Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Connaughton provides advice to athletes


Connaughton provides advice to athletes

The Guardian

P.E.I. Olympic track star Jared Connaughton says it’s alright to dream about success in athletics, but to make it a reality means you have to sacrifice, accept a healthy diet, train hard and keep away from the temptation of improving your physical stature with illegal drugs.
Connaughton addressed close to 100 P.E.I. Canada Games athletes, coaches, managers and parents at UPEI’s Duffy Amphitheatre on Saturday.
Connaughton, from New Haven, competed for Canada in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, in the 200-metre and 4x100 relay.
He’s a two-time P.E.I. Canada Games athlete, who won a pair of gold medals in the 2005 Games in Regina in the 100 and 200 events.
Connaughton was only 16 when he first represented the Island in the Games in 2001 in London, Ont., and admits he was not pleased with his results.
He took it upon himself to improve drastically, which he did competing for the University of Texas in Arlington and eventually winning double gold in Regina and becoming only the 10th person from Prince Edward Island to compete in the Olympics.
Connaughton emphasized that young athletes who want to compete for their province in August 2009 have a glorious opportunity to put on a great show in their own backyard.
“When the Games are in our own home, we should take it very, very seriously,” Connaughton told the audience during his one-hour presentation. “A lot of money is going into these Games to build some pretty outstanding facilities. It’s an opportunity I never had.”
Connaughton, who trains five hours daily, told the athletes they must sacrifice by giving up things like junk food and even partying in order discipline themselves and to make themselves better people and athletes.
He also suggested they use technology such as video to get their techniques down pat and he says writing a daily journal is important during training and competition to see where you are at and what improvements can be made.
Connaughton also told the young athletes that the use of illegal drugs including steroids and human growth hormone must be avoided because they are no more than a quick fix and with today’s modern testing methods, you will be caught, eventually. He also says the health risk involved is not worth it.
He says motivation is also a key to becoming a better athlete, which comes from both the individual and coaching staff and positive parental support.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Run for Cure set for Oct. 5

Click on the Run for the Cure Logo at the top right to Donate

Haile breaks 2:04 barrier, Mikitenko under 2:20 in Berlin

Haile breaks 2:04 barrier, Mikitenko under 2:20 in Berlin

The clock says it all - history's first sub-2:04 run  (Victah Sailer)

The clock says it all - history's first sub-2:04 run

(Victah Sailer)

28 September 2008 - Berlin, Germany - Haile Gebrselassie and Irina Mikitenko delivered fascinating and thrilling performances at the 35th real,- Berlin Marathon - an IAAF Gold Label Road Race - in front of an enthusiastic crowd of at least one million people in the German capital this morning.

The Ethiopian broke his own World record * by 27 seconds and with 2:03:59 achieved his goal of becoming the first runner to break 2:04 for the classic distance of 42.195Km.

Spurred on by that enormous support Mikitenko became the fourth fastest runner ever over the distance. She stormed into the finish in 2:19:19 and became the first German to break the prestigious 2:20 barrier.

Mikitenko’s time, which is a World leader as well, is the seventh fastest ever. Only world record holder Paula Radcliffe (Great Britain), Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba and Mizuki Noguchi have ever run faster than Mikitenko. Overall, Mikitenko became just the ninth woman to dip under 2:20. The three year-old course record of the Japanese Olympic Champion Noguchi barely survived by just seven seconds.

It was James Kwambai, who gave Haile Gebrselassie quite a race. The Kenyan finished second with 2:05:36, improving his personal best by almost five minutes (2:10:20)! Charles Kamathi (Kena) took third in 2:07:48. Behind Irina Mikitenko, who improved her personal best by almost five minutes as well (2:24:14 in London 08), Askale Magarsa (Ethiopia) improved to 2:21:31 for second place. Kenya’s Helena Kirop was third with a personal best of 2:25:01.

Men’s race – fast from the outset

The pace in the men’s race was fast from the start, moving to World record tempo and staying there. What was surprising was that apart from Gebrselassie and his four pacemakers another two Kenyans also went with the super-fast pace: James Kwambai and Charles Kamathi. The leading group went through halfway in 62:04. One by one the pacemakers dropped out, leaving only Abel Kirui (Kenya) as pacemaker in the race who managed to hold on until about 32 km.

“The pacemakers did a great job,“ said Gebrselassie who at that point still had company. “It was fantastic that Abel was able to stay with me as long as he did.”

