• 3
  Jul
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The Running Whys – Alex Coffin

ALEX COFFIN – The Running Whys

His name is synonymous with long distance excellence in New Brunswick over more than two decades.  And this year, Alex Coffin is returning to run in the 20th anniversary of Emera Marathon By The Sea, an event he has captured a record seven times. What follows is his personal look back at his involvement in the race, his motivations and other insights on a remarkable career that remains at an extremely high level. On Canada Day, he put together another successful running of the Canada Day 10-miler and is a trusted coach, mentor and of course, runner.

Enjoy.

I blame candy! I think I ate 10,000 calories a day as a kid.  It would embarrass me if you saw how much I used to buy from the local store and how quickly I would eat it. I ate a Halloween diet on a weekly basis. Did I hide in the basement and have my parents roll me out to say hi to guests? Nope! I burned those sugars off. I had a five-mile radius of activity that included the river and the deep woods. I ran, skied and biked everywhere. My friends and I would play road hockey for three-hour blocks. A one hour tennis match was a short one. I could easily run to my grandparents’ house five miles away when I was in junior high. I preferred to run there because it was dangerous to bike in the dark!

A few of us remember the early days of road-running in Saint John in the mid 1980s. Ed Lutes and David Legassick would be at most of the races. We were known for inaccurate courses (according to Gilles Gautreau) and beer sponsorship (Labatts and Moosehead would fight for the right to each event). Our running shoes would come from Murphy’s in Market Square. Our races always travelled through Millidgeville. The big coach in the city was Walter Ellis and the new track at UNBSJ for the 1985 Canada Games was a huge boost. The new pool was another catalyst and it only seemed natural that it would eventually become an involved partner with the Marathon By The Sea.

I probably should have concentrated on getting faster on the track as a kid but I loved road races. It was probably avoidance too as Rorrie Currie could kick my can even though he was two years younger. I won the local 11 miler when I was still in high school. I was also very lucky to be on a provincial championship cross country team at Saint John High School with Rorrie, Bruce Grant, Malcolm Lightfoot, Brett Jones, Clyde Carr and Derek Ram. When I went to university, I ran my first marathon in Calgary. I hit the wall hard! I returned back to the shorter events mostly until my late 20s when I heard about the Marathon by the Sea starting in Saint John. I was living in British Columbia at the time and my sister took part in the very first one in 1995. I immediately planned a vacation for the following summer that would line up with the marathon date. I was very excited that Saint John now had a marathon!

Alex Coffin races to the finish line in the 2009 Marathon By The Sea.

My first Marathon by the Sea in 1996 was an amazing experience. The Festival by the Sea was at the same time and the event festivities at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre and at Harbour Station were top notch. It had the feel of a major marathon! I had been in contact with Mike Doyle beforehand so they were hoping that I would hammer the course record. Mario Boudreau from Nigadoo had won the year before so it would not be an easy feat as he was a great runner. I went out hoping for a 2:35 and slowed to a 2:38:24 but I was very pleased! Mario had warned me that the course was not an easy one. I enjoyed every minute of it though and the finish across Harbour Bridge was amazing.

I set the current event record in 1998 when I ran 2:35:02. However, anyone who ran that year will attest that I could have ran much faster. It was probably the peak of my running fitness as I was just going into my final year of my Masters degree at the University of Victoria. That summer, I was running under 15 minutes for 5K on the track. After the marathon, I went on to my second All-Canadian finish for CIAU cross country in Ontario and an 18^th place finish at the national cross-country championships  in British Columbia. The weather during the 1998 event was brutal. I honestly feared for my life crossing the Reversing Falls Bridge as I had just heard lightning and thunder almost simultaneously before reaching the bridge. The rain was so heavy and hard that you could literally see it bounce off the road. Everyone got soaked that year! I still remember the squishing sound my shoes were making as I sprinted towards the finish line.

I won again in 1999 and returned in 2001 both to the race and to Saint John.  I had moved back to Saint John by then and was working at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre. 2001 was one of the hot years with temperatures soaring over 30 degrees! It was my slowest win but also the most fun as I covered myself with water whenever possible at the stations.  I was a fairly savvy marathoner by then so I sprinted out to an early lead and just watched my back. Only one other runner broke three hours that year. I was most worried about the third place finisher Rob MacKenzie from Prince Edward Island but the heat slowed him from his usual marathon pace. The women’s winner that year was Rebecca Richards and she was much braver than me. I still cannot believe she ran 3:12 in that heat.

In 2002, I got demolished by David MacLennan of Nova Scotia. He ran me out so hard that I ended up dropping out. He narrowly missed my event record with a 2:35:52. David and I would run against each other many more times. David beat me again in 2003 at the Marathon By The Sea. I would eventually get him back at the KV Challenge Marathon and the Valley Harvest Marathon. David and I now run against each other on the track as fellow coaches. David coaches the distance runners with the PIctou Country Track Club while I coach the distance runners with Bill MacMackin with the Saint John Track Club.

2004 was probably the start of the Brake-Coffin rivalry that got everyone excited. Chris Brake is an amazing runner and we had some great races. In 2004, I beat Chris to the finish line by just over a minute. Chris seemed to be unlucky at the Marathon By The Sea. He finished second overall again in 2006 to Dave Eaton and then second again to myself in 2007. However, in 2009, I unfortunately inspired Chris to his best marathons ever in my opinion.

