iRun Magazine

Gear Review
iRun writer Karen Kwan runs in the ASICS NovaBlast 6 and has some thoughts.
"With about a month to work on maintaining a strong base fitness before starting my next training block, testing the new ASICS Novablast 6 came into my life at an ideal time. Even though the Novablast was the best-selling running shoe of 2025, I’ve never done much running in ASICS and I could afford to try a few new things before diving into an intense training cycle."

Read her thoughts here: https://irun.ca/training/shoe-review-asics-novablast-6/

🚨🎙 New Podcast Drop...featuring Selene Mallone
Undisputed Canadian Queen of the Ultras
Powerlifting ➡️ 300-mile ultramarathons... fuelled by pizza? 🍕🏃‍♀️ Selene Mallone is completely rewriting the Canadian ultra-running playbook, and she’s sharing her secrets on the latest Athletics Ontario Running Podcast.

Fresh off smashing the course record at the Arizona Monster 300 and taking the crown at the 2025 Divide 200, Selene is pulling back the curtain on her journey to the top. She gets incredibly raw about her evolution from the lifting platform to elite trail running, overcoming disordered eating by embracing high-density "real food," and navigating the mental hurdles of imposter syndrome.

Now, she’s locking eyes on "Project Double Double"—tackling both the Ribbon 200 and SOO 200. Whether you’re chasing down your own goals or just looking for an unstoppable dose of mental grit, this conversation will leave you inspired to lace up and conquer.

🎧 Full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform right now! Or here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/athletics-ontario-running-podcast/id1607376732?i=1000772179393

WE RUN AT DAWN
The Riot Relays are a 14-hour slug fest at the best of times. Our team ran it in the rain. What happens when seven best friends tackle 140 kilometres at night? "Think tailgate party meets Fast&Furious," writes Doan Nguyen. Read about community over competition here: https://irun.ca/community/we-run-at-dawn/

LOOKS THAT KILL
When shopping for shoes, what do you consider: fashion or function, or some holy amalgamation of both? Speaking with runners across the country, and the fastest Canadian 5K runner of all-time, we get into science: do you run faster in super-slick shoes? An investigative iRun report, click here: https://irun.ca/gear/70897/

Does it matter if sneakers are pretty?

Are race expos a thing of the past?

🚨🎙 New Podcast Drop!
Get ready to run wild because Athletics Ontario Running podcast host dives deep into Ontario’s best-named crew: The River Rats Run Club! 🐀🏃‍♀️

Founder Sarah Hubbell joins podcast host John Shep to reveal how Cambridge flipped a cheeky reputation into a thriving, unstoppable, and aggressively inclusive movement. From genius stroller-running hacks to epic local trail routes, Sarah shares how they built a running family where community ALWAYS beats pace. 🔥🙌

Whether you're a casual walker, a sub-4-minute speedster, or just in it for the post-run brewery hangs, this episode is guaranteed to fire you up for your next mile!

💥🎧 Catch the full story on the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast on Thursday, June 4, 2026, anywhere you get your podcasts.

🪶In 2008, Ontario officially proclaimed June 4th, as Tom Longboat Day.
Tom Longboat, was an Onondaga runner, from Six Nations of the Grand River reserve near Brantford, Ontario. He served in Canadian Armed Forces in WWI as a dispatch runner in France and Belgium.
Look around and his presence can be felt around Toronto.
The original West End YMCA, now known as The Great Hall, maintains the track Longboat used to train for races in the early 1900, and has a commemorative plaque in his honour.
In addition to a street in the St. Lawrence Market area, a Scarborough school is also in his name.
In 1995, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Amongst his achievements are in Canada and abroad are:
🥇1906 Victoria Day Race (Caledonia, ON):
🥇1906 Hamilton Around the Bay (Hamilton, ON):
🥇1906 Ward Marathon (Toronto, ON)
🥇1907 Boston Marathon (MA, USA)
🥇1909 World's Professional Marathon Championship (New York, NY)
🥇1912 Powderhall Marathon (Edinburgh, Scotland)
iRun articles about Longboat include the following:
https://irun.ca/.../against-all-odds-why-now-more-than.../
Most recently, his great-great grandson, Kristian Jamieson, who is running to extend his legacy, was featured in an article called Family Man: https://irun.ca/racing-news/family-man/
For over 40 years, an annual race in his name is organized on Toronto Centre Island, and is run by a run club that shares the his namesake.
Register for the race here: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/124485/toronto-island-run-2026

All in Together
Doan Nguyen and her seven best friends are running a relay this weekend to celebrate friendship, community and life. Read about the connections we make in our sneakers, and how together our finish lines hold no bounds.
Doan and Team Lace Up will be taking over iRunNation on June 5-6, on their epic journey. Be sure to check in.
Catch Doan, click here: https://irun.ca/racing-news/it-started-with-a-wave/
📸by Ashley Chin, Raya Studios.