STWM athlete profile: Getting to know Arianne Raby

As part of our coverage of the 2017 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Oct. 22, we’re profiling the top Canadian athletes set to compete at the Canadian Marathon Championships.

RELATED: What 1:15 Half-Marathoner Arianne Raby listens to when she runs

Name: Arianne Raby
Age: 28
Hometown: Repentigny
Current location: Montreal, Que.
Associated club/coach: Claude David, Vaudreuil-Dorion
Previous marathons run: 2
Marathon PB: 2:41:57 (Ottawa 2017)

Who are you? I am a passionate runner who has the work ethic to progress with my goals. I believe my background as a kinesiologist helps me understand the science of running in greater depth.

Most notable running/racing experience: I think my most notable racing experience would be the Ottawa Marathon earlier this year. I’m very proud of the base training done over the winter and also the mindset I had leading up to the marathon. I think the six-minute improvement of my personal best is no coincidence and I know I’ll keep improving in the next year. I had a lot of fun with the training but I know there is room for improvement. I had a bit of trouble timing my nutrition before, during, and after the marathon, but I’ve made some adjustments and now feel confident in that aspect.

How has training for STWM gone? My preparation has a been similar to the Ottawa Marathon with the exception of the increased mileage. My coach and I discussed it prior to starting this cycle, whether it would be smart to increase to 140-150K per week, especially while working a full-time job and the preparation for my wedding, which was Sept. 23. I never had trouble getting my doubles done (a.m. and p.m. runs), but rather, getting sufficient recovery was sometimes tough. I was struggling with a knee problem before Ottawa and it just never fully went away. So, I’d say I had more inconsistencies in my training this time.

RELATED: More STWM athlete profiles.

Why STWM? Mostly for the community around it. It’s in Canada and I have a lot of people who support me and will get the chance to see me run that day. It’s fun to see familiar faces during the race. Most importantly, there are fast runners to make for a competitive race and the course is flat and fast.

Goals for the race? I’d like to run sub-2:40. It was my number one goal this year, but I fell short during the Ottawa Marathon.

What gear will you be sporting? My main sponsor is Skechers Performance Canada so I’ll be wearing my GoMeb Speed as well as my Skechers racing kit. I’m also a lululemon ambassador so I’ll be repping their buns (which I can put my gels in). Also, Compressport socks and during my warm up, probably my Ciele Athletic hat.

Social handle(s):
Instagram: @a.run88