Freeze Your Gizzard 2009 - with a GPS

It was sunny and -6 degrees.

Before the race Jamie give me his old Garmin Forerunner because his got a new one. Thank you very much Jamie! I really like it.

The 10.5km loop course in Montague and countryside.

Mark McCosham and Ellen Sherren for the 10km.

Leo McCosham won the half-marathon and Erin Callaghan for the top female.
I finished in 1:40:42 and came in 14th out of 55 runners.

It was first race of 2009.

On March 6 the PEI Roadrunner Club Award Banquet at Charlottetown Legion.

I making slide show containing 300 photos for it.

The next race is St. Patrick Day 5km Easter Seals run at UPEI. My mom won't be there and my dad attend at race.

More Photos

Photos from the Freeze Your Gizzard 2006-2008

Official Result: 14th out of 55
Half-Marathon in 1 hour, 40 minutes, 42 seconds

Freeze Your Gizzard 2008
Freeze Your Gizzard 2007
Freeze Your Gizzard 2006


(Wonder how the other Alex Bain did today in his half-marathon?)

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/02/18/pe-olympic-contribution.html

Olympics get $500,000 from P.E.I.

CBC News

Vancouver Olympics mascots skate with
Charlottetown schoolchildren on Wednesday. (CBC)

Prince Edward Island is putting half a million dollars towards the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The contribution will allow the province to participate in a number of Olympic events, including a Prince Edward Island day to promote its culture and heritage.

Premier Robert Ghiz and P.E.I. Olympian Kara Grant joined Quatchi, Miga and Sumi, the Vancouver Olympics mascots, for a skate with Charlottetown school children Tuesday to make the announcement.

"Three billion people watching the opening ceremonies and billions more watching it throughout the week. It's going to be a good opportunity for Canada to showcase itself and also for Prince Edward Island," Ghiz said.

Most other provinces have already signed on as contributing partners, which allows them to showcase themselves and participate in what's being called the Cultural Olympiad.

Grant called the chance to play a part in the Games "a wonderful opportunity here that doesn't come around very often. It's something that I certainly am very excited about, that I hope to be a part of in some way."

The Olympic torch will be on P.E.I. Nov. 21 and will be carried 320 kilometers over land and water in a relay involving 250 torchbearers.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=223218&sc=98

Province contributes $500,000 to Olympic team

DAVE STEWART
The Guardian

Mascots were all over town Tuesday as the Winter Olympics and Canada Summer Games mascots were out and about meeting sports groups and schoolchildren. One stop was at the Charlottetown Curling Club where they met Ben MacCallum, left, and his brother Jake and tried their hand at curling. In back are Miga (Sea Bear); Quatchie (Sasquatch) and Sumi (Spirit Bear). With them are Abbie and Eddie. The youngsters are with the Charlottetown Junior Curling Program - The Little Rock Curlers. Guardian photo by Brian McInnis

