PEI's Search and Rescue Presentation

www.PlanetAutism.com/runman ~ irunman.blogspot.com

In January 2007 I was asked by a member of the PEI Search and Rescue squad (someone I know from a local forum), if I could give a presentation to them on autism, since most were not able to take in Dennis Debbaut's daytime First Responder training seminar in September 2006. I agreed, though it was putting me way out of my comfort zone and area of expertize, but between my schedule and theirs, that presentation didn't actually happen until today.

With much thanks to Dennis' guidance and training videos, Phil's coordinating of the PEI SAR & I, and the helpful contributions of Josh's grandfather & SAR member Brian, things went pretty well. I had agreed to present Dennis' videos, fill in a bit around the edges from personal experience and depend on a Q&A session to try to give them the information they felt they needed to know.

The packed classroom of 30+ were attentive, asked great questions, and I felt we had a great discussion covering a wide range of issues. There was a 2nd grandfather of an autistic in the room and all 3 of us were able to give our different perspectives on various questions, scenarios & issues.

Thank you Phil for inviting me. Thank you Dennis for supporting & advising me and for sending me your yet-to-be-released First Responder video to show, and getting it here, just in the nick of time. Thank you Brian for your moral support and wise contributions. Thanks too to the SAR guys who took care of the technical end of things for me today. And to all the volunteers who make up PEI's Search and Rescue - thank you for today's great discussion and your kind words of feedback afterwards. Thanks especially for the work that you do and the work that you are prepaired to do. I hope you learned some valuable things today but I also hope you'll never have to put any of that knowledge to use in a rescue and/or emergency situation.

Thank you for helping us make PEI a better, safer, place for all autistics.
If I can ever be of assistance, please contact me.

The best part of the day for Alex was on the way there.... we went to the Dairy Queen for lunch since his buddies had given him a DQ giftcard on his birthday...

Thanks to you two too!!

Athletes with Autism Spectrum Disorders - over at suite101.com

http://autismaspergerssyndrome.suite101.com/topiclist/article.cfm/athletes_with_autistic_spectrum_disorders

Alex is among those spotlighted in "Athletes with Autism Spectrum Disorders - Sports Achievements of Those with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" by Jennifer Copley, over at suite101.com . Check it out HERE.

PEI RoadRunners TENTATIVE 2009 Schedule

PEI RoadRunners TENTATIVE 2009 Schedule

MARCH 2009
Saturday, March 15, 2009	St. Patrick's Day Easter Seals 5K Fun Run
APRIL 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009	WR3 - Wear Red Road Race (Half, 10K, 5K)
* Saturday, April 11, 2009	Dairy Queen/Source for Sports Bunny Hop 10K Run
* Saturday, April 18, 2009	Col. Gray/McDonald's 5K and 10K Run for SADD (Points for the 10K only)
Saturday, April 25, 2009	Sporting Intentions 10K
MAY 2009
* Saturday, May 2, 2009	Proude's Shoes 5K Run
* Saturday, May 9, 2009	Clark's Toyota 5 Mile Run
* Saturday, May 16, 2009	Rural Raider Run for Healthy Eating
Saturday, May 23, 2009	Legs for Literacy 5K
Saturday, May 30, 2009	Red Island Relay
JUNE 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009	Cornwall Classic 5K and 10K and 2K Walk
* Saturday, June 13, 2009	PEI Parks Trail Run 10K Run
* Saturday, June 20, 2009	Deltaware Systems Inc. 5K Fun Run
Sunday, June 21, 2009	5th Annual Bennie Bernard Memorial 6K Run/Walk & 3K Kids
* Saturday, June 27, 2009	Fulton Campbell Memorial 5K & Half-Marathon (RoadRunner Points for Half-Marathon Race Only)
JULY 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009	Souris Multi-Sport Relay or 8.4 K Open Run
* Sunday, July 19, 2009	Dunk River Run 7.22 Mile Run
Saturday, July 25, 2009	Cox & Palmer 5K & 10K Run/Walk
Saturday, July 25, 2009	PEI Potato Blossom Festival Fun Run 5K & 10K
AUGUST 2009
* Saturday, August 1, 2009	Mount Edward Grocery Memorial Run - 5 Miles
* Saturday, August 8, 2009	Source for Sports 10 K Road Race
Friday, August 14, 2009	Gold Cup Trot 5K Road Race
* Saturday, August 15, 2009	Harvest Festival Run 25K
Saturday, August 22, 2009	Kent Building Supplies Run
Sunday, August 23, 2009	Desmond Baglole Scenic Road Run
* Sunday, August 30, 2009	Friendship Run for Prince County Hospital (5K & 10K)
SEPTEMBER 2009
* Saturday, September 5, 2009	Banks Financial Group Inc. 5K Charity Run and 2K Walk
Sunday, September 6, 2009	Rotary Run for Mikinduri - Sponsored by Metro Credit Union
* Saturday, September 12, 2009	ADL Golden Mile
Sunday, September 13, 2009	29th Annual Terry Fox Run
* Saturday, September 19, 2009	Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile Run
Saturday, September 26, 2009	UPEI Homecoming Weekend 5K Fun Run
OCTOBER 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009	Run for the Cure - 5K Run
* Saturday, October 10, 2009	PEI Dept. of Forestry Vista of Colours Run (Fall Frolic 4.6K & 12.3K) (RoadRunner Points for 12.3 K Race Only)
* Saturday, October 17, 2009 & Sunday, October 18, 2009	BMO Nesbitt Burns Prince Edward Island Marathon
NOVEMBER 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009	Recycle Run (5K & 10K)
Saturday, November 28, 2009	T'was the Month Before Christmas Run (5K & 10K)
DECEMBER 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009	Souris Turkey Trot 5K
Saturday, December 12, 2009	Ole Charlottetown Christmas 5K Run and Party
FEBRUARY 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010	Freeze Your Gizzard Run (10K and Half Marathon)

