PowerBar® Team Elite™ runner Reid Coolsaet won four Canadian titles this year and is training for his first Olympic Games. But he still doesn't consider himself a natural athlete. Reid was part of a large cross-country team in high school and ran for coach Dave Scott-Thomas at the University of Guelph. "I didn't have immediate success, so I don't feel that I have a lot of natural talent," he says. "I believe that I'm able to handle the required training, which in itself is a talent, and that I've trained myself to be aerobically fit. But I don't have that effortless stride that other elites have."
Reid still trains with Scott-Thomas, now as part of the Speed River Track and Field Club's Olympic division. Effort is what it's all about for him. "I like the idea that the harder — and smarter — you work, the better you get. I love the process of training and getting faster," he says. His progressions prove the point. He ran his first marathon in 2009 in 2:17:09. In October 2011, in the Scotiabank® Toronto Waterfront Marathon, he came in third at 2:10:55, under Canada's Olympic qualifying mark.
The 2012 Olympics will mark the first time since 2000 that Canada has sent a marathoner to the Games. It appears likely that Coolsaet's friend and training partner Eric Gillis will qualify as well, giving him much-appreciated company in London.
Reid Coolsaet
Nickname: Coldneck
Birthdate: July 29, 1979
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Residence: Hamilton/Guelph, Ontario
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lbs
Website: www.reidcoolsaet.com
Highlights:
2011 Canadian titles in the half marathon (1:02:42), 5000m (13:51:23), 10,000m (31:36:38), and 10K (28:08)
Q: What do you love most about distance running? What draws you to it?
Reid: It is very satisfying to go on a run through awesome trails. I like the friends I've made through running and training with the Speed River team — it's always fun. I like how running is truly worldwide and is a very competitive sport.
Q: Whats your most and least favorite distance to run?
Reid: I like racing the 5000m because it still seems fast and requires endurance. I don't have a least favorite distance. If there was a race I didn't enjoy, I wouldn't run it.
Q: What's it like having qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games?
Reid: Really exciting, obviously. This will be my first Games, and the marathon is the last event, which is kind of a big deal. Eric [Gillis] will also qualify, which is beneficial for us both. The first two marathons I ran, I trained alone. I've been training with him since then and it's a big advantage to have someone to do long runs with.
Q: As part of your training, you're going to Kenya, correct?
Reid: Yes, I'll be going to Kenya for six weeks, to the high-altitude training camp there. It's at 7800 feet. The weather is great and it lets me get out of the Canadian winter. There are a lot of great guys to run with there, so it's really inspiring.
Q: How has your training schedule for the marathon changed?
Reid: The first two marathons I ran, I was coming off injuries. Now I'm healthy, so I'm able to do longer runs.
Here’s what Reid's current training schedule looks like:
| Day | Morning | Afternoon/Evening |
| Monday | 28K run with fartlek | 17K run |
| Tuesday | 21K run | 14K run with strides (100m acceleration) |
| Wednesday | 23K run | 12K run |
Thursday
| 30K run with tempo session
(two 30-minute bursts)
| |
Friday
| 20K run | 12K run |
Saturday
| 30K run | |
Sunday
| 12K run | |
|
Q: On a long run, how many grams of carbs per hour do you consume? How does PowerBar® fit into your nutrition plan?
Reid: I consume 50 grams of carbs per hour, mostly
Ironman PERFORM™ sports drink mix and strawberry banana
PowerBar® Energy Gels. Post-run, I like to make a shake with one scoop of a recovery powder, one banana, one scoop of peanut butter, one cup of milk, and ice cubes. If I can't get to food right away, I'll have a
PowerBar® Recovery bar.
Q: How long do you think it will be before a marathoner breaks the 2-hour mark?
Reid: Beyond 10 years. The current world record is 2:03:38. That's only 20 seconds faster than the previous record, which was set three years ago. At that progression, it's going to be quite a few more years.
Q: You've set a goal for yourself of breaking 2 hours 9 minutes. What will it take to do that?
Reid: Obviously, keep my training going and keep up my progressions. I'll need a long, healthy buildup to the right race, one with good weather and really inspiring competition.
Q: You had a really great year in 2011. What can you tell us about that?
Reid: Actually, I had a slow start. I started the year with a bruised foot. But by mid-April, things were going well. After that, I had a pretty consistent year all around. I was really happy with the 10K I ran in 28:08 (The Sporting Life Toronto 10K on May 1). I won four Canadian titles, so I was really happy.
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to take their love of running onto the competitive scene?
Reid: Enjoy the process of training and competing. Take care of the things that will make you faster. Always set goals, and once you complete them, set new goals that will challenge you. If you always hit your goals, they might not be hard enough. And if you're not hitting your goals, it might be time to be more realistic. It's nice to set up your season so you hit achievable goals early on and then ramp it up from there — get the momentum working for you. Having a coach is a must — even if you want to plan your own program, it's beneficial to have someone to bounce ideas off of.
If you're interested in learning about PowerBar
® Team Elite™ athletes or how you can join the ranks, click on the
Team Elite link at PowerBar.com.
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