After Kamathi, who eventually came in third in 2:07:48, dropped back after 25 km, the race turned into a duel between Kwambai and Gebrselassie. “I didn’t expect him to be so strong,” said the world record holder of his opponent. About five kilometres from the finish Gebrselassie injected some extra pace to make the decisive break from Kwambai. For Gebrselassie it was global best number 27. He has clocked 19 official World records plus another seven unofficial world bests.

Falk Cierpinski, the son of double Olympic Champion Waldemar Cierpinski, produced a strong performance in the ideal conditions to finish ninth in this top-class field, improving his personal best from 2:15:48 to 2:13:30. The 30-year-old ran an even pace throughout, going through halfway in 1:06:21. “I’m gradually moving to where I want to be in the Marathon. I’ve set a personal best and finished in the top ten in Berlin. Compared to two years ago when I made my Marathon debut in Sydney, I’ve come a long way,” said Cierpinski.

With her 2:19:19, Mikitenko moves up to No. 4 all-time - Women’s race

“I still can’t quite believe it,” said an overjoyed Mikitenko after her win. The clock showed 2:19:19 as the 1.58m tall long distance runner in her third Marathon became the first German since Uta Pippig 13 years ago to win this classic Marathon.

Mikitenko didn’t follow the suicide pace of the leading group when the race began. Askale Tafa Magarsa, Shuru Deriba (both from Ethiopia) and the Kenyan pair of Helena Kirop and Rose Cheruiyot went through 10km in 32:49. That put them on course for a finishing time of 2:18:30 – only Paula Radcliffe has run faster than that. But Mikitenko was still running very fast going through 10km in 33:11 in fourth place – that set her en route to a sub-2:20 time.

Mikitenko’s husband and coach Alexander, who was following the race on a bicycle, was constantly trying to get his wife to slow down. But he only partially succeeded. When the lead group, by now reduced to two runners – Magarsa and Kirop – reached halfway in 69:37, Mikitenko was 28 seconds down in 70:05, still with a chance of catching them. And while the 36-year-old, who won 80,000 Euros for her win, maintained her pace, she first made up the ground on Kirop and then Magarsa as these two predictably slowed down.

After 25km Mikitenko was getting closer to the Ethiopian Magarsa who by now was the outright leader, catching her soon after. For a few kilometres she ran just a metre behind her, then made a strong break from the opponent who had been expected to offer the biggest threat. In the closing stages Mikitenko could raise the pace even more and finished in 2:19:19. That was an improvement of almost five minutes, just like Kwambai. Askale Magarsa ran a top-class time of 2:21:31 in second place, also a considerable improvement. Third was Kirop in 2:25:01.

Mikitenko joins lead in World Marathon Majors

The Berlin Marathon belongs to the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series. In the second series (2007-2008) Mikitenko has now joined the leader, Ethiopian Gete Wami. Both have 65 points. In the men’s series there were no significant changes regarding the outcome later this year in New York. Here Kenyan Martin Lel clearly leads with 76 points.

Regarding the combination of the two winning times the race was the second best Marathon ever seen. Combined, Gebrselassie and Mikitenko ran 4:23:18. Only the Chicago Marathon in 2002 was slightly better, with Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:56) and Paula Radcliffe (2:17:18) combining a 4:23:14.

At the 35th edition of Germany’s biggest and most spectacular road race, 40,827 runners from 107 nations competed. Weather conditions were ideal with temperatures between 12 and 16° Celsius, with sunshine. There was partly some slight wind, but the wind was not as strong as forecasted. Because of the great conditions and atmosphere the first two men and the first three women plus a number of other runners broke their personal bests in Berlin. Some of them did so by huge margins.

Jörg Wenig (assisted by Andy Edwards) for the IAAF

* pending the usual ratification procedures

On The Run - Long run paramount in preparation


As a new runner and po
tential Marathoner, the long run is a pivotal part of your training plan. This will prepare your body mentally and physically for the challenges that
may arise during the 26.2. It’s also a love-hate relationship. Though we enjoy the rewarding benefits, we’ve all had struggles with our training at one time or another. My
transition from running a Half to a Full Marathon has proved to be very difficult. As Imade the transition to running longer distances there have been many new obstacles
present, whether that be an ache or pain, lack of energy, or time management.

