Jason Cooper

Team Running Free Alumni

Age: 52

Member Since: 2012

Occupation: Business development manager for Paramount Equity Solutions

Home: Orillia

About Me: I got started in this great sport when my wife started running in our local running club, she inspired me to get on the treadmill in January 2010. I joined the running club with her in March 2010 doing the walk\run program and got hooked! My wife helped me progress and pushed me to keep going as well as lose weight and in July we did our first 10k race together. That followed with another and then another. This past year, over 60 lbs lighter, we did 6 races including our first ever Half Marathon. 2012 was very exciting with a few firsts, we competed in our first over the boarder race (Clearwater Half Marathon), we did the 30k around the Bay in March, my first full Marathon at the Toronto Good Life, set new PR for 10k Yonge st, broke the 1:45 for the half marathon in Niagara. 2013 was another breakthrough year, PR Marathon at Road to hope, PR half marathon, PR 10K, and did my first Triathlon. Finished the year with the Ironman 70.3 Muskoka. 2014 is going to be another ground breaker as I just signed up for Ironman Louisville in August.

Sports: triathlon, Road Running, golf

Athletic Goals: 2014 goal is to finish the Ironman Louisville in August, My supreme goal is to break 12 hours. We will see in August.

My most catastrophic racing experience was: 2012 Goodlife fitness Marathon, my first ever marathon and I went in with an acilies tendon issue, My doctor taped me up the best he could on friday night, I re taped again on Sunday morning but at 15k it said it had had enough, At 21k I told my wife to go on without me and I hobbled on to the finish in a 4:56. I could not walk for a few weeks without pain but I did not want a DNF.

My most memorable racing experience was: I have 2, first is when I ran the 2011 Niagarafalls Half Marathon to my PR of 1:44:46, 2nd was when I ran with my wife to her PR of 1:50:36 and 1st in her Age group at the 2012 Clearwater Halfathon.

Favourite Racing Gear: My Favorite training shoe is my Brooks Glyceryn, my Fave Race shoe is my K-Swiss Kwiky Blade Lite's, My new ON Cloud Surfers are working well so far, Sugoi 220 Zip Jacket is Awsome! CWX Insulator Stabilyx Tights amazing, Brooks Cascadia's in the winter.

Favourite Race: Toronto Yonge St 10k.

Favourite Race Food: Hammer Perpeteum mix is the best, Powerbar gels, stinger chews, 7 Systems.