Tragedy Into Triumph

When we lined up for the start of a race, my female team mates and I used to joke about it. There we were, anxious – a combination of nervousness and excitement. Before we pass along whispers of good luck, one of us would quietly blurt out “why do we even choose to run?” Maybe it was the nerves talking, but we would all giggle for a moment and reply a quick “I don’t know” before we turned out attention back to the start line. The start of a race is a magical thing. It can be full of hope and potential; something miraculous waiting to happen and worth fighting for. But when we found ourselves asking why, the start line frightened us with worry and dread. Would we race as well as we had hoped? Would we fall off the pack with a fit of muscle cramps? It seemed like in a flash of a moment, the thought of running the race seemed absolutely terrifying.

Then the race was over, and all those feeling had disappeared. After a good race I’d think this is why, this is why I run.  Now at 18 I’m past the high school races and moving onto the next phase, I’m now asking myself why in a different sense. Why do I run? My immediate thoughts are for my overall wellness and because I am part of a team, but I crave to run for something more; I wish all my hard work to benefit someone else rather than just myself.

I heard a lady speak at an elementary school I volunteered at about her running experiences a few weeks back. She started out by explaining that something inside her sparked her passion for running when she watched her first marathon at fourteen. And even though throughout her high school years when she was told she wasn’t a runner and that she shouldn’t run, she knew in her heart that it was something she really wanted to do. So she trained hard and stuck to it.

One phone call changed everything, one where her doctor explained she had breast cancer. However with friends and family by her side, she was able to get through this and can now declare herself a cancer survivor.

She was then able to make her ONERUN dream a reality, and on June 25, 2010, she was able to run 100 kilometres from London to Sarnia in less than 12 hours. Difficult, but not impossible. The kids in the gymnasium immediately began asking her questions, and most of them wondered if she ever took breaks, or how tired she felt after the run. She mentioned that she would try not to stop, but if she had to, there was a van following her with food, water, medical supplies, and most importantly a toilet.

For those of you wondering, this extraordinary woman’s name is Theresa Carriere. Once I heard her speak, I knew that there was something I can do to make my running mean something. Maybe it’s running 100 kilometres, or maybe it’s something else.

 Above: Both videos were filmed on June 25, 2010

I’m not much of a hockey person, but my brother mentioned a particular player to me that fits this theme. His name is Ben Fenelli, and he used to play for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL until something happened just as suddenly as something happened to Teresa Carriere.

Sunyana Sapurji wrote on thestar.com that at 16, Ben Fanelli suffered both skull and facial fractures when he received a hit from another player in October of 2009. His helmet was knocked off and it sent him flying headfirst into a metal stanchion before his head smacked the ice.

Now two years later, Ben Fanelli is creating a program to raise both awareness for brain related injuries as well as funds to support related groups. This program is cleverly named Head Strong. The record.com applauded Mr. Fanelli for his efforts, and mentioned that “as part of his fundraising efforts, Fanelli will take part in the Subaru Triathlon on June 5 in Milton. He will participate in a 750-metre swim, a 30-kilometre bike ride and a 7.5-kilometre run while raising funds for the Brian Injury Association of Canada.” (therecord.com, March 7 2011).  To be honest, I don't know very much about Ben Falleni and Head Strong, but I encourage you to find out more about his story and his goals with this program he has created. Please find his Head Strong page on facebook to like and donate for a good cause.

Above: Ben Falleni during first triatholon, from the facebook page Head Strong.

Both of these individuals have not only inspired others by pulling themselves back up, but by taking their painful experiences and using them to benefit others in charitable ways. I am astounded by you both, and believe that the two deserve a standing ovation. Maybe sometimes when life takes us those two steps back, it gives us time to put things into perspective.

