Inspired Soles

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

With the Boston Marathon less than a week away, Canadian Olympian Ben Preisner takes us inside his build, his Boston debut, and what it means to toe the line at his first World Major.

SPONSOR: Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration.

Visit curehydration.com/INSPIREDSOLES for 20% off. 

Connect with Ben:

Connect with Carolyn:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Canadian marathoner Thomas Nobbs joins the show after his breakthrough 2:09:25 win at the McKirdy Micro Marathon, moving him to 4th all-time in Canada. We unpack the training, patience, and mindset behind his massive leap.

Connect with Thomas:

Connect with Carolyn:

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Four experienced run coaches pull back the curtain on a real mentorship-group conversation to explore the pros, cons, and trade-offs of 1:1 coaching versus training plans—and help you decide what’s right for you.

SPONSOR: Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration.

Visit curehydration.com/INSPIREDSOLES for 20% off. 

Previous Episode with these coaches:

Connect with Janelle Brade:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What does marathon training really look like across a nearly two-hour performance gap?

In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Mandersheid to explore the key differences between coaching a 2:55 and a 4:35 Boston Qualifier. We dig into how factors like time on feet, long runs, workouts, fueling, recovery, and race day strategy should actually scale — and why a one-size-fits-all approach to marathon training often misses the mark.

Along the way, Sara shares thoughtful truths about mileage, performance, and what really moves the needle — while also r...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

This week, I’m joined by professional marathoner Jacob Thomson, coming off his race at the New York City Half Marathon. We unpack how the race played out, including the moment he found himself running solo, and what it all means with Boston just five weeks away.

We also talk about his unique role pacing some of the best runners in the world, his top tips for tackling the Boston course, and his podcast Out and Back. And of course, we couldn’t help but weigh in o...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Carolyn speaks with five Canadian women runners from their 20s to their 60s about identity, belonging, and what running gives us at every stage of life. Their stories are different, but the threads that connect them may feel surprisingly familiar.

Guests:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

My frequent co-host (and husband!) Johnny Coffin is back on the mic for a deeper conversation about what the past few months have stirred up since The Marathon Project. From unpacking a tough DNF to reflecting on the themes emerging across recent podcast episodes, we explore identity, expectation management, and the patterns Johnny has noticed as I’ve processed it all in real time.

We also share training updates with eight weeks to go until Boston — including Johnny’s upcoming 3000m and international half marathon — and how we’r...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Jeff Cunningham returns for a deeper conversation about the parts of coaching that go far beyond workouts and race plans.

We explore what happens when the real obstacle isn’t fitness, but confidence. When athletes are running 90+ miles per week but not fueling enough. When self-worth gets tangled up in race results. When comparison — amplified by social media — chips away at belief.

Jeff shares how he navigates these challenges as a coach, especially when the issue isn’t physical but emotional — or when it falls outs...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What does “good coaching” really mean — and who deserves it?

In this episode, I’m joined by running coach, podcast host, and Running Rogue founder Chris McClung for a wide-ranging conversation on the fundamentals that help runners improve without shortcuts. We talk about slowing down to get faster, training by feel, and why elite training principles should be accessible to every runner, regardless of pace or experience.

Chris also shares behind-the-scenes insight into his new book, Running the Rogue Way: Elite Training Accessib...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I’m joined by high-performance running coach, mental performance coach, endurance athlete, and author Brant Stachel.

Brant’s new book, Fast and Free: Mindset Training for Endurance Athletes, explores what it really means to train your mind with the same intention and structure as your body — without losing the joy that brought you to the sport in the first place.

We talk about managing nerves and pressure, building confidence over time, and navigating those inevitable moments in training and racing when things start to feel h...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I’m joined once again by Canadian marathon record holder Natasha Wodak for a timely and important conversation. We begin by recapping Natasha’s 2025 season and wrap up by looking ahead to what’s lighting her up in 2026, but the heart of this episode focuses on start line safety in a rapidly growing sport.

Just days before this recording, Natasha was taken down at the start of a local 8K race after being barged through by another runner. Although she got up and finished strongly, the injuri...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Connor Winter is a professional marathoner with Tinman Elite who delivered a breakthrough performance at The Marathon Project, running 2:11:43 for 10th place after starting the race in 16th at halfway. In this episode, Connor walks us through the calm, patient decision-making that defined his race—choosing to back off an early pace that felt too hot, trusting the process, and steadily reeling competitors in over the second half.

