MRA Board of Directors
Executive Director: Leni Campbell
Leni is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Runners' Association for the second time. She held this position in the late 1980's and early 1990's. In 2002 she was asked if she wanted to come back and she happily said yes. She is married with two children and five grandchildren.
Leni has a passion for communicating with the members and being at the races to cheer them on. She loves to walk, ballroom dance, cycle, read, go to movies, and spend time with her wonderful grandchildren. Being Executive Director is not just a job to Leni, it is a labour of love.
President - John Murphy
John has been involved in running for many years, to date he has completed 14 full marathons, plus many half's, 5k's, 10K's and relays. He started running because he needed a flexible exercise program, that fitted his work travel schedule, fitting in short runs where he could, and then he became hooked on the sport. He ran his first full marathon in 2000, and found it so rewarding that he did another 2 that year.
While he continues to enjoy running, he now finds that helping others achieve their running goals to be more rewarding.
Last year he received a volunteer of the year award from the "Canadian Diabetes Association" for his work with "Team Diabetes". Since 2004 he has assisted with organizing and training participants for various marathons, he said most of the participants are new to the sport and to see them achieve their goal is both humbling and rewarding, he plans on continuing to recruit and help others to achieve their running goals and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
John retired in 2006 from the North West company, after a lengthy career that he enjoyed in retail operations and marketing with "The Bay" and the "North West Company".
He believes running/walking is not only very rewarding but great exercise for all ages.
He is looking forward to working with the MRA board team and helping all runners have an enjoyable and rewarding experience as they strive to achieve their running goals.
Past-President - James Slade
I'm married with two part-time kids and a dog. My life goals for this year are to run faster than the dog and to not sleep in the doghouse. I'll run another marathon this year (I have run 6 so far so I'm still a newbie). I have been a volunteer board member for the Manitoba Runners' Association for four years, so I have been to lots of meetings while the dog stays home in front of the TV. My wife says my motto should be 'need for speed', but she's too late. I already have a motto: Training is what you do after your brain says, “this is hard!!!”. Hey, it even applies outside of running, so I like it. I have been teaching at Red River College for 11 years and loving every minute.
Secretary - Dreena Duhame
This is Dreena's eighth year as a board member. She has been running since 1979 and has run everything from 5k to Marathon. Dreena is a retired legal assistant and is a cat lover. She hopes to be running when she is 90.
Judy McMullen - Treasurer
I have an exciting career at Red River College, as Assistant Controller. During my 29 year career at RRC, I have been involved with staff in numerous running events and that is where I met James Slade and became involved in the MRA Board as treasurer. In Winnipeg I have run 2 marathons, half marathon, participated in countless relays and fun runs. I am married with 3 children who were always active in the school running programs. I am proud to say that they continue to be active in running, hockey, snowboarding and other physical activities. In my free time in also enjoy golfing, swimming, slow pitch, curling, gardening and reading. I have sat on numerous boards and committees; Roblin Park Community Centre Board of Directors for 12 years, RRC Daycare for 11 years, actively involved in the inception of the Winnipeg Women’s Hockey League (WWHL )and sat on the board for 4 years and at Red River College involved with the Staff club. I am eagar participate in MRA Board of Directors and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
John Wichers
John has been a member of the MRA for about 16 years. John was born in Holland, NL and came to Canada in 1957. He started running at the age of 47. His first race was the Churchill Drive Ice Cream Run and his second race was the Manitoba Half Marathon. His first full marathon was the Twin Cities Marathon at the age of 57. To date he has run in 20 full marathons, 35 half marathons and numerous shorter races.
John is retired from the Rehab Centre for Children where he was the Director of Mechanical Design and Services (making wheel chairs and other special equipment for children).
John has a passion for children and plans to work with kids to help get them started running. He plans to keep running himself for years to come.
John was inducted into the MRA Road Running Hall of Fame in March of 2008 as an Athlete/Builder.
Brad Havixbeck
New to the MRA, new to the MRA Board and relatively new to the sport of running, I am ready to take on the challenges. Having only been running for a little more than a year, I have quickly become addicted and ran in 2 marathons, 5 half marathons and countless shorter races in 2009. Prior to 2009, my running mainly involved chasing a soccer ball around the pitch as I am an avid soccer player. My work takes me traveling around the world, so I am taking every chance I can to get out and train or race in far off locations such as Dubai, Germany, The Netherlands, Turkey and Mexico. I even completed the Cayman Islands Marathon in 2009. Plans are already underway for some interesting runs in 2010. I am looking forward to working with the MRA to continue to grow the enthusiasm for running in Manitoba. Run safe, have fun and I hope to see you out at coming events.
John Gray
John is the newest board member. He has run ‘seriously' since 2002 when he ran his first half marathon. Since then he has run many more and over a dozen full marathons.
Although he is old enough to retire, John continues to work for a government agency. He says he needs to continue doing so to support his running and duathlon habit.
John's volunteerism goes back to his university days. He has served on the board of several youth sport organizations and still referees youth soccer games between runs and rides.
John says he enjoys the special comradeship runners share and is a big fan of group runs, saying the miles seem shorter when you have someone to talk to. He's looking forward to giving back to the running community through the MRA.
Edwina Keats
Edwina is new to the Manitoba Runners' Association, new to the Board; however, not so new to running. Having completed 4 full marathons and many half's, 10k's and 5k's since she began running in 1978 in her small community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Completed her first full marathon at the age of 50 in Ottawa with her daughter, Cheryl. Edwina currently is a Manager at Health Canada and has many years experience working in various departments within the federal government. In addition, to satisfy her passion for running, she has taken on a role as a part-time employee of the Running Room. Edwina joined the Manitoba Runners' Association to help it accomplish its goal to achieve the best running and road racing possible. I like to run because….”it makes me feel good”.
Reesa Simmonds
I have been running since joining the ‘running club' in elementary school, and a few years ago I was taken with longer distances, specifically the marathon. I will expectantly participate in organized running events for life; accordingly, I am interested in simultaneously supporting the MRA races and interests of fellow runners. I've marathoned locally, in Toronto, Boston, Thailand, and Philadelphia, and I've learned the value of incorporating running with seemingly unrelated travel. I am a medical student; interestingly (to some), year-round I commute to and from the Bannatyne Campus via running. My current goal is to find the time to commit to a running club, with the aim of getting faster. Wishing you good health and success with goals—running and otherwise—and see you out on a popular city route or at an MRA event!