Alex Coffin continues to run at elite level on the New Brunswick road racing series. Gilles Gautreau photo

In 2009, I decided that I would try to win every marathon in New Brunswick. I had won Marathon By The Sea six times at that point and I had the new half marathon record as well with a 1:13:25 in 2008. I had just turned 40 and I was about to be divorced so I figured this was a good time to go for broke with my running before it was too late. I won the Fredericton Marathon in May. I won the Charlo Marathon in June. Chris however decided that my plan had a major flaw. He was going to crush me (his words) at the Marathon By The Sea in September. He let me lead the race early on but demolished me in the second half. Chris won the race in 2:40:00. He then won the KV Challenge Marathon in 2:32:28 in October which was a course record! He then won the Legs for Literacy Marathon in Moncton in 2:42:00 which was also in October. In all three marathons, I gave him my best shot and finished second. He ran three national level marathon times in less than a month!

In 2010, the Marathon By The Sea was moved back to August and I wanted to make sure I ran the full marathon as I was one of the noisemakers who wanted to see the event returned to the late summer. This was my seventh win and I was lucky that Chris decided to try to break my event record in the half. My record remained intact that year but was finally broken by Graydon Snider from Halifax in 2013. Chris decided to return to the marathon in 2011 and relegated me again to a distant second.

Unfortunately In 2012 and 2013, I was unable to participate in the Marathon By The Sea due to my commitments to the Saint John Track Club and the Legion Track & Field program.  However, for 2014, I am actively training for the event and preregistered for an attempt at an eighth win at age 45.

If anyone wants to hear some of my other old running stories, just drop by the store! I’ll give you a good deal on running shoes.

• 26
  Jun
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The Running Whys – Tracy Beaulieu

The Running Whys – Tracy Beaulieu

For Tracy Beaulieu, the 2014 Emera Marathon By The Sea is significant for a number of reasons that contribute to her desire to sign up for the half marathon on August 10.

First, it is a homecoming for Tracy, who grew up in Hammond River, attended Lakefield Elementary School in Quispamsis and to this day, remains sentimental about the Greater Saint John area. Her husband is in the Canadian Forces and they left in the 1990’s but they get back when they can.

Second, her sister-in-law participated in MBTS approximately four years ago (after losing 80 pounds) and her performance inspired many in the family, including Tracy.

Third, Tracy picked up running at age 40 and while she calls Quebec home these days, she loves the atmosphere associated with the Maritime races, particularly when she can meet up with her old friends from the Greenwood Running Company, which she joined when her family was stationed at Canadian Forces Greenwood in the Annapolis Valley region for about 10 years.

And that leads to the fourth reason for her inspiration for MBTS – running in the memory of a Greenwood Running Company friend Elizabeth, whose sudden passing shocked Tracy and all of her running mates.

“She ran like a gazelle and died way too young,” says Tracy. “It was very unexpected.  Our running company was devastated at her loss.”

To celebrate Elizabeth’s life, Tracy and a few of the GRC members were inspired to honour her with a special run, ultimately selecting Saint John as their destination.

“My friend Karen plans to run the entire distance with me as my own personal race bunny,” says Tracy. “That’s a true running friend!”

For Tracy, the sure-to-be-emotional 21.1 km journey in the Port City is the latest chapter of her own story, one that’s produce new clubs and lasting friendships.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “I’m excited! I’m scared to death!  I’m proud!”

Her story really got started when she turned 40 and in a gift to herself to mark the significant milestone, she took a brave step and made a bold commitment.

Tracy Beaulieu, centre, celebrates with members of the Greenwood Running Company after completing the 2013 Blue Nose Marathon 10k in Halifax. Also pictured, from left are Michelle Darrell, David Stoddart, Tracy, Dallas Stoddart and June Wilson.

“I joined a learn to run 5K program with about 25 other people – people I didn’t even know. Week by week, the numbers dwindled but I toughed it out.  It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life other than being a parent.”

As she progressed, other benefits arose, including stronger confidence, enhanced friendships and an improved sense of belonging.

“As our ‘graduation’ run approached, a few of us decided to participate in our first running event – Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle,” she said. “It was so much fun but who knew Dartmouth could be so hilly! We all donned our Santa hats, elf ears, and Santa suits and we were off.  It was a pretty emotional day really and it wasn’t even a timed run.

“The impossible – running 5 kilometres – was now a reality.”

And for Tracy, it was just the beginning. After that initial goal of running a 5K was accomplished, she joined a local running group – the Greenwood Running Company. The next goal was training for the 2013 Blue Nose Marathon 10K event in Halifax.

Mission accomplished.

“My Blue Nose Marathon medal is one of my most prized possessions and that race still remains as one of my favourites – one I hope I can do again some day in the hopes I can better my time,” she said. “After all, isn’t that what we runners do – try to improve and be stronger?”

Last summer, after spending what she terms as 10 glorious years in the Greenwood area, Tracy, her husband and daughter made another military move from the Maritimes to Quebec, one made so extremely difficult because of their established bond in the running community and the decade worth of roots they had established in their adopted home.

“I was heartbroken to leave my running group in Nova Scotia,” Tracy said. “After all, we’d seen each other through the learning to run programs and we were looking at longer distances.  Mostly, it was the friendship and fun I knew that I would miss the most.”

Once the family got settled in Quebec, Tracy surprised herself with what happened next.

“I did what I never imagined I would ever do – create my own running group,” she explained. “I have to say I’m pretty proud of my little group and we’re slowly growing in size and have had two graduates from a learn to run 5K program.”

There are five or six regular members of the group but total membership sits at almost 20.

Eventually, through chats with her old Greenwood clubmates, the focus shifted to Saint John and Marathon By The Sea. Sparked by performance of those acquaintances and the aim of saluting Elizabeth’s memory, the motivational fire was lit.

“I guess you could call it positive peer pressure,” she said. “I want to run a half marathon and I wanted to run a race in memory of Elizabeth. Also, so many of my GRC friends have run their first half marathons over this past year and I wanted to try it too.”

Tracy remains a dedicated member of the GRC – a satellite member – and through various means of communication; they encourage one another with their runs and challenges.

