Christine Blanchette wasn’t always an avid runner. In school, she was the last one picked for the basketball team.
“I was not really athletic at all,” she says.
Then in 1998, a friend convinced her to go for a run.
“Are you crazy?” Blanchette replied. “I don’t really want to run; I don’t want to do it.”
But she did do it, and it changed her life. She found her calling.
She went from beginner-level to marathons in fewer than two years. Now the 49-year-old Burnaby resident is an expert on all things running related, and she loves converting others. Blanchette organizes running clubs and clinics. She hosts a radio show about running and a Shaw cable TV show, called Run With It, which has nearly 70,000 viewers. She also writes a blog and regular column on the sport. How does she find the time to run nearly every day? She schedules it in like any other task and considers it her playtime. We caught up with Blanchette to talk about her passion for running and how others can get involved.
Q&A
Jennifer Moreau: I’ve heard running is addictive. Is that the case? I’ve never quite made it to that threshold.
Christine Blanchette: It’s a healthy addiction or an obsession. I think it’s how you look at it. You can’t let running take control of you; you have to take control of running. It’s like being very smart, common sense with your training. … Listening to my body is the key. I think that’s important.
Why do you think people should run versus other forms of exercise?
Running is not for everyone, but if you do start to take up the sport, it helps with your mental well-being as well. It helps with coping with stress; it’s just a wonderful thing. It doesn’t have to be running; it could be walking.
Do you have any advice for beginners?
I think that you really have to start slow. I think you have to join a running group or a club. To follow a proper running program, you can do it on your own by following it online. It’s just because you might get injured, or you may (bite) off more than you can chew. It’s just being careful, because you may get injured, and it may not be right for you. I would suggest seeing a doctor before you go for that run.
When you say injured, are you talking sore knees, that kind of thing?
Yes, or just not knowing you’re injured, because you may not be running properly or have proper running shoes. … Make sure your running shoes are good, … that you are following a proper running program, and that you have a goal and that you’re going to meet that goal. And nutrition - nutrition is huge, and making sure you drink enough water.
What are the major barriers when starting out?
I think it’s not having a goal. I think you need a goal, and you’ve got to believe in yourself. You have to be patient with your training. Sometimes you think, ‘Oh, I’m not doing well, it’s too hard.' You’re huffing and puffing. Just follow a program, be patient with yourself and reach out to others, and just know that you can get there. Don’t worry about distance, go for time. Go for 40 minutes. Don’t worry how fast you’re going. Don’t compete against others; compete against yourself.
Do you find that you ever get into a meditative state while you’re running?
Oh, yes (laughing). I lose myself. That’s where I can focus or problem solve. … It really helps me mentally and physically as well.
What’s your favourite running route in Burnaby?
The (Trans Mountain) trail near my home. That’s my oasis. That’s where I lose myself. It has beautiful running water, with the stream or the brooks. It’s just trails - that’s where I lose myself. No music, just me and the roads.
Best running spots in Burnaby:
- The Trans Mountain trail connects to a network of trails on Burnaby Mountain, and the distances vary depending on the route.
- Deer Lake is a very flat scenic, beginner-level run of roughly two kilometres.
- The Burnaby Lake loop is also flat and scenic and runs roughly 10 km. Unlike Deer Lake, the trail loops entirely around the lake.
- The Central Valley Greenway stretches across Burnaby. It’s for cyclists and runners, and Blanchette likes the stretch around the Kensington Complex.
- If you’re looking for a gruelling local version of the Grouse Grind, try the Velodrome Trail. It starts in the Harry Jerome Sports Centre parking lot and runs up the north side of Burnaby Mountain. There are approximately 500 steps, over more than three kilometres, and an elevation gain of 240 metres.
Resources to get started:
- The 10-kilometre Sun Run has a 13-week training program. The next run is on Sunday, April 17. Go to vancouversunrun.com for registration info.
- The Running Room organizes training programs and sells proper shoes.
- B.C. Athletics runs road running races. Visit www.bcathletics.org for details.
