Catching up with Krista DuChene

Krista DuChene won the Around the Bay 30K on Sunday, March 30, and is one of Canada’s top female road runners. She holds the second fastest Canadian marathon time ever from the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2013.

We caught up with Krista to see how things are going and her plans looking ahead.

Canadian Running: Congrats on the race over the weekend. How did it go?

Krista DuChene: A little different than the other six times that I did it. I’m not good for remembering course routes and I ran the first 10K thinking ‘man, there’s more hills than I remember from the other times.’ Then I read about a few more people who felt that same way and, sure enough, more hills.

I was going after the record set by Lanni [Marchant] last year because why not? I knew that conditions had to be bang on and they weren’t so at the halfway point, so I readjusted the game plan and finished the job.

CR: When will your next marathon be?

KD: Hopefully, Commonwealth Games in July. I’ve made the standard so we just have to wait and see if I’m selected to be on the team.

CR: What other events are you racing?

KD: I’m doing Harry’s Spring Run-Off this Saturday. Then I’m doing the Yonge Street 10K, the half-marathon championships in Montreal, 10,000m on the track in London, Ont., in May, the Ottawa 10K — and I’m also commentating the marathon that weekend — and then the Vancouver Half.

CR: How long have you been involved with Tarah and Wesley Korir’s Kenyan Kids Foundation?

KD: I’ve always had a passion for it ever since I learned that her and Wesley started it a few years ago. I go to the regular meetings as much as I can.

The biggest part I have is that we’re going to be doing a half-marathon, Sept. 13 I believe is the date, called the Harvest Half and it’s going to be around the area that Wesley has trained while he’s been home visiting Tarah’s family in Canada.

The whole idea is that the proceeds will go to the foundation. So, helping with poverty, farming, water and health care. There are a lot of needs and the money will go towards that.

My role is going to be speaking at the pasta dinner the night before.

CR: What are your longer term plans for the coming years?

KD: Of course the goal is to make it to Rio in 2016 and once the standards are released with the qualifying period my coach and I will sit and come up with a plan. It would be great to come up with the standard sooner than later.

Going to Houston would be great if the qualifying period opens up in January of 2015 but, with the way winter was this year, it will be pretty rough to train for a January marathon. But it can be done.

I’m used to the treadmill. My kids are in childcare at the gym and I can’t leave the grounds while I’m there so I’ve always done a lot of treadmill running.

In 2015, there is also the possibility of the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

CR: What did you learn over the last calendar year that you will be applying to your training and racing?

KD: I don’t look at the year as having too many downs, other than in Russia collapsing in the heat and having my first DNF ever. But there were 23 other women who didn’t finish as well that day.

Last year, I think I had a personal best in nearly every distance I raced so I think I just want to repeat on that in terms of consistent training.

This interview has been edited from its original form.