Pacing has become my major challenge in the last few weeks. Predicting my Marathon pace by simply doubling my Half Marathon time was not a good idea. I came
to that realization when I reached the 25km mark in a recent long run. I guess you could say I “hit the wall,” and this was definitely a brick wall. My legs simply could not keep going, I was forced to walk and my energy was low. I was very discouraged and started questioning whether or not I was ready. This was a new challenge for me. So, I reflected on what I needed to change, made a list of new rules and made sure I had a plan before my next long run. Following are my new rules for long runs: “Just because you feel good at 10k doesn’t mean you’ll feel good at 30k or 40k”, be patient, think ahead and conserve energy. Rule number two: “Don’t feel like you have to finish a certain distance” if you don’t feel well, shorten the run or stop and walk. Being obsessed with completing a distance can be dangerous and can lead to further ailments. Save it for another day. Number three: “Always have water and a source of carbohydrate with you”. Replacing calories and water during your run is critical for sustained energy. Needless to say my next run was 30k and one of my best; by following a few easy steps my confidence was restored. That’s the great thing about long runs, you learn as you run. You have thechance to make mistakes, make changes and continue on this great adventure.

As you approach your final long runs, remember these rules and you’ll be well on your way to a successful event. Don’t be afraid. You’ve made the investment, all the money is in the bank, you simply have enjoy the experience.


Sunday, September 28, 2008

Islanders on the Run - This Weekend in Saint John and Toronto



Marathon by the Sea (MARATHON)
1 - Leo McCosham - Charlottetown - 1/17 - M4049 - 2:50:59 - 2:51:00* - 4:05
10 - Francis Fagan - Charlottetown - 2/12 - M5059 - 3:19:25 - 3:19:31* - 4:46
11 - David Forsythe - Charlottetown - 3/12 - M5059 - 3:19:55 - 3:20:02* - 4:46
12 - Gary Simmonds - Morell - 5/17 - M4049 - 3:20:26 - 3:20:32* - 4:47
22 - Bev Walsh - Charlottetown - 1/4 - F4049 - 3:41:51 - 3:41:59* - 5:18
72 runners
Full Results Here

Congrats Leo on winning the Marathon by the Sea
and to all of you for your excellent, Boston qualifying, times.


Marathon by the Sea (HALF_Marathon)
211 - Donnie Walsh - Charlottetown - 51/59 - M4049 - 2:07:28 - 2:07:45 - 6:05
236 - Jennifer Davison - Kensington - 47/75 - F3039 - 2:10:58 - 2:11:59 - 6:18
351 runners
Full Results Here



97 - EDWIN GILLIS - SUMMERSIDE - 3:08:33.4 - 3:07:56.4 - 4:29 - M40-44

2531 Runners
Full Results Here

Congrats All!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

UPEI Homecoming Run - A top 3 finish


It was cloudy and 16 degrees.

The UPEI Homecoming Run at UPEI.

The 5km route was on the Ring road and trail.

The different from last year the measuring short of 5km. This year was a true 5km.

I made the top 3 and time of 19:23 and came in 3rd out of 44 runners.

Steven Baglole won the race and Rebecca Gallant for the top female.

There was a Tot Trot for a little kids.

The $25 from Source For Sports for 3rd place.

More Photos

Official Result: 3rd out of 44
5K in 19 minutes, 23 seconds

UPEI Homecoming 2007

Tot Trot runners and Mascot

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Olympian Jared Connaughton wants to inspire youths to reach their potential


Olympian Jared Connaughton
wants to inspire youths to reach their potential
STEPHEN BRUN
The Guardian


CORNWALL — Speaking to friends and family seemed almost more difficult for Jared Connaughton than sprinting to the finish line at the Beijing Olympics.
The track-and-field Olympian choked up and his eyes filled with tears as he spoke to friends, family and supporters at the APM Centre in Cornwall on Sunday.
Although the 23-year-old competed this summer in front of millions around the world at the Olympic Games in China, Connaughton said addressing his home community was a different challenge all together.
“I was in the Bird’s Nest (Olympic stadium in Beijing) with 90,000 people and I’m more nervous here than I was there,” said the runner.
“It’s experiences like this that continue to motivate me for the future. With support from the communities and from friends and family I know that this positive direction will continue.”
Although Connaughton didn’t medal in his first Olympics, the congratulatory reception Sunday was a testament to the respect and pride the community feels for the New Haven native.
An award at his former Bluefield High School will be named after him, and will honour the male or female athlete at the school who represents his sportsmanship, dedication and athletic excellence.
Darryl Boudreau, representing the Bluefield family of schools, recalled how Connaughton came to him in his Grade 12 year about his decision to focus solely on track and field.
“That was a pretty mature decision for a 17-year-old kid to make,” said Boudreau.
Connaughton said he wants to inspire young people to reach their potential, even if he was a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a role model.
“Kids come up to me and they say, ‘You’re my hero’, and I just scratch my head and think, ‘All I do is run in a straight line’,” he said, breaking down into tears.
“If I can inspire the future to challenge themselves and aspire to go down a path to something more, then that’s a great thing.”
Connaughton recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington,
and is the 2008 Canadian champion in the 200-metre distance.
In Beijing, he qualified for the semi-finals in the 200-m sprint and ran the third leg as a member of the Canadian 4x100m relay team, which placed sixth.
His next major competition will be the 2009 World Championships in Germany, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in London, England.
Connaughton said the support from Prince Edward Island carried him through the Beijing Olympics.
“Even when I was there, I was getting e-mails and phone calls from people from all over the Island. Now, when I came back, I get letters of appreciation, letting me know how much they followed me and supported it. It’s really an honour to expose what I love to people who may not have followed it as much.”

