Carla Parsons
Coach
Carla fell in love with running after moving to Vancouver 17 years ago.
Looking for that BQ she joined M2M with Dylan Wykes and Tony Tomsich
as her coaches. Not only did she get her BQ but became a sub 3
marathoner. Now a certified distance running coach in the Jack Daniels
VDOT method and a certified Pilates instructor, Carla is well equipped to
guide you through the training process, sidestep injury, and keep you on
track to reach your goals.
Some days it just flows and I feel like I'm born to do this, other days it feels like I'm trudging through hell. Every day I make the choice to show up and see what I've got, and to try and be better.— Des Linden
Career Highlights
- California International Marathon 2021, 2:54
- Vancouver First Half 2020, 1:23
- Gran Fondo Whistler 2019, invited to UCI World Championships
- Great Wall of China Marathon – 2nd Canadian
- Boston Marathon, 2019
Coaching Philosophy?
I see my role as your coach, first and foremost, as getting to know you as a person and understanding what you want to achieve through running so that I can tailor-make an optimal running plan for you. While my approach is going to vary from athlete to athlete based on these things, my core philosophy is unchanging: 1) Honest communication is key; 2) You need to show up and get your miles in if you want to progress (consistency in training); 3) Your body won’t go where your mind won’t go (self-limiting beliefs stifle progress); 4) You can be serious about your goals and still have fun (look at the big picture, it is so worth it).
Favourite race distance and why?
If you had asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have easily said my favourite distance was the ultramarathon. Today, I have a much harder time answering this question because I love different aspects of each race distance. I have learned to love the heart-pounding, sometimes nausea-inducing challenge of shorter races on the track but there is something undeniably special about both the build that precedes a marathon and that feeling of crossing the finish line after 42.2 km.
Favourite post-workout treat or go-to place?
I absolutely love getting together with my teammates post-workout to chat about all things running. For winter training, you will find us in a coffee shop. During summer training, you are more likely to find us on a patio having a beer.
Favourite running podcast, website, books, videos, or blog?
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory – Deena Kastor