“Someday, I will run with them all again but for now the Saint John hills are calling my name,” she says.

• 24
  Jun
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The Running Whys – Gail Teed

Editor’s note: It’s been said there is nothing quite like the emotions on display near the finish line of a running race. It’s a scene of accomplishment and in many cases, tears of joy flow. For those in the Greater Saint John area, one of those who receives some of the greatest cheers is Gail Teed, who started running in 1998 and remains extremely active on the local running scene. This year, once again, she is going to compete in the 20^th running of Emera Marathon By The Sea. What follows is a question and answer session with Gail on her thoughts looking ahead and looking back.

What do you enjoy most about running?

There is sense of freedom and accomplishment when I run. I enjoy getting out there and running – I do a lot of running on the highway. The highway is my home. We go all over New Brunswick for races; I discovered the Super Series, and I started running as many races as I could.

The accomplishment for me is to finish – that’s the main goal. I don’t want to be a quitter. I fell at Race Against The Reds in Odell Park a couple of years ago; I tripped on something and bruised everything from my ankle to my head. I had two black eyes, a lump on my forehead, my chin and nose were scraped, and my left leg was black and blue. I looked terrible. People stopped to help me, gave me paper towel for my bleeding, and walked with me to the finish line. I wanted to finish, and I was glad I did. I wanted to earn my medal.

When did you start running?

I started running in 1998.

Why did you start running?

I went to the Fredericton Marathon in 1998 to support my son Charles because he was running his first full marathon. I stayed for the spaghetti dinner, and everyone was really nice. I started thinking, ‘Why couldn’t I do this?’

Charles gave me a runner’s guide from Runner’s World, so I followed the program, and in a couple of months I was running for thirty minutes. That summer I ran a 7K fun run, and entered the Fall Classic later that year.

Why is running important to you?

It helps keep me young. I’m seventy-three years old, and if I can go out and run races, I am able to do a lot of things the other people can’t do at my age. If I am in a bad mood, I’ll go out for a run and be in a good mood by the time I’m done.

It’s also helped me make friends. I was a homebody when I first started running, and didn’t have a lot of friends, but now I’ve made many friends all over the province, and people recognize me when I go to races. When I win an award at a race, people cheer for me, and are really nice.

Gail Teed is shown at the finish line of the 2013 Hampton Five-Miler. Photo courtesy of Gilles Gautreau.

How do you feel about the cheers you hear when you race?

I almost don’t hear them during the race, but my brother Billy tells me about it afterwards. It’s uplifting and inspiring.

Do you have a person in running who inspires you?

I enjoy running with Brenda Guitard. She is currently training me for the half marathon. Since I’ve started working with her, I am more determined to do my workouts and try to get faster. She takes care of us out there when we’re training; she always runs back with me when our workout is over, even though I am slower than she is. She’s one of the best runners in Saint John.

Dean Strowbridge is another inspiration. He’s always encouraging me – giving me high fives at the races and during training.  I only know him from races and training, but he’s a really nice person.

Alex Coffin has helped me out a lot too. He’s trained me for a number of years, and he encourages everyone to do their best. He’s the marathon man.

What is your most memorable run?

I got lost at the Miramichi Rock and Roll Half Marathon last year, and they started clearing the course before I found my way back. They realized I was still out there after the course was cleared, and two volunteers, a police officer, and the St. John Ambulance acted as my support in finding my way, setting up water stops, and stopping traffic. They made it possible for me to finish, and it was a nice feeling to have people there for support.

Have you competed in many Marathon By the Sea events? If so, what makes that race important?

I’ve run the five miler several times, and the half marathon in 2001. It was my first big race when I started out, and I won two awards; one for winning my category, and another as an inspirational runner. It made me feel good, because it was the first recognition I ever received.

 Are you running Marathon By the Sea this year?

Yes, but I am not sure which race I am going to do. Possibly the half marathon, but it will depend on how I feel when the time comes to register.

 What are your biggest running goals?

My goal is to get faster. I ran some of my best times last year – 1:09 for a 10K and 33 minutes for a 5K – and I am hoping my training with Brenda will help me beat those times.

 Where are you from?

I am from Saint John. I’ve lived here all of my life.

 Tell us a bit about your family?

I live in Saint John with my brother Billy. My sister Judy lives in Saint John, and my other brother Edwin lives in Alberta. I have five children, two step-children as well as a number of  grandchildren and great grandchildren.

They’re a good, supportive family. Billy runs with me, and my children encourage me. This year, my family organized a fun run for my birthday, and invited people from the running community to attend. I enjoyed having people come out and do a run with me for my birthday.

 What did or do you do for a living?

I was a homemaker my whole life. I didn’t start training for sports until I was older. I used to bike twenty miles a day or more; I’d be out there on the highway and there would be eagles flying overhead. It was a sense of freedom – I’m actually thinking about biking again, but I would have to buy a new bicycle first.

Do you have any other comments?

Running changed my life. It helped me meet new people, and have new experiences. Even the bad experiences were good in some way, because it shows there are people are there for you – encouraging you, taking care of you, and helping you to the finish line.

• 19
  Jun
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The Running Why’s – Lacey Clowater

Editor’s note: Lacey Clowater has come full circle in the running game, from aspiring runner to course conductor to this spring – a half marathoner. But as she prepares for the 12 k event at the 20^th anniversary running of Emera Marathon By The Sea, she does so with additional inspiration gained from her closest allies. These are the same people whose touching display of support in the final stages of the Fredericton Half Marathon provided Lacey with an emotional and lasting memory that will never fade away. They have also helped her gain a special sense of appreciation for all she has accomplished in a relatively short time.

Enjoy.

