Meet our Ambassadors

Val Chezick

Hi, my name is Val Chezick, and I am an Upriver Ambassador. 

I am a Registered Nurse and have spent most of my career as a Medical/Surgical Nurse, currently I work Full Time as an Infection Control Practitioner. 

In 2008 I quit smoking and started eating…. all the time. One day I decided I needed to turn my life around and so I joined a Learn to Run at the local Running Room Store and from that day on I never looked back (running a 3:1 was the hardest thing I had ever done, I thought it was going to be the end).  

I started out road running and then discovered trail running in 2013. I am a trail runner in my heart. There are three things I value in trail running, adventure, endurance, and longevity. 

Upriver Running provides me with a community of like-minded people who have a sense of adventure and a love of the trail. You may have ran into me in a costume at the Upriver Fall Race aide station at the Cascades which is my yearly volunteer commitment.  

This year I plan to toe the line at High Noon and the Quebec City Marathon.  

Nutrition and Hydration while running long distance has always been a challenge for me, although I have adapted and can puke and rally like a champ, every run brings something new to the table that I can learn from.  

I have been injured, I have been a race director, I have finished races and not finished races, and I am a volunteer. 

When I’m not running you can find me reading or knitting.  

If you see me out running say Hi, if you have any question feel free to ask me anything. 

Andrew Heppner

Hi. I'm Andrew, I'm originally from Selkirk, Manitoba and I moved to Thunder Bay to take the Outdoor Recreation program at Lakehead University because it seemed appealing to get a degree in being outside.  I eventually got a Masters degree in being outside and I like to sing (to the tune of Adele's classic), "Hello, it's me, I was wondering what you do with an Outdoor Rec degree."  I'm 50% Recreation Therapist and 50% Post-Secondary Transfer Credit Nerd, proud father of 3 adult-ish children.  I started running when I turned 38 because I could see 40 coming and my lifestyle was not a very healthy one, and I was getting kind of sad about it all.  My friend Andrew ran the Rocksteady Moose Mountain marathon that year so I decided to copy him, and my friend Eric was already an amazing endurance athlete who was stoked to just jump on the trails and slow down for little old me (it took 3 years of training for me to break the 6 min/km barrier without feeling like I was dying) so I had a training buddy.  Upriver Running began around that time and I was so excited that there was a trail running community and event organization in Thunder Bay, I immediately signed up for the first Upriver 50km and secured the slowest known time (10h20m-ish).  Upriver instituted cutoff times after that because they had to wait around so long for me after everyone else had left.  They also took horrific video footage that makes it look like I shit myself as I trudge towards death.  I'm a photogenic person.  Eventually, I entered into a coaching arrangement with Kip Sigsworth for 3 years and experienced breakthroughs in my running performance beyond anything I could have ever imagined for myself.   Running helped me to overcome addiction, build friendships, learn to be a better human, and provides a rhythm to life that aligns with my mild neurodivergence and emotional sensitivity (I'm a delicate little flower).  That's probably more than you needed to know but, that's okay.  See you out there!

Scott Gall

I am a former university hockey player who transitioned into running as a way to keep competing—both against myself and others. What started as a way to stay competitive quickly grew into a passion for trail running and endurance challenges through Upriver Running. 

Outside of running, I work in Mining sales and balance training while spending much of my time on the road.

To me, Upriver Running represents what makes the sport special: a strong, supportive community of runners who show up to challenge themselves and encourage others along the way.

Fun fact: I believe strength training is an important part of becoming a stronger, more durable runner! 

Emma Costa

I used to walk all a lot. It was something I could do with the stroller and something I enjoyed. I am a mom with four kids. My oldest is 15 and my youngest just turned 9. For many years life was babies and strollers. Now my kids are a little older, life’s a little easier, and we get to support each other. Dance, gym, football, curling, friends, school, work, the schedule is packed! We are busy but we work together and it all works out.
I used to walk a lot. I would run the odd time, but mostly just walked. Walking was quiet and calming. I followed along to fitness videos but I was looking for something else. During the covid lockdown I started running. Why not run the dog instead of walk the dog? So I did. At first I had no idea what I was doing. I ran every run too hard. But I liked it! I actually ran. I ran 5kms. Then 10kms. I remember the first time I ran a half marathon distance. I kept going, I did it! It was amazing! I was hooked! “What am I capable of?”

My very first in person race was a Metre Eaters race. 5km. This is way out of my comfort zone, to put myself in a place like that, knowing no one. All of these people are real runners. I won’t belong. I had no idea what the running community was, and how wrong I was. That race went great. From there I discovered training and ran the Kakabeka half and signed up for the UpRiver Fall 25km (Year 2021). I didn’t know what trail running was, I had only just discovered my love for running. I went to Fresh Air, asked for trail shoes explaining how clueless I was. I ran some of the main trails at centennial while my husband and kids played at the park. A week or two later a coworker of my husbands at that time is a fantastic runner and took me onto the trail, the actual course. We ran half the course. This was real, I fell in love, and now I had an idea what I had signed up for. I ran that race, my first trail race, 25kms. What else can I do?

I have learned I love to train. Time management in my household is really important. We work with each other. Sometimes I like to run in the morning before anyone is up, this way I get all the streets to myself. Other times its dropping kids at sport and using windows, or sneaking it in during a quiet time. They like what I do, we like to talk about it. My oldest is strong and more knowledgeable than me when it comes to the gym. He is my spot when I’m trying to bench press. Sometimes they will bike along side me during some runs, or hang out with me in garage while I’m on the treadmill.

UpRiver running has given me amazing experiences and opportunities. Through Upriver I have made friends, I have been given the opportunity to challenge myself at races, I have volunteered and seen the race from a different perspective.

When I ran that 25km Fall race, my first, and I saw the 50km runners I was so in awe of them. How incredible they are. The next year I became one of them. Then High Noon. I love High Noon. Ultra’s call to me.

I’ve had my ups and downs. Races I was happy with, others didn’t go quite the way I hoped. I’ve had some minor injuries requiring the training to change, to find different ways. My coach is great with helping me figure it out. Throughout it all I love what I do and love staying consistent.  I hope to help people understand that running is for everyone, to get out there and fall in love with the trail. Try something you are afraid of, challenge yourself and see what happens! The journey is the great part!

This year I am training to run the SOO 200 this fall. I have never ran that far before. It is going to be an incredible challenge. It’s definitely scary, but I am excited! 

Steve Dorval

My name is Steve. I am a videographer and photographer from Thunder Bay. Five years ago I was into drugs and alcohol. In September 2021 I started running. Shortly after, I got sober and I am now over four years clean. Running has played a huge role in my growth as a person. At first it was something I did alone. There was something about suffering in solitude that drew me to it.

In 2024, after three road marathons including the Boston Marathon, I signed up for High Noon. I usually enjoy running fast and always thought if I slowed down I could run forever. Anyone who runs knows it is not that simple. Regardless of how I performed, I fell in love with the trails there and it introduced me to Upriver. 

Through Upriver I have met some of my favourite people and now have the privilege of calling them my friends. From countless beautiful training runs to the Casque Isles Trail and pacing my friend Andrew at the Moab 240 Endurance Run, this community has brought some of the most meaningful adventures of my life.

Honestly, I am not even sure why I started running. But somewhere along the way it gave me direction. It introduced me to incredible people and shaped the way I live my life.