10 Questions
Gabriela Stafford
1 What as a runner? would you say are your defining characteristics always I’ll always learning stick to my become neck out a more to see versatile what I can and do. skilled I’m racer, and I strive to run every race courageously. I hope those characteristics shine through. I think my training partners would agree that I am very driven, but I also like to keep training fun and not too intense.
2 What do you admire most in another runner?
Athletes who race with a lot of guts and grit, and athletes who approach their training with a lot of respect and discipline. Living and training with Andrea Seccafien last year really inspired me to approach my training with more discipline as well.
3 What is your idea of happiness?
The small things. Being full after a really good meal, escaping the city as you run onto a ravine trail, going for broke in a race and not being sure if I’ll blow up but sticking with the pack anyways, an exquisite sunset, the way a fresh snowfall mutes the landscape, the smell after it rains, good coffee, a starry night up north, really good music, a hug from a loved-one. How cheesy am I?
4 Who are your athletic heroes? Too many to name, but I loved learning Zola Budd’s story as a kid from my dad.
5 Where would you like to live? I do really love Toronto, but if not Toronto then somewhere on the West Coast; maybe Portland or Vancouver.
6 What is your greatest running related regret? Having that extra creamy pasta carbonara for dinner the night before a morning tempo run.
7 What is your greatest fear?
That we, as a human race, will never get our act together to live more sustainably on this planet. It’s a big source of anxiety for me, especially knowing that my lifestyle contributes to environmental damage. I do my best to reduce my impact: I eat less meat, minimize waste and take public transit. But society really needs to be dramatically restructured so that living sustainably is easier than living unsustainably. As it stands now, relying on the initiative of individuals won’t be enough. Sorry, that was a heavy answer.
8 If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d love to have super-crazy memory.
9 What’s one thing you can’t live without? My family and friends (cue awws).
10 What is your motto?
After pondering this question for 15 minutes I’ve decided that I’m too indecisive to have just one motto.— CR