News & Releases >> 2004 >> Sep 21 2004
NEWS Sep 21 2004
Lioudmila Kortchaguina hopes to break 2:30 on Toronto waterfront with "hometown" fan support
TORONTO. 21 September 2004.
Russian-Canadian, Lioudmila Kortchaguina hopes the hometown advantage will lead her to a sub 2:30 and a new PR at this Sunday's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
The strong favourite in the women's race, Lioudmila has lived and trained in "little Russia" at Bathurst and Steeles for the past 3 years, but has never run a marathon in her new hometown.
The 31 year-old emigrated from Ykaterinburg in April 2001 with husband Ilia and then-2-year-old Polina. Life is not always so easy for new immigrants, and Ilia has had to re-train as an engineer. He has only just re-graduated this summer. In the meantime, the family has had to live off Liouda's running earnings.
This has meant she has raced a lot, usually at least 20 times a year, including 4 marathons each year. While Lioudmila has been a regular winner in shorter distance races in the Canada Running Series, she has usually run her marathons in the more lucrative USA.
It was in Pittsburgh in April 2003 that she ran her current PR of 2:29:53—on a hilly course. This year, she already has marathon wins in Salt Lake City and Ottawa, both just over the 2:30 mark, and she leads the Canada Running Series.
Drawn to the Toronto Waterfront by the flat, fast course, the prize and time-bonus monies, and her adidas International team affiliation (adidas are presenting sponsor), Lioudmila is hoping that sleeping in her own bed, and the hometown fans, will carry her to a new personal best as she trains hard to gain the front ranks of international female marathoners. "That would be wonderful," she says. "A great reward if I could win in Toronto Waterfront and we can receive our Canadian citizenship this year, in our new home."