Brainsport Times Oct 7, 2015

One month from today our colleague Jamie Epp will be inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. We did an interview with Jamie back when it was announced, but thought it would be fun to do another interview as the day approaches.

Here's a bit of background on Jamie for those of you who may not know just how remarkable his accomplishments are. From 1999 to 2003 he dominated the CIS as a distance runner with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. In cross country and track he was named a First Team All-Canadian eight times and is a nine-time Canada West All-Star. He's a three-time winner of the CIS 1500 metres, once winner of the CIS 3,000 metres and two-time Cross Country National Champion.

The list of awards Jamie received along the way is lengthy. in fact, he's already in the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2001-02 University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s track and field team — which won the national championship. Jamie is also on the University's Athletic Wall of Fame.

So, now that we have some background, let's catch up with Jamie in the week's Q&A.

Q&A with Jamie Epp

Tara: As induction day approaches are you reflecting on your career — what’s running through your mind?
 
Jamie: I am reflecting on my career a bit. I starting thinking a bit about my individual races, but my main thoughts are of how I had some great times with the teams I was part of. My teammates, and coaches are the ones that helped me achieve all the success I had. I worked hard to get all my successes, but my team mates (and coach) were out there with me working just as hard, and they are the ones who helped me push my limits and helped me realize how far I could push my body and how successful of an athlete I could become.  

Tara: How did your upbringing in Saskatchewan, and then time at the U of S, play into your success as a runner?
 
Jamie: Saskatchewan is a tough place to be from when it comes to elite distance running. Most of the time you have to travel to get into a top race, and then there is winter (which we all know makes it tough to train at high intensities). Growing up in rural Saskatchewan though gave me a new perspective, doing a run in the country and looking around, you can't ask for a more beautiful setting — especially in the fall before harvest and the beauty of all the crops. Even when I went for runs outside in winter when the weather approached -50 and there was blowing snow, I just thought, none of my competition is stupid enough to be out in this weather. This helped me push through these runs because I knew I would have the advantage the next race because if I can run through that weather, I can push my body a bit more in a race.

Being at the U of S also taught me a lot, mainly about time management. The biggest thing with being a student-athlete is time management. You learn how to manage classes, studying, and training. I was running twice a day during university, and I had to arrange classes around the optimal time to do my first run (six to eight hours before my second run). These runs were a nice break from school, and many times if I was having problems understanding some school work, I would go for a run, when I came back I was more relaxed and just about instantly understood the problem.  

Jamie now coaches at the U of S and the Saskatoon Track and Field Club.

Tara: At some point in your career you decided it was time to shift from athlete to coach — what motivated you to make that decision?
 
Jamie: I moved out to Vancouver to train with the National Team in 2003 and spent four years out there, but never really clicked with that group so I decided to move back to Saskatoon in 2007 to train with my old coach. I saw some great successes when I got back here (10th at Vancouver Sun Run in 30:57, 10K), but then started to get some injuries that wouldn't go away, but also really got burnt out as an athlete. I had been running at a high level for 15 years, and just burnt out mentally. I’m good friends with guys like Reid Coolsaet, and Eric Gillis, having raced them in university many times, and I saw how amazing they were doing and I knew that I could no longer keep up with them and that also helped me make my decision to retire from competitive running. I wanted to stay in the sport and give back to the sport that had done so much for me, so I thought the next best thing to do was move into coaching.  

Tara: Just as you were as a runner, you are as a coach — passionate. How does coaching compare to competing as an athlete?

Jamie: I think coaching is way more stressful for me than running. When I was running I was in control of my race, and anything I did. As a coach you have to trust in the athlete, and your training program, and know you will see the athlete succeed. It is actually quite funny at how nervous I get before my athletes race. I just want them to succeed and get as much out of the sport as I did. I know that the athletes will have long successful careers and I can already see that some of them will make great coaches one day as well. I just hope that I can be a role model for them like my coaches (Dan Andrews, and Dave Harder) were for me. 

Tara: You have a master's degree in coaching and are constantly honing your craft. What do you want to achieve, and what kind of impact do you want to have as a coach?
 
Jamie: Yes, I got my Master's Degree in Sport Coaching from the University of Queensland (Australia). This is a really tough question to answer. For me with coaching I would like to be able to make a career out of it, and have other coaches and athletes respect me as both a coach and a person. I want them to look at me and know I’m doing this for the right reasons — for the success of my athletes, and not for my own successes). I think my greatest achievements in coaching would be to see all my athletes succeed, love the sport, and to one day become more successful athletes, and/or coaches than I was.

Gingerbread Run
It's time to register for our second annual Gingerbread Run — supporting the Saskatchewan Abilities Council. Registration is limited to 300 participants, so sign up now! Stop by the store, or enter on-line: https://raceroster.com/3925


Yoga For Runners

Runner specific yoga classes are getting underway in the Brainsport Community Room. Tuesday's at 7:45 - 9 p.m. from October 13 through December 1. Cost is $112 if preregistered by October 2 or $18 per class drop-in (if room available). Class size is limited. 

There is also a 6-week Yoga For Runners workshop on Wednesday evenings from 7:45 to 9:15 starting on October 19 - November 25. Registration cost is $120. 

Register for either by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text 306-251-2964. For more information click here. 

Day of the Dead Fun Run

Grab a headlamp and hit the trails at the 9th annual run. Enjoy a challenging short 5K (approximately) or long 10K (approximately) course at beautiful Blackstrap Provincial Park. The run starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 1. For more information and to register, go to www.mudfirstracing.com or pick up a registration package at Brainsport. Early-bird pricing lasts until September 30.

SRRA Prediction Mile

This annual event is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 7. Register at the Fieldhouse in Meeting Room #3 upstairs at 10 a.m. Members attend for free. Non-members pay $5.
Note: Participants will be timed. Do not bring your watch.

SRRA Annual General Meeting

Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the  Saskatoon Field House (Meeting Room #3,
upstairs).

Before signing off here's a photo of one of the Run Club groups last Wednesday evening. It was a beautiful evening, let's hope for another this evening.


Thanks for reading the Times this week . . .gotta run . . . Tara