P.E.I. Olympian Kara Grant says hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver will serve as inspiration for Island children to become more involved in physical activity.
Grant was at a news conference in Charlottetown Tuesday where the provincial government announced it will contribute $500,000 directly to the Canadian team at the Games and is set to showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
The modern pentathlete, who competed at the Olympic Games during the summers of 2004 and 2008, said one of the biggest highlights of her career was competing at the 1999 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg.
The chance to compete in front of a home crowd was a dream come true for her and she feels Island children are going to be pumped about having the Canada Games on P.E.I. this summer and the Olympic Games in Vancouver next winter.
“I’ve competed in dozens of countries around the world and that moment of standing on the podium, getting my bronze medal in Winnipeg is still one of the highlights of my
career,” Grant said in an interview with The Guardian.
“The fact that I was on home soil was a big part of that.”
And, it will be exciting for the kids watching at home, drinking in all the excitement of a country cheering on its own athletes on home turf.
“We have a great opportunity to promote sport, promote physical activity. We have a problem across Canada and particularly in the Maritimes (of) obesity. We have a real need to educate people to get people to be more active.”
P.E.I.’s contribution to the Olympic Games falls under VANOC’s (Vancouver Olympic Committee) contributing province/territory program. It enables P.E.I. to participate in the following:
* Organize a Prince Edward Island Day at the 2010 Games to promote the province;
* Participate in the Cultural Olympiad, which will include opportunities for Island artists;
* Encourage aboriginal participation in the Games and preceding events;
* Access VANOC promotional materials;
* Use the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Own the Podium 2010 logos;
* Promote educational and volunteer opportunities relating to sport and culture and encourage healthy lifestyles;
* Participate in the historic torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Games.
Premier Robert Ghiz said a portion of the $500,000 contribution is in-kind and it’s spread out over two years. VANOC has negotiated or is in talks with every province and territory to become a member of the contributing province/territory program.
“It’s going to be an opportunity for us to really do two things — promote our province at the Canada Games . . . and make sure our athletes are properly funded so that we’ll be able to see the best possible showing,” Ghiz said.
“Most provinces are now onside and this is something we want to make sure we’re contributing to the future of Prince Edward Island and Canada.”
Grant said that without contributions like government’s on Tuesday she would not have been able to afford to compete in two Olympic Games.
Taleeb Noormohamed, director of corporate strategy and partner relations for VANOC, said with more than three billion television viewers, 50,000 journalists and hundreds of thousands of visitors pouring in a year from now, P.E.I. will easily recoup its investment.
“Prince Edward Island was very, very clear about its desires about sharing the Island’s culture, cultural communities and its history, heritage and support for athletes,’’ Noormohamed said following the news conference.
But it’s the exposure the kids on P.E.I. will be getting by watching the Games that matters most to Grant.
“So many of these kids will go on to compete in Canada Games and Olympic Games.”

Torch relay:

The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games torch relay comes to Prince Edward Island Nov. 21, 2009:
* The Olympic torch begins 106 days prior to the Games;
* The torch will cover 45,000 kilometres across land, sea and air in Canada;
* The torch will go through 26 different communities on P.E.I.;
* A total of 250 Islanders will get a chance to carry the torch.

Application for 2009 ING New York City Marathon Opens Thursday, February 19

http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2009/02/application-for-2009-ing-new-york-city-marathon-opens-thursday-february-19/

Application for 2009 ING New York City Marathon Opens
Thursday, February 19

by Adam Jacobs

The application for the ING New York City Marathon 2009 will open on Thursday, February 19, at noon at www.ingnycmarathon.org, announced race director Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners. It’s a historic year as the race celebrates its 40th running. This year’s ING New York City Marathon will be on Sunday, November 1.

“First times and long timers alike won’t want to miss the 40th edition,” Wittenberg said. “The marathon ‘class of 2009’ will be treated to an experience of a lifetime as we celebrate both our legendary champions and the nearly 788,000 participants who have crossed our finish line with a race week filled with unique events.”

Applications for the lottery from individuals with a U.S. address will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2009, and results will be posted in mid-June. Applications from individuals without a U.S. address and all applicants eligible for guaranteed entry will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2009, and results will be posted in mid-May. Entry fees for runners accepted through the lottery (as well as guaranteed entrants) will be $138 for New York Road Runners members, $171 for non-members, and $231 for international entrants.

A record number of more than 105,000 people applied to the 2008 event, and the race hosted one of its largest fields ever with more than 38,000 finishers. Last year, more than $18 million was raised for charity, and the race’s economic impact totaled approximately $220 million. It was a year of repeat champions, as Paula Radcliffe won her third ING New York City Marathon title in 2:23:56 and Marilson Gomes dos Santos outlasted Abderrahim Goumri in the final mile to claim his second ING New York City Marathon crown in 2:08:43. Female wheelchair winner Edith Hunkeler finished in 2:06:42, capturing her fourth title, and male wheelchair defending champion Kurt Fearnley finished in 1:44:50 to claim his third consecutive crown.

Also in 2008, Kara Goucher impressed the hometown crowd in finishing third in an American debut record of 2:25:53, surpassing Deena Kastor’s mark of 2:26:58, set in 2001 at the New York City Marathon. Goucher is the first American woman to reach the podium in New York since Anne Marie Letko in 1994.

