Speed River marathoners to announce fall plans

Three of Canada’s top marathoners will announce their fall racing plans Tuesday night at an event in Guelph, Ont. Reid Coolsaet, Eric Gillis and Rob Watson are all hoping to run a fast fall marathon, with a year to go until the 2012 London Olympics.

Race director Alan Brookes has been trying hard to get the trio — along with Regina’s Simon Bairu — to run at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September.

At the 2010 Scotiabank race, Coolsaet made the Canadian Olympic standard, running 2:11:22, while Gillis recorded the second-fastest Canadian marathon of the year in 2:12:08. Watson made his marathon debut at the Chevron Houston Marathon in January, gutting out a tough 2:16:17.

Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., the Speed River Track and Field club is hosting a special presentation “Feet and Fuel: Training and Nutrition Techniques From Canada’s Top Marathon Team.” The event will include a talk from coach Dave Scott-Thomas and exercise physiologist Dr. Trent Stellingwerff. Scott-Thomas and Stellingwerff will discuss training and nutrition for athletes of all abilities. It’s being held at the Best Western Royal Brock Hotel in Guelph.