The Ben Mulroney Show - The firefighter who runs 200 mile races as a hobby

Episode Date: April 14, 2026

 GUEST: Selene Malone / ultra distance runner/ firefighter If you enjoyed the podcast, tell a friend! For more of the Ben Mulroney Show, subscribe to the podcast! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/bms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, on youtube -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BenMulroneyShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ben on Twitter/X at https://x.com/BenMulroney Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ Executive Producer:  Mike Drolet Reach out to Mike with story ideas or tips at [e-mail] Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Must be 19-plus Ontario only. Play responsibly. Concerned about your gambling, visit connectsonterio. Doing a show like this is a double-edged sword because I meet these wonderful and exciting and interesting people. And every now and then, whatever I think about myself and my accomplishments, they get taken down like significant number of pegs. For example, up until today, I was very proud of the fact that I ran a marathon. I ran the Mississauga Marathon and I was

in more pain during this run than I've ever been into my life but you know what I thought through the gauntlet greatness is born that's what I thought and just for just for fun I ran a half marathon

and it was mostly downhill because I was like hey I've already done the big one so with that I'd like to introduce you to Celine Malone who has who has uh she's she's she's she ran a uh what's it called the uh the uh the what's it called um ultramarathon thank you ultra marathon 300 miles for context that's not kilometers

yeah for context uh my run was 26.2 so as she did 10 or 11 or 12 12 thank you seline He does math better than me too. So welcome to the show and thank you for putting me in a funk. Thank you so much for having me. Oh, by the way, she's also a firefighter. She's also a firefighter. She's a hero. Thank you for your service.

Anytime. So tell me, were you an avid runner? No, it's funny. I didn't really run much in high school. I did high level wrestling for four years. And then I was a competitive weightlifter in university. And then I dropped 350 pounds on my left foot, broke my foot. And that kind of ended my lifting career.

And then in a wheelchair, I turned to my mom. I was like, do you think I can run a marathon? She goes, well, maybe when you can maybe walk again, but probably. So a year to the date of me actually breaking my foot, I ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. So that kind of started the running. So I didn't really start running until it was probably, I mean, I know you're going to say you're not old. May I ask? I know it's not polite to ask a woman her age, but may I ask?

I just turned 31. So I turned 31 during my 300-mile race. So that was my birthday gift to myself. Hold on. Did you stop and have some cake? We did. Yeah. We got to get into this.

300 miles. Yes. Do you hate yourself? Is there a part of you that you want to feel? Like there's no way that's enjoyable. Yeah, I get that question a lot and I just really enjoy suffering. Yeah, well, that's, like, where did the drive come from to do something like? That's a big hill to climb.

For me, I think my capacity is like knowing have I reached my limit yet. And when I did 100 miles, my first 100 miles, my first 100 mile race, I did two 100 mile races in 2024. And I trained for my first 100 mile race at the same time. I was in the academy for Toronto Fire as well. So it was very, very difficult because I got my acceptance for my 100 mile race and my acceptance for Toronto Fire at the same time. And I said, I guess I'm training for both.

So I was able to keep up with it. Yeah. And I said, well, if I can do both, I could probably do more. So then last year I ran my fastest 100 mile race and then trained really hard and then ran my first 200 mile and then I ran my first 300 mile this year. So that was all within less than a year. How long does it take to run 300 miles? So it took me. I ended up breaking the record by, I think, five hours. So the previous record was, I think it was 100 hour, 105 hours and I ran it in 99 hours and 55 minutes. What do you, do you, I mean, you got to sleep at some point. So my longest

sleep was an hour and a half, but most of my sleeps during the race were probably like 20 minutes, and a lot of them were just basically laying on my back on the trail, just sleeping with the scorpions, hoping not to get bit by any snakes. Okay, so Celine, here's one thing I do know about marathons is when you're training, they tell you there's this expression called like bonging or hitting the wall. And they say generally that happens around 20 miles, right? where's the wall when you're running 300 miles? The hard part is so like with the marathon, you can,

it's now down to a science. You can plan your race based off of the route you do. With these ultra-marathon distances, you don't know how your day is going to go. Because you can feel it at mile 20. You can feel it at kilometer 20 or you can feel it at hour 20. So when did you feel it? I felt it.

