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Chatting with Olympian Lanni Marchant

The opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio are upon us. Now we're focusing on the talented Canadian athletes who will run for Canada. Lanni Marchant is set to do her double. Here's what she told us about it.

IAAF World Track & Field Championships Beijing 2015. Day Three PM,August 24, 2015. Photo: Claus Andersen
IAAF World Track & Field Championships Beijing 2015. Day Three PM,August 24, 2015. Photo: Claus Andersen

This interview appeared in our July/August issue.

Events: 10,000m and marathon. Canadian record in marathon (2:28:00)

Canadian Running: Provide us with an idea of what the hardest training session will be to prep for Rio (doesn’t have to be what you’ll actually do, as it’s far off, but an idea of it).

Lanni Marchant: I have to do “the double” simulation in Ottawa. So I will run the 10K champs and then 48 hours later run a 30K marathon specific workout. I have worked with Trent Stellingwerff on my fuelling and recovery protocol and now it’s time to test it out.

CR: What event do you really want to watch at the Games?
LM: I wanna watch Mo Speed in the men’s 10,000m.

CR: What other Canadian track/ running athlete are you most excited for in Rio?
LM: Easy… Natasha Wodak and Damian Warner.

CR: What are you most excited for in Rio (can be anything at all)?
LM: My family getting to be there with me.

CR: What’s one thing you always bring with you when you go to a big race?
LM: Cinnamon gum.

CR: What’s been the most challenging aspect of your journey to Rio?
LM: Understanding that it does not happen overnight… but more importantly, that you won’t lose it overnight either. Making the Olympics is about how well you play your long game… the short game only matters day of.

Did you know?

When not training, Marchant is a criminal lawyer in Tennessee.

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