Kim Doerksen
In May, a new Canadian distance running star was made on the streets of Vancouver
At just 23, Kim Doerksen of Gibsons, B.C. had a debut to remember, winning the bmo Vancouver Marathon in a stunning time of 2:36:59. Doersken battled a cold and rainy Vancouver morning over the hilly course to a statement performance in front of a home crowd. This October, she will race the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. We talked to Doerksen about the importance of family, meeting her personal hero and beating the boys.
1.
What would you say are your defining characteristics as a runner? I’m stubborn, which is probably a good and a bad thing. I’ll try and push through injuries. I’ll run when I’ve been told not to. I’ll try and make things work in training instead of letting them be. And, I don’t like it when I’m not good at something so I’ll work my butt off until I am. I also don’t like being beaten by the boys in training – I like it better when the boys get “chicked.”
2.
What do you admire most in another runner? The ability to live with integrity, where what you see is what you get. They can lose with grace, win and stay humble, train and race with passion, without making excuses when something goes awry.
3.
What is your idea of happiness? I think health and happiness go hand-inhand. But specifically I’m happiest when I can run, eat and be with my friends and family. Granted, all the adult responsibilities of having a career that I love, financial stability and eventually having a family of my own play into my idea of happiness, but those things will come.
4.
Who are your athletic heroes? Steve Prefontaine, as a runner. It’s hard not be caught up in the legacy he left behind. Lanni Marchant, as a Canadian distance runner. She’s a huge inspiration and motivator for me – I was more nervous when I met her than I was for some of the races I’ve done.
5.
Where would you like to live? Assuming there are places to run, I’d be more than willing to move to some exotic location but I can see myself settling down somewhere on the West Coast, ideally by the water. My family is here, and it’s an ideal running spot, which is a win-win combination.
6.
What is your greatest running-related regret? I don’t think I have one – I feel like this whole running thing has just started and it’s been amazing so far. Events in the past may not have seemed ideal at the time, but they have gotten me to where I am now.
7.
What is your greatest fear? To grow up. It has been ever since I was little. I can’t specify one particular component that scares me the most, perhaps all the unknowns and uncertainties it entails? I’m confident with where I am now so I tend not to think too far ahead, why worry about things that haven’t happened yet.
8.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My inability to let go. I basically need to sing the song from Frozen all the time…
9.
What’s one thing you can’t live without? My family. I have a really small family and we moved a lot when my sister and I were little, but my parents would always remind us that no matter where we moved, we’d always have each other. They’ve been there for every major (and minor) moment of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
10.
What is your motto? It’s not really a motto but it’s something my mom likes to remind me, especially when times are tough: nothing is set in stone.– MD