Via: New York Road Runners

Prince Edward Island Joins Vancouver 2010 Team as Contributing Province

For Immediate Release
February 17, 2009

Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND JOINS VANCOUVER 2010 TEAM AS CONTRIBUTING PROVINCE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- With less than a year to go until the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Prince Edward Island has joined in the excitement by contributing directly to the success of the Canadian team and is set to showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage to the world.

The spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games was alive today as Premier Robert Ghiz and Sport Minister Carolyn Bertram joined Taleeb Noormohamed, Director Corporate Strategy and Partner Relations for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), to announce that Prince Edward Island has joined VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program (CPTP).

“I am pleased to announce today that Prince Edward Island has joined the Contributing Province/Territory Program for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Premier Ghiz. “As part of this agreement, the province will be contributing toward showcasing our Island’s arts and culture through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, and directly supporting the staging of the Games. I know that Islanders will be especially proud when the Olympic torch comes through our province on November 21, 2009.”

“The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be a spectacular celebration that allows us to highlight the unique history and proud people that make up our country,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer VANOC. “We want to thank Prince Edward Island for contributing to the program and participating in this adventure on our way to 2010. We look forward to sharing the stories of the Island to a world audience.”

VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory enables Prince Edward Island to participate in the following:

• Organize a Prince Edward Island Day at the 2010 Winter Games to promote the province;

• Participate in the Cultural Olympiad, which will include opportunities for Prince Edward Island artists;

• Encourage Aboriginal participation in the Games and preceding events;

• Access VANOC promotional materials;

• Use the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Own the Podium 2010 logos;

• Promote educational and volunteer opportunities relating to sport and culture, and encourage healthy lifestyles; and

• Participate in the historic torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“We are proud that Prince Edward Island will be a participant in the historic torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Minister Bertram. The Olympic Flame relay will travel 320 kilometres by land and water in our province, involve 250 torchbearers and visit 26 Island communities, including the First Nations home of Lennox Island.”

BACKGROUND

Contributing Province/Territory Program

VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program offers a structured avenue for all provinces and territories to participate in the 2010 Winter Games. Under the CPTP, signatory provinces and territories receive a package of benefits that create a close association with the Games, similar to those of corporate sponsors. In return, participating provinces and territories make a financial contribution towards the success of Canadian athletes in 2010 through the Own the Podium 2010 program; culture and arts, through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad; and directly, to staging successful Games in 2010. VANOC developed this new program in response to interest demonstrated by Canada’s provinces and territories outside of British Columbia to allow for greater involvement in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

VANOC

VANOC’s government partners provide funding, infrastructure, essential service support and management services to the 2010 Winter Games, which will contribute to the lasting economic, sport, cultural and social legacies for citizens and communities throughout Canada. VANOC’s government partners include the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Prince Edward Island today joins VANOC’s existing Contributing Province/Territory Program partners, including Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Saskatchewan. VANOC’s Venue Cities are Richmond, Surrey and West Vancouver. VANOC has also signed an MOU with each Canadian province and territory.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province. One of the four Atlantic Provinces, this crescent shaped Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the Atlantic Coast of the Canadian mainland. Steeped in heritage and history, Prince Edward Island is where the idea of Canada was born. Islanders and visitors enjoy both cultural and sporting activities such as main stage and community theatres, museums, art galleries, good restaurants, regular festivals and events, fabulous beaches and swimming, great golf, scenic walking trails, and national and international sports competitions.

The 2009 Canada Games will be held in Prince Edward Island August 15-29. This will mark the first time an entire province has hosted any set of Games with sport venues in 15 different communities stretching across the Island. Athletes will compete in 18 sports, and participants from across Canada will take part in the National Arts Program.

