Welcome to Full Stride Running! My goal with this site is to pass on my experience from 30+ years of competitive running and provide some insight that will help anyone who wants to get the most out of themselves as a runner. Whether you’re a young, aspiring runner, a high school or college track star, an adult newbie runner or a masters competitor, I’ve been around long enough to learn a few tricks of the trade that can help you get the most out of your natural talent, no matter how much or how little you possess.

I remember watching the 1500m semi-finals at the 1976 Olympics when I was 7 years old and being amazed at the strong, fluid runners powering around the track. They looked majestic. I quickly decided that I wanted to be an Olympic runner and told my parents I was going to train for the 1980 Olympics (by which time I would have reached the ripe old age of 11, haha). As it turned out, the Olympic dream didn’t happen, but I did finish second at the Ontario Championships in my age group twice as a teenager and twice as a masters runner. I ran for the varsity track and cross country teams at York University from 1987 to 1991 and since then have run 14 marathons, including the Boston marathon in 2003 and 2007.

Along the way, I was privileged to have a number of great coaches over the years, from the late former Olympic Steeplechaser Greg Duhaime, national cross country team member Mike Dixon, George Gluppe, coach of former Olympian Nanci Tinari, the late Fred Foote who coached Canadian Bill Crothers to a silver medal in the 800m in the 1964 Olympics, and Antonio Cabral, a coach of several Olympians and a former 3:39 1500m runner and 2:39 marathoner at age 45.

In all, I’ve enjoyed my running ‘career’ and the modest success, but I really didn’t feel like I reached my potential as a runner when I was younger due to a few significant training mistakes that I didn’t figure out until much later. As the saying goes, “If only I knew then what I know now …” I hope that I can help you avoid those mistakes before you experience the same frustrations that I did.

Check back regularly as I’ll be adding content to this blog on a regular basis that I’m sure you won’t want to miss.

Happy Running,

Dan.