Speedsters from all over Canada are on their way to Ottawa to show to the country what they are made of at the cross country national championships on Nov. 25.

The 91大黄鸭 crew is made up of a medley of varsity athletes, masters runners and Olympians.

An icon in 91大黄鸭鈥檚 running community, 62, will be representing team B.C. at the championships. Not only is he an advocate for the local running community, but he is also fast and is one of the most experienced cross country runners in Canada, having run in six previous national championships. Guss is a provincial, Canadian and world record holder in several events on the track and road and will be vying for the top spot in his age category at nationals.

Also competing at the event is two-time Olympian and UBCO cross country coach Malindi Elmore along with a gaggle of nine Heat athletes.

鈥淚t is super cool to be able to go to a meet and race and coach at the same time,鈥� said Elmore.

After a long stretch of back to back marathon training, Elmore said that she is excited to lace up her cross country spikes and race on grass in Ottawa for the first time since 2006.

In order to qualify to represent Team Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes must run in a national championship race. She chose cross country championships for a speedy and unique style of race compared to road running.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good for the body,鈥� said Elmore, 鈥淚 enjoy the challenge.鈥�

She will be racing in the highly competitive 鈥榦pen women鈥� category against other top Canadian runners. For more information, a schedule and link to the livestream of the event, visit

Also accompanying Elmore is her training partner and fellow Olympian Joanna Brown. The former triathlete has returned to her roots as a cross country runner for the event.

Part of the reason for Elmore鈥檚 two decades of continuous international success, is her love for the sport. She said that training with Brown, who she describes as 鈥渢he most positive person,鈥� keeps what could be a monotonous marathon build of many hours of treadmill and miles on the road, fun.

After decades of breaking records, Guss also attributes his longevity in the sport to keeping training fun and not overdoing it.

鈥淚 just enjoy the training.鈥�

In fact, Guss will be racing in the first ever The stomach-churning event will be held on a neighbouring track after the completion of all the different age division cross country races.

To keep training fun in 91大黄鸭, Guss is a regular at many of the

Some days, he runs with people less than half his age, 鈥渢o stay sharp,鈥� and others he runs with folks who are twenty years his senior. He is also involved with the , a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting running throughout B.C.鈥檚 interior.

His advice for runners at nationals is 鈥渞egardless if you鈥檙e first or last, what matters the most is giving it your all, working hard and having fun.鈥