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iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cakeEmily Shandruk , Vancouver, BC

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphinsLiliana Plava , Calgary, AB

iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heartChristine Gracel , Calgary, AB

iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishmentHelen Kolodziejzyk , Calgary, AB

iRun but not enoughMichael Shaw , New Westminister, BC

iRun because I never thought I would be able toGary Morris , Winnipeg, MB

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentallyKathleen Keenan , Brampton, ON

iRun because people around me inspire mePina Bevilacqua , Caledon, ON

iRun therefore I amDuncan Walsh , Nottingham, UK

iRun because I liveGeorges Schneller , Laval, QC

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful countryCheryl Carter , Clearwater , BC

iRun for overall wellbeingTrish McCourt , Halifax, NS

iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friendNathalie Joncas-Caissie , St-Antoine, NB

iRun because it makes me feel powerfulCarlene Paquette , Carp, ON

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing meTeresa Sterling , Ottawa , ON

iRun because it’s in meMichael Foley , Stittsville, ON

iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have doneJames Sauve , Ottawa, ON

iRun for meKiza Francis , Ottawa,ON

iRun to prove to myself I canLesley McGougan , Brampton, ON

iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s bodyChris Baker , Etobicoke, ON

iRun because I can and I’m gratefulTerry SanCartier , Gatineau, QC

iRun because when I run I feel most aliveMeghan Lynch , Ottawa, ON

iRun to unleash my inner athleteAdelle Densham , Avonmore, ON

iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foodsRobin McIntyre , Ottawa, ON

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings meMichelle Jordan , Ottawa, ON

iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeingBeth Neil , Lombardy, ON

iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sonsKeith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun because endorphins are freeCassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun because couch potatoes die young Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter , Alberta

iRun because I like buying running clothes Pamela Blaikie , Ontario

iRun slowly!Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brainMarie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia

iRun because I learn more about who I am with every kmSteph Mansell , Quebec

iRun because iEat Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me Andrei Lucaciu , Ontario

iRun because the wall is meant to be broken Jonathan Bird , Ontario

iRun because it has saved my life John Marshall , Alberta

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iRun to my happy place and some days it’s very Doreen May , Alberta

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iRun because it gets my husband out there Tricia LaLonde , Alberta

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iRun because not everyone can Olivia Harvey , New Brunswick

iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit Lisa Groulx , Ontario

iRun whenever I feel the need to escape Iona Hillis , Ontario

iRun because it’s like flying, only lower Glenn Johnson , Ontario

iRun because it makes me feel powerful Sarah Kallaghan , Alberta

iRun because I’ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun Cheryl Kelly , Ontario

iRun because there is no finish line Claire Kilgour , Ontario

iRun so my daughters know that they can, too Shelley Kirkpatrick , New Brunswick

iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be Monique Lavoie , Ontario

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iRun because my heart tells me to William Martin , Manitoba

iRun to prove to them that iCan Catherine Smith , Manitoba

iRun because it’s fun when it’s done Sue Matte , Ontario

iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was Hanna Baer , Quebec

iRun see where my feet will take me todayMegan Dolinskas , New York

iRun for the cool t-shirts! Pina Bevilacqua , Ontario

iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids Catherine Empey , British Columbia

iRun to inspire my kids to tryGlen Johnston , Nunavut

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iRun because I want to live to be 100! Colette DeJean , Ontario

iRun for health, i Run for life Pat Cheung , British Columbia

iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy Sara Campbell , Nova Scotia

iRun because it’s better than almost everything else Nathan Carey , Ontario

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn’t Peter Cicalo , Ontario

iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun because endorphins are free Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun because couch potatoes die young Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun because it's cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter , Alberta

iRun because I like buying running clothes Pamela Blaikie , Ontario

iRun slowly! Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

iRun because iEat Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km Steph Mansell , Quebec

iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't Peter Cicalo , Ontario

iRun because it's better than almost everything else Nathan Carey , Ontario

iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! Cathy Brzoza , British Columbia

iRun to inspire my children! Wendy Bowen , Manitoba

iRun because it sure beats the bus Robin Robbins , Alberta

iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live Pascale Synnott , Québec

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iRun because it's a great stress release Brooke McKenzie , Yukon

