tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213276605217463150.post6972875143394873058..comments2023-10-28T06:13:55.023-03:00Comments on Runman: The Greatest Night of My Life - The Cabot Trail Relayjypsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01105669108222678038noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213276605217463150.post-69893847740497085512008-05-29T10:41:00.000-03:002008-05-29T10:41:00.000-03:0018th is great - top third is a great place to be. ...18th is great - top third is a great place to be. Alex had said he wanted to do it in 1:15 but I reminded him it would be dark and he'd be tired and 1:20 was more reasonable. He agreed. He has run two 15Km runs - <A HREF="http://therunman.blogspot.com/2007/08/2-personal-bests-2-new-races-2-new.html" REL="nofollow">a very hilly one in 1:20:08</A> and <A HREF="http://therunman.blogspot.com/2008/04/grande-digue-my-first-race-off-island.html" REL="nofollow">a flatter one in 1:09:19</A>. <BR/>This leg was said to be 15.88Km but my odometer clocked it at 16.8Km so given that distance, his 1:21:40 was a very good time for him and he's really happy with it. We had a few phenomenal runners on the team - Stanley won the run up Smokey, just missing the record by about a minute and a half (having broken the record running up MacKenzie Mountain last year). Andrey, Blair, and Russell were also smokin' hot, finishing their legs in 7th, 3rd & 2nd. <BR/><BR/>I can't imagine running up those mountains or even watching Alex run up them (but he is likely now hooked on this relay and running up mountains is probably only a matter of time). Except for Smokey, the mountain legs were at night, in the dark. Quite a sensory experience - watching runners in reflective vests with glow sticks in their hands, the smell of brakes & clutches on the downhills, and the sound of people banging on the guard rails with rocks...... <BR/><BR/>It was a fabulous experience for both of us. <BR/><BR/>Something Alex doesn't mention there -- Kim (team leader) asked if she could tell the race organizer about Alex so he could be recognized at the post race banquet and I gave her the ok. We were saying that perhaps we could undo some of the harm Jonathan Howard may have done there. When his team members asked about Mr. Howard I basically explained and they, like other people I've talked to about this, were outraged by Mr. Howard's message. It seems so easy for people to "get it" coming from Alex and I that it is wrong to "raise autism awareness" by spreading the message that we, and people like us, are a "burden" and should be cured and ultimately prevented from existing in the first place. I guess more people need to hear it from those of us on the spectrum...... <BR/><BR/>Anyway......the first announcement made at the banquet as he started the awards etc. was something to the effect of "Team PEI wants to acknowledge and announce that one of their team members is autistic and he runs for autism awareness". At that point Alex lit up, stood up and took off his hat and waved it, turning around so see everyone (our table was pretty much in the middle of them all, the banquet was in the local rink). Then, the roughly 1,200 runners there stood and gave him a very loud standing ovation. <BR/><BR/>Later a man approached, shook Alex's hand and asked him how old he was when hew started running. He has 5 & 7 year old autistic kids, a boy & girl and was very inspired to hear of Alex's running.jypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105669108222678038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213276605217463150.post-30354413252819072692008-05-29T10:02:00.000-03:002008-05-29T10:02:00.000-03:00Not knowing a thing about times and such, but isn'...Not knowing a thing about times and such, but isn't 18 pretty good compared to everyone? <BR/><BR/>And the Cabot trail is amazing and I would have thought impossible to run since so many bits of it are spectacular and spectacularly steep.<BR/> <BR/>The lobster off the first boat in for the season in Cheticamp was also spectacular:)Alyrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13293946886969452901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213276605217463150.post-3496684670753430122008-05-28T00:32:00.000-03:002008-05-28T00:32:00.000-03:00Congratulations on a race well run, Alex! Thanks ...Congratulations on a race well run, Alex! Thanks for sharing your greatest night with us. Keep it up!Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10831843534657098189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2213276605217463150.post-86720053917773807812008-05-27T20:33:00.000-03:002008-05-27T20:33:00.000-03:00Awesome! I loved seeing all the pictures. Thank yo...Awesome! I loved seeing all the pictures. Thank you for sharing this, and congratulations on a major accomplishment!Bevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06766614739853100172noreply@blogger.com