Nicole Pre-Marathon:
Nicole Stevenson started running back in grade six. After specializing in the 800m and
1500m at Westdale High School in Hamilton, Ontario, she transitioned to 3,000 and 5,000m distances at Wake Forest University
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. While at Wake Forest, she earned All-America honours in cross country.
After graduating from university, Nicole returned home to Ontario and worked at the Subaru Triathlon Series
as volunteer co-ordinator and served as Race Director at the 1997 Niagara Falls Marathon. In 1998, Nicole took a marketing
position at adidas Canada in running promotions, a dream job for a young runner!
From finishing
university in 1996 until leaving adidas to work for Solvay Pharmaceuticals in 2002, Nicole ran primarily to stay fit, as a
self-coached athlete until 2001. She dabbled in triathlons, competing in Ironman Canada in 2001 and finishing 8th pro woman
at Ironman Brazil in 2002, establishing the women's record for the run of 3hr 5min for the marathon portion.
Nicole the Marathoner:
Nicole's specialty in
the marathon started in 2002. She had been training with the Etobicoke Huskies for about one year when she was convinced
that she would make a good marathon runner. She had already attempted the distance twice : once in 1999 in Chicago, where
she learned the hard way to respect the distance! And then in Boston 2001, Nicole ran with her adidas colleagues for the experience
of that magical event.
In September 2002, after a summer of long runs and 60-65 miles per week,
Nicole ran 2:36:57 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Having her friend Mark Bailey by her side for the 42.2k certainly
helped her learn how to properly run the distance. After that race Nicole felt that she was born to run marathons.
Since 2002, Nicole has lowered her personal best to 2:32:56 (Houston, January 2006) thanks to the guidance of
Coach Hugh Cameron of the Newmarket Huskies. In 2006 she represented Canada in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne,
Australia.
Throughout all her racing, Nicole kept a busy work schedule at her job in pharmaceutical
marketing. As of today, she continues to excel in her role as a product manager at Solvay Pharma Inc.
Coach Nicole
With over 20 years of running experience and
great passion for the sport, Nicole uses this knowledge to guide athletes to Personal Best times. Her coaching style
emphasizes the balance of athletic performance and other life priorities.
Nicole has served as
a mentor to the women of Canada's Brooks Marathon Project, talking athletes through the ups and downs of marathon training.
One of Nicole's first local athletes beat his Personal Best by 6 minutes at the 2008 California
International Marathon in Sacramento, clocking 2:53:26.
Since January 2009, Nicole has been proud
to work with the women of the University of Toronto Track Club.
Visit the Athletes page for testimonials
from Nicole's group of runners.
Personal Bests:
Marathon : 2:32:56, Houston, 2006
1/2 Marathon : 1:12:51, Vancouver,
2003
10km : 32:29, Vancouver, 2005
5km:
15:54, Toronto, 2003
National teams & Special Honours:
2006 - Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia, Marathon
2005
- World Half Marathon Champs, Edmonton, Canada
2002 & 2004 - Canada's fastest
female marathon runner
1997-98 - Ekiden Relay Races, Beijing, Seoul, Yokohama
1993 - All-America Honors in Cross Country, NCAA
1992
- World Junior Cross Country Champs, Boston, USA
