Growing up in Switzerland Iris always enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, cycling, sailing and windsurfing. However, she was not a runner - not until she met her husband Jeff in 1997. Jeff introduced her to running. After seeing him finish the Boston Marathon in 1998 Iris knew that she wanted to run Boston. She started training with Jeff and his friends and soon could keep up with him and his running group.

Iris ran the Boston Marathon in 2000 and was quickly looking for a new challenge. She signed up for her first ultramarathon in July of the same year. It was the “Damn Tuff Ruff Bluff 50K”, in Owen Sound where she fell in love with trail running. In 2007 she ran her first 100 Mile race where she discovered her passion for the long distance running. Since then she has run 33- 100 mile or longer distance races including 4 Badwater Ultramarathons and the Tahoe 200 Endurance Run. Iris is looking forward to running her 100th ultramarathon in 2018.

Iris loves the ultrarunning community, the friendliness of all the people involved and the beauty of the trails. She has run in some of the most beautiful places around the world such as, South Africa, India, Corsica, United States and Switzerland. Running has given Iris many things but the greatest gift has been the people that it has brought into her life. Iris is also so very grateful that she is able to continue to do what she loves ….run.

Dave Sheehan has run for over 55 years on the track and the roads. He was Ontario 400 junior champion in high school earning a track scholarship to Western Kentucky where he ran four years in the NCAA. Upon graduation he returned to Canada and began teaching in Scarborough. Dave ran for University of Toronto TC and Scarborough Optimist International TC. In 1971 he was the Ontario senior 200 metre winner and placed 3rd in the 400 metres at the Canadian Outdoor Championships and Pan Am trials. In 1972 Dave placed 5th in the finals of the Olympic Trials. In 1976 Dave was a finalist in the Canadian Indoor Championship soon after he retired from competitive track. Dave still continues to run 30 to 40 kms a week. His best times were 21.1 for 200 metres and 47.4 for 400metres. Dave has run 34.8 as a masters runner for 10 km. on the roads.

In 2001, a friend introduced Jocelyn to the running community. Having a new baby at home, she loved the opportunity for both her and her new daughter to get out of the house, get some exercise and meet new people at the same time.

16 years later, Jocelyn still enjoys running with that baby girl, though she now struggles to keep up with her. Throughout all these year running has remained a constant in her life.

In the early years it was so exciting discovering new distances to run. She ran her first half and full marathons in the winter of 2002. While growing her family, she ran many more marathons, including Boston in 2007. Jocelyn began coaching, helping many other runners reach their goals.

Looking for a new challenge, Jocelyn began running trails. She loved the peacefulness and sense of escape that trails offered. She signed up for a summer trail series as part of a team and loved the adventurous ‘vibe’ of the trail community. She has since completed many trail races including several ultramarathons.

Currently Jocelyn continues to pursue ultramarathon distance events as a way to travel and discover new and amazing places on foot. Jocelyn loves sharing her passion for both running and the running community through Runner’s Core and her own coaching and training business Boundless Pursuits.

As a child Steve had asthma. The doctors told his parents he could not participate in any sports, but Steve was determined to prove them wrong. He ignored their advice and went on to become a life time runner.

It was difficult at first, his first marathon attempt was a disaster but he soldiered on. He sought advice from other runners about their training regimes. He consulted his neighbourhood specialty running store. He discovered that proper training heighted his probability of success. Steve has gone on to run over 40 marathons (including Boston and New York), numerous triathlons and an ultra-marathon.

Realizing the positive change exercise has made in his life and his family’s life got him interested in starting his own sports store. Exercise (running in particular) isn’t about a race, or a competition, it’s about a life style. Steve hopes through The Runners Core he can encourage more people to incorporate exercise into their daily routine.

Lesa’s motto is “Everyone has the desire to do something great”. Running and fitness are an opportunity to do just that. She loves motivating people to get out and be active every day and encouraging them to see how far they can push their bodies and minds. Running has led her to lifelong friendships and a better understanding of herself. During her13 years of running Lesa has accomplished a lot starting with a learn to run program she now has the following credentials:

Ran 6 marathons (including The Boston Marathon),

2x 50 milers -Sulphur springs/Haliburton Forest,
2x 50 milers -Sulphur springs/Haliburton Forest
2x 100k- Oil Creek
5x 100milers-Vermont 100(2x), Oil Creek 100 (2x), Thunder Rock 100 (1x)
Multiple Sprint and Olympic distance Triathlons

Lesa is currently a strength and endurance coach as well as an employee of The Runners Core