- 30 -

New athletic facility officially named UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=222382&sc=98

New athletic facility officially named
UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place

AL MACLEOD
The Guardian

From left, UPEI Panthers defenceman Aaron Dawson, women’s volleyball player Lindsay Rodgerson, student donor Alicia Bremner and Wayne Carew, vice-president of the 2009 Canada Games, check out the new Panther-branded smart bus the teams will use for off-Island travel before the UPEI Panther game Friday night outside the MacLauchlan Arena. Submitted photo

The new athletic complex constructed on UPEI campus for the 2009 Canada Games was officially named the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place during a ceremony at UPEI Friday night.
Wayne Carew, vice-president of the 2009 Canada Games, made the announcement from centre ice minutes before the UPEI Panthers men’s hockey game got underway at the MacLauchlan Arena at 7 p.m.
Carew along with Joe Spriet, president of the 2009 Canada Games host committee, H. Wade MacLauchlan, president and vice-chancellor of UPEI, and Phil MacDougall, past-president of the Alumni Association, took part in the ceremonial puck drop at centre ice.
The new $6.8-million state-of-the-art complex, which features a 400-metre track and seating for more than 1,200 spectators, will host about 50 track and field events during the second week of the Games, which run from Aug. 15-29 in various locations on the Island. The facility will also host the closing ceremonies for the Games.
The naming rights were secured after the Alumni Association was able to raise enough funds with the help of 50 alumni who have pledged $1,000 a year for the next five years.
Carew said he is happy with the partnership between the UPEI Alumni Association and the Canada Games.
“As both a UPEI alumnus and a member of the 2009 Canada Games Host Society, it means a great deal to see my alma mater joining in partnership with the Games through the naming of this wonderful facility.”
Spriet said the 2009 Canada Games is proud to be partners with UPEI and he is looking forward to working with the university as the Games approach.
“UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place will provide a lasting legacy to future Island athletes.”
As part of the appeal, a 2008 Trius Tours bus was branded for Panther athletics teams to travel off-Island. The exterior is covered in high-impact colour images of Panther athletes in action and the inside has wireless Internet access to allow student athletes to work on their studies while travelling.
MacDougall said the appeal to raise funds from the Alumni Association has drawn a lot of interest and those alumni participating span over 61 years from 1948–2009.
“We look forward to having more alumni participate to help achieve our goal for the future benefit of our student athletes and the whole university community.”
The new facility name will mark the first time the Alumni Association name will be used on campus since the Prince Edward Island Alumni Gym was destroyed by fire on Aug. 1, 2001.

Islander wins three medals at World Games

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=222062&sc=99

Islander wins three medals at World Games

Michael Morris claims two bronze and a silver at Special Olympics competition

The Guardian

Special Olympics P.E.I. athlete and Stratford native Michael Morris had a triple- medal finish at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, this week.
Wearing bib No. 237 at the nordic ski venue in Sun Valley, Idaho, Michael raced to the finish line winning two bronze medals (4x100m relay, 500m), silver medal (1 km) and many great memories from the games.
Michael’s mother, Judy MacDonald was able to be in Boise to witness his great accomplishments.

“Michael is so happy and now ready to go home. It is so beautiful here. This is a great experience not like Japan but wonderful in its own right. We are both so pleased - me for him and him because he loves to get medals.”
The Games attracted more than 2,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries for a week filled with world-class competition and events. These games were the largest multi-day winter sporting event ever held in Idaho.
As the games come to a close otoday and as per tradition, the Closing Ceremony is cast in an even more celebratory mode, rejoicing in the triumph of the Games and the friendships kindled in Idaho. Closing Ceremony’s protocol includes the passing of the Special Olympics flag to the host of the next Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece.

And with the extinguishing of the Idaho cauldron, the stage will be set for a party that the athletes themselves will never forget filled with music, dancing, color, excitement, friendship, acceptance and good will ­ all in the true spirit of the Special Olympics movement.

A celebration in Michael’s honor is being planned and information will be available soon.

If you or someone you know would like more information about how to be a fan of Special Olympics P.E.I., contact Charity Sheehan at 368-8919 or via e-mail at csheehan@sopei.com.

PEI's Search and Rescue Presentation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to you two too!!

