David Tepper

Team Running Free Markham

Member Since: 2026

Occupation: High School Teacher

Home: Thornhill

About Me: Ever since high school, running has been a constant that has led me to racing distances from the 400m to the marathon competing in university, as an open athlete and over the past 11 years as a Masters athlete. In addition to racing, I have coached cross country running and track and field at the high school I teach at over the past 25 years. I also had the privilege of coaching the Canadian Maccabiah (Jewish Olympics) team three times, while competing once and recently convening the OFSAA (Ontario high school) cross country running championships. Running has led me to many adventures including being a part of the 100 Canadian milers who set a Guinness World Record in 1998 and being the volunteer golf cart driver at the 2015 Pan Am Games track events. Over the past few years I feel grateful to share my passion for running with my teenager daughter and son.

Sports: Running, swimming, baseball, hockey, tennis, and recently pickleball are sports I enjoy.

Athletic Goals: This winter I am racing the 3000m at the Canadian Masters indoor championships. The spring will be a return to road racing with my hope of running strong 5km, 8km, and 10km times. My main goal is to go to my first World Masters track and field championships, in Daegu, South Korea in August to compete in the 800m and 1500m races. If I recover, then I will join my teenage daughter and son to race cross country in the Fall.

My most catastrophic racing experience was: The experience that most sticks out for me was on a training long run for the Toronto Marathon a few winters ago when I approached a bridge on a trail I usually run over that was flooded. Not wanting to turn back, I decided to try and scale the bridge's side rails to the other side. I miscalculated my first step however and rather than stepping on firm land, ended up going right through the dirt and ending up in very cold water up to my chest. I quickly grabbed the rails, scaled them to the other side and continued on my long run. The next several kilometres involved me sludging along with my soaked shoes and muddy, cold body, but I finished the run.

My most memorable racing experience was: Racing the Boston Marathon twice - first in 2003 and then more recently in 2024 sticks out most powerfully for me. The highlight was being able to share my racing experience with different family members: in 2003 my parents and sister flew down to support me, while in 2024 my wife, daughter and son were there cheering me on. I was also overwhelmed by the community support both times for the race; I never felt alone on the course.

Favourite Racing Gear: I am a big fan of the New Balance 1080 running shoes. The Nike Dragonfly spikes are my preferred spikes and I enjoy my Garmin watch.

Favourite Race: Sporting Life 10km - something magical about being able to race down Yonge Street!

Favourite Race Food: I am a big fan of pasta and some chicken or meat the night before a significant race.