Rounding up Runners in Ottawa

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, -Walt Whitman

A few lines from the famous Walt Whitman poem, with the men’s 2012 Olympic marathon approaching and envisioning their sprint to the finish line – can be adapted for a runner’s thoughts as they push to the line in triumph.

In a poetic way, an athlete could refer to their esteemed coach as “my Captain”, the leader, motivator and guide to a runner’s dreams of a fast time or personal best, or even Olympic success.

An example is Phil Marsh, a former very capable 400-metre runner (48.8 second PB) coach, a motivator and in Ottawa, often behind many of the running events in the city. But Phil goes beyond the mere coach and steps out to help promote running and celebrate Canadian runners, like this coming weekend. An example of what others like him across the country are undoubtedly will be doing, the running gurus, track junkies or pillars of running in their communities – will be filling rooms with runners across this great land to cheer on three Canadian Olympic marathoners. Phil Marsh (as an individual not as Running Room employee) will be putting on an Olympic marathon brunch for a few hundred Ottawa runners, to chow down as they follow the whippet lean Olympic marathoners churn out mind-bending pace over 26-miles. Here is the profile of the man behind the brunch.

 

Phil
Phil is the regional manager for Running Room in Eastern Ontario and has worked for the Running Room since 1996 and has been coaching runners since 1986, including High School, Olympic, Paralympic (coached and guided injured soldier Jody Mitic for Ottawa’s Army Half Marathon) and Special Olympic athletes. Phil has also hit the airwaves with his enthusiasm for the sport when he hosted Canada’s first hour-long radio show about running on Team 1200 “the Running Show with Coach Phil”.

Based out of a Running Room store just slightly outside the downtown core, Phil coaches a master’s group of about 100 runners, holds a weekly drop in technique/ track/interval training sessions at a local outdoor track, is a CAN Fund Advisory Board and Race Director for Commonwealth Games Association, has created running programs not for profit organizations such as the Ottawa Mission, was a running coach for Ottawa parliamentarians, and is currently the coach for Army Run (fastest growing race in Canada) running coach.

What made you put together brunch/event for Olympic marathon?
“Too many people to have everyone watching at my house! Dylan Wykes’s  partner Francine runs with my group and Jackie Bonisteel, another of my athletes, is doing a marathon to raise funds for Team in Training so thought it might be a way to help raise some funds and bring the running community together. Did a dinner a few years ago to raise funds for the 5 cyclists hit by a car in Kanata and we raised over $21,000 for them! ”

What drives you to be so involved and promote running in Ottawa/Canada- in a way that surpasses job requirements?
“My position with the Running Room has given me a great opportunity and profile in my community to try and make a difference. John Stanton has always supported and encouraged this involvement and instead of asking for coaching fees from my athletes, I ask that they instead either volunteer for my events or that they support the charities by attending so I always have a full house!”

What do you get from coaching and encouraging runners?
“Well, I had some amazing coaches over the years who were quite frank with their assessment of my ability as a runner, so I took the best from their coaching, my racing and what I learned working with thousands of runners and triathletes over the years and hopefully it has made me a great coach. Many of my athletes have become lifelong friends and have managed to become great athletes and that is the most rewarding return from coaching. I spend around 300 hours a year with my runners, and countless other hours with Running Room clinics and run clubbers, so I get to learn so much from these folks on a daily basis.”

Any goals as a runner or coach for 2012?
“First is to get through the brunch and the hours of Olympic track and field, then open our new Westboro Running Room location then to cheer all of the athletes and soldiers for the Army Run. My job is amazing in that there are always events to plan, clients to talk running with, and opportunities to work with some of the most amazing people across the country! Also, run enough to keep my pants fitting but not enough to be tempted to hit the starting line again!”

Coaches and those who drive running in our Canadian communities are so essential for our sport, competitive and for those just getting out and staying fit. As we gather with a friend, a group or wherever you are on Sunday August 12th, watching Eric Gillis, Reid Coolaset and Dylan Wykes in the Olympic marathon, think of those like Phil who make up such an integral part of our running community.

Phil is also a recipient of United Way Community Builder Award, Celebration 2010 Coaching award; City of Ottawa Mayor’s Agent of Change Community Award has recently worked on a Private Member’s Bill to create a National Fitness Day in Canada, which will be tabled this September with all party support by MP John Weston. Run on Phil.

For those in Ottawa here is the information on the Marathon brunch: (NOW SOLD OUT)
Sunday August 12 5:30am
Mill Street Brewery Ottawa
A fundraising event for CAN Fund and Team in Training
Organized by Phil Marsh
Support and sponsorhip by Running Room, New Balance and Mizuno who support Canada’s Olympic athletes.

RSVP at pmarsh@runningroom.com
For those on twitter, follow Coach Phil: @runcoachphil

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

If you have a great story give me a shout!
legsnlungs@hotmail.com