Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Kevin Smith is a 56-year-old masters runner and multiple Canadian record holder from Mississauga, Ontario. When he turned 55, Kevin set out on an audacious mission: to chase 12 Canadian road running records in 12 months. He achieved 6 of them — and “failed” at 6 — but Kevin doesn’t see that as a setback. For him, failure is simply the toll we pay for chasing big dreams. And nobody, he claims, has failed more than he has!

Kevin discovered his potential as a high school athlete under the guidance of a coach who helped him fall in love with the sport. But his journey has been far from linear. Kevin has battled more than his fair share of injuries over the years — any one of which could have ended his running career. A physiotherapist once told him he should have never taken up the sport in the first place! Instead, Kevin doubled down on understanding his body, created what he calls "exercise snacks," and learned the importance of the other 23 hours a day when he’s not running.

Those decades of perseverance have paid off. Kevin is now one of the top masters runners in North America… and even the world. Along the way he built a business — Marathon Dynamics Inc.— to help others train smarter, stay healthy, and keep chasing their own finish lines.

If you're an injury-prone runner or someone who feels like you’ve had more setbacks than successes, this episode will inspire you to keep going. Because with enough patience, curiosity, and grit, you too can become a “pretty old runner who runs pretty fast.”

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How Kevin reignited his passion for running later in life
• The mindset behind his “12 records at 55” quest
• Why failure is a critical ingredient of success
• How he gamified Strava and embraced “exercise snacks”
• The key lifestyle habits that matter more than mileage
• His role as coach and founder of Marathon Dynamics
• Why it’s never too late to get faster

Kevin’s Canadian M55-59 Records

• 5 Mile - 27:51 - Waterloo Runway 5 Miler - Aug 2025
• 15K - 53:19 - (within the) Cherry Blossom 10 Mile (Wash/US) - Apr 2025
• 10 Mile - 57:29 - Cherry Blossom 10 Mile - Apr 2025 (had broken/set the record previously in Dec 2024 at the Boxing Day 10 Miler in Hamilton)
• Half Marathon - 1:15:42 - Toronto Waterfront Half - Oct 2024
• 30K - 1:54:02 - (within the) Toronto Waterfront Marathon - Oct 25

Connect with Kevin:

• Instagram: @marathondynamics
• Website: marathondynamics.com

Connect with Inspired Soles & Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

When Ben Flanagan announced he’d be making his marathon debut at the 2025 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, the Canadian running community took notice — and he didn’t disappoint. On an unseasonably warm and windy day, Ben captured the Canadian Marathon Championship title, adding another major milestone to his already impressive career.

I sat down with Ben just 11 days before race day to talk about his hopes and dreams for the marathon distance, why he chose Toronto for his debut, and what it’s been like working remotely with his new coach, Jon Green. We also discussed his stressful Olympic experience in Paris 2024, how life has changed since becoming a dad to baby Nora, and whether he pays attention to what other top Canadian marathoners are doing.

It’s a thoughtful and entertaining conversation with one of Canada’s brightest distance running stars.

Connect with Ben:

• Instagram: @ben_flanagan

Ben’s Past Appearances on Inspired Soles:

• Episode 193: With Rory Linkletter Breaking Down the Canadian 10K Champs
• Episode 151 - Deep Dive on World Championships
• Episode 95 - Canadian 10k Champion

Connect with Inspired Soles & Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

My guest today is Kristin Paterson, a 39-year-old runner from Ottawa, Ontario, who’s been married to her husband and coach for 18 years. Together they’re raising four kids, all of whom Kristin also homeschools!

Kristin started running shortly before the pandemic, and has steadily chipped away at her goals ever since. On October 6, 2025, she lined up at the P'tit Train du Nord Marathon in Quebec chasing a Boston Qualifying time — but Mother Nature had other plans. With temperatures soaring to 28℃, Kristin’s race began to unravel before the halfway mark.

In this episode, she opens up about what it felt like to watch her goal slip away, how she found the strength to keep going when it would’ve been easy to quit, and what it means to process disappointment in real time. Kristin shares the role of sheer stubbornness, the example she wants to set for her kids, the energy of the spectators, and the power of connection with fellow runner and social media friend Bronwyn in getting her across that finish line.

She also reflects on the wisdom of her mentor and friend of the pod, Ana Laura Fray, who reminded her that running journeys aren’t linear.

If you’ve ever had a marathon go sideways in the second half, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone — and that sometimes the hardest days teach us the most.

Connect with Kristin:

• Instagram: @mamakris_

Connect with Inspired Soles & Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Landon Hildebrand is an Edmonton-based Registered Psychologist, trail runner, and co-owner of Approach Psychology.

When Landon first joined me on the podcast, he introduced the idea of joy as a motivator. This time, he takes that concept further — reframing joy as a litmus test for psychological health in both running and life.

What makes this conversation especially powerful is the perspective Landon brings. Last time, he spoke mainly as a psychologist who happens to be an athlete. This time, he shows up first as an athlete — one who also happens to be a psychologist. With honesty and vulnerability, Landon shares the personal health challenges and stresses he’s faced over the past year, and how they’ve forced him to re-examine his relationship with sport, self, and well-being.

Together, we explore:

• Why being psychologically healthy doesn’t always look like PRs or “successful” races
• How big, unplanned life events can be catalysts for deeper healing and growth
• How therapy buzzwords — safety, trust, peace, freedom, vulnerability, curiosity — play out in real life
• Why applying these principles often takes much longer than simply learning them
• How joy can serve as a compass when we feel stuck or lost

Landon’s blend of humour, insight, and personal reflection makes this a deeply relatable episode for anyone navigating the ups and downs of running and life beyond the pursuit of PRs.