The day was. Day one, seven miles in. So what had? Like the lactic acid was building up in your legs? Or it was an entirely psychological thing? No, for me it was psychological because I went from minus 15 degrees to 40 degrees heat, desert heat. Yeah.

So you had a moment of clarity where you said, yeah, I am a little bit crazy. It was a moment of... This is a weird idea. It was a moment of why am I here and who am I trying to kid? Yeah, yeah. Celine, you're not the type of person who goes on vacation and just lies on a beach. No, these are my vacations. Right.

Yeah, no. Okay. Yeah. So, okay. So the evidence is mounting that you are, in fact, a little bit nuts. Yeah. Yeah. That's okay.

And your mom's over here. Are you agreeing with me or? Absolutely. Okay. So you're nuts. But you're directing it towards really great things. I'd like to think so. Yeah.

Yeah. Are you, I remember Daniel Craig was asked after he had shown. shot one of his, James Bonds, said, are you going to come back for another one? And he very vociferously said, hell no. And that set the internet on fire. And he came back a few days later. And he said, listen, after you run a marathon, if somebody asks you, are you going to run another marathon, your instinct in that moment to say, I'm never running again. And it takes a little bit time before you realize, yeah, I actually kind of like it. So he came back. I think he did two more after that.

Are you, like, how did you feel when you were done? So the nice thing is, so I already have my year planned. But the nice thing is 300 miles was the longest race I had to do this year. So what else are you doing this year? So in less than two months, I'm running a 200-mile race on the Bruce Trail, actually in Ontario. Okay. So I'm going from basically to purd into perspective, I guess people would understand the distance.

So I'm basically running from Blue Mountain to Caledon. and then running back to Blue Mountain all on the Bruce Trail. Like through the woods, up and down. Through the woods, yeah. I mean, look, I did a couple of, I did three tough mutters. I thought I was tough. I mean, you still are. No, I am.

No, no, no. I bruise like a peach. Me too. I am. Like, look, I always say that if I were on in like a lost situation with a plane going down on an island, the best thing I could do for every, all the survivors would be to offer myself up as food for the group. because I have nothing to contribute to our survival. I also don't feel if you'd shake it though because you don't get a lot of meat in your bones

so that might be a little tough. Yeah, I know. Well, listen, but meat's meat. Beggars can't be choosers, right? Desperate, desperate. But I remember when I was done with my marathon, my feet were a mess. Yeah. Now, it was also a problem.

I went out and I did the one thing they say you're not supposed to do, which is a change your routine. Yep. And I thought I wasn't changing my routine. It turns out I bought the wrong pair of socks and they were coming. compression socks. You're not supposed to run in compression socks. There's no blood in your feet. But I was in a lot of pain. I was in a lot of pain. How, what does 300 miles do to the human body? So, um, it all comes down to your training because the more physically and mentally prepared you are,

just the better you are with how the duration of the race is going to be on your body. So I did a lot of like, I don't just do, I don't just run. So the race played out pretty well in my favorite. because I train at a high altitude gym. So I train at 11,500 feet and 14% oxygen at a gym. Of course you do. So I do that three to four times a week. To heat train, I was on the stairmaster with a boxing sauna suit. So basically it's like a suit that the boxers use for cutting.

I was on the stairmaster for two hours at a time. Still nervous for the heat. I actually bought a sleeping bag that's like a sauna. So it goes up to about like 35 degrees Celsius. So it wrapped myself in one of those emergency blankets. and would go for a run and come home and go in there. Okay, Salina, you're a fascinating person. Like, you don't, like, you haven't left anything to chance here.

No. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. I did too. Yeah, I was, I'm sure you did it in three minutes. Hold on a second. Who did it in less time? Yeah, yeah. Let's make a bet.

Ten bucks says you didn't get altitude sickness. I did not. I absolutely did. I absolutely did. I wanted to die. I wanted to die. But I also didn't, I did no training. I should have.

