A Canadian marathon runner who has run in races in the 50 states of America says she's looking forward to travelling to Samoa after the COVID-19 pandemic initially ruined her plans.

Karen Michelsen, who is a nurse-in-charge at a COVID Command Centre's intensive care unit in Toronto, said she is looking forward to travelling to Samoa. 

“Healthcare workers were not allowed to take any paid vacation or time off for more than three years," she said.

But she is relieved that finally, she is travelling to Samoa for a marathon competition after planning the trip, prior to the onset of the pandemic. 

“This event will be a great way to see the country and meet its friendly people, and develop new life experiences and adventures,” Ms. Michelsen said. 

While the Canadian marathon runner sees the sport as providing the opportunity for fitness, adventure, and achievement, she has already made a name for herself in the sport. Ms. Michelsen has three Guinness world records and had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch twin in 2010 and at the Pan Am Games in 2015.

One of her Guinness world records was earned as a finisher in the NYC Marathon, another record was for winning the female category at the Khunjerab Pass Ultra Marathon, and the third was for participating in the Most Users to Complete a Remote 10km during the pandemic. 

“After discovering that a marathon could be done on all seven continents, I registered for several races on different continents before even completing my first marathon,” she said. “You feel part of the culture when you visit the expo, attend the pasta party or any other race event.

“I became the first Canadian woman to join the Seven Continents Club, completing a marathon in each continent and the first Canadian to join the Grand Slam Club.”

Ms. Michelsen is also the only woman to complete the North Pole Extreme Bike Race and the first person to win the Queen Rapa Nui Award on Easter Island for logging the best overall score in three races.

According to the Director of Samoa Events and organiser of the marathon, Seti Afoa, the competition will be held on Savai’i where the race will start from the village of Sapapali’i and finish at Manase. 

The distances of the marathon and half marathon are 10km, 6km and 3km. It is expected that there will be 100 racers from ten different nations, with 30 of them participating in the marathon from the same nations.