=

I get by with a little help from my friends…

My running story begins in the fall of 2008 when my mother and I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic at the Fredericton Running Room.  For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a “runner”.  I liked the way runners looked as they glided down the trail with ease.  I wanted the feeling of freedom that runners exude; I longed to be a part of this culture. 

After some persuading, I convinced my Mom to join me on this journey and for four months we traveled an hour every week from Taymouth to the Learn to Run clinic.  I distinctly remember my first night as a runner.  We hit the trail for one minute running, two minutes walking and I thought I was going to die.  I ran full out for the one minute, trying to keep up with the pack and by the end of my first run, I was feeling defeated and ready to quit.  With great support and encouragement, I was able to finish the clinic and ran my first 5k in the annual Resolution Run. 

I continued with the 5k clinic the following spring; however, after that, I fell off the running bandwagon so to speak.  I found it extremely difficult to continue with the traveling but I was also so unmotivated to run on my own.

I ran sporadically over the next year, but no longer considered myself a “runner”.  A major turning point for me was a year after I finished the 5k clinic when a friend of mine asked me to join the 10k clinic with her as she was preparing for Tough Mudder.  Initially, I was hesitant because I hadn’t been running consistently and also because I had never surpassed a 5k distance. 

However, with some persuasion and arm-twisting, I signed up.  Our goal race was the Marathon by the Sea 5miler event and weeks into our training, I got a call that I was having sinus surgery the Friday before the race.  I was quite disappointed, feeling that by not completing the race, I was essentially not completing the clinic.  During this time, however, I encountered some great people at the Running Room in Fredericton and through a conversation one night after run club I was asked to instruct the Learn to Run clinic in the fall.  After the initial shock wore off (why would they ask me I kept saying) I accepted!  I was determined to continue with my running journey this time around. 

Lacey Clowater celebrates with her sister Heidi near the finish line at the Fredericton
half marathon in May.

I began instructing in the fall of 2012 and after my first clinic night, I had a full circle moment.  I had transformed from the timid, scared, doubtful person who had never run before to the instructor, helping others begin their running story. Even though teaching is in my nature, I never imagined how much I would enjoy being an instructor.  So much so that I continued on and instructed the 5k and 10k clinics the following winter and spring. 

My 10k clinic finished at the end of June 2013 and I told myself that I needed to take some time off.  My body was tired and after teaching three back-to-back clinics, I needed a break.  I told myself that I would run on my own and since I had the summer off, I could go out whenever I wanted.  I could run early in the morning or late at night if the temperatures were too warm or I could just put off my run until the next day.  Well the next day turned into the next week which turned into the next month and by the time summer was over, I was in a rut again and I was chomping at the bit to get back to the Running Room and my running buddies. 

So I signed up yet again to instruct the Learn to Run program for the fall.  During the first night of our clinic I felt so in my element, like I was where I belonged, where I was meant to be.  It was so delightful to see familiar faces and to be surrounded by people who enjoyed running as much as I did.

It was during our talk on goal setting that I had another running “aha” moment.  I spoke about goal setting and the importance of setting realistic and achievable goals but then I also asked the group to share one of their “dream” goals because without dreams, we never reach our full potential. 

Some of the members of the group were hesitant to share their “dream” goals and others simply stated that they wanted to finish this clinic; that was their dream.  Since I was asking a fairly personal question, I felt that it was only fair that I share my “dream” goal and in doing so maybe I would inspire someone else or possibly even myself.  So I did it…I confessed my running dream, to run a half marathon before I turned 30.  At that time I had just turned 28 and thought that this was certainly achievable within the next two years, maybe it would be something I would do to celebrate turning 30. 

I had lots of time to plan, lots of time to train, but also lots of time to procrastinate.  I wasn’t sure that I was ready and I had a lot of doubt that I would physically and mentally be able to achieve my goal.  My best friend Lynsey was co-instructing with me at the time and after expressing my dream goal, she simply stated: “you just said it out loud, no turning back.”  As our clinic progressed, I encouraged many of the members to continue running and suggested they sign up for the 5k clinic that was starting in January. 

At the time there was no instructor for the 5k clinic and a couple of the members in my group asked me to continue on with them.  I debated instructing again.  If I did, I would have an excuse for not signing up for the half clinic but there was also this tiny spark that had been lit ever since I expressed my desire to run a half marathon.  I had this internal battle for several weeks and after much discussion with my family, friends and staff at the running room I made the giant leap and on December 31, 2013, I signed up for the half marathon clinic to begin in January. 

I had two friends that had already signed up and I had also convinced my sister to register.  If I was heading down this road, I wanted some friends by my side.  I did not tell many people that I had registered because deep down inside there was still the fear that I would not be able to do this.  The first clinic night arrived and I picked up my sister who was full of excitement while I on the other hand, was full of nerves and feeling very anxious.  Our group turned out to be very large and full of energy and by the end of the first run, I was feeling more relaxed and ready to embark on this crazy journey. 

After that, everything went extremely smoothly and I ran my first half marathon with no problem!  Yeah right!  I struggled a great deal during my sixteen weeks of training, some runs were extremely hard, and some were easy.  I would experience major mental blocks during several of my runs and I was very hard on myself.  I had a hard time switching from instructor, the one who is positive all the time and encouraging others to student, the one needing support and encouragement. But the support and encouragement was always there and sometimes it came from where you least expected it. 

I knew I had the support of my family and close friends but was astounded at the support from my co-workers, fellow training partners and former runners that I had instructed over the years.  Running is a very physical sport and can at times wreak havoc on your body.  During this clinic I had regularly scheduled massage appointments every two weeks and had to purchase a new pair of sneakers and orthotics so that I was able to run without pain. 