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iRun because it helps me see things more clearly Jennifer Pitts , Ontario

iRun to eat Maureen Tritscher , Alberta

iRun to correct years of sedentary living! Mike Scott , Ontario

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iRun all the livelong day Pierre Saint-Laurent , Québec

iRun to challenge my perceived limitations Cassandra Williams , Ontario

iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state Tammy Rainville , Ontario

iRun so that I can live longer and stronger Derek MacPhail , Ontario

iRun to feel great Kathryn Rachar , Saskatchewan

iRun because I like to be healthy Melanie Oickle , New Brunswick

iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries Joanna Skomra , Ontario

iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin Charlyn McGregor , Saskatchewan

iRun for the individual pursuit Robert Pelletier , New Brunswick

iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge Tim Nixon , British Columbia

iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment Amber Moase , Nova Scotia

iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul Sonia Mendes , Ontario

iRun because walking is too slow Barry Knapp , Ontario

See Mommy Run

In Praise of Marathoners

March 28th, 2012

The group of runners that I’m coaching through Team in Training is gearing up for their last very long run (33k) this Saturday before the marathon at the end of April.

As I ran a 5k this afternoon, I thought about them. It’s a small team, made up of five people.

One man who lost his wife right before joining TNT. Aside from being a champion fundraiser, I’ve never heard him complain. Not once. Not about distance or energy or anything. With everything he’s been through, oddly, he’s the one I’ve “coached” the least. I’m not quite sure how it took him 40 years to discover running, but he is, at least to me, a natural.

One man who has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve never known someone to embrace a team like he has. He teases me about my grammar in the emails I send out and affectionately calls me coach. He’s grunted through leg pains and injuries. Even after his toughest runs, he has given every single person on the run a hug and a high five after they’re done.

The woman who is my sole Flex participant. Who does all her runs alone on a country road. The woman who has never traveled nor fund raised and has raised almost $5,000 this season and who is flying to Spain to run. The woman who motivates herself to go and run, and then to run faster and farther.

The coach turned participant who has so much other stuff going on in her life that it amazes me she still has the energy to run at all. The woman who will do three back shifts and still manage to show up at 8:00 on a Saturday morning. I run with her and she tells me, “I’m good, Keep going.” And I know she is, because when she isn’t, she grimly informs me, “It’s hard going today.” And I so admire her honesty and her perseverance to always get that last 500 metres in, no matter what.

And the woman who started this not as a novice runner, but as a non-runner. The woman who has pushed through more injuries than I honestly would recommend. The woman who has started running, hated running and now has begun to excel at running through sheer tenacity. The only reason she has kept going is because this cause and this race specifically means so very much to her.

Five months ago, when I signed my contract, I had no idea it would be like this. I knew there would be laughter and smiles and probably even tears, but I didn’t know that by the end of it, there would be true friendships.

I’ve watched this group through the ups and downs of marathon training. Such as it is with marathons, the ups are very high but the lows can be very, very low. I’ve seen how they’ve managed to motivate themselves to continue, how they’ve pushed themselves on.

I knew that it took a special type of person to join Team in Training, but I didn’t realize just how special these people would be.

18 months ago, I wasn’t in the best place. I found myself in a spot in my life where I wasn’t satisfied with what I was doing or who I felt like I was. And so through some therapy sessions and a lot of deep reflection, I figured out a way to get pointed in the direction I was pretty sure that I wanted to go.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve realized that where I am now is the perfect place for me right now. Team in Training came into my life at the perfect time. Perfect for them, because they needed a coach who really cared about the participants, and perfect for me, because I was able to embrace this whole program in a way that it deserves.

Next week, I’m going to register to run the Montreal Rock and Roll Marathon as a part of Team in Training Halifax chapter. I am going to continue to coach through the summer, but in watching the runners I’ve met over the past 5 months, the 20 in my season and the 50 from the summer season who I also have the honour of running beside, I feel like it’s time to join them.

I didn’t expect friendship, and I really didn’t expect to care so much about them outside of running. And yet here I am, thinking about how I’ll start my journey back from Nepal just as they finish their marathon and wondering what airports will have WiFi for me to check in and see how they did.

This whole experience has completely reinforced my belief that we are all such wonderful creations, willing to share and suffer and love just because we want to belong. Because we want to make the world a better place.

And I am so proud to have been a part of it.

Share
2 Responses to “In Praise of Marathoners”
  1. Kathleen Says:

    What an incredible journey you’ve been on together. Congratulations on your coaching. Sounds like you’re a natural.

  2. Emily Says:

    Amazing… I love this.

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