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Personal Best 10 Mile - The Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile

















It was sunny and windy and 13 degrees.

The Miscouche Firefighters 10 miles on the 5 miles out and back in Rte 12 and 123.

The first 5 miles time of under 34 minutes and the headwind all the way back.

I finished in 1:11:55 and a personal best time of 1:35 from last year and came in 11th out of 50 runners.

Alex Coffin won the race and Jennifer Perry for the top female.

Steven Baglole had a personal best time by over ten minutes.

More Photos

Official Result: 11th out of 50
10 Miles in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 55 seconds

Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile 2007
Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile 2006
Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile 2005

Miscouche Firefighters 10 Mile 2004


Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure


Congratulations
September 20th 2008 saw the weddings of...

Doris & Derek



(the other) Alex Bain & Lisa

Our very best wishes for a long, happy, future together

Friday, September 19, 2008

Islanders on the Run - Last Weekend in Montreal and Newfoundland

http://www.marathondemontreal.com
Marathon Oasis de Montréal

11(Place)Leo McCosham Charlottetown 1:18:58.4(Chip Time) Male 40-44 - 3/316(Cat. Place) 11/1947(Gender Place)
13(Place)John Bil Montreal 1:19:20.4(Chip Time) Male 40-44 - 4/316(Category Place) 13/1947(Gender Place)
33(Place)Paul Baglole Meadow Bank 1:25:38.4(Chip Time) Male 45-49 - 5/261(Cat. Place) 31/1947(Gender Place)

3053 Participants

Congrats guys!

Full Results Here


http://www.nlaa.ca/roadrunning/nfld_prov_marathon.php

Newfoundland Provincial Marathon

23(place) - ELAINE BURKHOLDER - 4:06:58(time) - F(4)(Gender Place) - 50-59(Age) - 1(Category Place)
26 (place) - DIANNE PYE - 4:12:55(time) - F(6)(Gender Place) - 40-49(Age) - 1(Category Place)


37 Participants

Congrats Ladies!

Full Results Here

Spreading the word about polio


On the Run - Hard work, dedication needed for marathon


Hard work, dedication needed for marathon
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=172477&sc=99
STAN CHAISSON
The Guardian


Running a marathon isn’t an easy task.
It takes months of hard work, dedication and a schedule that is physically and mentally demanding.
There are days you can think of a million things to do before you decide to run and days you just feel like giving up. All I can say is you need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and throw those negative thoughts in the garbage on the way out the door.
Many of you may feel running a marathon is out of reach.
You may feel like it’s too late to start, and say, ‘I’m too busy’ or ‘someday I’ll do it’.
I say get moving. It’s so easy to use an excuse every year and sooner or later it will be too late, the dream of running the famous distance of 26.2 miles will be gone.
No one knows what tomorrow holds for us, so you need to live everyday to the fullest. Stop delaying your goals, and get your butt in gear.
Put things in perspective. Does sitting at a desk all day working really mean the most to you? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Do something rewarding, something that you’ll feel good about.
Stop saying ‘I don’t have time,’ that is such a lame excuse. Make an action plan and follow through.
If I have your attention and you’re asking yourself ‘What’s next?’, I would say get out and experience what this event is all about.
We are very lucky to have the BMO Nesbitt Burns P.E.I. Marathon because it provides all Islanders the opportunity to participate in a day of fun, fitness and inspiration.
What more could you ask for? Sure the marathon may not be attainable this year, but don’t let that stop you from being a part of the event. Walk the 10-km event, the half marathon or take your kids to the Spud Kids Fun Run.
Watch the expression of the participants as they approach the finish line and see the excitement and pride on their faces.
I promise it will not take long to feel the emotion and become motivated. As you see people of all shapes and sizes passing by, ask yourself, ‘What’s stopping me from doing this?’
You’ll soon realize that there are not as many excuses as you thought. This can be the boost you need to run the elusive 26.2 sooner than you think.
I’ve witnessed people start this journey from square one. It’s amazing what one can accomplish with only a pair of sneakers and a willing attitude. You simply need to belief in yourself and the rest falls into place.
Never underestimate what your capabilities are, never assume that you can’t before you try. This experience is something that’ll stay with you long after you cross the finish line. It’ll be something you can reflect on for a lifetime.

