Todd Marentette Wheatley, Ontario Canada - PATH projects KREW

Growing up in Southern Ontario Canada, I can honestly say that I hadn't run more than a few times, really never giving much thought to the sport.

Fast forward into my mid-thirties, happily married, two amazing daughters, a growing leadership career; my health & wellness was heading in the wrong direction and wanted to change this. Found my way into running in 2016, now north of 40, I run every day and look forward to my early Saturday morning long run.

Classic too much, too soon, too fast and inquiries hampered me those first couple years. But, they provided me the opportunity to learn more about running itself, the technique, proper training and how to listen to one's body. I've rebounded, progressively increasing my mileage to over 2,000 miles in 2020 and most importantly stayed strong and healthy.

I enjoy being involved in our local community through sport and recreation; promoting how an active lifestyle can positively impact one's health and wellness. Outside of running, I enjoy family time, coaching our daughter's baseball teams, watching the Detroit Tigers, hiking with my wife Jennifer and the great outdoors.

Running accomplishment(s) you are proud of

Two come to mind; the first consistency; being able to run each and every day - most days easy, and now learning to mix in the harder days before goal races. The second, personal growth; running has provided me the opportunity to meet some great folk and have learned so much.

A special highlight of my running adventures thus far was attending Dr. Mark Cucuzzella's running camp in West Virginia back in the summer of 2019 and capping off the weekend with a 2 hour long run with Dr. Mark and his crew - amazing how much I learned in those two days. It changed my running and life all for the better.

But, nothing feels better than nearing a finishing line and regardless how your doing or feeling, hearing your family cheer you on - it makes you feel amazing, their support means everything.

Any races or adventures on your horizon and / or bucket list?

For 2021, the Haliburton Forest Trail Race 50km and a sub 4-hour Marathon

Your favorite PATH projects gear?

Pyrenees Hooded Long Sleeve; the feel, the fit, the function, the slit allowing you to see your watch is genius. Where I'm located, we experience all the seasons - the Pyrenees is perfect for those cool mornings. When the wind finally finds you, pulling the hood up makes all the difference. On colder days, layering it with your favorite jacket, keeps your temperature perfectly regulated.

What do you enjoy about running? 

How it makes me feel; the sense of connection and well being that comes from running, the calm feeling after a nice easy run and the sense of accomplishment from setting and working towards a goal.

Advice for runners looking to improve?

Listen to your body, it's easy to allow technology to override what our body is trying to tell us and to push ourselves into injury. Keep those easy days, easy and yes, you're most likely running too hard on your easy days. Consistency is key, think gradual improvements, where we have an overall upward trend though we might experience a little noise in the data. And lastly, strengthen those feet - a strong, functional feet make all the difference!

Social channels you are most active on?

Facebook, Strava and Instagram.

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