There's seldom a dull moment in the life of Martin Reader.
The Canadian Olympic men's beach volleyball player from the 2012 London Summer Games is turning his talents in a new direction this Friday in Toronto.
Along with 2008 Olympian Ken Pereira, (field hockey), Reader is kicking off the 20th annual Pilaros Taste of the Danforth celebrations (honouring Canada’s Greek culture) by competing in the seventh annual Danforth Dash Bed Race to help raise funds for Toronto East General Hospital.
"I am definitely rocking the race tomorrow!" Reader told the Record in an e-mail. "At this point all I know is that it is a 200-foot sprint and I'm with three other people." As for strategy in this decidedly non-Olympic but definitely mega-fun event, Reader says, "I am going to run as quickly as I can and hope we cross the line first! There is some stiff competition as there will be an NHL team, but I'd bank on the Olympians!"
After attaining his longtime goal of representing Canada at the Olympics, Reader retired from beach volleyball and co-founded StriveLife, where he works as an elite fitness and nutrition trainer in in Toronto.
The switch in focus was "inspired by a lifelong passion in athletic performance and nutrition (and to help) people make positive changes to their habits and lifestyles," the Comox athlete-entrepreneur notes on his website.