However, the mental aspect of running is where I struggled the most and is the reason that I did not register for the half marathon until a month before the race.  Even after running 16k and 18k, I was still doubting that I could run 21.1k.  Why was I so hard on myself?  I had put in the time, I had done the training.  I could do this and I would do this and on May 11, 2014, I ran my first half marathon.  It didn’t turn out quite as I anticipated.  I struggled a lot between kilometers 14 and 20. 

Between the heat, the blisters and the voice of doubt, I was ready to give up several times and just when I didn’t think I could go any farther or that I had any gas left in the tank, I begin to cross the train bridge and see my sister, my best friend and training partner running back toward me.  She had already finished her half marathon and came back to run me in. 

Lacey Clowater crosses the finish line at the Fredericton half marathon in May.

With her were two of my best running buddies and in a flood of emotions, I broke down.  The tears were streaming down my face as I ran my last 1.1k. 

My sister held my hand and my friends shouted words of encouragement as I continued to sob.  How did I get so lucky to have these people in my life?  Regardless of the time on the clock when I crossed that finish line something happened that day that I will never forget.  Not only did I complete a half marathon I realized that importance of friendship and how fortunate I am to have those people in my life.  In the days following the race I was a bit down.  I was having trouble celebrating my accomplishment because I was disappointed with the outcome.  Instead of being proud that I had run a half marathon, I kept reliving what went wrong and how I didn’t achieve the time I had wanted.

It was during a moment of self-pity that once again my friends came through.  The marathon photos had been released and a friend sent me a link to one of my photos.  It was of me, my sister (holding my hand) and my two friends, Julie and Kristel.  After seeing that photo everything was once again put into perspective.  I had achieved my goal.  I crossed that finish line and in the end time is irrelevant and I realized that I can achieve any goal, running or otherwise because “I get by with a little help from my friends…” 

So this August, with some help from another good friend of mine, Jamie, I will tackle the 12k at the Marathon by the Sea, the 10k goal race that I never had the chance to complete and after that, who knows what is in store for me and my running buddies.

But one thing I know for sure is that running will always be a part of my life because the friends I have made and the experiences I have had along this journey are worth more than any medal.   

• 17
  Jun
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The Running Whys – Jeff Queen

Editor’s Note: 2014 marks an anniversary for Jeff Queen of Saint John. A decade ago, he took on the half marathon distance at Marathon By the Sea and caught the running fever. It led to his first marathon and many more, impressively shaving 90 minutes off his initial marathon time in that span. Jeff is one of the top runners in the area and this year, he is returning to Marathon By the Sea once again, the scene of where his passion for running really kicked into high gear.

Enjoy.                     

–

I was active in many sports as a kid growing up, but didn’t maintain anything through university. I started running in 2004 to get back into sports, and because, to be honest, I thought it’d be fun to run a marathon.

The first race I ever ran was the half marathon at the 10^th anniversary of the Marathon by the Sea in 2004.  The feeling I experienced upon crossing the finish line in 1:46 was one of satisfaction, but instantly I knew I wanted to get more out of myself – I wanted to improve my time and I knew I was going to run a full marathon that fall. I signed up for the Valley Harvest Marathon which was two months later, I made every rookie training and racing mistake in the books, and completed what I now know was a seriously substandard amount of training, having only run beyond the half marathon distance twice in training, to a maximum of 24km.  Not surprisingly, the final six miles of that marathon were a long, painful slog, but I finished in 4:29.

Despite my inability to do anything but hobble for the next week, I knew that this was far from my only attempt at the marathon. I had every intention of trying to train harder and to improve my time.

Now, 17 marathons later, my personal best is 2:59 and I still have a drive to improve. Now, it is more than that.  I have discovered the incredibly friendly and supportive running community. When my wife and I moved to Vancouver in 2005, and once again when we moved back to Saint John in 2010, running became a way for me to meet people and socialize. Many of my best friendships in both cities were developed through long conversations on long runs and by the connection you make after completing a hard tempo or track session with someone.

As running is such an individual sport, and you truly do compete primarily with yourself, you get to share in and enjoy the accomplishments of others.  Some of the best moments I’ve experienced in this sport were not my own:

– Being a pace bunny in the Vancouver Marathon allowed me to share in the joy experienced by two strangers who ran the entire distance with me, and achieved their goals of qualifying for Boston for the first time.

– Running together with my friend and training partner Dean through the first half of the final KV Challenge Marathon, then cheering for him as he completed the second half, which he ultimately won in a big new personal best.

– Sharing the excitement of someone who just completed a new distance, or who accomplished a big goal.

– Pride in helping the runner I coach improve his times.

I also run to travel to places I otherwise might never visit. For example, if it wasn’t for the Newport Marathon, my wife and I would likely have never visited the stunning Pacific Coast of Oregon. I have made it a goal to eventually run a marathon in every Canadian province and territory and to date, I have only crossed off three provinces (and four states). The fourth province will come with the Queen City Marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan this September. My racing bucket list is too long to ever accomplish even a small portion of it.

There are many reasons why I want to run the half at this year’s Marathon by the Sea. As I mentioned earlier, my first race was the half marathon at the 10^th Marathon by the Sea. So what better way to celebrate 10 years of running than by doing the half again at the 20^th Marathon by the Sea?

I want to support MBTS as the marquee race of the city in which I live. I hope to see it grow and improve, and plan to do it every year.  Again, races are social events. The long brutal winter meant I didn’t see many of my fellow runners for months. This race brings everyone back out!

In addition, I have a very supportive – and vocal – family in the Saint John area who enjoy coming to races to cheer me on. Doing a local race like MBTS allows them to come.

Ten years of running does not come without challenges. Life is busy!  It’s hard to get the dedicated training required to get the most out of yourself! A nagging injury struck in March, and again in May.  I hope to be able to get past it without losing too much fitness and precious training time.

