Equipment Manager/Timing Manager – Jim Rennie

I retired from a 36 year career as a Heavy Equipment mechanic at CP Rail in 2012 at the age of 55. Although I had quit smoking in 2001, I was overweight, had high blood pressure and was edging towards diabetes. Something needed to change or I was going to be in trouble.

 In February of 2015 I started a new career as a Fire Safety Technition. First step, get off the couch! In March 2015, I joined the Learn to Run clinic at the Kenaston Running Room in Winnipeg. By the summer I was running my first 10K and then ran my first half marathon that fall. I was hooked! Running was fun! Who knew? My fellow runners were awesome, the coaches great and the store staff were knowledgeable and encouraging. We even ran in the winter. Unthinkable!  Another half during the winter and then somehow, I was talked into training for a full marathon in the spring of 2016. Shortly thereafter I bought a nice road bike and started cycling. As well as riding many miles over the last few years, I have been a bike marshal for several different races.

 Although I have been somewhat plagued with minor injuries along the way, I have kept running ever since and have been involved in clinics almost continually. Now I had a running career, and a new job! Then, in the spring of 2016 the store manager asked if I would be interested in working on the events side for the Running Room. Two jobs and a running career! I was loving it!

 After being a group leader in a couple of clinics, in the fall of 2017, the store manager Lorraine Walton, asked if I would be interested in coaching the upcoming 10K clinic. Of course, I said “Yes”. What a great experience! Since then, I have coached Learn to Run/5K, 10K and half marathon clinics. I find coaching running clinics very rewarding. Teaching and encouraging someone to reach their running goals is a feeling that is hard to top. I can’t think of very much that is more fulfilling!

 Here we are 7+ years later and I retired from the Fire Safety side of things last July, but am still working for the Running Room Events (you may have seen me at any number of races).  And now, as well, I have now taken on the MRA Equipment Manager role. This seems like a perfect fit with what I am already doing and I am very much looking forward to it.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Phone: 204-795-0941

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