Athletes with Autism Spectrum Disorders - over at suite101.com

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

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

PEI RoadRunners TENTATIVE 2009 Schedule

PEI RoadRunners TENTATIVE 2009 Schedule

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

* Denotes a RoadRunner Championship Points Series Race

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

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

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

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

DAVE STEWART
The Guardian

Islanders are being asked to dream big and chip in.

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

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

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

They are looking for 6,000 volunteers.

So far, they have 1,350 signed up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteers also get their own hospitality centres during the Games.

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

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

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

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

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

*****

2009 Canada Games volunteer services:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* On the Net - www.2009canadagames.ca

Congratulations from the Autism Society of PEI

January 15^th, 2009



Dear Alex

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,



Michelle Pineau,

President,

Autism Society of Prince Edward Island

Tuesday evening Speed Work

Speed work Tues. Jan 13, 5:15pm

Posted on January 11, 2009 by John and Loretta

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

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

Posted on January 13, 2009 by John and Loretta

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

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

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

Marathon mania on the East Coast - Canadian Running Magazine

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

Marathon mania on the East Coast

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

2008 RoadRunner Club Road Race Championships Points

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


2008 RoadRunner Points

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

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

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

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

iRun for Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion.

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

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

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

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

Double Blogged!

This morning's sunrise reflected in our windows

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

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

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

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

Thank you fellow bloggers.

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

Merry Christmas!

One Step Ahead - P.E.I. runner refuses to let autism keep him from competing

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=201683&sc=99

P.E.I. runner
refuses to let autism keep him from competing

CHARLES REID
The Guardian

Don’t pity Alex Bain because he can barely tie the laces of his running shoes.
In fact, don’t pity the 20-year-old Bain at all. He doesn’t feel any for himself; he’s too busy running marathons — 5Ks, 10Ks, 42Ks, anything to stay one step ahead of the autism which has dogged him for 17 years.
Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviour, all starting before a child is three years old. One of its effects on Bain is limiting certain fine motor skills, such as tying shoelaces. Just last year he stopped asking his mother, Janet Norman-Bain, to tether them.
But autism was far behind in his 45th-place finish at the P.E.I. Marathon is October. The Oyster Bed Bridge native completed his first full marathon in 3:29:29.
And iRun Magazine, an Ottawa-based Canadian running periodical, noticed. It included Bain in its inaugural 12-person list of the most inspiring runners in the country. Called the 2009 iRun Awards, the roll is featured in the magazine’s January issue.
There isn’t a flashy award ceremony or inscribed trophy or engraved mahogany plaque, just a copy of the magazine. But for Bain, it’s not about rewards, it’s about acceptance.
“It makes me happy and proud. The people saw I am a good runner and did a good thing. I hope this award will help me get to be an Olympic torchbearer and more people will learn about me,” said Bain in an e-mail interview. “People will read the magazine and see me on (television) and in the newspaper and learn that people with autism can do lot of things.”
iRun also noticed his tip-to-tip run of P.E.I. in July 2006 to raise money for autism awareness and risk and safety management. Bain, with his mother (who played support crew, videographer and shoelace binder) in tow, ran up to 25 kilometres per day.
The $6,000 raised paid for seminars by an expert (Dennis Debbaudt) who trains law enforcement and first responders in recognizing and responding to autism in emergency situations, bought training videos for every police and RCMP detachment in P.E.I. and placed a card explaining how to recognize autism in the wallets of Island law enforcement officers, first responders and school-age autistics.
On the pavement, Bain has won other awards like the P.E.I. RoadRunners rookie of the year, junior RoadRunner of the year and inspirational runner of the year.
It’s further proof the condition isn’t a barrier for the 2005 Bluefield High School grad. And it just might be a bridge over the chasm of challenges autism presents, a span he began navigating in elementary school.
“I wanted to be on the cross-country team in Grade 4,” said Bain of why he started running. “There are a few people I heard of that run. (Saint John’s) Chris Brake holds (the second-fastest) course record in the Fredericton, N.B., marathon (2:41:40 in 2005). At least two autistics were in the New York Marathon this year. Not so many on sports teams, (but) I don’t think there are physical limitations.”
Just pesky shoelaces, which occasionally come untied such as in a five-kilometre race in Charlottetown in June.
Bain didn’t stop.
He posted a personal best (19:07).

creid@theguardian.pe.ca.

