Thursday, April 26, 2007

Pace Challenge #1

Tuesday, April 24
Run UPEI

Tuesday was Pace Challenge #1 on the 5.75km loop which did on last Tuesday.

We are half way though of Run UPEI sessions and do another Pace Challenge at the end to see improvement.

27:39 was my time in the Pace Challenge.

Was nice out wearing shorts, a little bit windy. Thursday recovery run


Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Walk4Life - another Tip-to-Tip story

Today Alex and I just had the great pleasure of meeting, and taking a few steps with, Brian Ellis. Brian is on Day 5 of his 2nd annual tip-to-tip Walk4Life. He left East Point on Saturday, April 21st and is planning on seeing the North Cape lighthouse Sunday, April 29th. Here is Brian, telling his story:

Welcome to My 2nd Annual Walk!
Monday April 16th 2007,

Hi;

My name is Brian Ellis. I have a long history of serious kidney disease. In 1998, shortly after moving to Prince Edward Island, my family doctor finally decided to end the mystery of my elevated blood pressure. My blood pressure had been uncontrollable since I was 18 years old.

Upon receiving a battery of tests at the PCH, including an ultrasound on my kidneys, it was determined that I had chronic kidney failure. To confirm his findings, my doctor sent me to Halifax. After seeing a number of doctors there, and going through more testing, they sadly told me that I was down to 25% function in both kidneys and my future held the certainty of dialysis.

The next few years of my life changed dramatically as my doctors and I worked together to prolong the inevitable through diet, fluid restrictions and medication. In 2005, I was told I could no longer work and that dialysis was needed to sustain my life. I was 45 years old.

After 5 months in Halifax, receiving dialysis treatment and preparing the life line in my left arm, I returned to Prince Edward Island. Here I underwent dialysis three days a week, 4 hours a day. BUT! There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, I was a good candidate for a transplant because of my age and I had no other health complications. My sister was tested to see if she could be a donor but, to her dismay she was not able to be my donor. On the cadaver list I went.

To my surprise and overwhelming delight, I received the call on August 14th, 2006. I was to get to Halifax as soon as possible for they had a new kidney for me.

So, we scurried off. I received my transplant and it was a great success. I thank God, my doctors, the nurses, social workers, but most of all I thank my donor family. Without the gift I received from this family and their loved one, I don't know how much longer I would or could have waited to receive my special gift of life. I want to Thank-you from my heart and soul.

Please! Give The Gift Of Life!

My father, Alex's grandfather, was a dialysis patient. Initial tests showed I was a good match to donate a kidney to him and some preparations were made, but his health complications prevented that transplant from ever happening. May 1st, two days after Brian reaches North Cape, will be the 11th anniversary of my father's death. As well, in 2006 my mom had to have a kidney removed. She is in good health with her one remaining kidney. With that kind of family history and having done the tip to tip trip ourselves, Brian was one guy we just had to meet.

When my dad went through his years of dialysis, he lived in New Brunswick (where my mom still lives). I remember how, even after dialysis started, he was still able to come to PEI in the summer and visit his young grandchildren because a dialysis unit was set up at Marco Polo Land Campground to accommodate summer visitors on dialysis. So I was shocked to learn from Brian today about the realities of Islanders on dialysis. The shortage of dialysis chairs, the waiting list just to have dialysis on PEI, then having to travel to either Charlottetown or Summerside for it (especially if you live in East Point or North Cape) blew me away. As John Gallant explains in a Journal Pioneer article today:
"“It was like a part-time job that I had to go to and I hated it,” he explained.
Three times a week he headed out for about five hours of hemodialysis. Four hours on the machine and another half-hour each to get hooked and unhooked. Then the rest of the day feeling exhausted."
Add travel time to that (especially if you live in East Point or North Cape) and be very, very, glad that that is not *your* life.

The other story here is the fact that with so many Islanders in need of kidneys (and other organs & tissues), if you've signed a donor card, you'de better plan to die somewhere other than PEI because we have no team here to remove your organs & tissues for donation.

"In this three-part (CBC) series, Nancy Russell explores what makes it so difficult to donate organs on P.E.I., and some of the repercussions."

