Over the past few years, the video-sharing social media app TikTok has grown significantly, becoming a reliable tool for many millennial and Gen Z runners looking to get more into the sport. According to Statista, the app boasts over a billion monthly users, with 55 per cent between 18 and 34. If you’re on TikTok and looking for more running content for your feed, here are four Canadian marathoners and TikTokers you should follow.
2 Lazy Runners
@diane_lauren Replying to @Bekah Full race day recap of my marathon! I’m so proud of the way I executed this race. I wanted to go into it having fun and enjoying it as much as I possibly could! I wanted to run with patience, confidence and be ready to dig deep when the time came! I still can’t believe I’m a 3:05 marathoner because that’s genuinely not something I’d ever thought that I’d be but it makes me excited to wonder what else is possible! 🙂 #runtok #running #runner #runnergirl #racedayvlog #racerecap #runwithme #runroutine #bostonmarathonqualifer #runnergirl #marathonrunner ♬ Redbone (feat. The Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac) – $TURCK
Daniel Fournier and Diane Lauren are two Canadian distance runners based in Toronto who have more than 100,000 followers on TikTok. Sharing how they balance full-time careers and training, they provide a blueprint for other runners looking to follow the same pursuit. Fournier, an experienced distance runner who competed in U Sports, made an impressive marathon debut this year, placing ninth overall (third Canadian) at the Ottawa Marathon with a time of 2:31:03. Leading up to the race, Fournier documented the ups and downs of his training, sharing valuable insights with his audience around fuelling, long runs and speed work. The pair review running shoes and coach a handful of aspiring marathoners.
Canadian marathon champion Caroline Pomerleau
@anouka.t Le moment où Caroline realise ce qu’elle vient d’accomplir 🥹 #marathonrunner #womeninsport #marathon #canadianchampionship #course #coureuse #torontowaterfrontmarathon ♬ Mix Deephouse 2023 Edm (Remix) – DAFITXDJ
2023 Canadian marathon champion Caroline Pomerleau and her coach and partner, Anouka Tremblay, have amassed over 40,000 followers on TikTok. This dynamic duo offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at marathon training from both an elite perspective (with Pomerleau) and an everyday runner’s standpoint (with Tremblay). Pomerleau, who made headlines with her unexpected victory at last year’s Toronto Waterfront Marathon, documents her journey and provides insights into how an elite athlete approaches each race. Tremblay, while coaching Pomerleau, is an accomplished runner in her own right, having qualified for the Boston Marathon on her first attempt at last year’s Quebec City Marathon. Their content not only covers their running experiences but also highlights their relationship and life beyond the sport, providing inspiration and valuable tips for runners of all levels.
Caroline Pomerleau and Anouka Tremblay join The Shakeout Podcast
Paris Olympian Rory Linkletter
@thepapalinks Officially selected to represent Canada in rhe Paris olympics in the marathon this summer. #Running #olympics #paris2024 ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman
Cool, calm and collected—that’s the vibe Canada’s second-fastest marathoner, Rory Linkletter, always exudes, both on and off the race course. His TikTok page reflects this demeanour, featuring videos of his workouts, gear drops from Puma and recent race recaps. As Linkletter gears up for his first Olympic Games in Paris, he maintains his laid-back social media approach, sharing his progress and training regimen with his followers. In addition to TikTok, Linkletter has more in-depth and longer videos on his YouTube channel, providing an inside look at the life and dedication of a professional marathoner and dad.
Run streaker Ed MacDonald
@dailyrunwithed Just a little joke for my friends who wear Nike shoes. 🙂 #runninghumor #itsjustajoke #running #runtok #runtokfam #dailyrunwithed ♬ All By Myself – Eric Carmen
Ed MacDonald of Victoria is perhaps one of the most inspiring (yet unrecognized) Canadian runners on TikTok. This wholesome distance runner in his 60s is approaching a nearly 1,000-day run streak, documenting his daily journey to motivate his followers. MacDonald says he runs daily for his mental health, sharing reminders to smile and stay positive. If you’re not already following him, you should start—his daily posts are full of inspiration and wisdom. Plus, every Wednesday, he sports a pink shirt with the hashtag #onwednesdaywewearpink, showing his playful nod to the hit movie Mean Girls.
