“Allow me to take you on an inspiring journey of your own because if I can do it-SO CAN YOU!”-Yana
For over a decade, Yana Hempler has played a big role in transforming the lives of dozens of people through her training programs and overall “can do it” attitude. Having overcome a number of barriers to success and achieving things that others believed were impossible, Yana aims to positively impact the community around her while at the same time working on meaningful projects.
Without a doubt, Yana has established herself as a leading fitness and running expert. A number of corporations, race directors, event organizers, brands, as well as print and online publications have sought out her written work. Yana’s results speak for themselves, as a large number of her clients achieved significant personal bests in nearly every distance, landed dream jobs, got promoted, got in the best shape of their lives and stayed fit long after they finished her programs. She pioneered the Get Fit & Win $1000 Challenge, lead corporate running teams to victory and, along with the help of her clients and run clinic participants, raised thousands of dollars for local charities. In 2020, Yana ran 12 Marathons in 12 days for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation raising almost $30,000. Then, in 2021, she undertook a bigger challenge, running 30 Marathons in 30 days raising almost $100,000 for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
Yana is the only running coach to ever be a finalist in the Vancouver Island’s Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Awards for three years in a row.
She has a number of projects on the go at any one time and is always looking for new opportunities to inspire people to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Yana’s passion for continuous growth, fitness, finance and self-improvement is what drives every area of her life.
Academic, Business & Writing Accomplishments:
- Winner of the Saanich News Local Hero Awards 2023 in the “Community Builder” category
- Published in STRONG Fitness Magazine’s “Women To Watch” section
- Published written work in Oxygen Magazine, IMPACT Magazine, Canadian Running Magazine, CVV Magazine, Ageless Living Magazine and countless other print and online publications.
- Previously been selected as a blogger for the VIRA Island Race Series, Victoria Goddess Run and BMO Vancouver Marathon
- 4x Winner of the Black Press Business Scholarship at the University of Victoria
- 3rd Place Winner of the Plan It Business Plan Competition ($1000 prize)
- 3X Finalist in the Vancouver Island’s Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Awards
- Graduate of the Bachelor of Commerce Program (Peter B Gustavson School of Business)
- Fluent in Russian and English.
Running Accomplishments:
- Ran 30 Marathons in 30 Days raising almost $100,000 for the Victoria Hospitals foundation.
- Ran 12 Marathons in 12 Days for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in 2020. This fundraiser received widespread local and national coverage in Canadian Running Magazine, CTV News, CHEK News, Black Press, Victoria Buzz, The Zone 91.3, CFAX 1070, 107.3 Virgin Radio, and Ocean 98.5
- Completed 420km in 6 days raising funds for the Help Fill a Dream Foundation
- Completed the Cedar Ultra 24 hour Run to benefit Help Fill a Dream Foundation in 2018 and 2019 (completed over 120km both times in 24 hours)
- Ran from Duncan to Victoria (63km in 2015) with client Jerry Hughes to raise funds for Help Fill a Dream Foundation
- 6x Boston Qualifying Marathon Finisher, Boston Marathon completed in 2015.
- Personal Best in the Half Marathon (21.1km)- 1:28:15 Mar 2015
- Personal Best in the 5k 19:25 March 2015
- Personal Best in the Marathon (42.2km)-3:18:xx Oct 2014
- Personal best in the 10k 40:56 April 2014
- Ran the entire length of Vancouver Island (500km) in order to support local charities (Mustard Seed, SPCA and Recreation Integration Victoria) June 2013
- Trained for a fitness competition and a marathon in the span of 9 weeks (March 2013)
- Bettered my 10k time by half hour (2012) after coming back from an injury
- Female Athlete of the Year (2008)
- NWASAA zone champion and competing at the Provincial level in Track & Field (1500m, 3000m) and Badminton (2005-2007)