Finally, I have set an ambitious time goal for the half marathon this year.  My last four half marathons have been either 1:21 or 1:22 and I would love to sneak under that pesky 1:20 barrier at MBTS.

• 12
  Jun
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• By iSpire
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The Running Whys – Alan Theal

There were no indications, no warning signs. 

Some 800 meters from the finish line, Alan Theal, a veteran of more than 30 marathons and five ultra-marathons, was down and those situated near the end of the 2008 ING Edmonton Marathon feared the worst.

Alan, the four-hour pace bunny for one of Alberta’s biggest road races, had collapsed just as his group was set to celebrate.

Just minutes previously, the mini fist pumps were starting for his team of distance runners, all of whom wanted to crack the treasured four-hour barrier. Alan was the pacing leader, the person in charge of getting this group through the emotional and physical peaks and valleys of the 42.2 kilometre course, entrusted to set a standard his group could follow and achieve a bucket-list goal.

With less than a kilometer to go, it looked great and Alan gave one last positive signal to the group that there was light at the end of their endurance tunnel. Success, after months and sometimes years of training, was right around the proverbial corner.

“It was a hot and muggy day,” says Alan, almost six years later. “We were having an awesome day. It was a little bit warm but we did our walks and we stayed hydrated.”

Moments after he pronounced the collective goal was within reach, Alan went silent, uncharacteristic for him, given his engaging personality, especially with the monumental mission virtually complete.

A few steps later, he staggered, stumbled and fell face first on the curb. Thankfully, through the efforts of many, Alan received the immediate treatment that ultimately saved his life.

“They still have not pinpointed what it was,” Alan said. “It could have been an arrhythmia…I had tests and my heart was enlarged.”

Prior to the race, Alan had wrapped up a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, another accomplishment in his distinguished 35-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces. There is a thought that something – perhaps a virus – attacked his heart, which, “made it do some wild and weird things.”

Whatever the cause, the 2008 ING Edmonton Marathon was a dramatic moment that will be forever etched in his memory.

So what does this have to do with the 2013 and 2014 Emera Marathon By The Sea events.

Turns out, most everything.

“As I stand here today, that was the best race of my life,” Alan says proudly of his participation last August.

The progress from the finish line in Edmonton to the finish line in Saint John represented an intense journey on Alan’s metaphorically long and winding road.

“It was terrible,” he says of the recuperation starting after returning from his tour of duty in 2006, through all of the medical testing and leading up to when he was fitted with a pacemaker in 2009.

However, Alan being Alan, one of the first things he wanted to know when the pacemaker procedure ended was not ‘if’, but ‘when’ he could run.

“Nothing strenuous,” was the tone of the reply.

Gradually, he eased back into everyday life and as he gathered strength and confidence, he added some distance.

Yet things were different in so many ways.

He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces, moving across the country to Amherst, where he started to gain new momentum, both personally and through the running community.

It was a slow start, as when he arrived in the Nova Scotia border town, he noticed an absence of a local running club. Given his background as a mentor and clinic leader with the Running Room and his vast running experience, he felt he could step in and organize something to help promote healthy living. It would be a perfect tonic in his recovery and an introduction to his new community.

The first informal outing was the 24-Hour Activity Day where Alan was given two names who were also interested in running.  So Alan, along with Ken MacKenzie and Peter Nixon started  running together, adding new runners along the way.

“You know what John Stanton (of Running Room fame) says, when you have three, you have a club,” Alan said.

Over time, the interest grew as the group thrived on an all-inclusive philosophy, with the intangible social benefits striking a chord with the expanding membership base.

“Nobody would be left behind,” Alan said of the mandate. “We would start together and we would finish together.”

On Christmas Eve, 2011, the official club was born – The Amherst Striders. There are no fees, no bureaucracy, no aggressive bosses running the show. They pooled resources to travel to outside races, arranged large group photos near start lines, ran hand-in-hand near various finish lines, fist pumped when others achieved personal bests and bounced questions off one another in an effort to simply put one foot in front of the other.

The membership totals grew from three to several dozen to the current core of approximately 350 strong on its Facebook site.

Two of them ran the Boston Marathon this past April. Three have already qualified for Boston next spring.

But the enthusiasm that ranges from the variety of Saturday long runs and the early opening weekday jaunts is what impresses Alan the most.

“Everything is positive,” he says. “It is all about encouragement.”

Which brings us around to MBTS in 2013, where Alan and a crew of Striders toed the line, ready to tackle the summer route through the Port City. Four of them – Alan, Ken MacKenzie, Rick McKenney and Tim Parker – vowed to run as a group in search of a sub-two hour time.

“We hang around together, we run together, we were going to stick together,” Alan says.

Throughout the club, the participation goals are always there but there is also plenty of ambition to meet or exceed personal goals. In Saint John, it all came together for this quartet – a challenging yet fair course; an absence of humidity; no rain; proper preparation and great encouragement.

Eventually, as the gang of four approached Rockwood Park, there were no bad recollections for Alan.

Instead, after he checked the time in the final stages, the mini celebrations started again. This time, they lasted well past the final dash for home.

“With 300 metres left, I looked and we were good to go,” Alan said. “Tim put his hands in the air to celebrate. It was his fifth half marathon but his first under two hours. It was big. We were high-fiving everybody.”

The clock read 1:56:30 when they finished side-by-side in brilliant sunshine.

“I have been running for years. This was my favorite race ever,” Alan said.

So on the eve of the 2014 MBTS, the Striders pledge to make the trek to Saint John in force, thanks in large part to Alan’s resilience and his rebound from personal adversity.

He’s thought about returning to the full marathon but has been strongly advised against it. He still plans on competing, tutoring and being involved. The Striders will also be in P.E.I. in October and events placed in between, including several in and around their town.

