Happy Feet - Podcast: Recent Episodes
David MacMillan
The Happy Feet Podcast features interviews with the Yellowknife, NT running community. In our interviews we explore the challenges of running in the north and personal goals set by each of the interviewees.
Season 2 of Happy Feet is on the air. Episodes are being released periodically throughout 2022. Sign up to our facebook group for the latest updates.
Jessica Chenkie's running journey started with inspiration from an unlikely movie 10 years ago. Tune in to hear Jessica's advice for shift workers who run, her adoration of Tin Can Hill and where she finds her motivation for her running goals.
This week David and Greg chat with Radio Host and Runner Jared Monkman. In this episode, Jared shares stories on his passion and tenacity for running no matter chronic illness, -40C temperatures or being pulled bilaterally by his dogs.
Sally Card, the Iron Woman just completed her first Ironman Triathlon in Penticton, BC. In this Episode Sally walks us through her was a long and winding road to the Ironman. Guest hosting this week is Greg Tink.
This week's guests are sisters, Alice and Grace Twa. Both have competed in the 6 hour Yellowknife Ultra and share their experiences as well as some of their more memorable runs while travelling with Family. Greg Tink joins this week as guest host.
This episodes guest is Emma Riley. Emma is an experienced runner who has competed in both track and cross country at Carleton University. Although she has a competitive background she equally enjoys the social aspect of the sport. This week Dave and Cam chat with Emma about where she found running and where she hopes to go with it.
Bethany Ly is training for her first Half-Marathon Race. Despite some set backs with injury and suspect treadmill she has persevered and looking forward to the upcoming Calgary Half-Marathon this May. This week Cam and Dave chat with Bethany Ly about her upcoming goals and where she finds motivation.
John Bowser did not start running until age 49 and since then has developed a passion for it. To date John has completed 26 marathons including Boston and NY proving you start running at any age.
Loren McGinnis gets his run in, a half a days work in and starts his lunch break by the time most people are just starting their day. This week David and Cam turn the microphone on the Trailbreaker Host Loren McInnis to hear a few stories about his more memorable runs.
Nicola can't imagine not having running as part of her life, but it wasn't always that way. In this episode, David and Cam sit down for a chat with Nicola Langille and discuss how she found her love for the sport.
This week Cam and David chat with Robin Ferguson. Robin has been +organizing the Hoarfrost Half for the past six years; a challenging race each December that often aligns with brutal winter conditions. Robin also tells Cam and David about his efficient 3 day a week training plan used this past year to help achieve a personal running goal.
To kick off Season 2, Cam and Dave sit down to chat with the Java Runners. The group has been going strong for over a decade, meeting every Saturday for their weekly run and coffee.
Happy Feet Shorts, the Short Form Happy Feet Podcast. Madison Warren shares her unusual 10km training method with Cam and Dave.
Pooja Chugh is a lawyer, MED student and fitness instructor. Pooja shares with Cam and Dave how her view on running has changed from a dreaded exercise to a passion.
In this episode David and Cam recap the 6/12/24 Ultra which took place on June 26, 2021.
We are less than one week away from the 6/12/24 hr race. Cam Twa has put in a lot of hours training, organizing and mentally preparing for this event. This week we hear from his friends, family and training partners about what this means to him. An entire running community will be behind Cam as he chases down his 24 hours challenge.
Shona Barbour is a competitive curler, yogi, canoe racer, coach and runner. In 2020, Shona was awarded the Sport North Senior Female athlete of the year. This week Cam "Ultra" Twa and Marathon Dave chat with Shona about her passion for running and sport including both the mental and physical challenges.
This week's guest is Sandra Bowden who started running while in her forties and has been doing so ever since. Sandra shares with us how running has been a constant with her through both highs and lows. This month Sandra is aiming to complete one of her biggest running challenges to date.
This week Marathon Dave and Cam "Ultra" Twa sit down with Dr. Steve Griffith-Cochrane who has competed in some harrowing races including the Sinister 7 and the Canadian Death. Despite the menacing names, Steve has nothing but good things to say about participating in each event.
