At Amazfit, we're proud to partner with athletes who embody ambition, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of what's possible. That’s why we're excited to officially welcome pro marathoner Rory Linkletter to the team. Rory is the Canadian record holder in the half-marathon with a personal best of 59:49, which he set earlier this year in Houston. He holds the 2nd fastest Canadian time in the marathon behind Cam Levins in 2:06:49. And he's just getting started.
Rory isn't your typical rising star, and his journey has been anything but linear. He describes himself as “always a dreamer,” someone who has consistently believed in big possibilities, even when early results didn’t reflect that vision. While he wasn't the top runner in high school or at Brigham Young University where he competed collegiately, he's slowly built his career through patience, persistance, and unwavering belief that progress is always possible.
Today, Rory has his sights set on placing top 3 at the upcoming Boston Marathon, and we're honored to support him as he chases his next goals.
"I knew the marathon was going to be my calling."
Rory's evolution as a professional marathoner didn't happen overnight. Before he transitioned to the roads, Rory competed in the 5000m and 10,000m at BYU, running personal bests of 13:36 and 28:12 and competing in the NCAA championships. He went pro right out of college, dabbling on the track for a year before completely turning his attention to the marathon.
Rory openly shares that he learned the hard way before truly getting a feel for the marathon. "I feel like I was a slow learner. As a marathoner, I failed in my first three, four marathons in the sense that I would go out, feel good, blow up, hold on for dear life," he explains.
He debuted in 2:16 and spent a few years in the 2:12 range before having a major breakthrough in Seville, running 2:08. Over time, Rory's confidence grew and he began aiming higher. "I went from like being a solid national level marathoner, you know, one of Canada's best, making world teams, making Olympic teams to now I'm thinking a lot bigger than that. I'm not just trying to compete with Canada's best or North America's best. I want to go after the best of the best."
How Fatherhood Has Fueled His Purpose
Another key turning point for Rory? Fatherhood. Rory notes that becoming a dad elevated his sense of purpose and accountability. Compared to live before fatherhood, running is about more than just personal success, it's about providing for his family while being a role model.
"When I became a dad, I got better almost instantly. And I think part of that is it felt like the consequences of success and failure were impacting more than just myself."
Rory lives and trains in Flagstaff, AZ with his two kids and wife Jill, who is pregnant with a third on the way. He documents his training and daily life with family on his growing YouTube channel, where he's built a loyal following. Rory's vulnerability and willingness to let people take a peak behind the curtains have kept him grounded and motivated to keep pursuing his dreams.
Why Heart Rate Is So Important To Rory
A self-described data-driven athlete, Rory's approach to training is rooted in precision. Before signing with Amazfit, Rory tested the watches thoroughly to ensure he had the data he needed. When you've been training and competing for as long as Rory has, monitoring your heart rate data is less about evaluating fitness, and more about assurance. Rory knows exactly where his heart rate needs to be for easy runs, threshold work, VO2 workouts, and races.
"As long as I have accurate distance on my watch and accurate heart rate, the rest is going to fall into place," he explained. He asks questions like: How controlled did I feel when my heart rate spiked? Was I relaxed under stress? Does the data match how I felt internally?
"If I look back and I was 5 bpm higher for that effort than I normally am, there's probably something going on. If I'm waking up in the morning tired and I check my sleep score, and I notice that my respiratory rate was a little higher or my my resting heart rate was a little higher, maybe I need to reflect."
For Rory, Amazfit isn't just a tool; it's a trusted partner in helping him execute with precision and confidence.
Looking Ahead to Boston And Beyond
Rory’s mindset can be summed up in four words: high risk, high reward. He’s at a point in his career where he’s not afraid to take big swings, publicly stating ambitious goals like finishing top three at the Boston Marathon and going after the Canadian record in the marathon this fall.
As he continues to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible, we're proud to support him every step of the way.
We’ll be cheering for Rory as he chases his dream to be the best.