Stan Chaisson is a certified kinesiologist, trainer, avid runner and exercise enthusiast. His weekly column will provide advice and training tips for those preparing for the BMO Prince Edward Island Marathon, Oct. 18-19 www.princeedwardislandmarathon.com

Goalball team misses medal round

Goalball team misses medal round

A 1-0 loss to China on the weekend eliminated Canada's women's goalball team from the medal round at the Beijing Paralympics on Sunday.

The team — which features P.E.I.'s only two paralympians, Amy Kneebone and Contessa Scott — finished with a record of two wins, three ties, and two losses.

China advanced to the gold medal match against the United States, losing the match 6-5.

Goalball is a game for visually impaired athletes. Players attempt to roll a ball with a bell in it across the goal line of the opposing team.

Olympian welcomes Games sponsors

Olympian welcomes Games sponsors
Xerox Canada donating over $600,000 in equipment, software

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian


P.E.I. Olympian Jared Connaughton, left, hams it up with Xerox Canada CEO Kevin Warren, centre, and 2009 Canada Games hopeful Gerry MacAdam on the new running track being built at UPEI for the Games. Warren announced Tuesday his company is donating $600,000 of technology for the Games on P.E.I. next summer. See story, A2. Guardian photo by Heather Taweel
P.E.I. Olympian Jared Connaughton, left, hams it up with Xerox Canada CEO Kevin Warren, centre, and 2009 Canada Games hopeful Gerry MacAdam on the new running track being built at UPEI for the Games. Warren announced Tuesday his company is donating $600,000 of technology for the Games on P.E.I. next summer. See story, A2. Guardian photo by Heather Taweel

Despite his recent international attention at the Beijing Olympics, P.E.I. athlete Jared Connaughton still views his experience at the 2005 Canada Games as the most memorable moment of his life.
He won two gold medals in track and field events in that summer Games.
But now he said he’s excited to see the Games coming to P.E.I. and that a number of corporate sponsors are coming on board to help make it happen.
On Tuesday, Xerox Canada announced it is joining the team as a gold sponsor of the 2009 Canada Games on P.E.I.
The company is donating over $600,000 worth of Xerox printing equipment and logistics software that will enable volunteers to easily manage and distribute information.
These technologies will be used for athlete accreditation, media and internal communications for future Canada Games events.
“With tens of thousands of athletes, staff and visitors expected to attend the games, Xerox’s custom-built technology will both modernize and optimize current processes,” said Xerox Canada’s president and CEO Kevin Warren during a news conference Tuesday in Charlottetown.
“Our solutions create a streamlined infrastructure that will make the 2009 program one of the most technologically advanced to date.”
Wayne Carew, speaking on behalf of the Canada Games Host Society, said this kind of contribution is just what is needed for the Games on P.E.I. next year to be logistically organized.
“Next August will be very busy indeed — we expect tens of thousands of additional visitors to flock to our Island eager to watch world-class athletes,” Carew said.
“In order to stage a successful games and leave lasting legacies for P.E.I. the host society needs support from all sectors.”
The federal and provincial governments and Island municipalities all have come on board financially to help the Games happen.
But the host society still must raise about $7 million in corporate donations.
That’s why they were thrilled with Xerox Canada’s technical and logistical contribution.
The Xerox donation also includes hardware devices that can print, copy and scan to e-mail, enabling fast and efficient ‘real-time’ access to critical information.
Connaughton said this kind of support is so important for athletic competition.
“I know through experience that having data and logistics and technology not running as well as you wish it to can be a really big headache,” he said.
“So to have your results in real time, instant results especially after qualifying and not knowing whether you’ve made it to the next round — it’s something that’s amazing.”
During the funding announcement, he reflected on his athletic career.
Looking back, he said his experiences at the Canada Games are the ones that have remained closest to his heart.
“A lot of people don’t realize this, but in 2005, I was a double gold medallist, but leading into the Games I was injured the entire season,” Connaughton said.
“I didn’t compete at all actually for my team in Texas due to the injury. But when I got back to the Island and trained — as that famous quote says — on soccer fields and on sand dunes — I had the Canada Games as my focal point.
“I went on to win two gold medals . . . and even after my experience at the Olympics and my experience at the World Championships in Osaka, the 2005 Canada Games still to this day holds a very special place in my heart athletically and I do believe the most memorable moment of my life.”