I did no training. I guarantee you trained as if this was the most important thing in your life. I did it when the actually it was, so the year I ran my first marathon, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and then I did my first ultra marathon in Iceland. So I did a 24-hour race in Iceland in the mountains in the snow. Do you know what the national food of Iceland is? Couldn't tell you. Hot dogs.

Oh, I love those. I'm not kidding. Hot dogs are the national food of Iceland. Got a love a glizzy man. Did you have any when you're there? Of course I did. They're amazing. Yeah.

Didn't even know it. Yeah. All right. Well, we're going to take a quick break when we come back. I'm just going to keep peeling this onion to see what we'll see what's left. Don't go anywhere more with Celine Malone. Probably the toughest human being I've ever met. My conversation with Celine Malone, ultra distance runner, firefighter,

and person who has been put on this earth to make me doubt my value in the universe is here in studio with me. Celine, welcome. Hello, once again. Hello, once again. Okay, so you won the Divide 200. That was in Alberta. That was your first major 200 mile victory. Multiple podium finishes

in Canadian Ultras, including Sulphur Springs, Talley in the Valley and the Halliburton Forest. We have some... Mark Carney did it last year. He did a... He did like the... He did a 200-mile... No, no, no, no. He did the... It was like... the 12k or the 16k he did at Halliburton trail race last year because they have a bunch of different

distances. Yeah. So he went out and everyone shows up to it's a very small event, but like honestly the best volunteer and best support you can ever ask for at this event. But he just showed up and ran with like the 12K and just stayed the whole time and hung out with people. That's cool. That's cool.

But we've got some texts that have been coming in and someone asked us if you are sponsored. No. So you just do this because you, because. Yeah. And so all the, this can't be, this can't be an inexpensive exercise. It's not. It's not. Yeah, it definitely does break the bank.

But for me, you know, like there are worse things I could be doing. I mean, some people would say otherwise. But is it, for you, is it, is there a competition element or is it just a personal, like, how far can I push myself? So when I did my 200 mile. I'm like, I just want to finish. Yeah. And that I didn't realize until I crossed the finish line that I had one. So like for me...

Oh, you're one of those people. For me, I... I wasn't even. I didn't even know. Look at me. I'm the best. Oh, yes. So I had no idea. And it was the same thing. When I did the Arizona Monster, I'm like, I just want to make it to the finish line.

I mean, there are people who train their whole lives for these things. And you, you would... Didn't even think you were trying and you beat them. If they're listening right now, they are... Well, they're feeling like I am right now. Probably. And I don't mean for that. But like I do train really hard.

Yeah, of course you do. But I, but for me, it's just I, I'm like, I got so excited when I came back. And I started running again just last week. And I was just so excited to train again. And like that's what I live for. I live to like work really hard and then just see what I can do. And that's enough for me. And if it means first place or last place, that's all I really doesn't matter.

Celine, did you hear about the L.A. marathon this year? I did. And the medals that they gave out, the same metal. You either finish it or you ended at mile 20, I think, or 18. It was 18 miles. 18 miles. So before the balk, they're giving out the same metal that they're given to the people who finish.

How do you feel about that? I mean, all I can say is if I can run in the desert and be expected to get to the finish line and not, you know, you don't get. So we get these belt buckles. And everyone jokes because you basically work really hard for a piece of hardware. And they don't give belt buckles if you don't make it to the finish line. So when I heard that, I'm like, well, what's the point? Then at that point, make an 18 mile, like, distance and say, good for you, you got here. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a participation middle.

At that point. Yeah. But I don't think if you say you could, because then all those people are going to parade around and say they did the marathon. And I'm like, you can't, you can't do that. Yeah. Like, in my own, my own personal opinion. So I have to assume that you sort of, you've described your training. I have to assume that it's all, there's charts and graphs and what you can eat and

the calories going in, the calories coming out. No. No, nothing like that? No. So I've got a coach. Her name is Amanda Nelson and she's actually a dairy farmer and professional ultra runner that lives just in Woodstock. And she writes all of my running training plans.

