We will run, without fear, to celebrate our freedom
Attack on Boston Marathon is assault on community
FAZIL MIHLAR
As someone who participates in races, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat rattled and angry about the bomb attack at the Boston Marathon. That’s because marathons are a triumph of individual human endurance. At the same time, it is a community event, as those marathoners are usually helped and cheered on by friends and family to accomplish this arduous task through their training and on race day. So the attack — whoever perpetrated it — is an assault on the larger community. The goal is, I presume, to terrify us. I, for one, will not be terrified. I plan to run the 10K Vancouver Sun Run on April 21 and the Bank of Montreal Vancouver Half- Marathon on May 5. Living in a relatively free society means that our lives are not entirely risk- free. That’s the price one pays for valuing and having freedom. The state of New Hampshire’s motto: Live Free or Die, penned by American Revolutionary War Gen. John Stark, might be the words to reflect on as we mourn the deaths and pray for the injured and their families.
ANGELA WHITE
It’s been three months of running in snow, frigidly cold weather, horrible wind- chills, absolute darkness, ice, more wind, and running with wolves. At least now it’s light in the mornings and the bears aren’t up yet — that’s a whole other adventure. Of course, in pure Fort Nelson fashion, we had a small snowstorm this morning, too. I can’t believe three months has already gone by. This morning’s run was bittersweet as it will be the last Sun Run training run I do with my group. I have really enjoyed running with this amazing group in Fort Nelson and can’t believe I got up that early three times a week to run! I think my dog Kobi is going to miss it more; she has a hoot with her canine running buddies. I don’t know if I’m nervous about the race or the fact that it is such a huge race. I’ve never run in a crowd that large. I’m also regretting publicly setting a goal of running under 48 minutes. There are so many factors out of my control that may make that goal impossible — just the fact that I have to travel so far to this race results in less sleep, not eating properly and the potential of catching some bug along the way ( I don’t like airplanes). I’m also concerned about the weather. What if it rains on race day? I have hardly ever run in the rain and when I have, it’s been in Vancouver. I can honestly count on one hand the number of times I have run in the rain in the last five years — seriously! Now if it were to snow or if temperatures were to drop to - 15 C, I would be prepared for that. But that is not likely to happen in Vancouver in April, fortunately for everyone else. Oh well, I’ll just have to roll with it. I’m happy to say that my group will also be doing a northern and southern Sun Run. One member of the group will be doing her Sun Run in Mexico and the others will be running here in Fort Nelson.
DENISE RYAN
It’s Saturday before the final week of training, and Alexander and I spend the day at Children’s Hospital waiting for X- rays. The entire emergency department seems to be filled with kids in various stages of bruise and breakage. Including mine. The pain from the bike accident in Florida, during which he flipped over the front wheel and landed with handlebars in the ribs, has gotten worse, not better, aggravated by gymnastics and baseball, and he’s doubled over having trouble taking deep breaths. We’re waiting to see if he has a punctured lung. The doctor informs us that any bike accidents involving landing on handlebars should be followed up with medical attention, as they often cause spleen damage. Note taken. Thankfully, the X- ray reveals his lung is not punctured, but the bottom right ribs and the soft tissue in between are injured and he’s experiencing considerable discomfort. He’s still determined to run the race, but his training is on hold for the week while he follows doctor’s orders that include rest, ice and Advil. I’m looking forward to my final runs this week even though I won’t have my faithful companion puffing along beside me, complaining about how slow I’m going. I’ll have to wait for race day for that.
CAMERON KUSCH
Three months of the Sun Run InTraining clinic is officially in the books. We started with cold, damp, foggy January mornings — had a few sunny, picturesque Vancouver days battling the crowds on the seawall — and ended with a typical cool, cloudy run. Even as an experienced Sun Runner, I can say without question that I feel better prepared, both mentally and physically, for the run ahead. Thanks to Yuen and Tanya, our two awesome Run Faster group trainers, I’m no longer concerned about the Hornby hill but actually looking forward to attacking it on the weekend. As with the rest of the runners and walkers in our clinic, this isn’t the end of the program but the start of a new devotion to our running goals. For me, the program has not only better prepared me for the Sun Run, but pushed me to sign up for six races this year, including my first marathon. With a couple light jogs this week, I’ve still set my Sun Run goal of running under 40 minutes on Sunday ( though I still believe it’s going to be a serious challenge to beat on race day).