-------------------------------------

This article is fairly factually accurate. There are a couple of issues.... readers here will know that Alex is now 21, I also question the journalist's qualification of Chris Brake's course record and of course Alex has been autistic all his life, not just since the day he was diagnosed, etc. My comments here are not to pick this article apart but to say:

If you are reading the *newspaper* version (not the web version)

Please ignore the orange "Signs of Autism" box - it is full of garbage and inaccuracies posing as facts. Accurate information is VERY IMPORTANT. Spreading this kind of misinformation can be harmful to autistics and is NOT what Alex and I are about when we strive to spread autism awareness. I was not asked to provide a source for autism info for this article and had no idea one, especially this one, would be included. Instead, please read:

What we'd like you to know about Autism

Autism is a neurological difference classified as a developmental disability. Autistic people have atypical behaviours in three areas: social interaction, communication, and restricted interests or repetitive behaviours. Autistics are different at the most basic level available: how they experience the world, and how they learn from it. Autism presents with measurable differences in perception, attention, memory, intelligence, etc. The autistic order and progress of development is different from the typical version as is autistic brain structure, allocation, and function. Autism presents strengths not available to the typical population, but the different pattern of strengths and weaknesses characterizing autism results in many difficulties as atypical needs and adaptive but atypical autistic behaviours are at odds with what is considered or expected as "normal".

Autism isn't a disease, or a bunch of behaviours, any more than femaleness is. Autism involves neurological differences, which are basic and comprehensive. Autistic neurology is no more or less valid than non-autistic neurology: both autistics and non-autistics are able to develop, learn, progress, and achieve things, but may do so in different ways and may require different kinds of help along the way.

Progress is part of the natural course of development in autistics, as it is in non-autistics, but development in autism may not proceed in the same order as is considered normal for non-autistics. Autistics may, e.g., seem advanced in some areas and delayed in others. Seen in perspective, this means that in comparison with autistics, non-autistics are likely to be advanced in some areas and delayed in others. Non-autistics may need a great deal of assistance in learning things that autistics learn easily, and the reverse may also be true. Seeing as we don't declare non-autistics to be "succeeding in treatment" or "less severely non-autistic" or "recovered" when they develop and learn, it should be clear that describing autistics in these kinds of terms is misleading and prejudicial.

Autistics are alert and aware of what is happening around us, even though we may not be able to show this or respond in expected, typical ways. Autistics also may not communicate in typical ways, and in some situations, will find it difficult to communicate at all. However, this does not reflect a fundamental inability or unwillingness to communicate. Autistics want to communicate, and can do so when provided with a context in which communication is both possible and responded to. This is also true of non-autistics, but non-autistics are much more likely to be provided with contexts in which they can communicate successfully.

Dividing autism into "severe" and "mild", or in similar ways, is misleading and harmful. Autistics may differ in the extent to which autistic traits are or are not obvious, and this may vary in individual autistics from hour to hour, day to day, and year to year, depending on many factors, including on what kind of context an autistic lives in. The extent to which autistic traits are or are not evident in any individual autistic is unrelated to our intelligence and our outcomes as adults. However, societal prejudices against autistic traits may prevent autistics whose traits are more obvious from being considered able to learn, to communicate, to make decisions about our lives, to walk around freely, to be employed, etc.

Michelle Dawson
Pervasive Developmental Disorders Specialized Clinic
Riviere des Prairies Hospital
University of Montreal

My 21st Birthday

It was the 21st birthday.

I get a cards and presents.

Afternoon I went to glow bowling and see Dianne and Elaine on the way.

I won two time in 3 games.








































I had a blizzard treat, a pizza, death by chocolate cake.

I had root beer and corn chips and played my new Wii game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

Thank you for cards and presents and saying Happy Birthday on the blog and Facebook.

I had a very good birthday!

Photos