Dr. Robert Schinke Put His Research to the Test and Overcame Long-COVID

June 10, 2026 – Dr. Robert Schinke has spent his career coaching Olympic and professional athletes on how to mentally conquer exhaustion, pain, and self-doubt. Competing on May 24th at the Sudbury Rocks Marathon, the Laurentian University professor and Vice-Dean put his own academic frameworks to the ultimate test—shattering the Boston Marathon qualifying time for his age division by an astonishing 20 minutes, just years after a grueling battle with long-COVID.

For Dr. Schinke, a former President of the International Society of Sport Psychology, this race was the real-world execution of the psychological principles he teaches.

"One of my core beliefs is that to work with high performers, I need to understand the challenges of persistence firsthand," said Dr. Schinke. "Experiences like exhaustion, pain, and self-questioning are a real part of the human condition when we push ourselves to the precipice. From shared understanding, we can better support confidence and excellence in those we coach."

Faced with running a full marathon distance for the first time, Dr. Schinke relied strictly on process-oriented mental strategies rather than focusing on the daunting finish line.

"I was very much in the moment, working the process instead of the outcome," Dr. Schinke explained. "Marathons are all about the long game, deferring rewards, and being patient. By listening to my body and blocking out external noise, I never hit the proverbial 'wall.' In fact, my last five kilometres were my fastest."

Overcoming a Three-Year Health Setback

The 20-minute qualifying cushion represents a massive triumph of psychological resilience. When COVID-19 hit, Dr. Schinke contracted long-COVID, leaving the elite sports consultant trapped in a body that initially could not run more than a single kilometre.

Rebuilding required the exact framework of patience, goal-setting, and vulnerability that he preaches to elite athletes. He reframed the three-year struggle as an active study in human persistence, relying on his family and local running coach, Helen Francis, to guide him back.

"This marathon was confirmation that when we hit life challenges—and, more importantly, when the people we work with find themselves struggling—all should never be lost," said Dr. Schinke.

A Win Shared with the Sudbury Community

Turning 60 this year, Dr. Schinke notes that his personal milestone is deeply intertwined with the Sudbury community and his colleagues from across the Laurentian campus—including peers like Ratvinder Grewal associate Professor, Bharti School of Engineering & Computat—several of whom were also running endurance events on Sunday.

"We have an engaged running community and an environment where we love our trails and shared experiences in nature," Dr. Schinke concluded. "After the run, sitting with friends, it really felt that we were unified in a win. This experience brings me back into the fold of being mentally and physically healthy, so that I can, in turn, share these exact values of resilience and growth with our students."