April 22-29 is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week in Canada and Brian is out there raising that awareness in his own step by step, person by person, way. He certainly made me aware of a few things. Thank you Brian. Thanks also to PEI's media that are doing a great job of covering Brian's Walk4Life and keeping us posted on his daily schedule and to his sponsors for helping him make this all possible. Alex & I both know from experience how important & appreciated this kind of support is. We also know first hand the generosity of Islanders and trust they will be at least as supportive of Brian's Walk as they were of Alex's Run.

We met Brian today on the windy hills of Hunter River. Where we took the "byway" (the Trail), Brian is taking the "highway" (literally). We travelled only a few steps of his long walk with him but it was an absolute pleasure to meet him, to talk with & learn from him, to see the big smile on his well tanned face and shake his hand. It was a joy to celebrate life with you Brian, we wish you all the best, in your Walk and in your life.

Tomorrow Brian will pass through Kensington, the heart of PEI, walk on into Summerside, and end his day in Miscouche. If you're in Summerside, go meet him on the boardwalk and show your support. Visit Brian's Walk4Life page and make a donation and "Please! Give The Gift Of Life!"

Unfortunately my camera was set to video when this picture was snapped.
Brian's team got one on their camera so watch his site
and maybe we'll show up over there.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Detour - Summits of Canada Expidition, PEI's High Point, Alex's Roots


Summits of Canada Expedition, aims, among other things, "To put the first Canadians on top of the "high-point" of every province and territory in the country."

On Prince Edward Island, they will "summit" Glen Valley, the little village in the middle of PEI, that we lived in when Alex (and his older brother) were born.

Although I went into Charlottetown to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to give birth to Alex , we were back home, in our little hand built cabin in Glen Valley within 24 hours of his birth. (Photo to the left is Alex, one day old, home in the cabin)

This map shows you exactly where the team will summit Glen Valley. Our little cabin was on the outside of the 90 degree bend in the road, just above the green arrow.

The directions given on the Summits of Canada website for the summit of PEI in Glen Valley are:

"Take Highway 2 to Fredericton to Glen Valley. Turn left onto a dirt road and park the car. GPS to a small forest beside a potato field."

From that page:
History

Prince Edward Island's highest elevation is only 142 metres above sea level, and is located in Lot 67, Queens County. The community on the hill is rather oddly named, being composed of two words suggesting a place lower than its surroundings: Glen Valley.

The PEI highpoint is higher than two USA highpoints: Ebright Azimuth-Delaware and Lakewood (Britton Hill)-Florida.
When Alex was 6 months old we moved from our little cabin to a big old farmhouse in Oyster Bed Bridge. (photo to the right is Alex shortly before we moved)

Thanx to Peter Rukavina for bringing this story to my attention.




Saturday, April 21, 2007

Fartlek / Speed Pyramid #2

Thursday, April 19
Run UPEI

Thursday Speed Pyramid #2 at trail from UPEI to Joe Ghiz Park.

24 minute run. 30 seconds easy, 30 seconds fast, 1 minute easy, 1 minute fast, 2 minutes easy, 2 minutes fast, 3 minutes easy and 3 minutes fast. Then down to 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds.

Down to park saw people walking. It was nice but windy. No race this weekend. Pace Challenge #1 on Tuesday. Playing ping pong with mom before 6:00.

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Boston Marathon photos

Boston Marathon photos are now online at marathonfoto.com
Select Boston Marathon 2007. Look below for the PEI runner's numbers. Put last name and number in form to search for photos.
Andrew Bryant's number is 4413

Congratulations The PEI Road Runners Club and Shawn McCardle!

Rob Mackenzie (President, PEI RoadRunners Club) receives the
Premier's Award for Sports Organization of the Year, from Nicole Phillips,
President of Sport PEI, and Elmer MacFadyen, representing the Premier.
(photo by Sport PEI)


Congratulations The PEI Road Runners Club and Shawn McCardle! Last night at The Sports PEI Award banquet the PEI Road Runner Club won the Premier's Award for the best sport organization, Shawn McCardle was Master Athlete of the Year. Jamie Mutch and the executive do a great job of running the road runner club. It a great club membership and I glad I am a member. Shawn was a very long run. He run of 100 miles race last year and he was 2006 PEI Road Runner of the Year.

