HOKA Athlete Ambassador Liv McIlkenny of Toronto might fit the mold of a typical fitness social media influencer, but her mission to inspire others sets her apart. For the last five years, the HOKA ambassador has harnessed her platform to build a fitness community that thrives on motivation and movement. Through staging run clubs and fitness classes, McIlkenny continues to encourage others to stay active, particularly in a post-pandemic world.
McIlkenny’s passion for fitness took root during her teenage years, and was shaped by constant travel for soccer tournaments and gymnastics meets. Later, during her time as a flight attendant, she began using social media as a resource to find fitness classes and studios in cities she visited. This ultimately led her to become a fitness instructor at SoulCycle Toronto, in 2017.
“I really started making a name for myself as a spin instructor, and it eventually took on a life of its own,” she says.
Adapting to the new norm
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, as an instructor, McIlkenny had to adapt. She leveraged her growing following to run consistent online fitness classes for six months, greatly expanding her reach. Around the same time, she discovered running. Despite being a newcomer, she was drawn to its affordability and simplicity, and the personal satisfaction it brought. “I wanted to be playful in my approach,” she shared. “It was always about how I felt. Running became my time to connect with myself.”
As she began training for the 2024 TCS Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon earlier this year, McIlkenny combined her fitness expertise with her new love for running by creating the LivSweaty Run Club, a weekly gathering designed to make running accessible for beginners. “I think there’s still some stigma around running—that it’s intimidating,” McIlkenny says. “It’s not all about marathons or how fast or far you can run. There’s a fun, community-driven, social aspect to it, too.”
Social media and the running boom
In 2024, cities and races across Canada experienced a running boom, with sold-out events and run clubs flourishing. McIlkenny attributes this surge to running’s accessibility during the pandemic. “In the pandemic, we were so limited in what we could do, and running offered a way to set challenges and goals—including for myself,” she says.
What started as a goal to run 10K evolved into McIlkenny finishing her first half-marathon in Toronto last fall.
“I think people who run are so inspiring, because you see individuals from all walks of life,” says McIlkenny. “For me, I know I’m healthy and active every day, but then I look over mid-race and see a 75-year-old absolutely crushing it. It’s the moments like that keep me coming back.”
True to runner tradition, McIlkenny has set her sights on her first marathon. “I’m crossing my fingers I can run New York next year. If not, I can’t wait to run my first marathon in front of my family, friends and fitness community in Toronto,” she says.
From “dad shoes” to everyday lifestyle
A HOKA Athlete Ambassador since 2020, McIlkenny admits she wasn’t initially familiar with the brand. “I remember the only person I knew who had heard of HOKA was my friend’s dad, who ran ultras,” she laughs. “It’s amazing to see how much they’ve grown over the past four years. Now I see people everywhere wearing HOKA Cliftons, because they’re such versatile shoes.”
For McIlkenny, the partnership is about more than just running shoes. It aligns with everything she believes in. “I get to do what I love [every day]—motivating and inspiring people to be active,” she says.
This story is a collaboration between Canadian Running and HOKA Canada.
