Hannah Bennison and how she mixed it up with the best in the world
We caught up with Hannah Bennison, the top Canadian finisher at the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, after last Sunday's big race.
East Africans have for years dominated distance running.
Last Sunday’s IAAF World Cross-Country Championships was the second time that an East African nation hosted the global event. The location of the championships, in Kampala, Uganda, meant that many of the world’s best runners were competing in their own backyards. In the senior women’s race, Kenya, for example, went 1-2-3-4-5-6 in an unprecedented sweep. Still, Canada put up some great results, both individually and as a team.
Canada, led by the U20 women’s team in sixth, fielded teams in four of five events at the global championships. The top finisher was Vernon, B.C.’s Hannah Bennison, who placed 24th in the U20 women’s race.
RELATED: U20 women star for Canada at IAAF World Cross-Country Championships.
For many Canadians on the worlds squad, the event in Uganda was their first time competing in Africa. The event will serve as valuable experience for athletes looking to represent Canada again internationally in the coming months and years.
Canadian Running caught up with Bennison on Friday, three days after she arrived back in British Columbia. The Grade 12 student has committed to Providence College in Rhode Island for the 2017/2018 year and beyond. Two members of Canada’s world cross-country team, Bennison and Hanna Johnston, will run for the Friars next year.
CR: First off, what was it like competing in Africa, the world’s hotbed for distance running?
Bennison: It was incredible. There was so much energy on the course and something like 40,000 people in the crowd and in the stands. Everyone is so enthusiastic about the sport and it goes to show their love for the sport. Running there is a way of life. The crowd was chanting and dancing the entire competition.
This is how Uganda does world Xc!! #iaafkampala2017 https://t.co/ACCDjsSVOe pic.twitter.com/81s018Xry5
— LetsRun.com (@letsrundotcom) March 26, 2017
What was the course like?
It was generally a slower course. The grass was coarse, it was pretty muddy and the obstacles were an added challenge. I’ve never raced an event with those type of obstacles before. Racing in British Columbia, though, I’m used to the hills and that helped me a bit getting over the logs.
How did the race play out?
I went out slower than the rest of the pack and stayed there for the first two laps. At that point, I was quite a bit behind Brogan [MacDougall, who finished 30th overall]. After that, I began gaining momentum and I started picking people off. Once I saw the finish line, I surged and passed a few more runners before the finish. Some teammates collapsed at the finish line and I helped them out. Overall, the team results for us were amazing, we only found out later that day and I think we woke a few people up at the hotel when we found out we placed sixth.
How did you prepare for the heat and humidity?
I did sauna training for 25 minutes three times per week in the buildup and I did some treadmill runs in my basement with the heaters blasted wearing a long sleeve. In the sauna, the temperatures were cranked to about 90 C. In Uganda, it was about 30 C with 65 per cent humidity.
What else did you guys do on the trip?
We got there a few days before the race so we needed to get our body adjusted to the climate and new time zone. To get there, I fly to Toronto from B.C. then to Istanbul and Entebbe with the team before driving to Kampala. We visited the national mosque and went to a local crafts market. Most of us knew each other already and we really meshed as a team.
Did you meet any famous runners?
I got a picture with [1,500m world record holder, world champion and Olympic silver medallist] Genzebe Dibaba!
What did you eat in the leadup to the race?
The hotel had a lot of good carbs like rice, potatoes and pasta. The main thing I brought from home was peanut butter.
What are the biggest takeaways in terms of experience from racing in Africa?
It made me grateful for the North American lifestyle and it put things into perspective to just have fun out there. There, some runners were running for their livelihood but there was still a big celebration. Overall, the country did a great job of organizing the event and if I could compare it to a sport in Canada, in terms of atmosphere and how big running is, it would definitely be hockey.
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