For more information on Theresa and ONERUN, a few sites and articles are listed below.

http://www.onerun.ca/

http://www.goodlifefitness.com/ENews/07_2010/eNews04.aspx

For more information about Ben and Head Strong, a few sites and articles are listed below.

http://www.therecord.com/sports/local/article/543259--fanelli-puts-his-hockey-grit-to-work-in-triathlon

http://www.therecord.com/sports/rangers/article/497435--ben-fanelli-creates-program-to-boost-awareness-about-brain-injuries

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/juniorhockey/article/719597--still-thinking-of-ben-fanelli-rangers-return-to-play

IMpossible

     Impossible – it’s what this year’s high school track season seemed it might be earlier this spring as I dealt with an Achilles injury. Usually what reminds me of March is the sound of track spikes banging together as dirt falls from the crevasses in the sole. This March however, I was surrounded by the sounds of ultrasound machines, being informed as to how many repeats of an exercise I am to do, and someone asking which magazine I’d like to read as I ice down. Not exactly the way I’d like to begin my track season.

     Once it seemed I was recovering from my injury, my coach and I took baby steps in my training. We need to make sure you’re 100% healthy first, Steve reminded me throughout my training. It was, however, undeniably frustrating to hold back when my team mates are flying past me. Although I knew I was being smart and I could not jump into the level of training I should be doing otherwise, I was embarrassed or self-conscious when I could not complete the same number of repeats or loops as everyone else.

     When TVRAA arrived and I began competing against other hopeful athletes throughout the high school season, I continued to voice that I was currently building my strength back up during my recovery – especially in and around my event when I knew I wouldn’t achieve what others may expect of me based on previous years. However, I kept in mind that I was racing for myself. I was only trying to achieve season PBs and lower my times each race, and how I placed amongst the other girls did not matter. The track season became more self-rewarding than it was about collecting actual awards. I continued to improve as the weeks went on and the competition continued.

     I didn’t make it past OFSAA West Regionals in either of my events; however I lowered my season 1500m time even more and ran a similar time to my season PB in the 3000m. That was enough for me to declare that my last high school track season had ended on a positive note.

     Nothing works out the way we planned. We just have to make sure that we’re working to achieve our own goals, rather than aiming to achieve the same as everyone else. I can feel my strength building back, and I know that every day I’m healthy is another day closer to achieving my own goals. This track season is not impossible as I had originally thought. It’s just as Audrey Hepburn says: Nothing is impossible. Even the word itself says I’m possible!

Guest Blog

I'd like to introduce a LRDC club member with her own story. I approached Sherisse earlier about writing a "guest blog" for me, and luckily she agreed. Sherisse is a very dedicated runner, with a 5:27 PB in 1500m and 20:50 PB in 5000m. However what makes her running experiences unique is not what she runs, but rather where she runs.

" What is the best way to discover a new city? By running, of course. I started running about a year and a half ago. Throughout that year and a half, I have lived in two different cities and have done some travelling. I realized that with running, you can get to know a new city much quicker, and more thoroughly than I ever have before.  

I moved to Montreal after finishing my Undergraduate degree in Toronto and I joined the Concordia cross country team in 2009. This is when I started to run. Being on the team encouraged me to discover new paths in Montreal during my easy runs so I could keep the runs interesting. I found that after one year of running in Montreal, I knew the city way better than I had known Toronto after four years. The biggest challenge for me in Montreal was running in the winter. While I thought the city- especially the mountain- was very pretty in the winter, returning home from a run with my face so numb that I can barely speak due to extremely cold temperatures became a norm. Being a girl who complains when the temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius, I realized that I must really love running to have successfully survived running through a Montreal winter.

After a year of living in Montreal, I moved to London, Ontario for school and joined the London Runner’s Distance Club, where I met Katie.  I was disappointed moving from Montreal to London—a much smaller city with fewer restaurants, people, festivals, and seemingly much less excitement. I think that without running, I would have thoroughly hated London when I moved there. Thankfully, I moved in August, well before the snow came, so that I could still explore the bike paths. Discovering London via its bike paths showed me that it is actually a very beautiful city. I learned that London’s seemingly endless, winding bike paths cover the whole city. I learned this one day when I intended to go on a 60min run, which turned into a 2.5 hour run when I got lost on the paths, and angrily came home to Google map them.  So in the end, I found that while London may not be as exciting as Montreal, it actually has many more interesting and picturesque paths to run along.

