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Our Frontrunners Nanaimo Family

We offer the best in customer service and strive to exceed customers expectations at every opportunity.

Stefan Jakobsen


OWNER

Stefan began working at Frontrunners Victoria in 1994 while attending the University of Victoria. Always passionate about sport, working at Frontrunners introduced him to a community of people that shed light on a lifestyle beyond the competitive side of athletics. Hatched on runs and bike rides with Norm, a business plan was formed and in 1999 Frontrunners Nanaimo was born. Happiest out on the trails on the water, Stefan still loves jumping into trail races or going on adventures with his friends, his wife, and his two boys.

Norm Thibault


OWNER

Norm began working at Frontrunners Victoria in 1995 while also attending the University of Victoria and competing in everything from triathlons to mountain biking. His Bachelor of Environmental Science Degree somehow prepared him for the world of being a retail entrepreneur, a journey that began in 1999. Norm also has a passion for putting on events and hosted the first New Balance Half Iron as a way to pay off student loans and has been instrumental in building the cyclocross community on Vancouver Island through the Cross on the Rock Cyclocross series. When not working Norm can usually be found on the trails or on the water, usually with kids in tow.

Tracy McKeown


MANAGER

Tracy has been entertaining her fellow staff and customers with her witty jokes since 2014.  Her love of people extends to her part time support work at a group home.  She is also known to run the odd 50k at destinations all over the PWN, usually ending with a beer at the finish line before finding some local tacos.

Christine Almond


Christine has been at Frontrunners for 4 years and is one of the coaches for our Frontrunners Endurance Clinic. Christine is an accomplished road runner, trail runner, Ironman finisher, and in her younger years was a member of the Canadian Jr Rugby Team.

Catherine Dickie


When Catherine isn’t chasing her elementary school students, helping with school XC or track and field, or running the beautiful trails that Nanaimo has to offer, we are lucky to have her at the shop - usually on weekends and during the summer months!

Yann Bernaquez


Yann Bernaquez sleeps less that most people.  We know this because anyone who runs 100 mile runs in the mountains doesn’t need sleep!  When not running (a lot) Yann is busy teaching secondary school, coaching school track and xc, leading run clinics and being a family man.  We are glad Yann still likes working weekends and during the summer months!

Kim Coulthard


Kim began running with Women’s Pace, started by Frontrunners’ first employee Donna Spencer, not long after the shop opened in 1999. Fast forward until now and she can still be found running with some of the same people but now almost exclusively on Nanaimo’s sweet single track and with one of her beloved four legged friends in tow.

Byron Trajan


Byron grew up in Nanaimo and enjoys being outdoors and exploring places to swim, bike and run. Many people know Byron from his coaching duties at the White Rapids Swim Club where he continues to inspire the next generation of swimmers. Often you will see Byron rabbiting local elementary XC meets where he usually has a crew of kids following his every move. He really does have a fan club, and we are lucky to have him as part of our team.

Cindy Kruger


Cindy has been working at Frontrunners since 2009 and is known for being the shop mom.  If she isn’t organizing something or planning an event she is busy teaching fitness classes (spin being her favorite), riding her road bike, motorbike or running the trails.  She looks forward to each day she can inspire and be inspired by others as they work together in achieving and maintaining a healthy active lifestyle and most importantly having fun while doing it!

Lynn Krynowsky


A newbie to the store, Lynn began her journey with New Balance in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.  The Ontario Native and proud mother of 2 girls has been an avid runner for the past 10+ years.  She has completed multiple half-marathons, as well as full marathons.  Lynn has changer course a bit recently, and can now often be found running and hiking our beautiful local trails in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas.  Full of energy and always looking for a new adventure, Lynn enjoys travelling and challenging herself to try new things.

Nicole Nordli


Nicole is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and encouraging others to do the same.  She is an active member in community through her online page, Simply Made Food & Fitness.  As a Mind Body Nutrition Practitioner, she helps people heal their relationship with food, movement and body.  Most days you can find her out exploring the local trails either on her bike or trail running.  She is always up for an adventure, and enjoys racing cyclocross racing in the fall.

Elise Coates


Elise is a varsity distance runner for the University of Victoria, where she studies physics. She has worked part time for the Victoria and Nanaimo Frontrunners stores since 2021. Despite the short amount of time she has worked here, she is a certified shoe addict. When she's in town, you'll most likely catch her running a few loops of Westwood. Otherwise, she's off cruising around in the sun somewhere. 

Terri Merritt-Worden


Terri has recently come out of her short-lived retirement to become the newest member of the Frontrunner's Nanaimo staff. Last year, Terri returned to Vancouver Island and retired from her 35 + year career in healthcare. Her career took her across the United States and it was her running groups that help create community and lasting memories of the many places she lived. A life-long runner, Terri started as a cross country and distance track athlete and coach in New York State. Because of the positive impact running had on her life, she wanted to ensure all young girls had the same opportunities and served on Girls on the Run board of directors in Oregon and Tennessee. She is thrilled to be back on Vancouver Island where she and her family reside in Ladysmith. 

Gage Zanette


Gage is one of our summer students and is a sophomore distance runner at the university of Idaho (our third Vandal on staff). Prior to his running career taking off, Gage competed on the Nanaimo Riptides swim team for five season. Gage was born in Nanaimo and competed with John Barsby high school and the Nanaimo Track and Field Club. In his free time he enjoys going on backpacking trips around Vancouver Island with friends, fishing, and general exploration - basically all things outdoors! 

Kate Cameron


Kate is another university student on staff. Kate has been running track and cross country for ten years and is now pursuing her academic and athletic career at Simon Fraser University. She is currently majoring in Kinesiology, and running track and cross country in the NCAA with a focus on the 800 and the 1500 meter. When not running on the track Kate enjoys trail running in the back trails at Westwood lake and in Linley Valley. She also coaches track and field with the Nanaimo Track and Field club and her old elementary school École Quarterway.

Olivia Lundman


Olivia is a race walker on the varsity track and field team at the University of British Columbia. She is studying Kinesiology and works for us during her school breaks. Olivia is a passionate coach and has been a member of various sporting communities in Nanaimo, most prominently soccer and track and field, from a young age. When she's not walking around town or doing laps of the track, she is likely hiking up mountains or conducting interviews for her mental health project.