I do on my own nutrition. I do all my own strength work and accessory work and everything. Do you ever have a day where you just sit on the couch and watch TV and eat Ben and Jerry's. No, but Ben and Jerry's does happen at some point. Like, I got to have the ice cream. What's the laziest thing about you? I mean, I sat on the couch for an hour this morning.

An hour. An hour. I could do that with my, I literally could do that with my eyes closed. Like last, last week I started going back to the gym. And for me, I usually get up at 4.30 and I go to the gym for 5.5.30 in the morning. For me last week, I was going at 9.30 instead. You know, you've got, this is such a, an crazy accomplishment that you created from whole cloth.

You are a hero. You're a firefighter. But thank you for your service, by the way. No problem. It feels to me, you're such an incredibly positive person. It feels to me like the natural sort of side hustle would be motivational speaking. Have you ever considered something like that? I've been told that from time to time.

that is in hopefully within like my near future at some point because I do enjoy like having those moments of like trying to help people like achieve their goals. And with this process I've had so many like after my like completing the race, I've had so many people just say the most inspiring thing is knowing someone from Ontario was able to do this. Yeah. And knowing that I live just in Barry or just in Alastin. and you make it seem achievable.

And you're not a sponsored athlete. You're not a professional. You are just somebody that nobody knew and you came and you did the thing. And that for me, like, was, it was so humbling and so nice to hear because for me, it's just like, I just want to do these things

because it makes me happy of a passion for it. And through this, I actually volunteered at a trail race last weekend. And I was at the midway mark. and the guy that organizes the races, he's a really close friend of mine and I've known for 10 years. And he asked me, he's like,

why do you want to be here? And I'm like, because this is the point in the race where you can make a difference. Halfway through or just over the half is where people are going to need that push to keep going. And people were stopping.

They're like, I need to take a picture with you. I'm like, today's not about me. Today's about you. Let's make today about you. And they wanted those words of encouragement and I was so happy to give it to them. And like, that's what I enjoy. Just like seeing people in their element,

seeing them do their thing and me being able to help them. And speaking of you, I mean, you help people all the time as a firefighter. And I found out dear friends at the Ben Mulroney show that Celine isn't just a firefighter in one place. She also full-time firefighter in Toronto and a volunteer firefighter in her hometown. Yeah. Come on. You're making us all look bad here. Well, you know, the nice thing is I get to do it with my partner. So my boyfriend is also a firefighter as well.

It's not his full-time job. He is a part-time as well. So we do it together. You would have to be with a firefighter. I mean, no, but like you are, here's what's wonderful about you. You don't, you don't come off as, like, scary intense. I'm sure there's intensity. I hope I don't.

I know, tiny people can be intimidating. 5-2, by the way. 5-2, firefighter driving the truck. No, but you've got this very warm energy about you, but it belies an intensity, I'm sure, and I think you probably need that in whoever's going to be hanging out with you. Because like I said, you guys have to decide where you're going to go on vacation. And I guess he's going to, I don't know, climb the mountain with you.

He loves it. He loves it. Actually, his goal now, he's not much of a runner, but his goal now, he's like, I want to be able to run because I want to pace you at a section in your race. That's my goal. How tall is he? He is six feet. So his gate is a lot longer than yours. I bet you can beat them.

Actually, most people I run with, they're taller than me. So I'm usually like six strides behind, like trying to keep up and they're like just gazelles going through. You know, honestly, I was just looking at the schedule. I wish we could stick around for another half hour. I could talk to you for an hour. We didn't even scratch the surface on the stuff I want to talk. I'm so happy to have met you. and I'm so pleased to have shared a bit of your story

with the people who listen to this show. Salim Malone, thank you so much. We will keep an eye on you and come back the next time you climb a mountain or save a life. It's just a real pleasure to know you. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. And thank you so much for joining us on the show.

Just a reminder, if you want more BMS, we put out a podcast every day, and you can find all our content on all those platforms that we always talk about. Seems like yesterday when we arrived here. Hi. The story we know. You of all people know what secrets have done at this family.

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