Alberta lifestyle success story

By Dionne Pearson

Twenty years ago, John Stanton was 70 lb. overweight and smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. Then he started running and the rest is history.

Running changed John Stanton’s life. It might even have saved it. Now it’s Stanton’s personal mission, and his business, to help others do the same.

“I was a born-again runner,” says Stanton, who lives in Edmonton. “I realized I had to do something dramatic when I could barely finish a 3 km fun-run without huffing and puffing. I knew I was in trouble.” Stanton, founder of the 48-store Running Room retail chain, lost all his excess weight, stopped smoking and adopted a healthy lifestyle, thanks to his dedication to running.

“Like a lot of people, I had thrown my energies into my career, family and community, but at the same time I had neglected my own wellness,” he says. “I found out that I had to make time for myself and make exercise a priority.”

That he did. To date, Stanton has run 49 marathons and numerous triathlons, including the Canadian Ironman and the Hawaiian World Championship Ironman, in addition to hundreds of road races.

The running man

So, how does someone go from an overweight smoker to a marathon-running, entrepreneurial success story?

“People around me watched my personal evolution and were asking, ‘wow, how’d you do that?’ And that’s basically how I got into business,” says Stanton.

He opened the first Running Room in an old, one-room house in Edmonton in 1984.

The draw of the Running Room is the combination of services offered, from gear to knowledgeable sales staff, to running groups and clinics. Also critical is what Stanton calls the “clubhouse effect” – each store aims to be as comfortable someone’s living room – just like the original Running Room.

Underneath this successful Alberta-based company, are the fundamental principles of health and wellness.

“I started running not just to shed pounds but also to feel better and have more energy,” explains Stanton. “It’s not that we intentionally gain weight or become inactive – our lives are filled with important stuff like family and work. But we still have to look after ourselves.” As for nutrition, Stanton says to stick to the Canada Food Guide because it has stood the test of time better than any of the various fad or wonder diets. The other key to a healthier diet? Drinking water – at least eight to 10 glasses per day.

“As we get into a regular pattern of exercise, there is a natural transition to healthier eating,” explains Stanton. “We soon discover that what we eat can have a profound effect on our walking or running performance. The bottom line is the better we eat, the better we feel.”

Ready to get moving? Stanton offers this advice.

“When you go out for a run, or walk, it’s back to basics, one foot in front of the other. It’s about getting outside and enjoying the outdoors. It’s also a great time to think. Guaranteed when you get back, you’ll feel better and refreshed. It’s that simple.”

The Running Room www.runningroom.com