This week Marathon Dave and Cam Ultra Twa discuss the many layers behind Thea Campbell who is a Mother, Teacher, Bag Piper and Runner. Thea is a goal orientated planner who has her eyes set on an upcoming 6hr running challenge. Cam and Dave chat with Thea about her training, motivations and what she hopes to achieve with this daunting objective.
What keeps you motivated on a run? Who inspires you? How do I fix a leaky gasket in my toilet? This week Cam "Ultra" Twa and Marathon Dave take and answer questions from the audience. Be prepared for some for off the cuff answers and plenty of unsolicited advice.
Are you a Runner, Jogger, Hiker or Walker? When it comes down to it, does it matter? In my books, if you have completed 21.1km on foot you are officially a half-marathoner. This week, Cam "Ultra" Twa and I sit down and chat with Anne Tyrrell. After completing a local 5km event two years ago Anne has caught the racing bug and has taken part in almost every event Yellowknife has had to offer and has her eyes set on some impressive goals.
Depending on the day of the week you may see Gonzalo running, biking, swimming, paddling or out for a dog walk. Cam and I sit down to chat with a true Multi Sport Athlete, Gonzalo Espinosa, and discuss some of events he has conquered over the past few years.
In Episode 9, Cam "Ultra" Twa and I share a beer, a few laughs and some running tales with Hash House Harrier, Len MacDonald. Our conversation with Len brings us from West Coast to East Coast and even further North. Len fills us in on what makes running in Yellowknife such a unique experience.
In Episode 8, local legend Doug Townson, walks and runs us through what it was like to run some of the most prestigious races in the world, including The Boston Marathon and The NYC Marathon.
In Episode 7, Cam “Ultra” Twa and I chat with friend and neighbor, Greg Tink. In a year where many have struggled to remain active, Greg has flourished by adding a track workout multiple times a week into his routine. Greg tells us how he started his running journey with the help of his wife and running partner, Melanie, a can-do attitude and some sophisticated Apple tech.
In Episode 6, Cam and I sit down with Dr. Sarah Cook to discuss her participation in the Ultra Interval Challenge, a 24 hour running challenge where participants complete a 10km run every 3 hours over a 24 hour period. Easy right? We discuss how the event went and the overall importance of balancing an active lifestyle with our ever increasing busy lives.
In Episode 5, Cam and I chat with long time Yellowknifer and multi-sport-er Conrad Schubert. Triathlon, Skiing, Shooting, and Running, Conrad does it all. We learn how Conrad incorporates running into an active lifestyle and what makes a good run. We also dive into the history of some the events in Yellowknife and learn about the origins of the Java-runners.
In 2019 Larry Innis took on the Reckless Raven. An 80km Ultra race in Whitehorse, YK. The air was thick with smoke and temperatures were scorching. At checkpoint 11 of 14 Larry witnessed a fellow competitor pass out from the conditions and decided end early and try the race again another year. In Episode 4, Cam “Ultra” Twa and I discuss the intricacies of ultra running with Larry and how to train for one in Yellowknife. We also hear about his plan to tackle the Reckless Raven once more.
In Episode 3, Cam and I catch up with our old friend, Amanda St Denis. Amanda has been instrumental in forming the inclusive Yellowknife Running Group and helped many runners to their first 5Ks and Half-Marathons. We also talk about the highs and lows of training and why taking some time off can be beneficial.
Brendan has been living in Yellowknife for the past five month and has adapted very quickly to the arctic winters. Preferring to run outside, no matter the temperatures Brendan still clocks 100km per week. In this interview myself and Co-host Cam "Ultra" Twa get insight into what drives a competitive runner like Brendan.
In episode 1 myself and co-host Cameron Twa talk with Ajay Chauhan. Over the past two years Ajay has set some ambitious personal challenges including a 50km indoor run, a 12 hour race and this year he has his biggest challenge yet. In this episode we find out how far he has run and how far he plans to go.