* Denotes a RoadRunner Championship Points Series Race

They want you - Organizers are looking to field an army of 6,000 volunteers for the 2009 Canada Summer Games

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=213196&sc=99

They want you
Organizers are looking to field an army of 6,000 volunteers
for the 2009 Canada Summer Games

	Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, vice-president of volunteer services, and Charlie Curley, associate vice-president of volunteer services, display the volunteer “recruitometer” for the 2009 Canada Summer Games on P.E.I., Aug. 15-29. Also in the photo is Eddie, one of two Canada Games mascots.(Guardian photo by Dave Stewart)

DAVE STEWART
The Guardian

Islanders are being asked to dream big and chip in.

The 2009 Canada Games organizing committee is looking for thousands of volunteers to sign up and be a part of the provincewide event, Aug. 15-29.

“Pick something that you might like to do in your lifetime and here’s your opportunity,” Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, vice-president of volunteer services for the 2009 Canada Games, said in an interview following a recent press conference in Charlottetown.

“You do not have to have the skill set to volunteer in (any specific) area. We will train you.”

They are looking for 6,000 volunteers.

So far, they have 1,350 signed up.

The volunteer services division is responsible for the recruitment and recognition of the volunteers.

There will be giant “recruitometer” displays going up across the province to show how many volunteers have signed up and how many are still needed.

P.E.I. last hosted the Games during the winter of 1991, but the scope of the event this summer is much broader, taking in more of the province.

Joe Spriet, host society president, said they expect the Games to draw more than 10,000 visitors to the Island.

“People will be setting aside vacation time to come here,” Spriet said. “All of the volunteers who sign up will have a tremendous experience.”

Jason Cormier, representing Atlantic Lottery, said the gaming corporation is pumping in more than $1 million into the Games.

“Whether as a volunteer coach or a mentor at an after-school program, volunteers strengthen the fabric of our communities,” said Cormier, who doubles as the general manager of the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.

Jenkins-Smith said anyone 14 years and older is welcome to volunteer.

“We have 30 different areas where they can (volunteer). Put in the amount of time you are able to commit and we’re pretty confident we can find something to fit your schedule.”

Islanders do not have to commit for the entire two-week schedule.

Volunteers will receive a uniform, two 2009 Canada Games official pins and several exclusive social events prior to the event.

Volunteers also get their own hospitality centres during the Games.

“The Canada Games is like many other major events, it cannot happen without volunteers. There is absolutely no way the Games could afford to pay 6,000 additional people to come out and run these Games.”

Jenkins-Smith said they want to have all volunteers in place by mid-July, allowing enough time for screening each individual.

The 30 to 40 days prior to the start of the Games will be used for training purposes.

“These next five months will be key to getting the numbers we really need,” said Jenkins-Smith.

