Lloydminster social worker Mackenzie Brown turned to running in his late 20s as a form of self care to protect against burnout from his high-stress job. Over the past eight years he’s fallen in love with ultra running and the running community. He helps lead the Lloydminster Runners group, which promotes physical and mental wellbeing, and founded a running program at the Lloydminster addictions recovery center that helps people recovering from addiction use running as a tool to help them cope with life stress without drugs or alcohol.
He’s also Brainsport’s Altra ambassador and today he speaks with the Brainsport Times about his love of running and the running community.
Brainsport Times: Tell me about yourself as a runner.
Mackenzie Brown: I started running about eight years ago when I moved to Lloydminster. As a social worker I saw lots of people becoming burnt out and generally just not doing well due to the high level of stress that comes with the job. I decided I needed to find something for self care. Because I always loved swimming as a kid, I started swimming at the local pool on my lunch hours.
I had tried many times to get in shape in the past, but my goal was always to lose weight or something like that. This time when I started getting in shape, my goal was just to feel a little better mentally. I started doing mental check-ins before and after my swims, and I always felt much better mentally after. This was the thing that finally allowed me to stick with it after so many failed attempts.
After a few months of swimming I ended up meeting the local triathletes. I met a local fitness legend on my lunch hour swims named Ross Thompson who did an Ironman every single year. I could not believe that a human could swim 3.8 kilometres, bike 180 km, and then go on to run a full marathon in a single day. I was so intrigued I decided to try biking and running. Doing my mental check-ins, I found that running gave me an even bigger mental boost that swimming did. Ever since I have been a runner.
BT: How did you discover the Altra brand — and why are you a fan?
MB: I was training for the Edmonton marathon in 2017. I had been wearing a maximalist brand exclusively for over a year and found myself quite injured. Although maximalist shoes work for many people, for me when I wear them exclusively I end up forming bad running form habits.
After listening to many podcasts (mainly Dr. Mark Cucuzzella) and reading lots of articles, I decided to give zero-drop shoes a try and ordered a pair of Altras.
I know some people really need to take their time to transition into zero-drop shoes, however I was not one of those people. From the very first run in Altras, I knew they were for me. I immediately noticed a change in my gait and my injuries subsided. After that experience I started experimenting with the different models of Altra shoes I and liked all of them for one reason or another.
I love that Altras are zero-drop, which for me promotes a natural running form.
The wide toe box is a bonus, that is just so comfortable.
BT: What is your favourite race distance and why?
MB: I am not a fast runner, but I am stubborn and dedicated. Also, I love trails, mountains, and just being in the great outdoors. Because of these things, my favorite events are ultra marathons.
Also, the ultra running community is like no other. On the trail during an ultra, everyone is supporting and helping each other. It feels more like a celebration of being alive than a race. I have still yet to tackle a 100 miler, but I have done multiple 100 km races, and feel quite comfortable with that distance now. I still do triathlon, but ultra running is my thing.
BT: Do you prefer solo or group running?
MB: Generally I am a group runner. I love that I can get time with friends in such a healthy way. The pandemic has changed this. I have found myself running alone more and more due to the pandemic. I am thrilled vaccines are rolling out and things can start going back to normal.
BT: What is one of your favourite workouts?
MB: I like long runs with friends. In Lloydminster there is a Saturday morning group run all year, regardless of weather. My attendance has not been great since the pandemic, however it is my favorite run.
BT: What are you proudest of as a runner?
MB: To me running is all about community and wellness. My good friend Chris Bogue started a running club in Lloydminster and invited me in to lead it with him early on. The mission of the club (Lloydminster Runners) is to promote to the sport in the area and share the gift of running with others to promote both physical and mental wellbeing. We put on races in the Lloydminster area, however more importantly we put on learn-to-run clinics each spring to guide new runners through a couch-to-five-km program in partnership with a local massage therapist and business owner Carey Mase.
Another thing I am very proud of is a running program at our local addictions recovery center that I started with local human service workers Vera Koster and Rikki Ducharme. We teach people recovering from addiction how running can help them promote their wellbeing and be a tool to help them cope with life stress without drugs or alcohol.
BT: Tell me about a running setback you experienced and how you overcame it.
MB: COVID-19 has been the biggest setback for me. The community aspect of running was reduced for me due to public health orders and my family’s precautions in general. I didn’t run as much as normal in 2020 and gained a bit of weight as a result. However so far 2021 is going much better as I rededicated myself to the sport.
BT: Do you listen to music while you run? If so, what songs are on your favourite running playlist?
MB: Short runs: Punk rock. 1980, 1990’s and 2000’s punk rock mainly such as Screeching Weasel, NOFX, Good Riddance, Misfits and the Descendants. Also some modern punk from Teenage Bottlerocket and PUP.
Long runs: I prefer podcasts. I am a big fan of Ten Junk Miles, which is a running podcast. I also like true crime and technology. Lately I have been binging Darknet Diaries.
BT: What is your favourite post-race meal?
MB: Veggie omelet with lots of feta cheese.
BT: What running plans or goals do you have for 2021?
MB: I have a bunch of races planned this year, however my A races are Canadian Death Race and Ironman Canada. Both of these are new distances for me. Also, every fall I go to the Iron Horse Ultra, which is an amazing ultra marathon in St. Paul, Alberta (not far from Saskatchewan!)
BT: What’s your go-to shoe these days?
MB: I have basically the entire Altra lineup in my rotation, however I do have some favorites. I love the Escalante 2.5s for the fast stuff on the road. I plan on wearing the Escalante 2.5s for the marathon at Ironman Canada.
For trail running my go-to is the Lone Peak. The new Lone Peak 5.0 has EGO midsole, which has taken my favourite trail shoe to a whole new level. For Canadian Death Race I plan on wearing a few different pairs of Lone Peaks for the first four legs then wearing some Olympus 4.0s for the final leg.
