COACHING ADVICE

Featuring SportMedBC’s RunWalk Coach and resident Olympian Lynn Kanuka

“The start line is sweet ... The finish line is sweeter.”

“Every person needs to have their moment in the sun, when they raise their arms in victory, knowing that on this day, at this hour, they were at their very best.”

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

When you’re as close as I am to this event, I just want it to be perfect for everyone in every way. Providing programming and advice for you these last 13 weeks, responding to questions, visiting clinics, motivating leaders, I feel responsible for your Sun Run experience.

I know it sounds crazy, but I feel anxious. My hope is I have done everything I can to ensure you’ll have your best possible event day.

All coaches can relate to this feeling. It was much easier to be an athlete because as your coach, I cannot do it for you. Can’t I just pop by your home on Sunday morning and then lace up my shoes to run or walk with you? I want to make sure you have a good healthy breakfast , that you arrive with plenty of time to enjoy the energy, visit the porta- potties, and aren’t rushed to find your start corral.

I’d give you a garbage bag to wear if you weren’t dressed warm enough in drizzling rain. I’d make sure you do your dynamic warm- up stretches and I’d remind you not to start too fast in the first kilometre down Georgia Street. You’d sip water at each water station, stop and stretch, and if you were a Learn To Run participant, I’d suggest you walk every 10 minutes to give your legs a break.

I’d be the encouraging voice beside you: “Come on, you can do this! Find your rhythm with a nice quick arm action — stay strong in your core. Pick up those knees and stay light on your feet. Smile, this is fun.”

And I’d make darn sure you raise those arms in victory when you cross that finish line. Instead, I’ll be on Cambie Street perched high on a pole, cheering and high- fiving, knowing so well what that last kilometre feels like as you see the balloon archway at BC Place.

Congratulations, you’re a winner.