David Topping

Team Running Free Alumni

Age: 0

Member Since: 2007

Occupation: Creative Director

Home: Markham, Ontario

Sports: Regular activities include running (5K to marathon distances), trail running, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, camping (canoeing and backpacking). Other activities include mountain biking, mountaineering, adventure racing, rock climbing, and kayaking.

Athletic Goals: My goals vary by activity and race but I always set some kind of goal; that's my motivation. I am always striving to beat existing personal best times for the various running race distances, but I also like to explore new activities where I can set a benchmark for new goals.

My most catastrophic racing experience was: My first attempt at a marathon was by far my most disappointing race. I got sick 3 weeks before the marathon and was off for 2 weeks. I was afraid I had lost all the training I had invested during the previous 4 months so my first day back I ran a hard 16km. That was dumb. Somewhere between 10km and 16km I injured my ITB. I rested until the race but the injury flared up at around 7km. Two Advils at 17km didn't help the increasing pain. By 21km I couldn't walk. My race was over.

My most memorable racing experience was: After my third marathon in one year, I finally qualified for Boston. My first attempt was in Ottawa in the spring, where I missed my time by 50 seconds. My second attempt was the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September, where I missed my time by 40 seconds. Finally, in Philadelphia at the end of November, I beat my time by 2 minutes. That was a memorable moment.

Favourite Racing Gear: For running shoes, I wear Brooks Glycerin right now because they fit me so well and offer the neutral cushioning I need. For clothing, Nike consistently makes great running gear that fits me well and looks cool too. I'm also a fan of CWX. And I love my Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS system for tracking pace, distance and a ton of other information, particularly on long runs and trail runs.

Favourite Race: 5 Peaks Trail Running Series – great for trail runners and a great change of pace for road runners.

Favourite Race Food: For a long run or race, I'm always well stocked with Gu. I love E-Load for long training runs because it goes down without stomach upset and is easily absorbed. After a hard run, I drink a can of Boost to get some fast carbs and protein into my system for good recovery. Then I follow up with some Gatorade; it's too sweet for training but what I crave post-workout.