Krista DuChene is not originally from Brantford, unlike our other Tourism Ambassadors featured this week, but she has chosen to make Brantford her home for the past 17 years. DuChene moved here with her husband in 2002, and together they are raising their three children, working, and donating their time to local charitable causes in this great city.
Krista DuChene, 42, is a professional runner, registered dietitian, and public speaker. She is well-known as ‘Canada’s Marathon Mom,’ a name given to her after winning the 2009 Mississauga Marathon on Mother’s Day, which was her first marathon back after the birth of her second child. DuChene is a highly accomplished athlete. Most notably, she placed 35th at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (she was ranked 50th), and 3rd at the 2018 Boston Marathon. In October 2018, DuChene was the 3rd Canadian, 10th Overall, and 1st World Masters at her 5th Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which was also her 16th marathon in 16 years.
Raised on a beef farm near Alvinston, Ontario with five siblings, DuChene enjoyed every sport and activity possible. “Eventually, I chose hockey and running as my main sports,” she said. DuChene attended the University of Guelph and earned her Applied Human Nutrition degree. She played ice hockey for the Gryphons and was a 1999-2000 OUA All-Star, and was awarded the final four MVP and top scorer award after her team won the 1997-1998 provincial (OUA) championships, then placed 4th at the National Championships. Upon graduation, DuChene explains, “I retired from hockey and returned to running for fun and fitness. [I] thought it would be fun to run a marathon—my first was in Niagara Falls in 2002. [I] kept running more marathons and getting faster.”
Canada’s Marathon Mom is very active in the Brantford community, whether it be attending sports programs for her children through the Brantford Aquatic Club, Brantford Girls Hockey Association, or the Brantford Minor Hockey Association, or supporting the Brant Community Church with her husband, Jonathan. These organizations are largely volunteer-led so donating your time, like DuChene, is the best way to keep these groups growing within the community.
DuChene, alongside Mayor Kevin Davis, is also a Healthy Kids Community Champion, helping to promote the Healthy Kids Brantford-Brant campaign locally. You can also catch her training hard at the gym or in the pool at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. “Sue Spence and Ginger Hurlburt were two moms who returned to train at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre after having multiple babies. I knew that if they could, I could,” says DuChene when asked who inspires her.
DuChene volunteers at her children's school, and she is passionate about the Kenyan Kids Foundation and Start2Finish programs to help end poverty.
Like most of our Tourism Ambassadors, DuChene loves running the trails in the City of Brantford and County of Brant. Brantford boasts 70 km of natural trails, with the County adding an additional 90 km. Brantford’s trails are ranked very high in terms of both quality and enjoyment, with endless options to hike, run or bike along the beautiful Grand River and Carolinian landscape. The Hub of Ontario Trails is right here in Brantford with three major branches of the Trans Canada Trail intersecting at Brants Crossing. The Hub of Ontario Trails connects you to Hamilton, Port Dover, Cambridge, and beyond, making our trails an ideal space to enjoy a leisurely walk, or more intense training.
DuChene is an inspiring public speaker, who talks passionately about running, healthy eating, parenting and her faith. She tells her story to people of all ages and stages and captivates her audience to overcome obstacles, beat the odds, and keep setting the bar higher. She is an exceptional role model to young children in the Brantford community, encouragingly saying, “Choose to do something you enjoy and are good at. Have fun doing it!” She also adds, “Brantford is a great place to raise a family. [It’s] close to several larger cities, east and west and [is] a good balance of small and big city.”
For more information about Krista DuChene, please visit her website.
Keep up-to-date with Krista DuChene on social media by following her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.