2011 BMO Vancouver Marathon

Speaker Program

Friday, April 29^th – Saturday, April 30th

Come to the 2011 BMO Vancouver Marathon Speaker Program, an inspiring and educational opportunity for runners and guests at the Brita® Sports Expo – Experience the Energy!  Listen to motivating stories, gain valuable tips, and celebrate the 40^th year of the Vancouver Marathon!

The Speaker Program is FREE and is located inside the Brita Sports Expo at Concord Place.  Use this excellent opportunity to learn from some of the best and most educated endurance experts in the world.  Come to listen, learn, feel, and experience the energy that surrounds the BMO Vancouver Marathon. 

FRIDAY APRIL 29^th (5:30pm – 6:45pm)

Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson

No other sports event can celebrate its 2500th anniversary, as the marathon is doing.  In a sparkling joint presentation that has been acclaimed in Athens, Australasia, and Toronto, Roger Robinson tells the story of the marathon's origins (with vivid film sequences) and Katherine Switzer (with help from Oprah Winfrey) recounts the rise of women in the marathon, from exclusion to excellence - and her own inspiring role in that story.

Speaker Bios

An Emmy Award-winning TV commentator, Kathrine Switzer has covered major road running events-including the Olympics, the Goodwill and Commonwealth Games and almost all televised editions of the Boston, New York, and Los Angeles Marathons, as well as hundreds of local races around the world. She is an inspiring public speaker who has been featured on hundreds of radio and TV programs, including Oprah, Today, Tonight, Good Morning America, on NPR and the BBC.  Katherine also won the 1974 New York City marathon. 

Roger Robinson is one of the leading authors, speakers and historians on running.He represented England and New Zealand in world championships and he had record-breaking age-group victories in the Boston, New York, Vancouver and other marathons.2011 marks the 30^th anniversary of Roger’s personal best marathon time (2:18:44) that he ran at the Vancouver International Marathon in 1981. This time is still the masters course record to this day.

Saturday April 30^th (11:00am – 1:30pm)

Carole Dellinger - Breast Cancer Survivor with “Warrior Running”

Warrior Marathon Runner and Saucony athlete, Carol Dellinger, will be running her monumental 250th marathon at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Carol has completed 16 marathons in the last 18 months after being diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2009. Now 100% cancer free, Carol is an inspiring individual that has that Warrior fighting spirit and proves that challenges can be overcome! She says "Cancer didn't win this battle, I won this battle". "I am alive and cannot wait to live the rest of my life and reach my goal of 500 marathons!"

Saturday April 30^th (11:20am)

Don Zablonski - Family Physical Activity for Good Health

Families, active for life!  Don Zablonski has over 30 years of getting student’s active and living a healthy life.  Don has worked with school boards, sport, and events, building healthy communities and educating people on the great benefits of being physically active.

Saturday April 30^th (11:40am)

Angela James - How can ChiRunning help you? 

Angela James is a certified instructor in ChiRunning.  65% of all people that run regularly will be injured at some point during the year and have to take time off. ChiRunning shows you how to reduce or eliminate the risk of common injuries and how to relax your body while running to reduce muscle use and in turn, dramatically reduce post-run muscle soreness.  ChiRunning emphasizes efficient biomechanical running form to reduce use of muscles and the pain and pounding that the body takes during recreational jogs or competitive runs.

Saturday April 30th (12:00pm)

Alex Hutchinson - The Science of running? 

THE SCIENCE OF RUNNING: What’s the best pre-run warm-up? How do I choose the right pace? How much fluid should I drink? In laboratories around the world, sports scientists are studying these and other questions. Canadian Running senior editor and Globe and Mail columnist Alex Hutchinson presents practical tips and debunks common running myths based on the latest sports science, drawing on the research in his new book Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?

Saturday April 30th (12:45pm)

John Stanton - Running Room Founder’s Race Tips

John Stanton is the founder of Running Room and coach of the BMO Vancouver Marathon Province Team.  He has become the face and voice for running in Canada.  John started his passion for running over 30 years ago and has since built the Running Room with over 100 stores across Canada.  John is a recent recipient of the Order of Canada for his tremendous effort in increasing the healthy living behaviours of Canadians.

Saturday April 30^th (4:00pm – 5:15pm)

Emcee Steve King and the Vancouver Marathon 40^th year Panel

Yes Vancouver is celebrating 4o years of the marathon.  Join some of the founders of the Vancouver Marathon and celebrate the 40 years of sport, volunteerism and community.  Stories, photos, and video will be shared to honour and educate participants about the event.  Emcee and legendary announce Steve King will guide the panel through the past and present of the Vancouver Marathon.