Stephen brings a wealth of experience from the highest levels of competitive athletics. As a Canadian Olympic Committee athlete and long-time national team member, Stephen has competed on the world stage and understands what it takes to prepare for performance, both physically and mentally.

Since transitioning into coaching, Stephen has worked with athletes across a wide range of abilities, applying a thoughtful, holistic approach to training. He emphasizes consistency, durability, and sustainable progression, believing that long-term success comes from balancing ambition with smart decision-making.

Now leading the Ottawa Run Club, Stephen is excited to build a strong, welcoming team environment where runners can challenge themselves, stay accountable, and grow together. His calm leadership, depth of experience, and athlete-centred philosophy set the foundation for Ottawa's run club community.

Mark has been training with BlackToe since our earliest days, and is one of our longest-standing club members. After running the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, Mark truly settled into an appreciation for endurance sports. He boasts a 2:27:57 marathon PB in Berlin and was the fastest South African during the race.

Besides being a speedy marathoner, Mark is also an established triathlete. Mark naturally fell into a leadership role within the club and thrives when supporting runners during their workouts and long runs. He's been known to lead pace groups, offer excellent coaching advice, and be an all-around positive member of the Toronto running community. Under his passion and care, our Run Club athletes are sure to flourish!

Dan has been running competitively for over 15 years, participating in events ranging from the 800m to the marathon, and competed for 5 years as a varsity cross-country and track athlete at the University of Waterloo. He has been coaching athletes of all levels and abilities for the past 7 years, and approaches training with a long-term vision for his athletes to help them achieve their goals.

His coaching is founded on structured periodized training cycles, which stresses the importance of pushing limits while balancing proper rest and recovery. Dan also brings a vast amount of physiology and biomechanics knowledge to the team, as he holds an undergrad in Kinesiology and a Master's Degree in Biomechanics. In 2024, he set his lifetime personal best in the 10K at 31:05, and made his marathon debut at the Ottawa Marathon, where he placed 9th overall (3rd Canadian) in a time of 2:31:03. He's excited to work with runners from the BlackToe community and help them achieve their goals!

Erin is a professional middle-distance runner, Olympian, and Mental Performance Consultant who supports athletes in developing the mental skills needed to perform at their best in training, racing, and beyond.

A New Balance–sponsored athlete and 2016 Olympian in the steeplechase, Erin brings over a decade of experience competing at the highest levels of international sport, including multiple World Championship appearances and Pan Am Games qualifications. Her background as an elite endurance athlete gives her a deep understanding of the psychological demands of training, competition, pressure, and long-term athletic development.

Alongside her athletic career, Erin is completing a PhD in Human Kinetics with a specialization in sport psychology. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master's degree in Kinesiology (Sport Psychology specialization), and is trained in counselling theory and applied mental skills development.

Through her consulting practice, Erin works one-on-one with athletes to build focus, confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation. Her approach is practical, evidence-based, and grounded in real-world sport experience. She is committed to helping athletes develop tools they can apply immediately in both training and competition.

At BlackToe Running, Erin supports athletes through individual performance consultations (online) and works closely with the Ottawa coaching team to enhance the mental performance component of the Run Club experience. Simply reach out to us or ask your Run Club coach about connecting with Erin as an added perk for our athletes!

Kyle joined the BlackToe Running community in 2022 and is a UESCA Certified Running Coach and a Canfitpro Personal Training Specialist. He brings a passion for strength training, mobility, and recovery to his coaching philosophies, believing strongly in their pivotal role in enhancing performance and preventing injuries.

Kyle finds immense joy in bringing people together, emphasizing the positive impact of group training for health and well-being. Whether you're a seasoned runner or taking your first strides, Kyle's goal is to guide you toward sustainable progression and a love for running that lasts a lifetime.

Emily brings a health-first, evidence-informed approach to coaching, grounded in her medical background. She's passionate about helping runners train sustainably, recover well, and fuel intelligently, so they can perform their best while staying healthy for the long term.

Her running journey began during COVID, with her first marathon in 2023. Since then, she's built an impressive and diverse race resume, including marathons in Ottawa, Toronto Waterfront, Petit Train du Nord, Cumberland, and Boston, along with half marathons in Georgina, Houston, Ottawa, and Picton. Emily has also embraced bigger challenges—completing a midnight marathon in Ottawa, an overnight ultra in Montreal, an Olympic-distance triathlon in Wasaga Beach, and even an ultramarathon relay from Toronto to Montreal.

Now joining Black Toe Running as a run coach for the first time, Emily combines years of being coached herself with a lifelong background in coaching sailing and skiing. She's excited to help runners build confidence, consistency, and joy as they work toward their next finish line.

After graduating, Kim took a break from competitive running to focus on fitness instruction. However, she returned in 2020 and quickly dove right back into training. She made an impressive debut in the marathon in 2022, securing 12th place (Canadian). Continuing her streak, she recently achieved a strong 9th place in the Canadian half-marathon rankings and competed in the professional field at the Boston Marathon. Kim holds several coaching credentials, including the Jack Daniel's VDOT Certification, and has completed various Athletics Canada Programs such as Road and Trail Run Leader, and Fundamentals of Athletics: Track, Relative Energy Deficiency and Mental Health in Sport.

Kim firmly believes that running should be enjoyable, as it contributes to longevity in the sport. She knows that success is not a solitary pursuit, but rather a collaborative effort. Being part of a supportive community is integral to achieving greatness in the running world. As a coach, she brings vibrancy, strength, and a seriously smart approach to training, plus she is well known for adding a bit of flair to the running community with her race nails, hair bows, and social attitude.