Other PEI runner Jared Connaughton won Intercollegiate Male he a sprinter male.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Sports' big night - The Guardian : http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=23760&sc=99

SportPEI News : http://www.sportpei.pe.ca/
April 19 2007

Moyse, Ellsworth take home senior awards

Heather Moyse and Jeff Ellsworth were named the top senior athletes at the Sport PEI awards banquet held at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown. Moyse, from Summerside, had an outstanding 2006 where she finished 4th in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics in Turin, and then was the top points scorer in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Edmonton. Moyse was also named the winner of the Lieutenant Governor's Award for outstanding Island athlete. Ellsworth has been an outstanding softball player for many years, and in 2006 he made the Canadian team, appearing at the Pan-Am Championships in Mexico.

The Junior awards were won by Ashley MacIntyre from rugby, and Logan MacMillan from hockey. MacIntyre made the Canadian Under-19 team, while MacMillan won a gold with Canada at the World Under-18 Championships.

Intercollegiate award winners were sprinter Jared Connaughton from the University of Texas-Arlington, while golfer Angela Drane from the University of Louisiana-Monroe won the female award. Shawn McCardle, a long-distance runner from Lady Fane, was the winner of the Master's Award.

Speed skating President Glenn Holmes was named Adminstrator of the Year, while Jeff MacRae from gymnastics was the top official. UNB hockey coach and Gardiner MacDougall won the coaching award.

A number of special awards were also presented. The Roadrunners Club of PEI won the Premier's Award for Sports Organization of the Year, while long-time curling administrator and coach Marilyn Sutherland won the President's Award for long-time service to sport. Builder and historian Charlie Ballem was given Sport PEI Honourary Membership.

Tempo Training & Injury Prevention

Run UPEI
Tuesday April 17

Tuesday we did tempo training. Tempo training is running at a challenging steady pace that you can hold for the distance. You train close to your threshold without exceeding. It help you run faster and farther before getting fatigued. We ran a 6km loop started at UPEI to the trail, down the trail to the bypass highway back on Mt. Edward Road to Belvedere Ave. Then back to the trail and finished at UPEI. Took 32 minutes.
There is a Training Pace Calculator at Runner's World based on my Bunny Hop run these are my training paces:
Your easy run training pace is: 5:53 min/km
Your tempo run training pace is: 4:54 min/km
Your maximum oxygen training pace is: 4:25 min/km
Your speed form training pace is: 4:06 min/km
Your long run training pace is: 5:53 - 6:38 min/km
Your Yasso 800s training pace is: 3:39 min/800

Run UPEI
Tuesday April 17
Wednesday Colin Moore give the presentation on Injury Prevention. He talk about the 5 main running injuries, how to prevent them and what to do if you have an injury. Talk about Biomechanic Assessments to find out if you joints are moving right and what to do if they are not.


Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure


Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Boston Marathon Finish Line Video - WBZ NewsRadio 1030

WBZ's Marathon Finish Line: http://wbz.com/pages/350895.php

You may use this tool to watch yourself or someone you know cross the finish line of the 2007 Boston Marathon. Just input the finish time of the person you want to see and wait about one minute or so for the video to load.

Autistic marathon runner races past expectations - Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Autistic marathon runner races past expectations
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/311706_bostonrun16.html

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER

Doctors didn't think Andrew Bryant would be able to read. His mom was told she probably shouldn't leave him alone, and that he might need help showering. When he was diagnosed with autism two decades ago, doctors didn't have high expectations.

Today, the mom who heard that painful diagnosis expects to watch her son complete the Boston Marathon.

As for Bryant, the 25-year-old expects to better the 3:08:20 time that qualified him to get there.

"I surprise people," said Bryant, who can read his high school diploma.

For years, Bryant's mom never envisioned her only son crossing a street, let alone a finish line.

She never left him, too afraid of him being alone. So the morning she and her husband registered for a 5-kilometer fun run, they dressed in jeans, expecting to walk the course with Bryant, who was then 13.

"Well, the gun went off and he took off like a bullet," his mom, Colleen Engle, said.

She sprinted after her son, but couldn't catch him. She yelled his name, hoping he'd come back. When he didn't, Engle was terrified.

She found him at the end, eating a PowerBar and exceeding everyone's expectations.