We talk about the mental game of the marathon, what it’s like to finish a race feeling both...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Before we get too far into 2026, I’m taking a moment to reflect on some of the most powerful conversations from Inspired Soles in 2025.

This “Best Of” episode features seven standout clips from elite athletes, coaches, and everyday runners—each chosen not just for performance, but for the insight, humour, vulnerability, and perspective they brought to the conversation. You’ll hear reflections on goal setting, pacing, fueling, injury prevention, mindset, and what it really means to chase big dreams, even when things don’t go to plan.

...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Why is habit change so hard? Registered Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sarah Rigby and I explore motivation, self-compassion, and real-world strategies to break bad habits and build better ones—without shame or perfectionism.

Resources we discussed in the episode:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In this episode, Johnny and Carolyn Coffin recap their unforgettable weekend at The Marathon Project, from chaotic winter-storm travel and behind-the-scenes access at the expo, to a race weekend filled with both breakthrough highs and gut-punch lows. Johnny runs a massive personal best, Carolyn faces a DNF, and together they reflect on what the experience revealed about preparation, pressure, perspective, and why this race was about so much more than the results.

A candid, emotional, and honest look at chasing big goals and learning from whatever...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Just days after running a historic 2:24:53 at the Valencia Marathon, Canadian marathoner & 3-time Olympian Malindi Elmore joins Inspired Soles to break down one of the most remarkable performances in Canadian distance running history. At 45.75 years old, Malindi placed 12th in one of the deepest marathon fields in the world, ran the fourth-fastest marathon ever by a Canadian woman, and shattered the Canadian women’s 45–49 record by 14 minutes — all on a day that warmed to 20°C by the finish.

But this conversation goes far beyond the result. Malindi...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Jess McClain joins Inspired Soles ahead of The Marathon Project, where she’ll serve as the celebrity pacer for women chasing the sub-2:37 Olympic Trials qualifying (OTQ) standard. We talk about what that responsibility means, how she prepares for a pacing role, and how she plans to support the group both physically and mentally on race day.

Jess also shares her philosophy on abundance, joy, and belonging in the sport, reflects on her own rise in U.S. distance running, and offers a powerful pep talk fo...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I’m joined by Calgary-based sub-elite runner and coach Leanne Klassen, who is heading to Chandler, Arizona to race in the professional field of The Marathon Project. A two-time past guest and friend of the pod, Leanne returns with an inside look at what it’s like preparing for one of the fastest marathon stages in North America.

We talk about her 8-week build under coach Malindi Elmore (fresh off her 2:24:53 Canadian 45-49 record!), how she navigated a lingering calf niggle, and what it’s like balanc...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In this episode, Carolyn chats with Collingwood, ON entrepreneur and endurance athlete Sarah Beairsto, founder and CEO of Send It Cards — greeting cards for those who sweat. 

Sarah shares the origin story behind her brand, how movement and creativity intertwine in her life, and the joy she finds in helping people connect in meaningful, authentic ways. We explore the parallels between training for endurance sport and building a business, her mission to support girls in sport, the emotional journey of entrepreneurship, and how she’s now foste...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

This episode is brought to you by Lever Movement, the bodyweight-support treadmill system that has been key in keeping Carolyn injury-free this build.

With just a few weeks to go, Johnny and I sit down to talk about how our training is really going heading into The Marathon Project — aka “The Project.” We break down the latest race updates (celebrity pacers, HOKA as presenting sponsor, free Rocket X 3s for the Gold Wave, and the Privateer program), plus:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In this episode, Carolyn sits down with Kristian Warwick — host of The Marathon Podcast, filmmaker, and 2:47 marathoner living in Oslo. Kristian shares how a lifetime in competitive speed skating shaped his rapid rise in the marathon, why he’s dreaming boldly about running 2:25, and what it’s like being coached by Jon Green. He also opens up about his unique approach to supporting emerging professional runners through direct athlete sponsorship, backed by his creative work at Wiild Studios. Kristian’s zest for life, belief in giving back, and passion...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today’s guest is 39-year-old Rachel Hannah, the newly crowned 2025 Canadian Marathon Champion from the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Rachel is a six-time national champion, PanAm Games bronze medallist, Registered Dietitian, and Sports Nutrition Consultant for Maurten. 

In this episode, we talk about how she’s running some of her best performances nearly a decade after setting most of her PBs, the role proper fueling has played in staying healthy after past bone stress injuries, and how she’s trained her gut to handle 80+ grams of carbs per hou...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Today I sit down with I’ll Have Another creator and Sandyboy Productions founder Lindsey Hein to announce that Inspired Soles is officially joining the Sandyboy Productions podcast network. 

