Hello Kitty....... Happy Halloween!

~ Hello Kitty ~

(Ben)

(Alex's younger brother)

(Ben makes really awesome cakes too!!)

Happy Halloween!!

AVC 5K Fun Run - One Health Challenge

It was cloudy and windy and 9 degrees.

The AVC 5km Fun Run at Victoria Park. The 5km loop course on Old Charlottetown and Victoria Park.

David Gallant won the race and Kara Grant for the top female. I finished in 21:45 and came in 6th out of 44 runners.

I wore a ninja this Halloween. There were dogs in costumes and even two cats.

Next Saturday The Wally Rodd Race returns at Charlottetown Hotel.

Good Luck Islanders at the New York City Marathon tomorrow.

Official Result: 6th out of 43
5K in 21 minutes, 44 seconds

More Photos

AVC Rabies Run 2009
AVC Run 2007
AVC Run 2006

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness

Alex in The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/torch-timeline/article1344898/

TORCH TIMELINE

Shawna Richer

From Friday's Globe and Mail Published on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Every day of the relay will be a highlight for someone - here are just a few of the special stories.
[...]

Day 24

Nov. 22

Alex Bain will have the chance to celebrate a long-time love of running when he carries the torch along Hwy. 2 in Winsloe, PEI. The 22-year-old from nearby Oyster Bed Bridge worked tirelessly to win a spot in the torch relay. He applied to be a torchbearer through RBC and wasn't picked, but then applied through Coca-Cola and played the daily trivia game to boost his entry total to more than 100. Bain has autism and struggles to communicate verbally, but he has never let that slow him down. "I'm excited and hoping to have a great time," he wrote on his website.

[...]

Thanks to John & Loretta for tipping us off!

Olympic flame now in Canadian hands

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2009/10/29/sp-olympic-flame-handover.html

Canada receives Olympic flame

The Greek, Olympic and Canadian flags fly near the Olympic
flame as it burns in a cauldron on top of the Acropolis in Athens
prior to Thursday's handover. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

The Olympic flame is now in Canadian hands.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, were entrusted with the flame at a ceremony at Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens on Thursday.

The final torchbearer in the Greek portion of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch relay was Nikki Georgiadis, a Greek-Canadian figure skater and an Olympic hopeful in ice dance.

Georgiadis brought the Olympic flame into the stadium, where the Hellenic Olympic Committee handed it over to Canadian officials.

The symbolic flame will arrive in Victoria on Friday via a Department of Defence chartered aircraft for the start of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch relay across Canada.

The 106-day torch relay will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, travelling over 45,000 kilometres across the country before ending in Vancouver for the opening ceremonies of the Games on Feb. 12.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Olympic+flame+touch+down+Victoria+Friday+morning/2154949/story.html

Olympic flame now in Canadian hands

for 2010 Games

The Olympic flame was presented to Canada Thursday at a special ceremony in Greece.

Olympic flame to touch down in Victoria

Friday morning

By JEFF LEE, Vancouver SunOctober 28, 2009

Basketball player Kostas Papanikolaou lights the cauldron at the altar in Grevena, Greece
on Day 4 of the Olympic Torch Relay, Oct. 25, 2009.

ATHENS - When the Olympic flame touches down in Victoria aboard a Canadian Forces jet Friday morning with an entourage of politicians and media, it will be accompanied by a crate of garbage.

Actually, 675 pieces of recyclable metal, to be exact.

For eight days the flame travelled across Greece after it was lit Oct. 22 in Ancient Olympia. And for eight days, Patrick Tremblay, an employee of Bombardier, the maker of the Vancouver 2010 torch, has been gutting torches after they have been used. At the end of each torchbearer's run he quickly opens the casing, strips out the fuel tank and piping to disable it from future use, and hands it back to the runner.

But those tanks and piping have to be disposed of, and the Vancouver Organizing Committee decided to bring them back to Canada for proper disposal, said Jim Richards, the director of torch relays. Vanoc shipped over 675 of the torches to be used on the Greek leg of the relay. But it didn't want to try and find a place to recycle the fuel canisters once the torches were used.

"We decided it was easier to simply bring them all home with us," Richards said. "The tanks will be properly emptied of excess fuel and then the material will be recycled."

By doing that Vanoc and Bombardier also make sure that no one can rebuild the torches to be used again, but Richards said that wasn't the prime reason.

"It's all being done in an environmentally-friendly way," he said. "It's part of our sustainability commitment."

jefflee@vancouversun.com

Read Jeff Lee's Olympics blog at www.vancouversun.com/insidetheolympics

Owning the Torch

Today Alex bought his torch. After he runs with it on November 22nd, the fuel canister will be removed from it and he will be able to keep it.

He also ordered some other Torchbearer merchandise: pins, a water bottle, a t-shirt and the book "A Path of Northern Lights: The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays" (Collector's Edition).

Alex isn't a big spender, as a rule, but he proved to be the exception to that rule today!

~*~

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=17739.html

VANOC Handout/The Canadian Press

Secretive building of the Olympic torch

The Globe and Mail

By Les Perreaux, The Globe and Mail Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tucked in a small room off a cavernous factory packed with cockpit parts for Challenger business jets, four Bombardier workers are on the smallest assembly line around.

