Rob Watson (athlete)


Robin "Rob" Watson 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 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. 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.
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 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.
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. 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.

Profile

DisciplinePerformanceLocationDate
Marathon Outdoor2:27:38Vancouver, CAN06 May 2018
10 Kilometres30:01*Vancouver, CAN22 April 2018
5 Kilometres14:41Vancouver, CAN17 Mar 2018
Half Marathon Outdoor:08:44Victoria, CAN08 October 2017
Marathon Outdoor2:18:45London, GBR24 April 2016
10 Miles Road52:35Edinburgh, GBR17 April 2016
Half Marathon Outdoor1:03.58Houston, TX, USA17 January 2016
8 Kilometres Outdoor23:47Saanichton, CAN10 January 2016
10 Miles Road49:07Hamilton, CAN26 December 2015
Marathon Outdoor2:16:38Chicago, IL, USA11 October 2015
Half Marathon Outdoor1:04:48Vancouver, CAN03 May 2015
10,000 Metres29:27.66Charlottesville, VA, USA18 April 2015
10 Miles Road49:02Hamilton, CAN26 December 2014
Marathon Outdoor2:16:38Ottawa, CAN25 May 2014
Half Marathon1:05:03Tempe, AZ, USA19 January 2014
Marathon Outdoor2:13.29Toronto, CAN20 October 2013
10 Kilometres Outdoor30:46Toronto, CAN21 September 2013
10 Miles Road49:49Lynchburg, VA, USA28 September 2003
Half Marathon Outdoor1:03:22New York, NY, USA17 March 2013
10 Kilometres Outdoor30:36Toronto, CAN22 September 2012
10 Kilometres Outdoor30:24Toronto, CAN24 September 2011
Marathon Outdoor2:13:37Rotterdam, NED15 April 2012
Half Marathon Outdoor1:04:20Vancouver, CAN26 June 2011
Marathon Outdoor2:16:17Houston, TX, USA30 january 2011
10 Miles Road48:39Hamilton, CAN26 December 2010
10 Kilometres Outdoor30:03Toronto, CAN16 October 2010
One Mile4:07.26Guelph, CAN05 June 2010
3000 Metres8:11.12London, CAN02 June 2010
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor8:39.30Palo Alto, CA, USA01 May 2010
2000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor5:44.14Ypsilanti, USA16 April 2010
5000 Metres Outdoors14:06.84Berkeley, CA, USA23 April 2010
2000 Metres Steeplechase5:44.14Ypsilanti, USA16 April 2010
5 Kilometres Outdoors14:41Vancouver, CAN17 March 2010
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor8:27.09Eugene, OR, USA07 June 2009
1500 Metres3:46.55Windsor, CAN16 May 2009
5000 Metres Outdoors13:40.33Walnut, USA17 Apr 2009
1500 Metres3:47.95Brasschaat 23 JUL 2008
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor8:38.72Walnut, CA, USA18 April 2008
5000 Metres Outdoors14:22.36San Diego, CA, USA12 May 2007
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor8:38.92Eugene, OR, USA20 April 2007
3000 Metres8:13.97Tempe, AZ, USA14 April 2007
5000 Metres Indoor15:00:10Albuquerque, NM, USA23 February 2007
3000 Metres Indoor8:18.70Lincoln, NE, USA20 January 2007
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor8:47.96Palo Alto, CA, USA31 March 2006
5000 Metres14:44.83Albuquerque, NM, USA24 February 2006
3000 Metres Indoor8:13.21Nampa, ID, USA11 February 2006
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor9:02.73Berkeley, CA, USA08 April 2005
3000 Metres Steeplechase Outdoor9:07.42Princeton, NJ, USA08 April 2005
3000 Metres Indoor8:30.78Fayetteville, AR, USA12 February 2005

Legend: