Scott Greig supported Tracy’s dream of opening her own running store when he quit his former job as a utilities worker. His position of, primarily, meter reading for a private company, provided a great background for the active lifestyle which Runner's Den promotes. Scott also brings a wealth of customer service experience with him to Runner's Den. With years of athletic experience ranging from hockey to running
(in addition, he represented Ontario at the 2003 National Broomball Championships), he is now eager to promote walking and running within the clinics and through quality products. Scott is a great supporter of local racing events and encourages all to make the annual attempt to join your local Terry Fox community event each September. Scott recently completed his first marathon at the Disney Marathon in Orlando Florida in a time of 3:35:35.
Tracy Greig: Tracy grew up with parents who were runners, so for her to take up running was no surprise. Her first race was a 5km in 1982 at the age of 10. Tracy remembers it because her grandpa was also running in the race at age 78. It’s a family affair that Tracy hopes to pass on to her two children Shayne & Nicole. Tracy competed in high school track & cross country at the provincial and national levels. More recently, she took up marathon running, completing the New York, Boston and Chicago Marathons. Being a wife, mom, working full time and training for marathons puts her time management skills to the test! Tracy is a graduate of the nutrition management program at Canadore College in North Bay and currently works as a diet technician at the Owen Sound Hospital. She looks forward to working as much as possible at Runner’s Den with Scott.
Clinic Leader Profiles
Veronica Allan
Veronica’s love for running began at the age of 9 when she ran in her first cross-country race at the Meaford Army Tank Range. And although this love faded over the next couple of years (as her 10-year-old self deemed dance classes much more appealing) Veronica took up running again through cross-country and track during her Grades 7 and 8 years at Hillcrest Elementary School. She began training full time when she entered Grade 9 at West Hill Secondary school and her love for running has only grown as she begins her final year of high school. Over the past few years, Veronica has qualified for OFSAA events in cross-country running, track and field, and Nordic skiing with WHSS, and can be found competing all year round whether it be road races, trail runs, track, or Nordic ski races. After high school, Veronica is pursuing a degree in kinesiology at Queens University and without a doubt, Veronica plans to continue running for the rest of her life. Quote: “Running is a big question that’s there each and every day. It asks you ‘Are you going to be a wimp, or are you going to be strong today?’”(-Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub 2;12 marathoner)
Tracy Greig
In high school she competed in OFSAA and OTFA (all
Favorite Race:
Favorite Athlete: Grete Waitz, Terry Fox, My mother and father
Favorite Gear: Asics, Sugoi, Brooks, Nike
Personal Best Times:
Marathon 3:08:29 (2007)
30km 2:04:53(2010)
Half Marathon 1:24:46 (2007)
8.1 miles 49:50
10km 38:06 (1991)
5km 18:06 (1990)
3000 metres 10:26.2 (1990)
1500 metres 4:56 (1989)
Advice to New Runners: Stick with it, don’t give up too quickly. Improvement comes if you give it time. You didn’t gain weight or become out of shape overnight, and you won’t lose weight or get in shape overnight either.
Scott Greig
Scott will tell you that the worst thing you may do is to do a race because then you're stuck with a time you have to (and can) beat. Because the next time you will really train! The more you do, the more you learn. The run is most definitely different than other sports. The only enemy encountered is the one your mind overcomes. Toughest race - 5 km. Tasting blood, wanting to ease back but knowing every step matters. Most memorable moment - finishing Shore to Shore, sprinting down the big hill after having a lace come undone (unbelievable), kicking the shoe in the air and finishing with one bare foot cause there ain't no way you are letting someone pass you when you worked so hard. Retrospect though - dumb. Best moment - hugging my wife and kids after the Disney finish line. Really liked - the solitude of being alone, in the dark, prerace, in the chutes with thousands and thousands of others contemplating the Journey that lies ahead for the next 26 miles. There is something special about the early morning start of Disney.
Training shoe - Can't beat the Brooks Adrenaline for durability. Just can't!
Nice track shoe - Mizuno Elixir. Very nice.
Trail shoe - Mizuno Ascend. You want to run barefoot? Put these on!
Joanne Barber
Joanne was a runner for 20 years and due to a foot injury had to give it up. She became very unfit, gained a lot of weight and then decided to try walking about 3 years ago, and eventually changed to power walking. She regained her fitness and lost 40 pounds. Over the last three years she has done the Around the Bay 30K. The first year (2004) there were 102 starters and she finished 11th overall in 3:51. In 2005 there were 115 starters and she finished 3rd overall in 3:42 and in (2006) there were 169 starters and she finished 2nd overall in 3:33. She did the Run for the Toad walk category in 2005 and was first female in 3:12. She’s also done some shorter 5 and 10k distances.
Julie Rice
Helping people become physically active is Julie’s passion, but they will have a tough act to follow if they try to keep up with her! She has run in the 
Jodi Dawson:
Jodi has a contagious smile and enthusiasm that can't be beat. Her love of running is a way of life and she passes that passion on to her Runner's Den group. Congratulations to Jodi for qualifying for the Boston Marathon in November 2009.
Tracy Parkin 