Erin Teschuk: Joy, Resilience, and the Power of Women in Sport

For Canadian distance runner Erin Teschuk, running began with movement and play, long before Olympic stadiums and world championship start lines.

“I first got into running as a kid who was constantly playing other sports or tag outside with my friends. In the ninth grade I joined a track club, and the rest is history!” exclaims Teschuk. “What has kept me involved in the sport for so long is the joy I feel pushing myself. Whether it’s with friends or by myself… my favourite part of training is the workouts and races where I really get to test myself. When things really click and I feel one with my body it makes the work feel like play.”

That love of testing limits has carried her to the highest levels of the sport. Teschuk, an Olympian, has represented Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, and the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. She brings both international experience and a fierce competitive spirit to every start line.

In recent seasons, she has continued to show that she is a force across various distances. At Run Ottawa’s Ottawa’s Fastest Women 5K 2025, Teschuk placed second in 16:10, delivering one of the event’s standout performances. Later that summer, she finished fourth in the 5,000 metres at the Canadian Track & Field Championships, running 15:35.08. That fall, she crossed the line first at the Hamilton Marathon Road2Hope Endorphin Elite 5K in 16:06 before placing 12th in the 10K at the 2025 Canadian Cross Country Championships with a time of 35:14.

Teschuk opened 2026 with a strong showing at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational, running 8:58.51 for 3,000 metres to finish 12th in a competitive field. Yet for Teschuk, the meaning of running extends beyond times and placings. It is also about visibility and opportunity,  something that makes Ottawa’s Fastest Women 5K especially significant.

“To me Ottawa’s Fastest Women is about [the] lifting up of women’s sport and giving female athletes the attention and recognition they deserve. It also means that all runners of all experience levels have the opportunity to push themselves and celebrate their success.”

Her journey has included defining triumphs and challenging setbacks. While making the Olympics stands as a career milestone, some of her most meaningful moments have come from resilience.

“Making the Olympics was an incredibly meaningful experience, and that is probably my most “career-defining” moment,”recalls Teschuk. “Perhaps more so though, having had a couple really challenging years in the sport, coming back, reconnecting with my love of the sport and being able to run personal bests and putting myself in positions to be qualifying for National teams again has been super meaningful.”

Behind every elite athlete is a foundation of support, and Teschuk is quick to acknowledge the women who have shaped her path.

“Since day one I’ve been lucky to have parents who have supported my athletic pursuits and taught me how to be persistent. In that way, my mom has been very influential,” shares Teschuk. “I’ve also been lucky to train alongside some amazing women. Some of them still compete and some are on to other endeavours, but I’m continually inspired by having had the chance to witness their tenacity first hand. Female runners are about as badass as you get!”

As International Women’s Day approaches, her message to the next generation is both simple and powerful.

“Keep at it, and don’t forget that sport is supposed to be fun. Sport is about so much more than fast times and medals – it’s about figuring out who you are, what you’re capable of, and making meaningful connections along the way.”

That spirit is at the heart of Run to Empower. An Athletics Canada Road Race Labeled event, Run to Empower is designed to foster inclusion and highlight the importance of gender equity in athletics. The day includes Ottawa’s Fastest Women, a 5K performance race for women only, the Run to Empower open 5K for athletes of all genders, and the Little Warriors 1K for children 12 and under.

This year, participant donations will support The Canadian Breast Cancer Network, Canada’s leading patient-directed breast cancer health charity. Their national network connects patients, caregivers, health care professionals, researchers, public health agencies, and industry stakeholders to improve knowledge translation and promote optimal health outcomes for Canadians with breast cancer.

For Erin Teschuk, and for the women who will line up at the start, Ottawa’s Fastest Women is more than a competition. It is a statement about what is possible when women are given the space, the platform, and the recognition they deserve.

This International Women’s Day, celebrate strength in action. Register for Run to Empower, take your place on the start line at Ottawa’s Fastest Women or the open 5K, and be part of an event that champions women in sport while making a meaningful impact in the community.