The Runners back up and running
The Runners brings together community members of all fitness levels for regular runs in Kahnawake. Courtesy Mia Phillips
Whether you’ve never attempted a jog before or you’re an ultra-marathon runner, Kahnawake’s local running group has a place for you.
“I encourage everybody to go at their own pace, just to come out and try it,” said Mia Phillips, who leads The Runners group alongside her daughter Audrey Leborgne and Leborgne’s partner, Tehorakwaneken Goodleaf. “We all start and end in the same place, it’s motivating, and everybody’s encouraging you.”
This month marks the start of The Runners 2025 season, with the group operating three sessions for runners of different levels that run twice a week on Monday and Wednesday evenings in Kahnawake.
The novice group targets those who are total beginners or who are looking to take it easy on their runs, maybe getting back into the jogging lifestyle after a break.
“I encourage everybody to go at their own pace, just to come out and try it,”
– Mia Phillips
Phillips said that she’s focused on building technique and a strong foundation for those newer athletes, setting them up for success as they continue on their fitness journey. The group starts with running for one minute and walking for two minutes, repeating that cycle and building up strength over sessions of around a half hour.
“We’re doing that so their bodies can adapt, they can get that breathing down, and we talk about form,” Phillips said. “As the weeks go on, we keep increasing the running time and decreasing the walking, and it builds to where they’re running five KM by the end.”
It’s how Phillips started running many years ago, when she turned to the sport to help her process the passing of her mother.
“I would run towards the marina and run a pole, walk a pole, run a pole, that’s how I started and from there I did my first five-kilometre, then went onto 10 kilometres, then a half marathon, then a marathon,” said Phillips, who recorded her second-fastest time at the Tamarack Half Marathon in Ottawa last weekend.
Runners who excel in the novice group can jog on over to the intermediate group, coached by Leborgne. There, runners start with a cycle of a 15-minute jog followed by a one-minute break, running a full five kilometres immediately.
For the seasoned runners, Goodleaf’s advanced group is the place to be, where experienced runners often log more than five kilometres at a much faster pace.
It’s been exciting to see more and more community members get on board with the group’s mission - when the group started in 2018, there were only 10 participants. Now, more than 90 have signed up to join The Runners.
“It’s a hard thing to run, so I’m in awe of so many people coming out and being dedicated and committed and wanting to try it,” Phillips said.
This year, The Runners received funding from Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) for 40 participants, which covers registration fees for races that the group might participate in. Interest far exceeded that number, but community members are still welcome to join the group and would just have to cover their own fees should they choose to participate in races.
They can get involved by signing a waiver, which can be found on the group’s new website, therunnerskahnawake.com, and by reaching out to the group via their contact form or Facebook page.
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“Running is my therapy, it just helps me in so many ways,” Phillips said.
