Marchant is hitting her stride at the right time, in the final year of the Olympic cycle. And she’s pushing Wodak to reach further.  “[Lanni] is always is a little more confident than I am and it’s so helpful,” Wodak said, remembering some words of encouragement just before the Payton Jordan race.  “She said, ‘I think you will set the Canadian record this summer,’” Wodak recalls.  Wodak went on to have the best race of her life.  “I remember going through halfway [of the 10,000m] thinking when’s this going to get hard, when’s this going to get hard.  “With one mile to go, I looked over at [Marchant] and said, ‘we got this.’  Social media builds connection, inspiration  With great results, comes great responsibility, and neither woman avoids the spotlight. Marchant and Wodak are well known in the national running scene, and their camera-friendly bodies have been featured in shoe advertisements, magazine covers and social media. As elite road runners, they often lineup alongside tens of thousands of recreational runners and high school athletes building a connection between top athletes and the masses unique to the running world.  “When there’s a real crappy hairpin turn on the course, we all get to complain about it. So being on social media makes you more accessible and it humanizes me,” Marchant said.  Marchant and Wodak, who are the closest of friends, have an active social media presence. Wodak also writes a blog, “Life in the ‘Tash Lane,” chronicling her training as well as the highs and lows in her personal life.  “It’s a great way to get other people to know you without actually knowing you,” Wodak said with a laugh, joking that it annoys her boyfriend. “That’s kind of neat that I’m able to inspire other runners through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. And I love being able to go on social media and learn about other athletes and see where they are.”  They’ve been nicknamed the “Betty and Veronica” of Canadian road racing, and while they play up the drama for sponsors, there’s really no rivalry between these two friends. They’re always pulling for each other to succeed.
Don’t fear the 10,000m or the marathon. Top stars send powerful message about women's running in Canada. - CBC Longform