The LondonRunner.ca January interview is with Ben Procter, who has been running a strong indoor collegiate season including several personal best times over 600m, 800m, and 1000m, while attending the University of Windsor.

LondonRunner.ca: When you joined London Runner, you were racing the 3000m and Steeplechase, but were moved into the shorter distance events; how did you handle that transition?

Ben Procter: It was a natural transition. I should have been running shorter distances earlier.It was by joining the club that I learned that the 800 was my race.

LR: What are some highlights from your earlier years with the club?

BP: Well I set PBs in every event from 400m to 7km cross. I had a streak of 9 PBs in 11 races in 2009. It was exciting for me to be improving in every event by a lot.

LR: In 2009, you were ranked 24th going into the Canadian Junior Championships 800m, earned the final spot into the expanded (12-person) A final, and finished 8th overall. How did you pull that off?

BP: You tell me, haha. I guess I peaked at the perfect time and ran very smart races. I raced the 800 a lot that season so I learned how to run it. As it turned out the heats and the finals were both tactical so it worked out in my favour.

(Photo: Procter is 3rd from left, along with 4x800m teammates Eric Barry, Jeremy Walsh, and Aaron Hendrikx)

LR: Following a relatively stagnant 18 month stretch, you recently returned to form with a significant 800m PB that broke the club record. What adjustments did you make in order to get back on track?

BP: I didn’t make any adjustments. I got hurt last January and it took me a long time to recover physically and mentally. Basically, I just kept training hard and tried to keep a positive attitude and things finally came together last weekend .

LR: What does the future hold for Benjamin Procter?

BP: In the short term, I’d like to run sub 1:21 in the 600. That should get me on our OUA team, but with Windsor there’s no guarantee. This summer, I’d like to take another chunk off of my 800 PB and a lot bigger chunk off of my 1500m PB. I’d like to keep training consistently and hopefully be a contender in the 800m at Nationals in a few years.

At their recent Winter Gala, the London Runner Distance Club had several exciting announcements to help kick-start the new year. The evening centered around the Athlete Assistance Program, a unique venture that will see the London club partner with Runners' Choice and New Balance to help support top National-level athletes pursue their athletic dreams. With the new partners, club athletes, friends, and family on hand, the Winter Gala included the official announcement of the 2011 AAP Athletes:

Aaron Hendrikx
By far the youngest of the four, Hendrikx had strong performances at various Ontario and Canadian Championships in 2010. His summer was highlighted by a 3:52.90 1,500m performance, which ranked him as the #3 Youth in Canada.

Kyle O'Neill
Following a busy school season in which he medaled in the 3,000m at the Canadian University Championships and represented Canada at the World University Games, Kyle placed 6th in the 3,000m Steeplechase at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.

Rebecca Pieterson
Another Steeplechase athlete working with coach Paul Roberts, Pieterson finished the 2010 season ranked #8 in Canada in the 3,000m Steeplechase. She also claimed 8th place in this event at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.

Leslie Sexton
In 2010, Sexton had success at distances from the 1,500m up to her Acura 10-Miler victory. The season was highlighted by her bronze medal performance in the 5,000m at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.

In addition to providing material and financial aid to these athletes, the Athlete Assistance Program was designed to provide a significant support network. To achieve this goal, LRDC brought a team of physiotherapists on board, which will be coordinated by Scott DeLuca:

Scott is a Registered Physiotherapist and Regional Manager for CBI Health in the London area.  Scott began working with the London Runner Distance Club in 2006 while operating Scott DeLuca Physiotherapy.  Scott’s areas of expertise most relevant to the running community include Active Release Techniques (ART), acupuncture and manual therapy. 

CBI Health joins the London Runner Distance Club as an official sponsor for 2011.  Scott has worked with Coach Steve to identify a team of qualified providers for London Runner athletes to access.  These experienced physiotherapists provide a skill set to work with athletes and specifically distance runners.  It is the goal of this partnership to provide timely access to the highest standard of appropriate care while maintaining an avenue for ongoing communication between the runner and their physiotherapist via phone, email.

Along with their partners at Runners' Choice, New Balance, and CBI Health, the athletes and coaches of the London Runner Distance Club are looking forward to a bright future with the AAP and these partnerships.

AAP Athlete l to r: Rebecca Pieterson, Leslie Sexton, Aaron Hendrikx, and Kyle O'Neill