He slipped away again at age 17 -- this time from his stepfather in the Las Vegas half-marathon. When Bryant was finally found, his stepfather went to check his time, but couldn't find it among the hundreds listed.

He explained to Bryant -- a special education student who can have difficulty focusing -- that his time would only be recorded if he passed through the finishing chutes.

Only on second inspection of the results did Bryant's stepfather realize he had -- in fourth place for his age division.

A small box in his North Seattle home holds Bryant's medals -- some from high school and half-marathons. He's never lost 5,000- or 10,000-meter races in the Special Olympics, which has more than 7,000 Washington state competitors with intellectual disabilities.

Autism is a disorder affecting as many as 1 out of every 150 children, with a wide range of symptoms. Some adults become well-regarded professionals, while others have a vocabulary of a few dozen words.

"When you're autistic, it's your socialization skills that are a big handicap for you," said Engle, whose son is high-functioning.

Last year, she enrolled Bryant with a Seattle running group so he'd have partners in case of an emergency. Those runners have become extremely protective and fond of him, as are his co-workers at QFC.

"He doesn't surprise me," said Chuck Bartlett, a Boston Marathon alum and Bryant's coach. "If he finds someone he can run with who can lead him, I think he can definitely break three hours."

Bryant, who moved to Seattle in 2002, said his goal is to break 2:59:36 -- the time Lance Armstrong ran in the 2006 New York City Marathon. After finishing, the six-time Tour de France champion told the media the marathon "was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done."

"The winner of the Boston Marathon or any big marathon is in the 2-hour, 15-minute range," said John Borgognoni, sports and program director for Special Olympics Washington, under which Bryant has competed. "Special Olympic athletes are closing the gap quickly, and Andy is living proof of that."

Bryant has difficult moments, especially near the end of practice runs that have been up to 24 miles. But marathons aren't as hard for him as they are for others, Bryant said.

"That's my ability," he said. "And running fast, I get to be strong."

He was both in 1999, finishing his first marathon in 4:33:33. He dropped more than an hour when he ran the 2005 Portland Marathon, and his 2006 Portland time was nearly two minutes faster than Boston's qualifying time, putting him among the world's most elite runners.

More than 1,000 disabled people have competed in the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon, with the visually and mobility-impaired division adding to the number of disabled athletes.

Engle is sure many of those families received a diagnosis similar to what Bryant got two decades ago. She remembers the tears that came after hearing doctors say her son would never be able to read, wouldn't hold a job, couldn't function socially and wouldn't have the intellectual ability to cross a street alone.

Today, she might cry for joy when Bryant crosses the Boston Marathon finish line.

Audio Slide Show:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/boston/

Andrew finished in 3:05:36 He placed 1383rd overall, 959th in his division.

Karen Mair will Interview 3 Island Runners in Boston

Island Morning host (and runner) Karen Mair reports she will be interviewing Boston Marathoners Scott Clark, Kim Bailey & Mike Meacher this morning at 8:15 on CBC radio, 96.1 FM. It may be posted on their website as well at cbc.ca/islandmorning

Islanders finish Boston Marathon - The Guardian


Islanders finish Boston Marathon

Last updated at 9:09 PM on 16/04/07
The Guardian

BOSTON - Scott Clark of Summerside was the leading Island finisher at the 111th Boston Marathon Monday.
The 43-year-old finished in a time of two hours, 51 minutes and 25 seconds, and was 403rd overall.
Leo McCosham of Charlottetown was second among racers listed from P.E.I. The 43-year-old was timed in 3:05:37 and was 1,388th overall.
Other Islanders:
- Francis Fagan, Charlottetown, 3:21:58
- Patrick Bergin, Stratford, 3:24:58
- Nancy Morris, Charlottetown, 3:37:21
- Janice Ployer, Charlottetown, 3:41:27
- Terry Magennis, Stratford, 3:44:26
- Lora Kemp, Montague, 3:45:27
- Anne MacLaurin, Miscouche, 3:48.49
- Pam Power McKenna, Charlottetown, 3:52:08
- Beverley Walsh, Charlottetown, 3:52:33
- Kimberley Bailey, Cornwall, 3:55:55
- Paul Dalton, St. Edward, 4:03:02
- Jackie Chaisson, Charlottetown, 4:04:40
- Elaine Burkholder, Kensington, 4:15:03
- Michael Meacher, Charlottetown, 4:20:17
- Dianne Pye, Charlottetown, 4:22:37
- Maureen Leard, Cornwall, 4:33:51

