Rob Watson (athlete)

Rob Watson
Watson in 2016
Personal information
Birth nameRobin Watson
CitizenshipCanadian
BornJune 23, 1983 (1983-06-23) (age 41)
London, Ontario
OccupationRunner
Websitewww.leblogdurob2.com
Sport
ClubMile2Marathon
Coached byPete Watson
Achievements and titles
World finals2013 World Championships in Athletics (Marathon) 20th
National finals
Personal bests
  • 5000m: 13:40
  • 5k: 14:0600
  • 8k: 23:50:00
  • 10k: 29:27:00
  • Half Marathon: 1:03:22.00
  • Marathon: 2:13:29.00
  • 1500m: 3:46:20
  • Mile: 4:07.26
  • 3000m: 7:59.12
  • 5000m: 13:40.84
  • 3000m Steeplechase: 8:27.87
Updated on 16 December 2014

Robin "Rob" Watson (born 23 June 1983)[1] is a Canadian long distance runner. He is a two-time Canadian national champion in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He has won the Canadian Marathon Championships, the Canadian 10k Championships (twice) and placed 2nd in the Canadian Cross Country Championships.

Career

The fourth of five boys. Robin Watson grew up in the Old South neighbourhood in London, Ontario. His parents were recreational runners; his mother ran track, his father marathons. His oldest brother Pete has been his greatest influence. Wanting to run like him, Watson entered a 10k race with him at age six. His endurance, and help from his brother, made him a top steeplechaser by the end of high school. He accepted a scholarship at West Virginia University where his brother Pete attended running in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). After a year that saw WVU cutting its track program, Watson followed his brother to Colorado and began running track and cross- country for coach Bryan Berryhill at Colorado State University.[2]

He got a call from coach Dave Scott-Thomas, and on graduating moved to Guelph, Ontario, to train for the 2009 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) world championships in Berlin. After a disappointing finish, Watson and his coach discussed him running the marathon. After struggling for success, Watson turned to his brother Pete who was coaching in North Carolina.[2]

He entered the 2012 marathon in Rotterdam but ran a 2:13:37 race and failed to qualify for financial support from Athletics Canada. In summer 2012, Watson moved to Vancouver, British Columbia.[2] Watson subsequently finished first in the 2013 Canadian Marathon Championships and second in the 2014 Canadian Marathon Championships.

Watson has coached at Mile2 Marathons for more than four years.[3]

Watson at the 2015 Pan American Games marathon.

Profile

Discipline Performance Location Date
Marathon Outdoor 2:27:38 Vancouver, CAN 6 May 2018
10 Kilometres 30:01* Vancouver, CAN 22 April 2018
5 Kilometres 14:41 Vancouver, CAN 17 Mar 2018
Half Marathon Outdoor :08:44 Victoria, CAN 8 October 2017
Marathon Outdoor 2:18:45 London, GBR 24 April 2016
10 Miles Road 52:35 Edinburgh, GBR 17 April 2016
Half Marathon Outdoor 1:03.58 Houston, TX, USA 17 January 2016
8 Kilometres Outdoor 23:47 Saanichton, CAN 10 January 2016
10 Miles Road 49:07 Hamilton, CAN 26 December 2015
Marathon Outdoor 2:16:38 Chicago, IL, USA 11 October 2015
Half Marathon Outdoor 1:04:48 Vancouver, CAN 3 May 2015
10,000 Metres 29:27.66 Charlottesville, VA, USA 18 April 2015
10 Miles Road 49:02 Hamilton, CAN 26 December 2014
Marathon Outdoor 2:16:38 Ottawa, CAN 25 May 2014
Half Marathon 1:05:03 Tempe, AZ, USA 19 January 2014
Marathon Outdoor 2:13.29 Toronto, CAN 20 October 2013
10 Kilometres Outdoor 30:46 Toronto, CAN 21 September 2013
10 Miles Road 49:49 Lynchburg, VA, USA 28 September 2003
Half Marathon Outdoor 1:03:22 New York, NY, USA 17 March 2013
10 Kilometres Outdoor 30:36 Toronto, CAN 22 September 2012
10 Kilometres Outdoor 30:24 Toronto, CAN 24 September 2011
Marathon Outdoor 2:13:37 Rotterdam, NED 15 April 2012
Half Marathon Outdoor 1:04:20 Vancouver, CAN 26 June 2011
Marathon Outdoor 2:16:17 Houston, TX, USA 30 january 2011
10 Miles Road 48:39 Hamilton, CAN 26 December 2010
10 Kilometres Outdoor 30:03 Toronto, CAN 16 October 2010
One Mile 4:07.26 Guelph, CAN 5 June 2010
3000 Metres 8:11.12 London, CAN 2 June 2010
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 8:39.30 Palo Alto, CA, USA 1 May 2010
2000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 5:44.14 Ypsilanti, USA 16 April 2010
5000 Metres Outdoors 14:06.84 Berkeley, CA, USA 23 April 2010
2000 Metres Steeplechase 5:44.14 Ypsilanti, USA 16 April 2010
5 Kilometres Outdoors 14:41 Vancouver, CAN 17 March 2010
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 8:27.09 Eugene, OR, USA 7 June 2009
1500 Metres 3:46.55 Windsor, CAN 16 May 2009
5000 Metres Outdoors 13:40.33 Walnut, USA 17 Apr 2009
1500 Metres 3:47.95 Brasschaat (BEL) 23 JUL 2008
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 8:38.72 Walnut, CA, USA 18 April 2008
5000 Metres Outdoors 14:22.36 San Diego, CA, USA 12 May 2007
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 8:38.92 Eugene, OR, USA 20 April 2007
3000 Metres 8:13.97 Tempe, AZ, USA 14 April 2007
5000 Metres Indoor 15:00:10 Albuquerque, NM, USA 23 February 2007
3000 Metres Indoor 8:18.70 Lincoln, NE, USA 20 January 2007
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 8:47.96 Palo Alto, CA, USA 31 March 2006
5000 Metres 14:44.83 Albuquerque, NM, USA 24 February 2006
3000 Metres Indoor 8:13.21 Nampa, ID, USA 11 February 2006
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 9:02.73 Berkeley, CA, USA 8 April 2005
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor 9:07.42 Princeton, NJ, USA 8 April 2005
3000 Metres Indoor 8:30.78 Fayetteville, AR, USA 12 February 2005

Legend:[4]

  • Not Legal

References

  1. ^ "Robin WATSON". Toronto2015.org. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Feature – Fade From the Front: the Rob Watson story". runningmagazine.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Mile2Marathon - Our Team". mile2marathon.com. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Robin Watson". iaaf.org. Retrieved 25 December 2018.