Lindsey interviews me about:

·      The mission behind Inspired Soles

·      What’s happening in Canadian distance running

·      Why runner storytelling matters

·      My background in coaching, physiotherapy & kinesiology

·      The importance of chasing your dreams (no matter your age)

If you love con...

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...

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...

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 be...

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...

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 bot...

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 Jave...

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...

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:

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

With fall marathon season quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to revisit one of our most popular episodes on a topic that can truly make or break your race: the taper.

My guest is Lynsey Romano, founder of Skyline Run Coaching in Airdrie, Alberta. Since 2017, Lynsey has been coaching athletes through personalized, evidence-based running and strength training programs, helping them reach their goals while enjoying the process of long-term development in the sport. She’s also an accomplished runner herself, having recently broken th...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

This week I'm re-airing one of my most popular episodes from about this time last year—a powerful conversation with Landon Hildebrand, an Edmonton-based Registered Psychologist and trail runner who works extensively with athletes.

As co-owner of Approach Psychology, Landon helps his clients develop the mental tools they need to perform under pressure and enjoy their sport more fully. He’s also a familiar face in the local running community, often volunteering at ultramarathon aid stations alongside his wife, where their support exte...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Sasha Gollish is a Team Canada athlete, engineer, researcher, gender equity advocate, empowering coach, and community leader. She’s also the Director of Knowledge Mobilization for Youth Sport at the University of Toronto, where she makes sport research practical and usable.

In this episode, Sasha returns to Inspired Soles to reflect on the 10 years since her “Cinderella story” bronze medal performance in the 1500m at the 2015 Pan Am Games, and how that moment shaped her then — and now.

Following a knee injury in December 2023 and surg...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

With fall marathon season on the horizon, there’s no better time to revisit this essential conversation with Winnipeg-based Registered Dietitian Jessica Wylychenko, founder of Speed & Savoury. Originally released in August 2024, this episode is packed with practical and actionable advice to help runners dial in their fueling and hydration strategies for training, racing, and recovery.

Jessica specializes in performance nutrition for runners and shares how even small tweaks can make a big difference—helping you avoid injury, boost training adaptations, and feel stronger on race day. As a...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

When Shirley Ramos showed up to Tracktastic 2023 in Winnipeg, she thought she was just going to watch. Little did she know, by the end of the day, she’d be standing on the podium after an impromptu 4x400m relay — and officially hooked on track.

In this episode, Shirley shares her journey from recreational road runner and marathon mom to becoming a proud track athlete. Since that fateful day, she’s joined the Manitoba Runners’ Association track club, competed at the Canadian Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, and disc...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Ben Rosario is back! The Co-Founder & CEO of The Marathon Project returns to Inspired Soles just four months after his first appearance to share exciting updates about the race’s 2025 edition—and so much more.

Since our last conversation, TMP has announced partnerships with Blanks Sports Nutrition (yes, everyone gets bottle service!) and FloTrack, revealed a new start time, detailed the prize purse, and continued registration for the Gold Wave—the competitive amateur field for runners chasin...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

If you're just tuning in for the first time and wondering, what exactly is the Mic Check Relay? — allow us to catch you up!

On July 16th, Inspired Soles went head-to-head against our friends Rob & Charlie Tétrault at The Running Journey podcast in a 2-person, 5K-per-runner track relay at Victor Mager track in Winnipeg. The stakes? $5000 donated by the losing team to the charity of the winner’s choice — and, of course, serious podcast bragging rights.

In this re...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

🎙️ With just days to go until the Mic Check Relay, my husband Johnny and I sat down for a quick and candid preview of what’s shaping up to be the ultimate podcast showdown between Inspired Soles and The Running Journey.

On Wednesday, July 16th — also Johnny’s 44th birthday — we’ll go head-to-head against Rob & Charlie Tetrault in a 2-person 5K relay, where the losing team donates $5000 to the winning team’s charity of choice. But this event is about more than j...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

This episode features Andrea Amiot, a 42-year-old runner, coach, business owner, and mom from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, who recently returned to the marathon after a 6-year break—and did so in style.

Andrea ran a beautifully executed 3:18:13 at Grandma’s Marathon on June 21st, pacing herself with remarkable consistency despite rising temperatures. But as you’ll hear, this race was about so much more than just the finish time.

For Andrea, Grandma’s became a powerful metaphor for life: an invitation to slow down, stay pre...