Tokyo Olympic Team

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For those doing the math on my Tokyo Olympic Journey, it is time to acknowledge I have not earned one of the three spots on the Canadian Olympic team for this year.

For this result, I take full ownership, because I made choices throughout the pandemic that have focused on long-term investments in my athletic career and personal health at the cost of not making the Olympic Team in 2021. When I look back on my choices, I do so without regret because 2020 + 2021 have been a very successful and fulfilling time for me in areas of my life that are otherwise balanced within sport. The feelings of disappointment for not achieving my Olympic Goal this year serves as validation that I still care deeply about the sport and my inner-fire is motivated more than ever for my next series of races to run fast!


Photo Credit: Arthur Images

For today, I have a lot of huge thank-you’s to administer for the pandemic season thus far:

  • First to Athletics Canada for finding a way to navigate the pandemic restrictions and safely host race opportunities myself and other Canadians were able to participate in this season
  • Sask Athletics and Canadian Sport Centre Sask, you have relentlessly supported me throughout the pandemic. This support is a huge reason why I was able to continue training at all through the pandemic.
  • Nuun Hydration for keeping me hydrated in the crazy heat throughout Arizona, races in the heat of Canada summers, and everyday training! The swag that has been sent is also a wonderful way to brighten my days!
  • My Coach, Alger. Who despite receiving pressure on my performances this seasons, patiently continues on with me in pursuit of reaching my full potential in sport.
  • My fellow 800m Canadian ladies, you are all insanely talented both on and off the track! All opportunities on a start line with each of you make this sport so exciting to be a part of
  • My Regina Farmers’ Market Team of staff, vendors, customers, volunteers, and community – the kind words, messages, and support are truly touching and I have never been so proud to be a Saskatchewan athlete on the international stage
  • My best friends and family, your love and support I am so grateful to be surrounded by again. I love you all!

What is next?

  • Well, the 2024 Paris Olympics are only three years away now
  • Next year there are Worlds and Commonwealth Games to begin hitting standards for
  • Plus I just ran a PB in my 400mH race last week – looks like progress isn’t as far away as it may appear. For this summer Al and I still have goals to achieve and workouts to crush. I’ll be at the track putting in the work for my next opportunity and of course cheering on the incredibly talented and hardworking ladies who will be representing Canada at the Tokyo Olympics!

On a congratulatory note, a huge congratulations to Lindsey Butterworth, Melissa Bishop, and Madeleine Kelly, our Canadian 800m Tokyo Olympians! Today, and in the upcoming weeks, I hope everyone on my journey will help me cheer and celebrate these three amazing women who are representing Canada in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Lindsey, it’s been amazing getting to be there while you run your Olympic Standard and sub-2 for the first time this year!

Melissa, what can I say that hasn’t already been said?! You are the classiest and gold-standard athlete I have ever met all the while being an amazing Mom! Can’t wait for you to get your medal this year!

Maddy, your progression has been so exciting to watch and your jokes always make me laugh! I’m so excited for all that is in store for you!

To all three of you, Congratulations and good luck in Tokyo!

The rest of the world better watch out for these 800m Canadians! Let’s Go Canada!

Photo Credit: Daniel tnf. autographs – 2019 National Championships

June 25: Nationals | Olympic Trials

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Based on my World Rankings, I have been invited to attend the Olympic Trials in the women’s 800m this Friday, June 25, 2021. Yes, the same day as my Mom’s Birthday. Although it means I won’t be home for your birthday, Mom, I appreciate your support in the decision to accept this invitation. This means the next stop of my journey brings me to Montreal, where I am scheduled for two big races:

  1. Athletics Canada Olympic Trials – Friday, June 25
  2. La Classique de Montréal – Tuesday, June 29

It is no secret the talent and depth of Canadian 800m women is the best it has ever been. Regardless of final team selections, any of the Canadian 800m women who end up in Tokyo will be amazing both on and off the track. Having earned my spot in the Olympic Trials Final, I can imagine no better way to return to a track season post-pandemic than alongside these incredible women in pursuit of representing Canada at the Olympics.

Good things are coming and I am very excited to be sharing them with everyone who has been continuing to support my journey. A huge thanks to Athletics Canada and all of the other behind the scenes planners for finding a way to host this meet during the pandemic! And a huge thanks to everyone at home for your support in Sask!

Check out the information below for the details on the upcoming Olympic Trials race this Friday! To make up for the covid-19 protocols of no spectators, races can be watched for FREE with a 3-day trial on Athletics Canada TV! Click the links below for more information

You’ll catch the women’s 800m this Friday at 7pm (Montreal Time) or 5pm (Regina Time). See you then!