Compiled by The Guardian Sports department

Monday, April 16, 2007

Tracking PEI's Boston Marathon Runners

Boston Marathon Website:
http://www.bostonmarathon.org
Athlete Results (search by bib#, name, city etc):
http://www.baa.org/2007/cf/public/ResultsSearch.cfm

PEI Runners

(click on photos to enlarge)

Alphabetical Order



Sunday, April 15, 2007

Boston Marathon Quiz



WBZTV Boston Marathon Quiz - http://wbztv.com/bostonmarathonquiz

Alex scored 17 out of 18, he got the last question wrong

Kathrine Switzer - 40 Years Ago at the Boston Marathon


Kathrine Switzer


Kathrine Switzer is officially launching her autobiography, Marathon Woman, at the Boston Marathon Expo this weekend.

Kathrine Switzer, who had registered as "K. V. Switzer", was the first woman to run with a Boston Marathon number, in 1967. A year earlier, Roberta (Bobbi) Gibb had run the full Marathon, but without a number. Women were not officially allowed to enter the Boston Marathon until 1972.

Jock Semple, the race director, attacked Switzer when he realized she was a woman and tried to force her out of the race. He did so in front of the media bus and the moment was caught on film. The picture was flashed around the world before Switzer had even finished the race and it became a watershed photo in women's sport.

Marathon Woman Review by Cool Running


CBC has a Q&A article online -
Kathrine Switzer - Changing the face of sports
www.cbc.ca/news/background/exercise_fitness/marathon-switzer.html

Here are some excerpts that caught my eye:
What were some of the excuses they would make for not allowing women to take part?

"If a woman ran more than a mile and a half, she's going to get big hairy legs, her uterus is going to fall out, she's going to grow a mustache and turn into a guy and never have children. Or we're simply too fragile and something might happen to us - in the long term. That really was a bad one. It was inappropriate to run with men ­ that's so stupid. People had bought into the three thousand years of myth about women's passivity and weakness."

What was your biggest influence?

"It was my parents, because they said I could do anything [....]
He [dad] didn't realize it, but he had given me ­ all through my teen years ­ this enormous sense of self-esteem and accomplishment that this skinny little frizzle-haired bespectacled little girl otherwise wouldn't have had. By the time I got to 19, I didn't buy into any of those myths that I was being handed, because I was disproving them every day running."

Just as Kathrine Switzer didn't buy into the myths of women's abilities, potential, & place in society and disproved them "every day running", so too does Alex dispel the myths about the abilities, potential and place in society of autistics every day he runs. And just as Kathrine found her fellow (all male) runners 40 years ago "had always really welcomed" her, telling her "We're with you all the way", so too has Alex been welcomed into the running community on PEI and cheered on in his endeavors.

Kathrine Switzer's website is here: http://www.kathrineswitzer.com/


Saturday, April 14, 2007

Boston Marathon Weather Alert & Advisory

4/13/2007

Weather Alert - Advisory for Participants in the 2007 Boston Marathon

The Boston Athletic Association's medical team recommends the following precautions and advice for participants in Monday's Boston Marathon:

FORECAST:
The most up-to-date weather forecast calls for a predicted Spring storm on Monday, including heavy rains (potentially 3 to 5 inches), with the start temperatures in the mid to upper 30's. Wind will likely be East (in the face of the participants for most of the race) in the 20 to 25 mile per hour range, with gusts to as much as 50 miles per hour. This will produce a wind chill index of 25 to 30-degrees Fahrenheit.

RISKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN COLD AND WET CONDITIONS:
Combined with the rain, we are concerned that predicted weather conditions will increase the runners' risks for a condition called hypothermia.
Full text: http://baa.org/News.asp?NewsID=234

Boston Weather: http://weather.wbztv.com/US/MA/Boston.html

Tom Longboat - 100 Years Ago at the Boston Marathon


Tom Longboat

Onandaga distance runner Tom Longboat (Cogwagee) was born on June 4, 1887, on the Six Nations of the Grand River Indian Reserve near Brantford, Ont.