On the Run - P.E.I. Marathon around corner


P.E.I. Marathon around corner
STAN CHAISSON
Guardian column

I can already smell it in the air, I can feel the chill on my early morning runs and soon we’ll see the beautiful colours of fall that remind us that our great Island Marathon is quickly approaching.
In all the excitement of training for the BMO Nesbitt Burns P.E.I. Marathon weekend, be careful, it’s easy to over do it in the last few weeks and injuries can occur, despite your best efforts to avoid them.
There are many methods to prevent and treat injuries so that your training can continue as scheduled.
If you feel discomfort in a muscle or joint don’t ignore it and assume it’ll go away. Many times I’ve said to myself ‘ah I’ll be fine, I can run through it.’
It’s usually a week or so later when I say, ‘what the heck was I thinking?’
In many instances “running through it” can make things worse and lead to frustration and, in my case, crankiness. Listen to your body, it’s telling you to ease up and take a break.
The first thing you can do to avoid injuries is to focus on your event and let other activities take a back seat.
Whether you’re training for the 10-kilometre walk or the marathon, you need to focus your attention and energy on this task.
Sometimes that means sacrificing other activities like contact sports, or high intensity workouts that may cause injuries or put extra stress on your body. You’ve come all this way in your training, focus and preparation for your event should be your highest priority.
Taking proper rest periods throughout your training is probably the best way to prevent injuries. There’s a time to work hard and a time to rest hard and they are equally important. Too much or too little of either of these can get you in trouble.
A tool I use within my training programs is taking a recovery week every month. Mileage decreases significantly and stretching, massage and proper hydration and nutrition are the main focus for the week.
Your taper, or the last few weeks of your training plan, is also of great significance because it’s the time your body adapts to the workload. Stretching and strengthening exercises throughout your plan will also decrease the risk of injury.
If it’s too late for this and you’re already suffering form a nagging injury don’t panic.
First thing first, put your training on hold for a few days to give your body rest.
Believe me, I know this isn’t fun, I know you’ll feel like you’re losing your fitness, I know you may be a little bit cranky, but in the end it’ll be the best decision you can make and it’ll get you up and running better than ever before.
Ice the area of the muscle or joint that is painful and take an Advil to limit inflammation.
You can wrap the injured area with a bandage to provide support or put your feet up and elevate the injured area to limit swelling.
If a few days doesn’t take care of the problem it’s time to seek treatment from a physiotherapist. Remember, be patient and stay focused.
Injuries can be annoying, frustrating and can force many runners to hang up their shoes and give up. Don’t let these aches and pains get the best of you.
Follow the proper precautions and you’ll be OK.
Don’t let these temporary delays make you miss an event and a feeling that’ll last forever.

Stan Chaisson is a certified kinesiologist, trainer, avid runner and exercise enthusiast. His weekly column will provide advice and training tips for those preparing for the BMO P.E.I.Marathon, Oct. 18-19. www.princeedwardislandmarathon.com

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Beautiful


Running with Ramesh Ferris on the Cycle to Walk



Alex with Ramesh Ferris
trying out Ramesh's hand cycle
(watch the video of Alex hand cycling)

Photos below by Chris Madden,
Community Liaison, Cycle to Walk

On Tuesday, September 16th, Alex and I were honoured to join Ramesh Ferris and, along with Cpl. Dave Cheverie, escort him through the streets of Charlottetown on his cross-Canada Cycle to Walk.

When I first heard about Ramesh's campaign, to "raise funds and awareness to forward the global eradication of polio, to educate about the continuing need for immunization against polio and to support the rehabilitation of polio survivors in poor countries." I felt obligated to lend our voices to his mission. As a parent in the autism community I know too well that the declining vaccination rates - 11% of Canadians are not vaccinated against Polio - have much to do with the much discreddited myth that 'vaccines cause autism', a myth perpetuated by some of the more vocal and anti-science parents in the autism community.

A recent headline in the New York Times read "Measles Cases Grow in Number, and Officials Blame Parents"

"More people had measles infections in the first seven months of this year than during any comparable period since 1996, and public health officials blamed growing numbers of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children.

Many of these parents say they believe vaccines cause autism, even though multiple studies have found no reputable evidence to support such a claim. In Britain, Switzerland, Israel and Italy, measles outbreaks have soared, sickening thousands and causing at least two deaths."

This "better dead than autistic" attitude is not only extremely offensive, it is anti scientific fear mongering that is putting our children and out society at risk.

