee Johnstone

Age: 37

City: Red Deer, AB

Profession: Executive Assistant

1. Why did you start running? What pushes you to keep going? I started running because I listened to the audio book called, “Born to Run’ by Christopher McDougall.  I was inspired by the information presented in the book. Particularly, I was drawn to the idea of how physiologically humans’ bodies are actually designed perfectly for running long distances. I was also moved by the evidence presented in the book indicating that hundreds of years ago we used to literally ‘out run’ our prey to the point where the animals would drop from overheating  and exhaustion. The idea of running in a tribe to track down food and to ‘be’ together really ‘touched’ me. My legs literally began to twitch and tingle, and I just HAD to go for a run after listing to that book. As a human, my body wasn’t designed to sit at a desk, and stare at a computer screen all day long. So, the idea that, it is my true and natural state to be running is what pushes me to keep going.  

2. What is your running/fitness routine for a typical week? Typically I run 4-6 times a week. Being a single parent, I often have to squeeze my runs in during my 60 minute lunch break. I love to run at lunch, as it is such a great way to release the stress I can often experience at my job. Another bonus to running at lunch is, I don’t have to take my phone with me.  I am on call allot, so there are many times during weekend runs, I have to carry my phone on my runs with me. So it’s nice on my lunch runs to be free from everything, and everyone.  I also do planks and push ups every day, and when my legs are really sore I have a bike I keep at work so I can go for a quick spin at lunch. 

3. What is your favourite distance to run? Right now I’m in love with the ‘half-marathon’.  I enjoy the fact that I can really push myself leading up to the race, and not get injured at those distances. I’ve also found that after the racing a half marathon I can still continue to train the week after. I found after doing my first marathon that that the distances were still to much for my body. I’m sure I’ll work my stamina up, and someday may come to love the full marathon, but for now, I do enjoy the half the best.

4. Best running memory? My recent half marathon in Kelowna, I got a PR of 1:48:01. I was stunned by that time, and really surprised myself. I felt very strong for that race, and I could genuinely feel the weeks of training and proper nutrition paying off.  I also got to experience that race with several of my running friends who also obtained personal records. It was such a fun experience to see everyone work so hard, and surpass their running goals. 

5. Do you run solo or with a group? I tend to run solo (see previous comments about lunch running) Having said that, I am a member of the ‘Red Deer Runners’, and when I can find child care I enjoy running with the group. I find that I tend to push myself further when running with the group, and I really enjoy encouraging others in their running. I love seeing people progress, its’ so inspirational! It’s so much fun!

6. What is your dream race? I think It’d be a lifetime experience to run the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon. This race is described in detail throughout the book, ‘Born to Run’ by Christopher MacDougall. It would be such an honour to support the Raramuri, and also to pay tribute to Micah True (Caballo Blanco).

7. How many medals do you own? Where are they displayed? I honestly have no idea how many medals I have. I have a bunch them hanging in my closet, and one day I came home to find my son and all of the neighborhood kids were wearing them. Apparently they were pretending it gave them superpowers! I do have a tradition of hanging the medal from my last race on my office door. It serves as an inspirational tool, to help me stay focus on my next goal/challenge. 

8. Do you have any current running goals? Right now, my greatest goal is to achieve consistency, and stay committed to the running agreements I’ve laid out for myself. I really want to feel the joy of working through the considerations that constantly seem to sway me off course (work, kid, injury, lack of sleep, lack of time, putting others before myself). So, I have challenged myself to run a ‘minimum’ of one mile every day until the end of the year.  

9. What is your worst running moment? The 2013 Hypothermic Half Marathon in Red Deer was diabolical in that I was injured, and seriously had no business running in it. But I had told myself, ‘Well I bought the bib, and the metal looks really cool. What’s the worst that could happen?” I finished that half marathon in over three hours. It was my ‘Personal Worst’ time, and I was in absolute agony every step of the way. When I finally made it across the finish line the volunteers had already packed up all of the medals so I had to hobble over and ask for one. Usually, I can find the humour in most situations, but that was a run I had a hard time shifting out of being grumpy.

10. If you could tell your younger (less experienced) running self-something, what would you say? I would say, “Hey, you are pretty amazing!” Then I would blather on with some sort of advice about proper nutrition, not running too much, and getting enough rest.  All of which, I know my younger self would hear, but then go ahead do what she wanted to do anyway.