Senior employees who usually build aircraft and trains are producing a shiny new Olympic torch every two minutes from their kitchen-table-sized rotating production line.

Just before Thursday's lighting of the Olympic flame in Greece, the workers are about halfway through the 12,000 torches they will produce by December.

At the start of the process, Gaetan Michaud removes parts from boxes, including the double-burner butane blowtorch that will keep the flame lit for up to 12 minutes through cold, snow, rain or wind during each leg of the 45,000-kilometre marathon.

"Everyone grows up watching the Olympics, so it's a pretty special feeling to be part of it," said Mr. Michaud, a welder for 12 years at Bombardier.

"It's an opportunity that doesn't come around very often."

Diane Bissonnette assembles the internal workings of the torch and signs her name to a small sticker. Ms. Bissonnette, who usually helps put together composite material for aircraft, says each screw gets special attention.

She put in her name to work on the torch and was thrilled to be selected for the assignment she described as prestigious.

"Each torch is like a medal for me," said Ms. Bissonnette, who has worked at Bombardier for 30 years. "It's an incredibly special feeling being part of this."

The Olympic torch production line is a tiny sideshow off a huge production floor that builds parts for aircraft out of aluminum and composite material - the same used in the shell of the sleek white-and-metallic torch.

Daniel Deschênes, the lead designer on the project, stands a few feet away from the production line holding the finished product. It weighs about 1.5 kilograms, about the same as the standard bottle of champagne Mr. Deschênes will undoubtedly crack after production is complete.

With organizers leery of protest and possible sabotage, the secretive project to build the torch takes place in a location that cannot be disclosed. Reporters on a tour yesterday had to sign agreements not to reveal the location of the non-descript factory.

Bombardier will not reveal the project cost, saying the torches are part of a larger sponsorship agreement with Vancouver Olympics. Relay participants have the exclusive option to purchase their torch for $349 plus tax, a price tag that could raise $4 million for the Olympics. Mr. Deschênes' last gig was designing cars for the Toronto subway. "They're all our babies, but this has a visibility that is quite a bit bigger. We'll never forget it," he said.

Stringent performance requirements require the torch stay lit between -40 or +40 degrees and in winds up to 60 kilometres per hour. If an unlucky relayer happens to drop a torch, it must stay lit.

"Usually in our work, we're trying to avoid fire at all costs," said Mr. Deschênes.

Jean-François Clusiau, the torch assembly manager and an expert in lean manufacturing processes, buzzes around the white table. He says he was thrilled by the challenge of putting together 12,000 torches, but admits he has had one Olympic disappointment. He put in his name to be one of the Olympic torch bearers in Quebec, but didn't make the cut. "I'll watch others carry it, and proudly," Mr. Clusiau said.

Mr. Michaud is both the start and the end of the assembly line. Eight minutes after he unpacked the torch's components, he gives it a final look before carefully packing it away.

The official torch lighting takes place tomorrow in Greece. The 106-day Canadian relay launches Oct. 30 in Victoria.

The green red torchbearer t-shirt

Coke sent me a torchbearer t-shirt. It made of bottles.



It is a green red shirt.

This Saturday's Race - AVC 5k Fun Run: One Health Challenge

AVC 5k Fun Run: One Health Challenge

Saturday, October 31st

Start Time: 10 am
Distance: 5k
Registration: 9 am; Victoria Park Clubhouse
Fee: $5
Fundraiser: The Josh Project and AVC Class 2012
Contact: Sandy Strilec (sstrilec@yahoo.com) 518-929-4027
Course Map
Special Note: Bring your pet!! Run with your dog! There will be a costume contest (for people and pets) with prizes!

Need some costume ideas for your pet (or just a laugh) ?
Try the "Dogs in Costumes" Flickr pool.
Here are a few examples.....


"Lucy Leia" by bdeboer --- "Amigo Amos" by paulamw --- "He was not amused" by jumping lab


"Banana Dog" by jeffdillonphotography - "Wind-up Dog" by istolethetv - "Patience Please!!" by furkidfever

Chris Brake completes rare sweep!!

http://www.marathoncanada.com/mcNews.htm#news_326

Chris Brake completes rare sweep!!
2009-10-26

Chris Brake of Saint John completed a rare sweep of the three major fall marathons in New Brunswick. Chris first won the Marathon by the Sea in late September in 2:40.
Then 3 weeks later, he ran a course record 2:32 at the KV Challenge Marathon.
Just a week after that, Chris ran another course record at
the Legs for Literacy Marathon in Moncton finishing in 2:42.
Chris's time at the KV Challenge Marathon presently ranks him as the #2 marathoner in Atlantic Canada behind Rami Bardeesy of Halifax and in the top 30 nationally!!