Ramesh tells us "According to WHO calculations, the rate of immunization [against Polio] is presently low enough to put Canada at risk for at least localized outbreaks."

“As long as a single child remains infected with the poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can easily be imported into a polio-free country and can spread rapidly amongst immunized populations. Between 2003 and 2005, 25 previously polio-free countries were reinfected due to importations.” - (WHO)

There are few children for who vaccines are contraindicated and those children, babies too young to be immunized and those for whom the vaccine does not work depend on herd immunity to keep them safe. Please, unless your Doctor advises against it, please immunize your children. It is absolutely NOT better to risk death by a disease that can be prevented by vaccine. Countless peer reviewed scientific studies have shown NO LINK between vaccines and autism. Your children deserve this high standard of scientific evidence. New age, pseudo scientific celebrities who depend on Google for their education should not be trusted with your children's lives.

"No single medical advance has had a greater impact on human health than vaccines. Before vaccines, Americans could expect that every year measles would infect four million children and kill 3,000; diphtheria would kill 15,000 people, mostly teenagers; rubella (German measles) would cause 20,000 babies to be born blind, deaf, or mentally retarded; pertussis would kill 8,000 children, most of whom were less than one year old; and polio would paralyze 15,000 children and kill 1,000."

Dr. Paul Offit MD, author of Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure

(Paul A. Offit, MD, is a pediatrician specializing in infectious disease medicine, an internationally known expert on vaccines, immunology, and virology, the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Offit has been a member of the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Offit has published more than 130 papers in medical and scientific journals in the areas of rotavirus-specific immune responses and vaccine safety and is the co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine )


Smallpox -- a disease estimated to have killed 500 million people -- was eradicated from the face of the earth by vaccines. Polio stands to be the second disease eradicated from the planet.

The US$200 million funding agreement between Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation marks another milestone in Rotary’s 20-year legacy of polio eradication work.

Rotary, a volunteer service organization of 1.2 million men and women, made a commitment to immunize the world’s children against polio in 1985 and became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative three years later. The other partners are the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF.

Rotary’s primary responsibilities include fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment. To date, Rotary has contributed nearly $700 million to the eradication effort, an amount that will grow to more than $850 million by the time the world is certified polio-free.

[...]

Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the number of polio cases has been slashed by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of childhood paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2007, fewer than 2,000 cases were reported worldwide.

But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent will be the most difficult and expensive to prevent for a variety of reasons, including geographical isolation, worker fatigue, armed conflict, and cultural barriers.

That’s why it’s so important to generate the funding needed to finish the job. To ease up now would be to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.

The bottom line is this: As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children – wherever they live – remain at risk.

--Source

We were proud to join Ramesh and support his campaign to eradicate Polio, educate Canadians on the importance of immunization and support the rehabilitation of Polio survivors in poor countries. Please take a moment to visit Ramesh's website www.cycletowalk.com and consider showing your support by donating to the Cycle to Walk and/or emailing him some words of encouragement.

Thank you to Ramesh, Chris and the rest of the Cycle to Walk crew. It was a pleasure to meet you all and spend a bit of time together. We wish you a safe & successful journey as you make your way to Newfoundland.

See all the photos Chris Madden & I took that day here.
You can hear Ramesh tell his story here on this YouTube video.
Watch Alex try out Ramesh's hand cycle here.


Below is Ramesh's blog post of Tuesday, September 16th:

Follow Ramesh's Journey

Day 158- Charlottetown, PEI- (Non-Official Route Cycling)
by Ramesh Ferris, posted in Road Updates - Tue, September 16, 2008

imageThe team hit the road at 6 am today to visit Rotarians in Sunnyside, PEI. The club’s president, Sandy Rundle, announced that the club has been so inspired by Cycle to Walk that they will make a significant contribution to Rotary International’s PolioPlus program in honour of Cycle to Walk in the near future. After some best wishes, donations and an interview with the local paper, we headed back to Charlottetown – but not without stopping to check out the Confederation Bridge first.

Back when we first arrived on the island, we were invited to visit MacQueen’s Bicycle Shop in Charlottetown to get the bike serviced. This morning we took it in for one last tune up, cable replacement, and brake alignment. I believe that now the hand cycle will handle the final 500 km of the Cycle to Walk cross-Canada tour with no problems.

Dr. Sean Wiebe of from the University of Prince Edward Island’s Global Issues class invited the team to speak with his students today. Just like yesterday’s class, students demonstrated lots of interest in the Cycle to Walk campaign and asked lots of questions. Thank-you to all of the staff and students at the UPEI for showing so much care and support for the team and the message of Cycle to Walk. Education about polio must continue both in and out of the classroom. We need to work together as a global community to eradicate polio once and for all.

