Halifax running community leader to be recognized with Women of Excellence award

Michelle Kempton once nominated a friend ten years ago for the Women of Excellence award after being inspired to take up running and live a healthy lifestyle. Now she will be receiving that same award.

The Nova Scotian is the founder of the Heart and Sole Running Club, a Dartmouth, N.S. running club, and United by Running Inc., a race business in Nova Scotia who organize, amongst others, the Sole Sisters women’s race and Maritime Race Weekend.  On Wednesday she will be recognized as one of three recipients of the Women of Excellence award in the health, sport, and wellness category. The award is given to recognize women in the business community who have contributed a great deal to the community.

The award is one of the most prestigious awards a business woman can be given in Halifax. Kempton says she nominated a friend who inspired her ten years ago, and the award seems to have come full circle, as now her running club members have nominated her.

The 40-year-old took up running five years ago and lost 120 pounds. She wanted to inspire other women in a similar position to begin leading a healthy, active lifestyle. She started the Heart and Sole Running Club, which is now the largest non-for-profit running club on the East Coast.

She isn’t satisfied yet.

“I want to do more work in philanthropy. I want to give back. I want to put some running clubs on in rural communities. I know they don’t have access to those running clinics and that sort of thing so I want to see if I can work with them to try and get more people running.”

The award will be presented on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Halifax’s World Trade and Convention Centre.