He began racing on Victoria Day in 1905 and in 1906 he had his first important win in Hamilton at the Around the Bay road race, beating the favoured English runner John Marsh with ease. He won a 15-mile road race in Toronto ten days later by a full three minutes. He went on to win the annual Christmas Day 10 Miler, beating the Canadian record by two and a half minutes.

Longboat was 19 years old (as Alex is this year) when he won the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1907, in 2:24:24, shattering John Caffrey's previous record by almost five minutes (4:59).

CBC has a nice article on Tom Longboat, Commemorating a Milestone

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/exercise_fitness/marathon-longboat.html

(Canadian Press Photo)

Stratford runner prepares for Boston Marathon - The Guardian

SPORTS
Last updated at 1:14 AM on 14/04/07
Stratford runner prepares for Boston Marathon
CHARLES REID
The Guardian

Over the years, the Boston Marathon takes its pound of flesh from most runners and for Pam Power-McKenna, Monday’s 111th version of the great race may get its last chomp.

Power-McKenna is running her fourth, and perhaps final, race unless a nagging leg injury goes away.

“I’m hoping not, but I’ve had a really rough year and a half,’’ said Power-McKenna on Thursday.

The Stratford resident partially detached two muscles high on her left leg while stretching on a hardwood floor. It’s part of the piriformus muscle which allows the thigh to rotate outward. It hasn’t healed properly and affects her running style because she’s constantly compensating for the injury.

“I get out of alignment more or less. (It feels) like an aching tooth.’’

She’s not yet had an MRI (magnetic resonance image which uses a big magnet and radio waves to snap 3-D pictures of the inside of the body), but she’s seeing a chiropractor which, she said, has improved things.

And she’s in for the proverbial penny in Boston.

“I'm not going to give up. If I have to walk I’m finishing this marathon. That’s my goal.’’

Power-McKenna said e-mails from the marathon organizers warned runners to expect heavy rains, high winds and temperatures as low as two degrees Celsius.

She ran a marathon two years ago in Halifax in similar conditions and understands the implications of fatigue and dehydration in that setting.

“I hardly remember the last few kilometres,’’ she said.

But at the Marathon, things have their own life, too.

“It's always to finish decent. To finish not in tears. I pretty well dance after every marathon I go to.’’

She leaves today and returns Tuesday.

Seventy-year-old Mike Meacher of Charlottetown is also competing.

-------------------------------------------
Best luck Pam, and all our Island runners.

See "18 PEI Runners off to Boston Marathon" for more on Island Runners off to Boston and watch this blog for more Boston Marathon stories & updates between now and the Finish Line on Monday.

Today, April 14th, is Mike "Rocketman" Meacher's 70th Birthday.
Happy Birthday Rocketman!

Friday, April 13, 2007

18 PEI Runners off to Boston Marathon

Prince Edward Island Runners List
(click to enlarge)

Monday April 16 at 10am eastern time open field official start time for 111th Boston Marathon. Elite women start at 9:35, Elite men and Wave 1 start at 10:00, second wave at 10:30 and wheelchairs racers start time 9:25.

I will been tracking PEI Runners on the Boston Marathon website every 5km I will be on watching TV.

Rain and cold in the weather forecast.

Good Luck to 18 runners from PEI in this year Boston Marathon. There are many volunteers from PEI going down too. Hope you all have a good safe and fun time!

Boston Marathon Website

Race Facts
FAQ

Boston Marathon Press Releases
Boston Marathon News
Boston Marathon 2007 - The Preview

WBZTV.com Find A Friend On The Boston Marathon Course

Boston Weather

Circuit Training and Intervals

Thursday, April 12
Run UPEI

First warmup 5 minutes easy run. Then strech. Then split in two groups. 1 group went Stan to Fitness Centre to do circuit training. Other group went to intervals on track.

I was in the first group to do circuit training. I did 11 exercise 12-15 repetitions of each. I like it. I like shoulder press and calf extension the best.

Your weight myself 149.75 pounds.

They were switch to intervals 4 minutes run, 2 minutes rest. Mom timed 4 set intervals.

Exams on basketball court started at 7:00 right when we ended. The legs were better.







Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Proper Running Form & Intervals

Tuesday, April 10
Run UPEI

They train inside because too much snow outside. We learn proper running form. Head: tilted down slightly look forward 10-20 feet ahead relax your jaw and neck. Torso: bend slightly forward keep upper body open. Hips: in line with head and shoulders. Shoulders: relaxed and square. Arms: bent a 90 degree angle and relaxed. Fast arms=fast feet. Hands: as though you are holding a small egg.

We do intervals 5 x 1km(6 laps) of run with 2 minutes rest between. I hurt my left calf muscle at the Bunny Hop and it was ok until the 3rd interval. That hurt again. I put ice on. Fitness Centre training on Thursday. The goal sheet fill in and give his to Stan.




Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure


Sunday, April 8, 2007

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Dairy Queen/Source for Sports Bunny Hop 10K

Saturday, April 7th, 2007
Charlottetown
"Few hills, but quite fast" (course map)
(Start line & Finish line photos by Deborah Mutch)

It sunny and cloudy around 0 degrees not very windy. 197 runners enter the race. Janet work at the water stop at 5km mark. 23:20 splits at 1/2 mark of race. She fix shoe laces before water because they came untied. One big hill but mostly flat. Stan won almost beat the course record. I came in 48:06 in placing 73rd out of 197.

I had a chocolate sundae after the race for free. Nice long sleeve T-shirt for 30th Anniversary Bunny Hop.

I plan to run in NB on late April maybe. "Le 15Km de Grande-Digue"

There would be a snowstorm tonight and tomorrow. So its a good thing the Bunny Hop was today. Next weekend runners and volunteers from PEI are going to Boston Marathon. Good Luck! I will watching on TV!





1st Place Winner Stanley Chaisson & Dairy Queen's Al Stewart







Official Result: 73rd out of 197
10K in 48 minutes, 6 seconds
2006 Bunny Hop
2005 Bunny Hop
Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Fartlek - The Speed Pyramid


Tuesday, April 3
Run UPEI

Fartlek is a Swedish word that means "speed play". We start warm up at indoor track. The speed pyramid, fartlek was running fast and running slow. 30 seconds of slow, 30 seconds of fast then 1 minute of slow, 1 minute of fast. Over 5km we built the time up then the time down. Warm down back to Sports Centre.







Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Runners brave elements - Journal Pioneer, April 3, 2007

SPORTS
Last updated at 8:49 AM on 03/04/07
Runners brave elements
Spring tune up race held in Central Bedeque

JASON SIMMONDS
The Journal Pioneer

Alex Coffin was the overall winner of the spring tune up 10-kilometre run in Central Bedeque recently.
His time was 34 minutes seven seconds (34:07). Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer

CENTRAL BEDEQUE — In weather that was more conducive to pond hockey or skiing, 25 runners braved unfriendly conditions in the spring tune up 10-kilometre run here Saturday morning.

“It was unbelievable, cool and windy with a strong head wind,” said Shelley Simmons-MacLeod of Summerside, the top-placing female in 45 minutes 35 seconds (45:35). “The first 4K we had the wind against our back, which was great.”

Simmons-MacLeod, 34, finished sixth overall and Alex Coffin, 38, of Saint John was the overall race winner in 34:07. Scott Clark (38:11), Leo McCosham (39:04), Chuck Dixon (41:50) and Mike Irvine (44:26) rounded out the top five overall finishers.

Runners had to deal with a chilly 35-kilometre-an-hour north wind and The Weather Network listed the temperature as feeling like -12 degrees Celsius.

“The wind was on our back the first half and you wanted to take advantage of that,” said Coffin, who was the only participant wearing shorts and added that he was “very pleased” with his time. “I went out real fast and got ready to fight the wind the second half.”

Coffin added the runners went against the wind from the five-to-nine-kilometre mark, and there was a cross-wind for the final kilometre.

“It was a tough run but it was good to get out and see where we’re at,” added Simmons-MacLeod, who was pleased with her performance in her first 10-kilometre run in a year and a half.

“In my mind I was hoping to do 45 or 46 (minutes),” she said. “But in these conditions I thought it might be a bit slower, and I’m really pleased with my time.”

Coffin, along with other runners, used the race as preparation for the Boston Marathon on April 16.

“I’m running in Boston with Scott Clark and I wanted to get one fast last 10K in before the Marathon,” added Coffin, who has family connections to Summerside.