11 per cent of Canada’s population has not received the polio vaccination. That means over 3.4 million Canadians are at risk of contracting the poliovirus. There are a number of reasons why Canadians are not receiving the polio vaccine, such as an ‘out of sight/out of mind’ attitude, miseducation that polio has already been eradicated, or myths that the polio vaccinations lead to side effects such as autism.

There is absolutely no scientific evidence that the polio vaccination is responsible for causing autism.

It’s important for parents to ensure that their children receive the three doses of the polio vaccine at two, four and six months of age. Even adults need to ensure that their immunizations are up to date – especially if travelling overseas. Anyone who has not received the three doses of the polio vaccine can be a carrier of the virus, putting others at risk of contracting polio.

This afternoon, I hand cycled through the streets of Charlottetown accompanied by a local PEI Hero by the name of Alex Bain. Alex is 20, and he lives with autism spectrum disorder. Both he and his mother Janet were so excited to join in support of the Cycle to Walk campaign and share the important message that people need to continue to receive the polio vaccine. Alex had absolutely no problems keeping up as he is known for his long distance marathon running. In 2006, Alex ran across Prince Edward Island – tip to tip – to raise awareness about autism and to celebrate ability. It’s reassuring and wonderful to know a person living with autism who is willing to put himself in the public and show support for the polio vaccine. Thank you so much, Alex, your support. It means a lot to me, and it was great to spend part of the afternoon with you. View Janet and Alex’s blog entry here.

Alex, Janet and Iwere kept nice and safe because of the great work of
Corporal Dave Cheverie of the Charlottetown Police. Thanks, Corporal Cheverie, for the lights, sirens, safety, and support.

We ended our day back on campus at the UPEI to speak at Campus Kids daycare. What a treat it was to be surrounded by such attentive, inquiring, smiling, and supportive young children. Thank you to Trish Daley, daycare staff, and all of the children. You truly brought a lot of joy into our day when you demonstrated so much interest to learn more about polio and the Cycle to Walk campaign.
It’s unbelievable, but our time is quickly coming to an end here in PEI. The team will catch the Wood Island ferry back to Nova Scotia tomorrow morning continue eastward on our journey. Thank you so much to our wonderful hosts, the Campbells and the Mathesons for hosting the team over the last couple of days!

imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimage


Polio still a problem: activist


STEPHEN BRUN
The Journal Pioneer


SUMMERSIDE – Ramesh Ferris is a study in contrasts as a survivor of polio.

As a six-month-old in India, the disease crippled his legs. But he is now nearing the end of a cross-Canada awareness campaign that demonstrates what proper rehabilitation can do for polio survivors.

Ferris is using a hand cycle to travel across Canada to raise awareness for the eradication of polio. He said Canadians have become complacent about vaccinations over time, while some even think the disease no longer exists.

“We’ve had a prevention for over 53 years, yet children continue to die and become paralyzed by the effects of polio,” said Ferris at a recent Summerside Rotary meeting.

“If we choose not to continue the fight against polio, an additional 10 million children will be paralyzed over the next 40 years and we risk losing the $4-billion global investment we’ve put into the eradication efforts.”

Ferris began his Cycle to Walk campaign on April 12 in Vancouver in honour of the date in 1955 when Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was released.

To date, he has travelled 6,700 kilometres and will end his cycle at Cape Spear, Nfld., on Oct. 1. Ferris plans to eventually raise $1 million, 75 per cent of which will go to Rotary’s Polio Plus program, while 20 per cent will go to polio survivors in poor countries and five per cent will be spent on education about the disease.

“It’s a reminder that there’s still people dying from the effects of this horrible disease that we should’ve eradicated years ago,” he said.

“My drive and my passion toward doing that won’t stop in Newfoundland.”

In India, because his mother didn’t have access to the health care Ferris needed, an Anglican bishop in the Yukon adopted him as a two-year-old in 1982.

He was able to access the braces, crutches and surgeries he needed in Vancouver, and took his first steps with crutches a year later.

“It’s challenging, but I’m an example of what can happen if one doesn’t receive the vaccination, but what can happen if one has access to the proper rehabilitative care.”

Although great strides have been made against polio — it is only endemic in four countries around the world — new cases still crop up because people still don’t get the proper immunizations. This is something Ferris would like to change.

“As long as there’s a single case of polio, no country is polio-free.”

newsroom@journalpioneer.com