Canadian Lawyer

Cross Examined Running just as fast as she can . . . Lanni Marchant broke a 28-year-old record in Toronto last October. Lanni Marchant holds the Canadian women's record in the marathon but is still working on her Plan B of practising criminal law. F or most practitioners, a law career is a proud professional end in itself. For Lanni Marchant, it's merely a back-up plan for when her legs give out. The 29-year-old from London, Ont., holds down a day job as a criminal defence counsel in Chattanooga, Tenn. She's also the reigning Canadian record-holder in the women's marathon — a crown she captured in October at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, running the race in two hours, 28 minutes [2:28:00] and breaking the previous Canadian record of 26 F e b r uary 2014 www.CANADIAN 2:28:36, which had stood untouched for 28 years. How Marchant manages to juggle the demands of her legal work, while also competing among the elite ranks of the world's long-distance runners, is a marvel of self-discipline and a mystery only she can truly explain. But this much is clear: while most young associates would be happy enough honing their skills, winning cases, and impressing their law firm bosses, Marchant views her law career as a kind of Plan B, something to fall back on — "to keep my brain busy," as she puts it — when her legs L a w ye r m a g . c o m finally tire and her body gets too worn out for running 42-kilometre races in under two-and-a-half hours. "Running is my priority," Marchant says. "But there's a time limit on being able to run at this level, and I'm well aware of that. So I really want to keep practising law because, well, that's what I'm educated in. And I'll need something to keep me busy for when I'm not training anymore. "I think I'd stir the pot, get in trouble," she laughs, "if I had all the free time in the world." Chrissy Mincy, Marchant's fellow associate at Speek Webb Turner & Newkirk CANADA RUNNING SERIES By Richard Foot

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