Eric Hallson

Trail ambassador Eric enjoys helping others achieve their goals, even if that means seeing them suffer through a few miles first. You’ll see him rocking a Ciele GoCap on the Lower Seymour trails, dreaming of a post-run pizza and a chance to run with Usain Bolt…

How long have you been running for?
I got my start running in high school with a bit of cross-country, but it always took a backseat to other sports like soccer or mountain biking.  Following university I ran sporadically to stay in shape for other activities and tackled the occasional Sun Run corporate challenge. I didn't really considered myself a "runner" until I trained for and completed my first marathons in 2010.

Where is your favourite place to run?
Having grown up in Deep Cove over in North Vancouver I still feel like the Lower Seymour trails are my backyard and that makes them my go-to favourite spot to run.  The trail network is so extensive you need never do the same route twice and there's always something new or different to discover depending on the season or the weather.  Further afield the Squamish and Manning Park areas have lots to explore.

Describe your best running memory
I love seeing the people around me accomplish their goals, especially if I'm fortunate enough to feel like I've somehow contributed or supported them in some small way.  I love seeing people struggle and suffer and then overcome that challenge - although I don't particularly like struggling or suffering myself...ahhh, okay that's it: my best running memory is when I finally got to stop running at the end of the Squamish 50.

What is your favourite post-run treat?
I've been known to eat an entire pizza after a long day in the mountains.  But a hot coffee with friends after an especially cold and wet Flight Crew Trail day is something I always look forward to. 

Why did you start running with Flight Crew?
Linda got me out to my first Flight Crew.  We were running together Wednesday nights with another club and she kept talking about this shop that was opening up and the vision that the owners had for establishing something new and different in the Vancouver running community - I had to check it out.  My first run with Flight Crew was the Summer Social; needless to say, I was hooked after that.

Your favourite Flight Crew memory?
The Red Bull Wings for Life event with Flight Crew last year was a highlight for me. The event itself is so different: being "chased" to your personal limit versus racing to a fixed finish line ...not to mention the synchronized world-wide start time, which was a ridiculous 4AM in Vancouver!?! Nevertheless, we had a huge Flight Crew contingent out and it was so cool lapping the False Creek seawall while the sun came up over the city. Oh, and pancakes. We also had pancakes.

What’s the running achievement you’re most proud of?
Finishing my first marathon is an achievement that I'm proud of.  It was a life goal for me to complete a marathon, but until you actually get 'er done you can't be really sure what you're capable of.  Unlike shorter distances there's no faking it, you can't just show up and run 42.2 KM. There's a required element of planning and preparation just to get to the starting line: properly trained, fueled and injury free—it's really satisfying when everything goes according to plan and I enjoy that part of the process.

What’s your favourite item of running clothing/accessory?
You'll rarely see me out there without something on my head to keep the rain off and my hair out of my eyes. My Ciele GoCap is a favourite.

If you could run with anyone in the world who would it be and why?
Usain Bolt, in a marathon, during winter. He's basically a living legend at this point and seems like he'd be a fun guy to hang out with too. It would have to be a long distance otherwise I wouldn't be able to keep up.

Favourite running distance?
Right now I'm really liking the 50k race distance. For me, it's long enough that I don't have to push too hard outside my comfort zone and there's a bit of a chance to recover if anything goes wrong during a race, but leading up to race day the training plan isn't so intense that it takes over your life!