(On the Net: www.2009canadagames.ca)

*****

2009 Canada Games volunteer services:

* 2009 Canada Games takes place on P.E.I. from Aug. 15-29.

* 6,000 volunteers needed. So far, 1,350 have signed up.

* Must be 14 years old on or before Aug. 15, 2009. Those under 18 must have parental consent.

* Must complete and pass an RCMP background check, as well as any other relevant security clearances to be considered for a volunteer role.

* Online application forms can be completed in about 15-20 minutes. Some information and documents you should have nearby to complete the form include e-mail address, CPR and/or First Aid certificate (if applicable), emergency contact information and driver's licence (if applicable).

* Volunteer applications available at all police and RCMP detachments across the province.

* Available jobs include administration, drivers, merchandise sales, IT support, security and much more.

* For more information, call 1-888-438-2009 or e-mail volunteer@2009canadagames.ca

* On the Net - www.2009canadagames.ca

Congratulations from the Autism Society of PEI

January 15^th, 2009



Dear Alex

I am writing you today to offer you congratulations on behalf of the Autism Society of Prince Edward Island on your recent honour of being recognized as one of Canada's most inspiring runners by iRun magazine.

To receive such a recognition from a national publication speaks well to your success as a runner and in promoting greater awareness and understanding of Autism on Prince Edward Island. Your success is a shining example to all that individuals living with Autism can and do achieve great goals.

The struggle to promote greater acceptance and understanding of individuals living with Autism is not unlike a marathon run. It can be a long and winding road; it can physically, mentally and emotionally draining; and it requires focus and determination to succeed.

Your accomplishments are a shining example to all Islanders of the limitless potential that Islanders living with Autism possess. Again, congratulations on behalf of the Autism Society of Prince Edward Island on your most deserving award.

Sincerely,



Michelle Pineau,

President,

Autism Society of Prince Edward Island

Tuesday evening Speed Work

Speed work Tues. Jan 13, 5:15pm

Posted on January 11, 2009 by John and Loretta

A few of us are interested in starting an informal speed work running group beginning this Tuesday leaving from CARI(back door rink) at 5:15pm. We will warm up to Sherwood and then do some timed interval work before a cool down run back to CARI together. This should work for all level of runners. Consensus of group will determine future runs. Pass on information to others.

Re(1): Speed work Tues. Jan 13, 5:15pm

Posted on January 13, 2009 by John and Loretta

6 runners came tonight .2 more coming next Tues. More are welcome . We leave at 5:15 .

It was cloudy and -11 windchill. The speed work at Centennial Park in Sherwood. We leave backdoor of CARI at 5:15 and do 40 minutes of intervals, 1 minute fast and 4 minutes easy around Centennial Park. To built up for next month half marathon in Montague.

(Thank you John and Loretta for organizing this informal workout. - jypsy)

Marathon mania on the East Coast - Canadian Running Magazine

http://www.runningmagazine.ca/news/index.html

Marathon mania on the East Coast

For the fall season on the East Coast, it was a case of marathons, marathons and more marathons. Runners ripped up the field in a number of races. The serious racing got underway in late September in Saint John, N.B. at Marathon by the Sea, where Charlottetown's Leo McCosham ran a 2:51 to place first in a field of 75 runners. A relatively new entrant to the sport, who's only been running a couple of years, McCosham has placed in the past, but this marked his first marathon win.
Darren Livingston of Windermere, B.C. came second in 2:53:44 and New Brunswick's Murray Lowell-Simpson placed third with a time of 2:59:49. Maggie Johnson of Quispamsis, N.B. was the first woman, running a 3:28.Next up was the revitalized Valley Harvest Marathon in Wolfville, N.S. This year's event drew a lot of interest, partly because it's the provincial marathon championship, but also because of its new course. Previously, the run was an out-and-back beginning in Kentville and participants complained of a dull course with nothing but trees on either side and a steep road camber that caused a lot of hip and IT band problems.No one was grousing about the scenic quality of the new course. Runners left Wolfville and ran out to Kingston through the stunning fall colours of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. Catching their breath at the top of the large, rolling hills, the marathoners enjoyed expansive views of the shimmering water of the Minas Basin.
New Brunswick's Alex Coffin made the run look easy with a time of 2:41:18. Scotsburn's David MacLennan placed second in 2:46:44 and New Brunswick's Michael Greene took third in 2:54:36. Tammy Mercier-Hackett, who earlier this year won the Barrington Passage Marathon, took the women's honours with a time of 3:11:12.At the Prince Edward Island Marathon, 11 runners came in under three hours. Many marathoners believe P.E.I. is a flat course, but toward the end, a series of rolling hills present some challenges. Obviously, this year they weren't a problem. Island runners took one, two and three, with Mike MacKinnon in 2:39:28, Stanley Chaisson in 2:44:11 and Scott Clark in 2:45:53. It's worth noting that Leo McCosham, despite having run Marathon by the Sea just a few weeks earlier, still placed fourth with a time of 2:47. The island's Jen Nicholson came in at 2:56:35, the first woman overall and in 10th place.And in Rothesay, N.B. on the same day, Chris Brake - once again proving his last name is ironic – flew in first at the KV Challenge Marathon in a time of 2:38:26.
-Charles Mandel

