iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON

iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour, Ontario

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

iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith, Manitoba

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

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

iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp, Ontario

iRun because it�s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia

iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur, British Columbia

iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK

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

iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw, New Westminister, BC

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

iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan

iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley, Stittsville, ON

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

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

iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC

iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan, Ontario

iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON

iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard, Alberta

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

iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris, Winnipeg, MB

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

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

iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston, Nunavut

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

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

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON

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

iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson, British Columbia

iRun for me – Kiza Francis, Ottawa,ON

iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop, Yukon

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

iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang, Alberta

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

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

iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario

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

iRun for me! – Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan

iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario

iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario

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

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

iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario

iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston, Alberta

iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick

iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton, British Columbia

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn�t – Peter Cicalo, Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn�t – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott, Qu�bec

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

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

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

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC

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

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

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

iRun because it�s fun when it�s done – Sue Matte, Ontario

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

iRun because I live – Georges Schneller, Laval, QC

iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas, Ontario

iRun because it�s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON

iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario

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

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

iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham, Avonmore, ON

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

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

iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario

iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams, Ontario

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

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

iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall, Alberta

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

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

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta

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

iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello, Ontario

iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins, Alberta

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

iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen, Manitoba

iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier, New Brunswick

iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

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

iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur, Quebec

iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan, Brampton, ON

iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka, Alberta

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette, Carp, ON

iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter, Alberta

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

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

iRun because I can�t dance – Mario Javier, Ontario

iRun so I don�t say never ever again – Linda Klaric, Manitoba

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

iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin, Manitoba

iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan

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

iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent, Qu�bec

iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt, Halifax, NS

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

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava, Calgary, AB

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

iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher, Alberta

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

iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon, British Columbia

iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas, New York

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

iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

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

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON

iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor, Saskatchewan

iRun because otherwise I�m grumpy – Alexandre Charest, Quebec

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

iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario

Cover photo from the current issue of iRun Magazine

Photo of Mark Sutcliffe's new book - Why I Run

September 2011

Back to Table of Contents

The 'Oops' Factor

By Rick Hellard

Welcome to the Oops Factor - where you get to learn from our mistakes.
This month, we’re talking about young runners and how to motivate them without pushing too hard. Think “How to” instead of “What not to do.” Actually, we’re going to talk about one young runner and what motivated him. More accurately, we’re going to talk about ME and why I run and what has kept me running.

When I first started running almost 30 years ago, all I wanted to do was be the fastest in gym class so we could get to the fun stuff like playing games. We all had to run a whole mile every class, and the sooner we got the run done, the more time we had to play, so that was our incentive. Eventually, being the first person dine in the class became my goal, and one that I shared with an equally able and motivated classmate. We exchanged ‘wins’ on a regular basis. We pushed each other every day, and we pulled the rest of the class. Eventually, the teacher suggested we both run cross country for the school, and that was the beginning of my new life as ‘Rick the Running Guy.’

I was very motivated to do the training on my own and basically raced every run I did. I regularly tested myself against the clock or the bus almost every run—yes, the bus. I’d meet up with the school bus about 2 miles from school and made it my goal to beat the students on the bus to the front doors. The school bus was actually a city bus and it had to stop and pick people up along the way, whereas I did not. It was like the tortoise and the hare: I was the tortoise that did not stop, and the bus was the hare that stopped fairly regularly. I often beat the bus and my fellow students were amazed and complimented me. That positive feedback from my peers was all I needed to feed my motivation and desire to win a few tight races with good competition, motorized or otherwise. These victories made it even more rewarding and fun.

I think some of the crucial ingredients to getting kids (or anyone for that matter) into competitive running and keeping them running is what I had right from the start: desire, a worthy adversary I could beat some of the time, positive reinforcement and fun, each of which fed the other.

What I did not have was a set of parents applying high pressure to perform—they were supportive, but my parents and siblings took it all in stride (no pun intended) and even kept me grounded when my ego got a bit too big. My family was not impressed because I only won small races. I never won the big races. Heck, I rarely won the under 19 category in Ottawa. None of us realized that it often took some future Olympians and Canadian Champions to beat me. My not winning those races certainly made me try harder and developed my ability to throw myself on the sword to win.

I was very lucky to actually train with these future Olympians and Canadian Champions as well as race against them. We had an amazingly talented training group and were goo friends that pushed and pulled each other to faster times. We were all able to separate the competitive juices and use them only when we needed to. We were friends who warmed up and joked together before the race who became mortal enemies after the gun went off, then morphed back to friends again as soon as the race was over. Being able to contain the competitive spirit in such a small box allowed us all to keep a good perspective on what we were doing. Except for one guy named Jon Halvorsen, each of us had also been humbled by each other at least one time and so had a healthy respect for the talent and what the others could do on the right day. Jon was already a humble speedster, so he fit right in. We never took for granted that the pecking order or results were pre-determined, which kept us focused and maybe a bit hopeful to move up the ranks.

This training group really exemplified the power of training partners and the value in finding people to play with that have a similar level of ability and mindset. Nowadays, running groups are everywhere and many of the local running stores have one. The most obvious example is the Running Room Run Club with their mobs of runners broken into pace groups. They’ve set the bar very high and their formula certainly is successful at both getting people running, but also keeping them running.

Based on my experience so far, I believe the ingredients necessary for the young runner to have a long and successful running career are as follows:
• Support with positive reinforcement.
• Enjoyment—obviously, one has to like to run, but a good group of friends who also like to run is very helpful.
• Competitive spirit that likes a good battle with a worthy adversary, no matter where they are in the field of athletes.
• The inherent belief that if they can’t win, they can at least try as hard as they can and hope to improve.
• An acceptance that they can only do the best they can on the day.
• A healthy respect for the ability of others, regardless of how good they are relative to you.
• An understanding that the goal of every race or training outing should be to execute things properly, and not so much about the times. Given various situations, times are dynamic and to a certain extent, out of their control, but executing pacing, strategy, attitude, equipment choices are all things they can control 100% and getting them all right on a regular basis is a victory in and of itself.

One ingredient that some may feel is missing is talent or ability.

I honestly do not feel this is a necessary aspect to get into and to continue running for a long time. Certainly talent is necessary to do well, but to be competitively minded, to enjoy running or to make a running routine a fact of life, it is not. All of these aspects are completely within your control, and by incorporating them into your running mindset, the chances of a long and healthy career are good to great.