Connect with Landon:

• Register for his Endurance Mind online workshop Nov 19th: https://tinyurl.com/53bub6ek
• Instagram: @approachpsychology and @landon_ approachpsych
• Website: approachpsych.ca
• Landon's first episode on Inspired Soles: Elevating Your Mental Game

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

When runners talk about “bucket-list marathons,” the conversation almost always begins — and ends — with the Abbott World Marathon Majors: Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo, and Sydney. But here’s the truth: some of the fastest, most historic, and most enjoyable marathons in the world aren’t Majors at all.

In this episode, I’m joined by my older brother, Kevin Beatty — a 2:21 marathoner & cross country coach at Loyalist College — to shine a light on excellent marathons beyond the Majors that deserve your attention.

Kevin brings both historical perspective and recent experience, having run between 2:35–2:40 at races like Houston, CIM, and Grandma’s in his late 40s. Together we cover:

✨ How the World Marathon Majors came to be — and why “Major” doesn’t always mean fastest or most prestigious
✨ The hidden challenges of racing the Majors (logistics, late start times, athlete area waits)
✨ International marathons worth traveling for — from historic courses like Athens and Fukuoka to PR factories like Valencia and Seville
✨ U.S. “shadow majors” such as CIM, Grandma’s, Houston, and Honolulu
✨ Canadian favorites region by region, plus hidden gems like Petit Train and Georgina
✨ Why boutique marathons like Erie, PA or Queen City can give runners double BQ opportunities
✨ New models like The Marathon Project and McKirdy Micro Marathon

If you’ve ever felt like the World Majors were the only marathons that mattered, this conversation might just expand your horizons — and your race calendar.

Kevin's previous episodes on Inspired Soles:

• Ep 3 | Treating Running Like a Sport
• Ep 78 | Pacer for Carolyn’s Las Vegas 10k Win
• Ep 176 | US Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

Connect with Carolyn & Inspired Soles:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Matt Fitzgerald is the bestselling author of more than 30 endurance-sport books, including 80/20 Running, How Bad Do You Want It?, and his captivating memoir Running the Dream. In this episode, we dive into what it means to go all-in on a bold running goal, why goal setting is such a deeply human instinct, and how the ability to “compete against ourselves” is a surprisingly recent development in the history of sport.

Matt also opens up about his own journey as a masters athlete, including training for the Javelina 100 miler just seven weeks before lining up at The Marathon Project, where he’s chasing a sub-3 marathon at age 54. We talk about his battle with long COVID, the book he’s currently writing on masters running, and his Dream Run Camps in Flagstaff, Arizona, which give everyday runners the chance to experience life as a “fake pro runner.”

If you’ve ever wondered why your running goals matter so much — even when no one’s paying you to chase them — you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Connect with Matt:

• Website: mattfitzgerald.org
• Dream Run Camp: dreamrun.com
• Instagram: @endurance_mastery
  
  

Resources & Related Episodes:

• Ben Rosario on Inspired Soles: The Marathon Project Returns in 2025
• Running the Dream
• Run Like a Pro (Even If You're Slow)

Connect with Carolyn & Inspired Soles:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Pacing a marathon is simple in theory but brutally hard in practice. Go out too fast, and the fire-breathing dragons will find you in the final 10K. Go out too cautiously, and you’ll spend the last miles wondering if you left time on the table.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeff Cunningham — a lifelong runner, NCAA Academic All-American, and coach of countless Boston Marathon qualifiers and multiple U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers. Jeff has a gift for blending humor with hard truths, and today he breaks down why pacing is the most important (and most misunderstood) part of the marathon.

We discuss:

• Why you can undo 16 weeks of training in the first 45 minutes of the race
• How to build trust in your fitness so you don’t panic early
• The psychology of pacing and emotional momentum
• Why finishing strong is far better than blowing up
• Jeff’s signature advice on patience, perspective, and keeping the long view

If you’re running a fall marathon, this conversation will fire you up and give you the tools to run your smartest race yet.

Connect with Jeff:

• Instagram: @jdcunningham97
• Bat City Track Club
• Cunningham Running
  
  

Resources & Related Episodes:

• Jeff on Relay with Peter Bromka: Beware of the Dragons
• Inspired Soles Episode with Polly
  (Jeff’s Canadian elite athlete)

Connect with Carolyn & Inspired Soles:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin
• Browse 250+ episodes in the archives
• Subscribe, rate & review to support the show

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

We're back for an Ask Us Anything episode, and this one might be our most entertaining yet. My husband Johnny joined me behind the mic, and let’s just say—we aired a little bit of dirty laundry along the way.

You all sent in fantastic questions covering everything from running to parenthood to guilty-pleasure TV shows, and we had so much fun answering them. Here’s a taste of what came up:

• Were you angry when Johnny registered you as a 45–49 year old male for a 10-mile race?
• How is training going for The Marathon Project?
• What was our very first race, and how did we get into running?
• How did we juggle training when our kids were little?
• What’s the most annoying race-day habit we each have?
• Do we actually like running together?
• Which “famous person” would we love to go for a run with, and what would we ask them?
• Rookie stats, running vacations, pacing animals, favourite date nights…we covered it all.

This episode is equal parts running talk, marriage banter, and plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in the Coffin household, this is your chance to find out.

If you enjoyed this format, let us know—we’re happy to bring back more AMA episodes in the future!

Resources we discussed in the episode:

• Johnny's running origin story: Slow the BLEEP Down
• Carolyn's running origin story: Meet Co-host Carolyn Coffin
• Jakob Ingebrigtsen's song
• Mondo Duplantis' song
• Kim Sankey's running vacation episode: Patagonia, Chile with RunBC

Connect with Johnny:

• Instagram: @bestjohnnyever

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com.