It’s been a while, but it’s time for another episode of H+P Athlete Spotlight. This edition is all about our fastest female masters athlete of all time. This athlete holds our 40+ women’s club records in the 8K, 10K, half marathon, marathon and H+P TT. She accomplishes this all while keeping a great sense of humour running for important causes, keeping a relaxed demeanor and unconditionally supporting all of her H+P teammates. Without further adieus, here is our interview with Val Hobson!
VH: I grew up being very active. I started swimming competitively at 11 and ended up competing at the national level in my teens and went on to compete for the University of Toronto while getting my Bachelor degree in Physical and Health Education (Now BKIN). My young life revolved around sports and being active. After getting married and having three children and experiencing the business of life with little ones, my routine had everything in it but exercise. When my youngest was about 3….I decided it was time to return to doing something that was always such a big part of my life and get moving. However, I had time and money constraints. We were living on a single income and I needed to do something that could be done from home and was cheap. I started walking. Then I started trying to walk faster….and faster. When that no longer seemed like much of a challenge, I told myself to run….from one light post to the other….then walk again. After some time, the walks got shorter and the runs got longer. I decided to try a half marathon for my 40th birthday. That was 6 years ago.
H+P: You have an insane work ethic and capacity to tolerate lots of training. Where does this drive come from? What keeps you motivated to keep pushing yourself day in and day out?
VH: I think growing up as a competitive swimmer taught me the most about working hard. As did my upbringing. I came from a hard working, strict, Eastern European family that worked hard for every dime they earned. My parents came here as teenagers with nothing and had to build from scratch so this work ethic was ingrained in us as children, I suppose. And, because we weren’t overly well off, my parents sacrificed a lot by enrolling us in extra curricular activities that weren’t always easy for them to pay for. Training involved many early mornings and ‘doubles’ if you will, where we’d have to train before school and after school and unless I was deathly ill, I wasn’t missing a single practice (or competition). And of course, the training itself teaches you about working hard, being dedicated to something, and the rewards that come with it. Now however, running has become something I truly love. The feeling of pushing yourself and testing your limits, being outside, connecting with nature, and the friendships that I have made are just a small part of what keeps me going. I believe in trying to be a good role model for my kids….and their friends…and I try to emphasize how important staying healthy is to them. Being active does the body wonders but also the mind and the spirit.
H+P: You have had some amazing results in your early running career. From your 2:12 30K at ATB, to finishing 4th OA at the 2015 ENDURrun, to holding 5 H+P masters women’s club records (TT, 8K, 10K, half marathon, marathon)…we could go on, there are a lot. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
VH: My first marathon will always have a special place in my heart. I ran a 3:30.05 and missed qualifying for Boston by .05 sec….but it was the most exhilarating, joyful, pride filled moment I had had in a very long time. lt was truly the beginning of my commitment to running. Having said that, I am also very proud of the fact that I am a master runner. I love telling people that I am a middle aged woman with a job, a business, a family….and that I still find time to commit to running and racing. Life doesn’t end for women after they have children….it changes drastically but you can still achieve so much….and feel good about yourself.
H+P: The vision of H+P is to push ourselves to our limit to perform at our best while still maintaining a sense of humility, camaraderie and fun. You fit this perfectly! How do you balance listening to your competitive drive while still keeping things laid back, fun and better for those around you?
VH: I am not going to the Olympics. I am not an elite runner who earns a living at running. I do it because I love it. If you love something….you enjoy doing it….and you have to have fun. There are enough things in life that bring us down and cause us stress and leave us frustrated and angry. If you are doing something as a hobby….something you CHOOSE to do….you should be enjoying the ride. So do what it takes to have fun with it and encourage each other. Having said that, it’s ok to push yourself sometimes, to see what your limits are and racing just adds a whole other exciting element to it.
H+P: Other than fitness and performance, there are causes important to you that you run and raise money and awareness for. Is this something you would like to elaborate on?
VH: Yes….last year I raised over 1000.00 dollars for Mental Health which is something I am extremely proud of. I have had my share of struggles and know what it is like to feel dark and scared and anxious and unwell and it’s awful. It sounds so cliche but, by raising money and awareness, if I can even help one person get on the road to feeling better….it’s icing on my cake. It took me a long time to get to where I am but therapy, medication, the support from my friends and family and running have all been instrumental in helping me feel healthy and happy. I want people who are struggling to know they can get here too.
H+P: How long have you been with H+P? What made you want to join, and how has your experience been with the club so far?
VH: I started with HP December of 2014 so…I am a year and a bit in and it has been a truly wonderful experience. I had been feeling like my training was getting stale…and was looking for a bit of direction. I wasn’t sure what I needed to do to shake up my training and perhaps improve my performances. I was looking for guidance and support…and kept seeing pictures that the Hergotts were posting on Facebook. ‘Go H+P !! ‘ pictures and various shout outs to people about races and training runs. So I asked Derek about it….and he told me to contact Sean and maybe come out to give it a try. It was exactly what I was looking for. My year+ has been wonderful. To find a group that supports and encourages people of all ages, abilities, and interests….a group that emphasizes health, fitness, friendship through sport, recognizes everyone’s accomplishments in a positive atmosphere is the best sports group anyone could ask for. Our coaches are extremely knowledgeable, helpful and approachable. To have a sports team that trains and competes together is one thing…but being a part of Health and Performance is like belonging to a running club full of friends that feels more like a family.
H+P: Another cause that has become evident to us is your desire to encourage athletes of all abilities to run. What types of barriers and issues do you see? Not everybody who is as successful as you is so compassionate and selfless with their motivates- where does this come from?
VH: Hmmm…..I think sometimes people lose sight of a bigger picture. Keeping your eye on the prize is great and being competitive is an asset in an athlete but, I think we all need to stop sometimes and acknowledge others around us. We all come from different places with different stories and just because someone isn’t as fast as you or as good as you doesn’t mean they are trying or worthy of encouragement. It doesn’t cost a penny to be nice and when you lift someone else up….you are showing humility and compassion for your fellow teammate which can lead to making you feel like a better person too. Just because I don’t have the physical abilities, or the luxury of time and money to devote to training, or I don’t have ‘youth’ on my side, doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to be acknowledged for my accomplishments. We all have our own reasons for running and one individual is not more important than another. We are all out there doing what we love….with our own goals and for our own reasons. So let’s just encourage each out and lift each other up.
H+P: You have started an informal Sunday H+P trail group that is growing into a pretty consistent thing. Do you want to talk about what this crew is all about?
VH: The trail running is just something I really enjoy and would love to expose other H+P members to it. It’s a completely different type of running that I think everyone should try. There’s something very unique and special about running in the woods, with nature all around you. The air is different…it’s quiet…and you are surrounded by beauty. I’ve had my most spiritual moments running on the trails and it has given me such an appreciation for the world we live in. You feel connected to everything….yet so small and almost insignificant. I would love to see this trail group grow. Maybe we could try different trails around the region or perhaps a bit farther. There are lots of trail races through the course of the year and some trail racing might be fun for the team as well.
VH: Yes. Definitely. Probably more.
H+P: What is the most impressive thing you have ever seen at an H+P social?
VH: Sam’s cheese dip. or maybe Anand’s jumping jacks.
…….or maybe Sean doing the worm……
Want to check out any other editions of the H+P athlete spotlight? Check them out HERE.