I also went on a few trips over the past 18 months, but the most noteworthy trips were my two trips to Trinidad and Tobago. Since my family lives in Trinidad, I have visited countless times. I have visited many of the monumental sites and hung around the neighbourhoods near to where my family lives. However, during the two trips I’ve made since I started running, I saw Trinidad in more depth than I ever have before!

My running schedule in Trinidad is slightly different. Some days, I wake up at 4:30am with my Aunt in order to go meet her marathon group for their 5:30am run. They run this early to avoid the sun.  Initially, this seemed crazy to me. We don’t meet them every day, so of course, the first moment I had to wake up late (which is about 8:30am), I did it. I went for a 60min run at 9am... and got home at 10:30am. I have never taken so many water breaks during an easy run in my life. So if you ever happen to visit, be ready to make that choice between 4:30am and extreme heat.

I have to tell you about my most memorable run in Trinidad. My friend Gillian from the Concordia team came with me on one of my trips. My aunt and her friend asked us to join them in a run up a hill they sometimes train on. When we started the run, they fussed and worried and warned Gillian and I to take it slow. Gillian and I ignored them, thinking that they must not realize how much hill running our coach has made us do.  My aunt and her friend laughed at our overconfidence. The hill was winding so we could not see it getting progressively steeper.  About 5 minutes into the run, we realized we needed a 30 second break.  We ended up having to alternate running for 2 minutes and resting for 30 seconds for about 2/3 of the hill… then we alternated running for 45 seconds and resting for 30 seconds. 45 minutes later, Gillian and I were dripping sweat as we basically crawled the last few feet to the top of the hill. We were wiped! But at the top of the hill, we cooled down and got to enjoy one of the nicest views of Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad, that I have seen.  The hill was so steep that we had to walk fairly slowly on the way back in order to avoid injuries. But we welcomed the break and on our way down, we noticed some mango trees. We climbed the trees and picked a bunch of mangoes to eat on the walk down. They were the freshest mangos I’ve had in my life.

               

Now, just 9 months after living in London, I am graduating and probably moving yet again. I’m not sure where the job market will take me, but I know that wherever I go, running will help me quickly get to know the city, and help me feel at home in no time!"

I'm sad to hear that Sherisse is no longer around to train with us in London anymore, however I wish her luck for the future!

Postcard #4: Curtain Call

Exeunt – it’s a term in the theatre used to describe an exit involving two or more characters. It can be subtle, majestic, and tragic; whichever form applies to the select characters. Our “exeunt” from Los Angeles was rather unfitting, however it was a fantastic vacation and I wouldn’t change one thing about it. But on our plane ride back to Detroit, our plane caught a thunderstorm on the way home from Chicago. It thundered and flashed below us as we endured our gloomy exit from the bright, star-studded state. One thing is for sure: I’m glad to be using loonies and toonies again. The one dollar bills stick together, and it takes a fistful of change to ride the bus!

             During my week long vacation in Hollywood, my running coach challenged me to take photos of myself around Los Angeles in my London Runner Distance Club shirt. I carried it around with me all week, tucked neatly away in my purse. Here are some of the photos I’d like to share:

 

        

Postcard #3: A Boy With A Dream

It began when he watched his first movie at ten years old. It was the motion picture Wings (1927), which won the first Academy Award for best picture. And that very film has inspired him ever since.

A. C. Lyles was living in Jacksonville, Fla. when he was inspired by Wings, and landed a job sweeping popcorn and handing out flyers at the local Paramount theatre the same year. Once he had met Adolph Zukor – Paramount Studio’s founder – he wrote every week in pursuit of a job there. There he learned the tricks of the business, how to dress and what he needs to know to succeed. Today at Paramount Studios, he mentioned one of his favourite sayings: “Dress British, but think Yiddish”. There he worked his way from the bottom up, and became an executive producer for Paramount Studios. He has been awarded a star on the Walk of Fame, as well as a few other awards for his achievements and contributions. Today, at 93 years of age, he arrives for work everyday as the studio’s goodwill ambassador.

