Running

A bestselling Canadian author of four books on running and founder of the Running Room, John Stanton was named to Maclean's Magazine's 2004 Canada Day Honour Roll as one of ten Canadians making a difference in our nation for his contribution to health through fitness. John has also been featured on CBC Venture, the Vicki Gabereau Show, Canada AM, CHUM Television, Global Television, the Weather Channel, the National Post, the Globe and Mail, and on numerous radio and television programs across Canada and the United States. A three-kilometre fun run with his young sons in 1981 was the catalyst that made then out-of-shape, overweight John Stanton realize he had to change his lifestyle. Then a food industry executive who smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, Stanton began running secretly before dawn because he felt self-conscious about having his neighbours see this chubby little guy who could only run from lamppost to lamppost before having to take a walk break. In 1984 Stanton opened a store and meeting place for runners in an 8x10 foot room of an old house shared with a hairdressing shop in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Twenty years later, the Running Room he founded is one of North America's largest chains of specialty running stores. In late 2004, to be more inclusive, his company launched the Walking Room—a mirror of the Running Room concept. The store caters specifically to the needs of walkers. John Stanton has run more than 60 marathons, hundreds of road races, and numerous triathlons, including the Canadian Ironman and the Hawaiian World Championship Ironman competition. He is also the bestselling author of Running Room's Book on Running, The Runner's Lifestyle Log, Running Room's Training Log, and Running Start to Finish.