For Alan, Saint John is the place that carries the most special of memories, heart-warming recollections of his continued progress on the roads as well as the collective joy experienced by his new Maritime teammates when they achieved their goals.

Nothing beats that.

• 10
  Jun
• Uncategorized
• By iSpire
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The Running Whys – Carolyn Campbell

Editor’s note: Nearly six years after crossing the finish line at Marathon By The Sea in her first marathon, Carolyn Campbell still gets emotional when she thinks about how she got there. For some people, running represents many different things. For her, it provided an outlet to set goals, deal with the curve balls life throws at us and learn more about her inner strength.  What follows is a poignant account of her experiences with Marathon By the Sea.

There is this: “Twice a week for 12 weeks, we met and we ran. We cried, we laughed, we swore. But we also ran!”

And this: “I cried as I crossed the finish line because to me this gave me the ammunition to call myself a runner.”

Her journey from non-runner to marathoner is another of the inspirational tales Marathon By the Sea has experienced in its celebrated 20 year history.

Enjoy.

–

I had never really paid any attention to running events.  They were for elite runners. I was 100 pounds overweight and running was not in the cards for me. In 2004, I moved to Ottawa and arrived on Ottawa race weekend. I had no idea what was going on, I was just caught up in the crowd and could feel a buzz of energy like I’ve never felt before. I realized it was all for this running event, and that people of all walks of life were participating.

Soon after, I met a girl at work who had run a marathon and wrote about her experience. When I read her story, something in me changed. I made a vow to myself in that moment that someday I would feel that feeling first hand. I would run a marathon.

I had made pretty pathetic attempts at running before but had never stuck with them. I knew that running wasn’t going to be an instant thing but I knew I wanted it. I started slowly at the gym, with some basic cardio and strength training. I couldn’t do more than two squats at this time. I continued this very basic routine for about a year before I signed up for a learn-to-run clinic at the gym I was attending.

I was so excited to finally be at a place where I could start running. It was a group of people in all levels of fitness, but we were all there for one goal – To be a runner!  Twice a week for 12 weeks, we met and we ran. We cried, we laughed, we swore. But we also ran! By the end of the clinic, we were hitting 7km without stopping!!!  This was serious stuff. In October of 2005, I ran my first-ever official run at the Ottawa CIBC Run For The Cure.

I cried as I crossed the finish line because to me this gave me the ammunition to call myself a runner :). I stuck with running 5-10km races for the next year and finally got up the courage to train for a half marathon. In September of 2007, after moving back home to Saint John, and now at a total of 75lbs lost, I completed the half marathon distance of Marathon By The Sea. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I said next year it will be the full marathon.

Training for the full was like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I did it all solo.  I learned how to do math in my head, calculating my pace, splits, etc to keep myself distracted. I learned just how long it took to run from the Gondola Point ferry to the Rothesay Avenue exit and back again, but most importantly I learned how to talk myself through the most difficult physical pain, resistance and emotional struggles I thought I would ever feel.

Carolyn Campbell hugs her daughter after the annual Resolution Run in Saint John that was held Dec. 31, 2010.

And in September of 2008, I crossed the finish line with a co-worker who would most likely have finished well ahead of me, but was a little under the weather and graciously kept me company for over 5 hours.  I did it!  The emotion you feel when you cross the finish line is unexplainable. Only another runner could possibly understand. Writing about it now brings tears to my eyes, recalling the pride I had in myself, and the journey I had been on to get there.

My running story does not end here. I’ve never run another full marathon, but I love the half marathon distance and have completed the half at Marathon By The Sea every year, except one, since.

I took the year I was eight months pregnant off ;). But did volunteer and was blessed to put the badges of honour (medals) around the necks of many of the finishers in 2010.

My daughter was born a month later and I was in a tough spot. My marriage had fallen apart when I was five months pregnant and I needed to figure out how to be a mommy, how to deal with the failed marriage, and how to feel like me again.

I knew exactly what I needed to do. I needed to run. Five weeks after my daughter was born, I signed up for a 1/2 marathon clinic at the Running Room to keep myself accountable, and trained for the hypothermic half which I ran in February of 2011, which was five months after my daughter was born.

I mentioned earlier that while training for the full marathon I learned how to deal with what I thought was the most difficult emotional struggles I’d ever have to face. I was wrong. But the great thing was that running was also helping me deal with the pain I was now facing. It gave me confidence.  It was an outlet for the pent up anger and frustration.

It calmed the chaos inside of me. I was proving to myself that I may get knocked down, but I could also get back up again. The long runs leading up to that half marathon, and to this day, provide me with the mental clarity I need to be a great mom, and a great me. Running has not only provided me with amazing physical benefits, it has given me the ability to be in control of my mental well being as well. I am forever grateful to everyone who ran in Ottawa race weekend in 2004, as well as the girl who shared her marathon story with me.

They lit the match to the fire that has been burning for 10 years :).

• 3
  Jun
• Uncategorized
• By iSpire
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The Running Whys – Shelley Doucet

Editor’s note: This time last year, Shelley Doucet of Quispamsis and her husband Evan felt they could save half the time if they took their dogs running each day instead of their normal walk. They were busy, with two young children and demanding jobs, including Shelley’s role as a professor in nursing at the University of New Brunswick.

But in addition to the time saved, they rediscovered their admiration of the sport and a short time later, Shelley decided to enter Marathon By The Sea, signing up for the half marathon the day before the event.  Since then, the results have been nothing short of electric, especially this year, with numerous victories in the provincial running scene including four course records since April.

Last week, for example, she set a new mark at the River Valley Rave 5k, coming in under 18 minutes and last fall, she qualified for the Boston Marathon in her first marathon.

In a few months, she will return to Marathon By the Sea, where this incredible string of success started last August.