Mr. Lyles mentions a key to success is obsession (http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2009/02/ac-lyles-mr-paramount.html), as he demonstrated in his writing to Mr. Zukor every week in high school. To follow your dreams, we must do as Mr. Lyles and obsess over them. Setting them aside won’t get them done. A. C. Lyles – who has been working in the industry for 83 years, ever year of the Academy Awards – certainly has a lot to teach us about dedication and following our hearts.

I had a nice little chat with Mr. Lyles today after a tour of the studio. He is a very pleasant, caring, and witty man. As well as briefly describing his career history and achievements, he also took time to ask where we were from and how we were enjoying ourselves. He took time to wave to someone he knew, or exchange a polite greeting to friends. He also joked I should carry my purse on my shoulder opposite to the side my mother was walking on, because she might just run away with it.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Lyles.

Sources:

http://dearoldhollywood.blogspot.com/2009/02/ac-lyles-mr-paramount.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528121/

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/28/134134527/like-the-oscars-a-c-lyles-marks-83-years-in-movies



Postcard #2: Running Down the Walk of Fame

When you walk up to the Chinese Theatre on , there’s generally a crowd – a large crowd – of tourists gathered in front, taking pictures of the hand prints and foot prints left behind in the concrete by the stars of Hollywood. So when I suggested that my mom and I check out a movie in the famous theatre this evening, we anticipated a large crowd.

However, it was anything but packed. Okay, it was a Tuesday night… but it’s the Chinese Theatre! I suppose the outside is more popular than the theatre itself. There were only a handful of people in the actual auditorium we were in. The place was beautiful… and the seats were comfortable! We went to go see Soul Surfer… one my mom and I could agree on. Throughout the entire (inspirational) film, I couldn’t help but think how much it relates to running, and the obstacles ahead of each of us. We all are presented with challenges and may not understand our own true potential until we push out of our comfort zone.

Besides spending two hours in a theatre, we also toured Warner Brother’s Studio and the Kodak Theatre.

The treadmill at the hotel is out of order, and I’m not exactly comfortable running for miles and miles in a foreign area. But I did find a loop that seems safe, which takes me a total of 2 ½ to 3 minutes to run. I may have to run it multiple, multiple times to get a full run in, however I don’t mind running right beside the Kodak Theatre… I’m very literally running down the Walk of Fame.

Check out the Soul Surfer trailer

Postcard #1: Backstage

Let me just say, it’s fun to create a profile for a stranger at an airport. You can imagine who they are, where they’re going and who they left behind. You wonder who their parents are, if they have any kids, or siblings. What jobs they have, and if they like waking up every morning because of it. Suddenly they don’t seem so unidentifiable.

Something that’s been circulating around about my trip to LA is that it’s my “dream vacation”, and I must have been counting down the days. But, I don’t see it that way. Yes, was excited – I couldn’t wait to leave. But I wouldn’t label it as a dream vacation, it’s too Disney. This is not an once-in-a-lifetime trip to Los Angeles, but it may seem that way if I call it a dream.

So I leave LRDC workouts, Canada, and my siblings behind as I tackle Hollywood for one week. I’ll keep everyone informed – so check in for news about my travels, neat photos, and updates on how I’m “running” in a foreign land.

Yesterday we visited Universal Studios. It reminds me a lot of Disneyworld… lots of photo opportunities, tourist souvenir shops, and roller coasters. I mostly enjoyed the studio tour; I had no idea what the sets were actually like. The building may seem like brick; however they’re mostly Styrofoam, fibre glass and wood!

We also checked out a cute, used clothing store called It’s A Wrap. It’s filled with hundreds of clothing items from the sets of movies and television series that either didn’t use them because they didn’t work out or they were costume doubles, or they’re ones the actors actually wore. It was the tail end of a sale so everything was kind of picked over, but we managed to find a few items we really liked.

We also walked down the walk of fame while looking for a corner store that would sell milk. I’ve only seen a portion of it now, but so far ones I’ve seen include Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Kermit the Frog, Walt Disney, Destiny’s Child and, more.

Wish you were here!


Pictures above: Universal Studios enterance, Jaws, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and the front and back of some generic buildings.