Athletics Ontario Running Podcast · John Shep

EP 202: Andrew Kim - From the Floor at Runners' Choice Waterloo: The Best Gifts for Runners

·37 min·2 clips

Andrew Kim says winter running needs trail shoes, layers, and body glide before the holidays.

1. Athletics Ontario Running Podcast focuses on EP 202, where Andrew Kim talks about running gifts and his own shift from beginner to community builder. 2. Host John Shep speaks with Andrew Kim, who is connected to Runner's Choice Waterloo, Runners in Motion, and several running brands. 3. The episode asks what running gave Andrew Kim, what local runners should put on a holiday wish list, and how Waterloo running culture shaped his path. 4. Andrew says his running started in 2019 with a group chat called the Sweat Scientists and a 10K bet with a $200 buy-in. 5. He says he had never really run before, except for one lap of ring road at the University of Waterloo that he hated. 6. Andrew describes a January 2020 treadmill build-up that began with 10 minutes and gradually moved toward 5K. 7. He says he was around 230 pounds at his heaviest and had not played much sport beyond hockey and some childhood soccer. 8. Andrew says COVID interrupted the original race plan, but he kept running solo in Niagara because lockdown left him with little else to do. 9. He says 2021 was a setback because of an unhealthy relationship, weight gain, and an eventually unused Toronto Waterfront virtual marathon medal. 10. He explains that deleting his personal page, rebranding as a running and fitness account, and posting workouts helped him stay accountable in 2022. 11. Andrew says joining the Runner's Choice Waterloo marathon team in January 2022 led to workouts, being dropped on the track, and building a base. 12. He says 2023 brought Bear Performance Nutrition, the New York Marathon through Teams for Kids, BMO Vancouver, Chicago, and his first ultra. 13. Andrew says he stopped drinking at the end of 2023 and founded his run club, Runners in Motion, around the same time. 14. He says the phrase he keeps seeing is "prove yourself right," and that his journey has become a way to show others what is possible. 15. Andrew and John talk through Waterloo's running scene, including Run Waterloo, runners' groups, and the depth of the local community. 16. He says he has volunteered as the lead bike for the Waterloo 10K Classic and enjoys cheering races more than chasing results locally. 17. The interview stays conversational and reflective, with John using follow-up questions to move from personal history to practical gear advice. 18. The final section becomes a rapid back-and-forth about winter gear, chafing, body glide, and Normatec boots, which keeps the pace light and specific. 19. Listeners who like Ontario running, gear talk, and community stories. 20. Listeners wanting race recaps or elite training analysis.

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