2008 RoadRunner Club Road Race Championships Points

2008 RoadRunner Points The 2008 RoadRunner Club Road Race Championships Points have been calculated.
The top 4 races under 15K (yellow) and the top two races over 15K (green)
count towards your total.


2008 RoadRunner Points

Hardcopy Reaction - Alex finally gets his hands on an iRun Magazine

Thanks to my sister who lives in a city with a Running Room and was good enough to drop in and
grab some copies of the January iRun magazine and send them to us,
Alex was finally able to see himself recognized as an iRun Award winner in print today.

As I expected, his reaction was "bigger" seeing himself in a magazine than it had been to seeing it on a webpage. (After all, his story began being told on web pages, by me, 14 years ago). It was even bigger than his reaction to seeing it covered on CBC's Compass News (but again, it's not the first time he's been on Compass)

First I had to interrupt his Olympic Relay Run (Wii) ..... He quickly flipped through the magazine to find himself and read the article aloud to me.... (if you want to read along, I've repeated the text below)

iRun for Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion.

At the age of 20, PEI native Alex Bain's unwavering dedication to running already sets him apart from most of his peers. Bain races almost every weekend. He has broken the 20-minute mark in the 5k and is very close to breaking 40 minutes in the 10k. He just completed his first full marathon in an impressive time of 3:29:29.

But his age isn't the only thing that’s special about Bain; he was diagnosed as autistic at the age of three. Today, a huge part of Alex’s motivation each time he laces up his shoes is to promote awareness about autism – and the fact that he, and many others like him, wish for acceptance, not a cure. “Autism makes me different from my friends,” says Bain. “That’s OK.” As his trademark yellow race t-shirt spells out, Bain is “Running For Autism, Not Against It.”

In July 2006, Alex (accompanied by his mother, Janet Norman-Bain, who played both support crew and videographer) embarked on a run from tip-to-tip of PEI to raise money for autism awareness and risk and safety management. But even this challenge – he averaged between 20-25k per day – didn’t quite prepare him for what the last stretch of his marathon would feel like: Bain admits he hit the wall with 10k to go, “the first time I’ve done three hours of running.” Still, he exceeded his projected time goal by more than five minutes.

Bain is no stranger to awards; he has also been crowned PEI RoadRunners Rookie of the Year, Junior RoadRunner of the Year and Inspirational Runner of the Year.

Double Blogged!

This morning's sunrise reflected in our windows

Interesting that today Alex was blogged about here at PLANET3RRY, the blog of a fellow runner on the Spectrum in Knoxville Tennessee, and Alex and his dad & I were blogged about here on Whimfield "Written by a couple in their late twenties, Laura-Jane and Cameron use their experiences on a rural farm as a springboard to ponder the meaning of life–to marvel at the beauty of apple blossoms and the brutal treachery of cold winters."

I'm a regular reader of both blogs, both are in my blog reader.

As Terry tells it, my first contact with him was a number of months ago about his (old) contact forms. I first contacted him to talk to him about his ASDathletes charity and what would have been a simple email turned into a long letter about all the difficulty I had with his various contact forms.

Laura-Jane's post stems from a contest she ran, that I won. She asked if she could tell my story and this is it.

Thank you fellow bloggers.

To all the bloggers in my blog reader, to the ones we stumble across and read once or now and then, and to all the readers of this blog, may we take this opportunity to wish you all
a very Happy New Year.
May you have a safe, happy & healthy 2009.