Photo Credit: Athletics Canada

Competition Schedule can be found at: https://athletics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Trials-Schedule-June-18-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR03S160moCexgNfIZBIuoSBzzJGfjNeDxg_1uW6wbICxV-_ImESQkvzQmE

Livestream can be found: https://www.athleticscanada.tv/gprofile.php?do=news&mgroup_id=47401&news_id=621051&fbclid=IwAR1G0pQniVaXKHKnlxSKfHUhfi3u7cv7-14kFSfu0YCXmgxo_qk7JCa1SsQ

Entry List: https://www.trackie.com/online-registration/entry-list/olympic-and-paralympic-track-and-field-trials/469970/?fbclid=IwAR3RMo52WOzojbjHKFsCl8mxs9npRzpaA4RnTVwi0bAZc3y7JDTcEw66_U8

Olympic Qualification Criteria: https://athletics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2020-Olympic-Nomination-Criteria-EN.pdf

2021 Track Results

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After a busy week of races in Ontario, it’s time to share the results:

Race #1: Royal City Inferno in Guelph on Wed., June 16

Raced the 800m: 2:08.88

Race Results: https://www.speedrivertiming.com/inf21/evtindex.htm

Live Stream: https://www.athleticscanada.tv/gprofile.php?do=view_event&mgroup_id=47401&event_id=6381&year=2021

Race #2: in Toronto on Friday, June 18

Raced the 800m: 2:07.00

Race Results: https://athleticsontario.ca/statistics/results/live/2021/210618-ontario-hp-series/

Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorlyikhumk

Photo Credit: Gyles Dias, Toronto, ON; June 2021

For anyone who has been following my journey, you are probably wondering why I am running 2:07 flat when I ended my 2019 season with a breakthrough of consistent 2:02-2:03’s races. For those curious, I encourage you to continue reading.

What you already know:
In Fall 2019, I announced the decision to move my training away from the Athletics Canada West Hub in Victoria to my current Regina, SK hometown base. The next few months were settling into a new environment of training and life balance. Then the covid-19 pandemic postponed the Olympics + 2020 Season. Then I took a very rewarding break from social media, and left everyone hanging.

What you didn’t know:

I made the decision to move in 2019 in May, and communicated this to my Victoria team that 2019 would be my last season with Vic City Elite. It wasn’t until after I had packed my car full of things and drove it to Regina in June that I was finally free to run the 2:02 – 2:03, 2019 season that can be tracked with my race results.

  • Yes, I made the 800m Final and placed 5th (despite being seeded 13th)
  • Yes, I cracked the Top 100 in World Athletics Rankings
  • Yes, I ran a my top x6 fastest of all-times

The part you didn’t see behind the times:

  • I was $35,000 in debt (Rent or Groceries? Despite amazing landlords who cut my rent in half, I couldn’t afford either with the amount of traveling I was doing!)
  • I was ashamed of who I am after years of tolerated gossip culture.
  • I felt alone and did not feel like I belonged in my training environment, losing a fifth training partner in four years to injury/illness didn’t help

The unseen points, and shame I was carrying were leading me towards a pathway of breakdown and burnout which was evident in the 2:09 I ran in the “confidence builder” Nanaimo race I ran (pre-move) in May 2019. Initially I felt a lot of embarrassment for this race, but have since learned to accept this race was a blessing that forced me to realize change was necessary in order to grow and reach my goals as a professional athlete. It was time to go home to my roots, and as I wrote in my journals “Build my Empire”

What have I been doing in 2020?

You guessed it. I’ve been building my empire and actively changing the shame into fuel for the direction I want to go both athletically and in life.  

In my experience, the first phase of building an empire is demolition. I stripped down the pieces that weren’t working for me, admitted my financial shame, cried with mental performance over the culture shock of being home, had the opportunity to be home for my Grandma’s passing, acknowledged what needed to change, struggled in a new career environment, and got to work with my coach Alger who agreed my holistic success would carry over to my track success. Then covid-19 through a curveball at the empire I was building and slowed the year down. There were days Al and I didn’t know what to do for training with lockdowns getting worse and I felt too overwhelmed to run. We keep an honest dialogue and Al challenged me, if you are choosing not to run for a day, use that time to figure out why. And I did.

Although the 2020 and some of 2021 track races were put on hold, life was not. Since my 2019 social hiatus, I have been working, running, evolving, growing, living, and healing.

  • In Jan. 2020 I began a part-time career with the Regina Farmers’ Market, that evolved into a promotion helping build an Online Store that served 50+ small businesses the opportunity to stay open during the pandemic (Dream Job alert!)
  • We have grown a team of professional, amazing colleagues who support me both at work, in life, and in sport
  • I was invited to become a facilitator with the Canadian Women + Sport team and have had the ability to speak with and to incredible women in various Canadian sport organizations
  • I spent more time with my family than I have in the last five years combined.
  • I reconnected with Team Alger Alumni and Team Alger present, these teammates are unparalleled.
  • I was blessed with a gentle winter that allowed me to run on the gravel roads to continue training for most of the winter outdoors and have my “kumbaya” moments out on my nature runs
  • I reconnected with Canadian Sport Centre Sask, Sask Athletics, and my IST Team of Carla, Brad, and Alistair
  • I became a sponsored Nuun Ambassador
  • I am on track to achieve financial freedom where all my debt will be cleared in the fall
  • I became an auntie again
  • I met and spent a year (and counting) with Justin, the love of my life

To answer the original question of where are my 2:02 times? The answer is I’m actually looking for Sub 2-min times. Now that I have taken the time to build a solid foundation of support for my life and athletic career, I have the capacity and collected confidence to accomplish the real goals – without worrying if I can afford groceries. Next Stop: Olympic Trials. Stay tuned for more details!

Toronto Tokyo Qualifier Series – 800m Homestretch

Photo Credit: Gyles Dias