Ben Mulroney is congratulated by his wife, Jessica Brownstein, at the finish line of the Mississauga Marathon. TIM FRASER FOR THE GLOBE AND MAILThe Globe and Mail
Ben Mulroney is known for being two things: the son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney and the host of etalk on CTV. But from now on, he can also be called a marathoner, having completed his first one this month in a time of 3 hours and 47 minutes. Now, filled with personal satisfaction, the 34-year-old will need a new goal if he wants to maintain his high level of aerobic fitness.
My goal:
Why did he choose to race? "To raise money for Run for Big Mike to benefit the family of Mike McNally, who suffered a brain injury and requires long-term care, by running the Mississauga Marathon."
My workout:
He embarked on a training program prepared by his sister. "Caroline has four children under the age of 5 and ran the Scotia [Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon]to get back in shape, so I looked to her for guidance. ...
"I do not like riding bikes, and spinning classes are not for me, so I supplement my training with stretching, TRX [suspension body-weight training]at Get Spun and weights. Imprint Pilates gives me a core workout; I do it with my wife."
My lifestyle:
"My wife is expecting twins, so we don't go out very much right now. There's no alcohol, lots of eating at home - that's a big change that's occurred.
"I wish I could say I follow a nutrition plan. I'm at the mercy of what we're having for dinner, or at an event like the Innovators' Ball. Some days, I skip meals. Some days, I eat too much. But I don't eat late at night."
My motivation:
"If I'm happy with my performance in this marathon, I'll do another one in the next 18 months. I'll visit with a nutritionist and aim for Boston - maybe."
My anthem:
" My First Song by Jay-Z, Sky's the Limit by Notorious B.I.G. and Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus."
As to his power songs for running, he says: "I went to see the show Rock of Ages, it was so hair metal; every one of the songs had a good strong beat."
My challenge:
Before the race, it was "the unknown of the marathon." Now, it's what to do next.
The critique:
People who have had a big athletic goal to motivate them for many months often become unmotivated after the event, says Barrie Shepley, a sports coach who holds a degree in kinesiology from Hamilton's McMaster University. Mr. Mulroney could definitely benefit from an off-season plan if he wants to qualify for Boston - as well as have more time with his twin babies due shortly, he says.
Set small goals:
Because Mr. Mulroney's next marathon might not be for another 18 months, Mr. Shepley advises him to set short goals over the next year.
"The improved running fitness that Ben has generated training for Mississauga will allow him to easily maintain 10-to-21K long runs, with the occasional local race every one to two months. Ben will have time to do some short, faster running over the summer, so he should try to set some new personal bests for 5K, 10K and a half-marathon."
Rebuild leg strength:
One of the best things that Mr. Mulroney can do is to add resistance training to bolster reduced leg strength caused by running a long race. A strengthening program for eight to 10 weeks will pay big dividends, says Mr. Shepley, Hall of Fame Olympic Coach for Canada and president of Personal Best Health & Performance Inc.
Add low-impact activities:
Mr. Mulroney should also get into cross-training, he adds. Alternative endurance activity, which has been proved to be advantageous to runners, can help to build endurance.
"Adding one or two non-impact activities a week, such as swimming, in-line skating or kayaking, will enhance Ben's fitness," says Mr. Shepley, who provided the on-site commentary for the Mississauga Marathon.
"Ultimately, by maintaining some run endurance and building strength and run speed, if Ben ever wishes to qualify for the Boston Marathon one day, he will have both the running endurance and speed to qualify."
Special to The Globe and Mail