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I’m joined once again by Canadian marathon record holder Natasha Wodak for a timely and important conversation. We begin by recapping Natasha’s 2025 season and wrap up by looking ahead to what’s lighting her up in 2026, but the heart of this episode focuses on start line safety in a rapidly growing sport.

Just days before this recording, Natasha was taken down at the start of a local 8K race after being barged through by another runner. Although she got up and finished strongly, the injuries she sustained ultimately disrupted her training and prevented her from racing again days later. Together, we reflect on her experience and use it as a starting point to explore how crowded, chaotic start lines affect runners of all abilities—and how we can collectively do better.

This is a thoughtful, solutions-oriented discussion about shared responsibility, race design, and the small changes that could make a big difference in keeping all runners safe.

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Resources we discussed in the episode:

• iRun Magazine article

Connect with Natasha:

• Instagram: @tashawodak
• Previous episodes on Inspired Soles
  • Ep 209: All Set to Race the Toronto Waterfront Marathon
  • Ep 190: On Missing the Olympic Marathon Standard
  • Ep 124: Canadian Marathon Record Holder

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

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