13-year-old Toronto runner takes second at Barbados Half Marathon

Toronto-based Selma Nordigården, 13, ran to a silver medal at the Barbados Half Marathon on Sunday, in a speedy 1:35:29. Selma regularly competes in events from 3K–10K, and the Barbados race (which she ran with her father, Daniel) was her first half-marathon.

Selma’s mother, Amanda, notes that this distance was a bit longer than they would normally enter Selma in, but the athlete, who trains with the Toronto Olympic Club, really wanted to try a longer race before the season ended.

Selma may be young, but when it comes to her training she is wise beyond her years and has an excellent support system in her family. Three training days a week are run with the Toronto Olympic Club, with a weekly long run and recovery runs done independently.

When Selma and her family decided she would give the half-marathon a shot, she began to prepare for the warm, humid race. “I knew it was going to be hot and humid to run in Barbados, so I moved most of my training indoors to a treadmill, while still wearing full winter gear to get ready for running in warmer weather,” says Selma.

For the last three weeks of her training, she headed to the sauna post-run for 15–20 minutes. Originally from Scandinavia, her mom points out that she’s very familiar with saunas. “I also wanted to be careful and not risk getting injured, so instead of recovery runs three times a week I did cross-training on an elliptical, as well as strength training,” Selma adds.

“I learned that running this distance can be very challenging and that you have to be ready to make your legs work the hardest and run the fastest when you are the most tired,” she says. Halfway through the race, Selma experienced some stomach pain, causing her to slow down for a few kilometres. “I was actually ready to give up,” she says.

The final 6 km stretch was a turning point. “Somehow, just like that, I picked up my pace a lot. It was like my mind switched to a fast pace finish as the course turned back. I had a lot to catch up on and I knew other runners were close; even if it was the most challenging 6 km I have ever done, it was worth it to cross the finish line and get the silver medal,” Selma says.

While Selma says she loves running and she wants it to be a part of her life forever, she recognizes that she needs to take a cautious approach to avoid getting injured. “My dream is to be in the Olympic Games,” she says.

“Even though I enjoyed this half-marathon distance the most so far, since I am still so young, the plan for half-marathons would be once a year or maybe even once every second year,” says Selma. “I want to be able to run forever, and therefore it is important to not do it too often, especially at my age.”

Selma says her next goal is the indoor track season, with races from 800 meters–3,000 metres, training with her teammates and friends at the Toronto Olympic Club. “I think I am a stronger runner at longer distances, but I think racing and training at these shorter distances will be good for me and make me a better runner,” she adds.

Canadian marathon record-holder Natasha Wodak took first place in the 10K distance at the Run Barbados event. For full results of all distances, click here.