~*~
(Chris Brake has an Autism Spectrum diagnosis)

Islanders on the Run - Today at the Legs for Literacy in Moncton

Full Marathon Results

45(Place) - David Forsythe - 8/20(Division Place) - 3:35:58*
61(Place) - Paul Burnley - 25/49(Division Place) - 3:47:39
76(Place) - Doug MacEachern - 11/20(Division Place) - 3:57:02

Half-Marathon Results

17(Place) - Mark McCosham - 5/79(Division Place) - 1:32:20
187(Place) - Sue Norquay - 10/78(Division Place) - 1:57:02
224(Place) - Bj Willis - 9/38(Division Place) - 1:59:44
278(Place) - Barbara MacLean - 27/92(Division Place) - 2:04:42
411(Place) - Wade Norquay - 60/65(Division Place) - 2:19:44
474(Place) - Sarah Weeks - 54/55(Division Place) - 2:45:48

Congratulations All!

2009 PEISAA Cross Country Results

PEISAA Cross Country Results

Juvenile - Male
Juvenile - Female
Senior - Male
Senior - Female

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=297909&sc=99

Students decide cross-country titles

The Guardian

More than 650 students competed in eight different categories at the P.E.I. School Athletic Association Source for Sports provincial cross-country championships at the Mill River Provincial Park on the weekend.
The event, hosted by the Westisle family of schools, attracted 651 athletes and showcased only the pre-novice to midgets categories.
Seniors and juveniles were held earlier at the Charlottetown Rural High School.
Stonepark Intermediate defended its title by winning a second straight bantam boys’ team competition, edging out Summerside Intermediate by 12 points.
The bantam girls title went to Summerside Intermediate while the midget boys’ division went to Stonepark, which edged Hernewood Intermediate by only four points.
The midget girls’ category went to East Wiltshire.
West Kent Elementary won pre-novice girls while pre-novice boys went to Greenfield Elementary.
The novice boys’ division was won by Elm Street and the novice girls went to Spring Park.

PRE-NOVICE
Pre-novice boys and girls (under 10 years) ran a 1.5-kilometre race where a total of 249 runners ran the set course.
Pre-novice girls gold went to Bridget Keedwell of West Kent with a time of 7:16 while teammate Jacquline McQuain finished 11 seconds behind to grab silver. Lindsay Callaghan of St. Louis won bronze with her best time of 7:28.
Pre-novice boys was won by Thomas Harper of Queen Elizabeth in a time of 6:36. Ben Tanton of Elm Street took silver and bronze went to Chris McQuaid West Royalty.

NOVICE
Novice boys and girls (under 12 years) ran a 2.5-km race where 227 competitors ran the demanding course.
In novice girls, Carley Connell of Sherwood won the gold with a time of 11:28. Amelia Jenkins of Glen Stewart took silver and Morganne Rice of Cardigan won the bronze.
Novice boys was won by Jesse Annear of Montague with a time of 10:29. Connor MacEachern of Spring Park earned silver and Ethan Craig of Mount Stewart won the bronze.

BANTAM
Bantam boys and girls (under-14) ran a three-kilometre race where a total of 66 runners took part.
Bantam girls’ gold went to Maggee Fraser of Hernewood, defending her title with a time of 11:40.
Finishing second was Shannon McFaden of Kensington and third went to Lydia Schurman of Summerside. Niall Burnet of Queen Charlotte won the gold in bantam boys with a time of 11:29.
Finishing second was Kenan Wilkie of M.E. Callaghan while bronze went to William Hensbert of Belfast.

MIDGET
Midget boys and girls (under-16) ran a 3.5-km race where a total of 56 runners ran the course.
In midget girls, Marcie MacRae of M.E. Callaghan finished first with a time of 15:55 with the silver medal going to Chelsea Lewis of Hernewood.
The bronze medal was won by Alana Vanwiechen of Montague.
Alex Cyr of l’École Évangeline finished first in midget boys with a time of 13:01.
Taking the silver medal was Brandon Bray of Grace Christian and the bronze was won by Jarred Toole of Englewood.
Approximately 2,000 spectators were on hand.
“The first race started on time and the competition finished on time,” said meet manager Paul Goguen.
“We didn’t have to deal with rain but the course was a bit wet. Considering the amount of rain we received the Mill River course was fairly dry.”
The Westisle family of schools was hosting the event again with the help of the leadership students from the M.E. Callaghan Intermediate High.
This year for the first time the top-20 runners were timed and recorded.

2nd Annual Halloween Hustle

The Tortoise and the Hare...



...finished 1, 2

It was cloudy and 4 degrees.

The Halloween Hustle at Kensington Train Station.

The out and back course at Confederation Trail.

Tyler Sellar wore a tortoise costume and Keaghan Rilling wore a hare costume inspired from "The Tortoise and The Hare". Just like in the story the Hare take a rest and was beaten by Tortoise.

Shelley Simmons MacLeod for the top female.

I finished in 19:55 and came in 4th out of 79 runners.

It was the first post marathon race.

I wore a ninja suit this year. Johnny Miles was there, KISS members won the best costume. There were lots of costumes.

Official Result: 4th out of 77
5K in 19 minutes, 49 seconds

Halloween Husle 2008

More Photos

George Mutch's Photos ~*~ Full Results

Running with a cause
(Charlottetown Guardian coverage, Nov. 3rd '09)

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance, inclusion, awareness