About Organizers Cory Freedman Founder of MAX VO2 Management Inc. and Toronto Women’s Half Marathon and 5k With two decades of experience in community-based event management, Cory has contributed a unique blend of strategic and execution skills leading to the success of some of the country’s most well-known and dynamic events. She has played a pivotal role in such notable events as Team Diabetes Canada, Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, the Toronto International Marathon, the YMCA’s Corporate Team Challenge and Canada’s premier breast cancer participation event, CIBC Run for the Cure, among others. From high level strategic planning to hands-on water station set up, Cory has done it all. While Director of Events for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, she guided its signature awareness and fundraising event, the annual CIBC Run for the Cure. Leading an integrated team of volunteers and nation-wide staff her responsibilities included all aspects of event management, planning and logistics, sponsorship activation, team development and fundraising, and volunteer (recruitment, training and management for Canada’s largest single day fundraiser – an event that engages over 170,00 people, 12,000 volunteers and takes place in more than 50 communities from coast to coast. In April 2007, she launched MAX VO2 Management Inc. The company (www.maxvo2inc.com) specializes in event management and execution, and to date has provided guidance and service to such organizations as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Parkinson Society Canada, Foundation of Stars, Canada Running Series, YMCA of Greater Toronto and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Canada. For many years, Cory has envisioned the creation of a women’s running event in Toronto: a race for women organized by women. After many lengthy runs brainstorming with other committed “chick runners”, the concept of the Toronto Women’s Half Marathon and 5k was finally born – the first Toronto race where any woman, regardless of experience or talent, can participate in a race where a woman will be first across the finish line! Cory has a penchant for wearing shorts and t-shirts as much as possible - and year-round! That leads her to incorporate her work and personal experiences into her lifestyle. She is a three-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, including the World Triathlon Championships in Hawaii, and has also completed more than a dozen marathons, multiple adventure races and mountain bike events at home and abroad. Click here to reach Cory. Michael Brennan Race Logistics Director , Toronto Women’s Half Marathon Michael’s inspiration to start running came in 1980, the year that Terry Fox ran his Marathon of Hope and Michael’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Running became a great stress reliever and a way to honor his mom and Terry. Since then Michael has run 55 marathons (39 were run under three hours), including 13 Boston Marathons, plus hundreds of shorter races, ultramarathons, the 1995 Canadian Ironman Triathlon in Penticton, BC and the 1999 Ironman in Lake Placid, New York. In 1995 he co-created Marathon Dynamics Inc., a company which still provides coaching and consulting to individuals and organizations committed to running. During his seven years there he co-instructed and motivated over 4000 runners in the GTA through motivating running clinics and personal coaching. In recent years Michael has been involved in all aspects of management of some of the GTA’s largest and best-managed running races (like the Canada Running Series): the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon & Half, Sporting Life 10k, Harry’s Spring Run-Off 8k & 5k, Nissan Toronto 10-Miler, ZooRun 10k & 5k and the Mississauga Marathon & Half. He was race director for two years of the five-race 5 Peaks Trail Running Series, of the Great Lakes Challenge 5k (former Baycrest Challenge) and of numerous ‘corporate’ races. He has assisted as a volunteer at dozens of races including the Terry Fox Run, Mad Dog Scramble Trail Run, Bay Street Rat Race, Barrie Triathlon, Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8k and Chicago Marathon. Michael brings a wealth of running and race organizing experience to the Toronto Women’s Half Marathon and even though outnumbered by females on the organizing team, can hold his own in contributing to potluck planning meetings. Click here to reach Michael. Trish Krause APR Founder and Principal, Oxygen Consulting Brand and Marketing Strategist, Toronto Women’s Half Marathon A highly-regarded marketing, brand and corporate communications strategist, Trish Krause has been providing solutions and counsel to a wide variety of corporate and not for profit clients for over 25 years. She has counseled and trained executives at the most senior levels, providing leadership and guidance on issues as diverse as environmental, health and social activism, to marketing and donor engagement, and reputation management. As a former journalist, she has a novel perspective on issues and opportunities which gives clients a fresh approach to consider when tackling their communications challenges. Over the course of her career, Trish has led successful local, national and global initiatives for many notable organizations such as Bridgepoint Health Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Dow Corning, Hbc (Hudson’s Bay Company), KitchenAid, Kraft Canada, SC Johnson, Tea Council of Canada and Unilever, among others. She also successfully led the rebranding efforts for one of Canada’s most beloved charities - the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - and directed the marketing for the annual signature event, the CIBC Run for the Cure, delivering year-on-year record high fundraising and participation results. Trish is a multiple award winner for excellence and achievement in marketing and communications, receiving recognition for her work and that of her teams from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) and Sponsorship Marketing Council. She was nominated for Fast Company Magazine’s Fast 50 in 2005 and received her CPRS accreditation (APR) in 1988. She is a frequent speaker at community college classes, industry and professional conferences and workshops, and currently invests her volunteer time assisting grassroots and community organizations in enhancing their resource development and advocacy skills. Now an avid recreational runner, Trish only began her love affair with spandex and sweat three years ago as part of a women’s marathon training group. Since that time, she has eaten her weight in power bars and become one of those all-weather runners she used to mock. She has also participated in several half marathons and believes if she can do it and cross the finish line upright and smiling, any woman can also do it! She also believes Toronto women deserve to have a special event that allows them to do it together, which is why she is involved with the inaugural Toronto Women’s Half Marathon. Click here to reach Trish.