What’s Lanni Marchant been up to lately?

Lanni Marchant was notably absent from the start line at the 2017 Canadian 10K Championships, the late May race in which she was the defending champion. That’s because the national record holder in the marathon was battling health issues in early May. The upside of the month: she signed a first-of-its-kind deal among Canadians with Under Armour.

RELATED: Canadian IAAF World Championships marathon team named and set to go.

Marchant, who notably raced at the NYC Half — where she ran 1:13:49– in March, is expected to return to racing at the Pride and Remembrance Run in Toronto on June 24. The race will kick off her summer campaign as she targets the IAAF World Championships in August.

Canadian Running caught up with Marchant recently to chat upcoming race plans, her recent move to Toronto and her sponsorship agreement with Under Armour.

How did you come to decide to run the Pride and Remembrance Run?

A lot of friends and local runners (the Parkdale crew, for example) kept asking if I would do it and I wanted to, but typically I am out in Vancouver that weekend racing the Canada Running Series Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon. However, with an altered May training schedule, it didn’t make sense to do a half-marathon so I was able to say “yes” when Nathan Monk asked me one last time if I would run it.

What have you heard about the experience of the race?

I’ve heard that it is one of the most fun events to run in and that the atmosphere is amazing.

Have you ever attended the race, or Pride in general in Toronto?

No, I have never been able to attend the race or be part of Pride in Toronto. I am really excited to be lining up as part of the Toronto community. It doesn’t matter who we are or where we come from when we line up to race. We are all there doing the same thing — some faster than others — and we are all equals when we toe that line.

What’s your goal for the race?

I don’t have any set goals really. Obviously, having fun is a primary objective but it will be nice to test the fitness and wheels over a shorter distance.

A lot of runners dress up. Any plans on a crazy outfit?

I’m sure I can pull together some Under Armour gear that’ll be super.

You live in Toronto now. How’s that been and where are your favourite spots to go for a run in the city?

I love it here. I was a bit concerned moving here and worried that I might find it too busy, but it has been great. I immediately felt welcomed by the Parkdale Road Runners. I’ve been taken in by some amazing ladies like Kate Van Buskirk, Sasha Gollish, and Rachel Hannah. I do a lot of my easy and mindless runs around Trinity Bellwoods Park on the grass and love running the Beltline Trail.

VIDEO: @LJM5252 on signing with @UnderArmour, spring/summer race plans and her role at the @OttawaMarathon: https://t.co/EzTy8VjMJb pic.twitter.com/0DMnH2lEaA

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) May 27, 2017

You’ve recently had some health issues. Can you tell us a little bit about what you’ve been going through?

Without the gory details I was pretty ill in May with a kidney issue that has been operating in the background for the last few months, at least, and likely the last 18 or so months. I am back training now and looking forward to seeing what my body can do now that I am healthy. I think we as runners are always so concerned with injury that we can end up ignoring our overall health. This winter and spring was quite eye-opening in that regard.

You recently signed with Under Armour and went to Baltimore. What did you do there and what’s the experience been like thus far?

The trip to Baltimore was amazing! I really enjoyed our tour of the UA House where I was able to see how much Under Armour gives back to the local community. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip with an Orioles [Major League Baseball] game, body scanning, and meetings with the different teams that I will be working with going forward. I have been blown away by the excitement the company has shown, to learn what we runners are all about and cannot wait to see what happens over the next few years.

What were the major factors in signing with Under Armour?

For me, I really liked the energy and excitement Under Armour had, and has, about growing in the running community. I wanted something to keep me excited about training and competing over the next few years and I immediately felt that way when I started communicating with Under Armour. I want to spend the next few years pushing myself to new limits and can very much appreciate that Under Armour is doing the same thing.

What’s your plans for the rest of the summer?

My coach and I will keep focusing on our preparation for the IAAF World Championships in the 10,000m, though I honestly cannot say for certain what that will look like. There is no point in cramming in a bunch of races so it will probably be pretty quiet until the 5,000m at the Canadian Track Championships in July. (Editor’s note: Marchant declined a spot for the marathon for the IAAF World Championships. See who Athletics Canada selected for the team.)

You’ve split your focus between the 10,000m on the track and the marathon over the last couple of years. Are you going to continue to try to run both events, or focus more on one?

I’ll likely slowly transition back to the marathon as my main focus, however, I have always played around with the shorter stuff and don’t see that drastically changing going forward.