Her amazing story follows below:

—

From a young age, I was actively involved in a variety of sports, such as basketball, ringette, hockey, and soccer. This later carried over into playing on provincial (rugby, soccer) and university (hockey, soccer) sports teams. I always tended to stray away from individual sports, such as track, as I preferred to compete as a team. The reality is that I would put too much pressure on myself otherwise. My first real taste of running a race came in my final year of high school when it was mandatory for all soccer players to run cross country. I ended up winning the cross country provincials in Fredericton that year. I was offered running scholarships at two Maritime universities, but despite a love for running, I had no interest in pursuing racing so I immediately declined without further consideration.

Throughout my undergraduate and graduate education, I maintained an active lifestyle which involved team sports, strength training, and a daily 5K walk with my husband and two Airedale Terriers. Last July, it was hard for us to find the time to walk our dogs when I returned to work full-time after a maternity leave with my second child. We soon discovered that if we ran instead of walked it took half the time! That August, I heard that Marathon By the Sea was taking place in a matter of days. Those who know me would not be surprised to hear that I seriously considered signing up for the full marathon. Thankfully, my husband talked me out of this and agreed to run the half with me – we went to Rockwood and signed up for the half the day before the event.

Shelley Doucet runs the final stages of the River Valley Rave 5k race last weekend in Grand Bay-Westfield.

I have to admit, our handful of 5K runs did not prepare us for this new challenge and all I could think the entire time was thank heavens I did not sign up for the full! I vividly recall us joking about everyone with their gels and big fancy watches prior to the race. When asked by my colleague Daryl Steeves at the beginning of the race what our minute-per-mile pace would be, I struggled to figure out what our 30 minute 5K time would convert to. Minutes per mile was a foreign concept to us both. Halfway through the race, we were offered a gel and I admit that I quickly came to appreciate what these were for! Our two young children, my sister, and mother followed us throughout the entire race, which was the best part of all. Our children held signs saying “Go Mommy, Go Daddy”, which evoked a feeling that beat any local or national sporting event I had ever participated in. I finished the race second in my age group, with a time of 1:43, and was hooked. I went home that afternoon and registered for the KV Challenge Full Marathon that was taking place 8 weeks later. The next day I also bought one of those fancy Garmin watches that I had made fun of the day prior and a case of vanilla gels J

While training for my first marathon, I felt the need to play catch-up as I was nowhere near the suggested miles per week in any training program (believe me, I tried to find one that fit my level of experience!). I am sure I drove Alex Coffin crazy with my frequent calls about training and racing in those early weeks (and likely still drive him crazy now, lol). Week 3 into my training, I decided to do three 13.1 mile runs in four days at race pace and to no surprise became injured and could not run for 10 days. Not a good thing with only 4 weeks until my first marathon! I was very fortunate to end up having a full recovery in time for the KV challenge event.

During the KV marathon, I was chatting with fellow marathoner, Sean Kelly, and at the fourth mile I mentioned in passing that I was aiming to do a marathon in the spring to qualify for Boston. He said, “why not qualify today?” Prior to the race, I had no idea the course was a Boston qualifier and my goal was to break 4 hours. Let’s just say that I picked up the pace after that! I ended up qualifying by over 10 minutes (my time was 3:24) and was the first female to finish. My entire family cheered me on throughout the 26.2 miles.

Shelley Doucet is shown here running in the Lorneville Loop 13k race earlier this spring.

After my first marathon experience, I realized the importance of cross-training to prevent future injuries. At this point, I only knew how to do the breaststroke (and not well!) and my bike (which I never used) was from the 70’s. I needed something to motivate me to cross-train, so a few days after my first marathon I signed up for the Challenge Event in Saint Andrews, which is the distance of a half ironman. I was fortunate that my sister also agreed to sign up for the challenge so I was not in this alone. We were then committed to learning how to swim and bike together. Setting this goal was the best possible thing we could have done, particularly given the long winter we experienced. Through reading several books and watching countless YouTube videos, over the winter months we coached each other on how to swim. And yes, I also invested in a new bike.

The main challenge I am faced with is finding the time to train to reach my potential. I work as a Professor in Nursing at UNB and also have a 22 month old daughter and four year old son. I generally train in the very early hours so that I do not miss out on family time, which means I am not able to participate in the excellent coached training sessions with Daryl Steeves and Alex Coffin that generally take place in the evenings. I am very fortunate, however, to have an incredible support network who share my passion for this new journey. I think my husband learned early on in our marriage that I am much more pleasant to be around when I have had the chance to exercise J My mother, who lives with us, makes it possible for me to train with my husband, which is something I realize few couples have the opportunity to do. My children also see me training and racing with their dad and aunt, which at a young age is allowing them to see firsthand that physical activity is an important part of everyday life. In fact, my four-year-old son has actively participated in the kids fun runs at each running event – who knew he could run 1k!

I am running the full marathon at Marathon by the Sea this year for several reasons. First, I love having the opportunity to run locally, as you have your family, friends, and community there to support you along the way. And for a marathon, it is a long way J. I also like the course as it is challenging. I live in an area that is surrounded by hills in all directions so I am drawn to a marathon that is similarly challenging (although I suspect I will come to regret saying this on race day!)

In terms of my goals, I would like to improve my Boston qualifying time to be sure that I can participate in the 2015 Boston Marathon. My longer-term goal for which this marathon is a stepping stone is to break the 3 hour marathon mark; ideally sometime over the next 5 years. I look forward to returning to the race where this journey began for me and my family, this time with proper training and more experience. With every race I learn something new. For instance, I did my second 5K race last week and I learned the hard way to not go all out on the first mile when it is all downhill J Having only done one marathon, I have a lot to learn and look forward to this experience in my hometown at Marathon By the Sea with the incredible support of my family and AMAZING new friends from the running and triathlon community!

• 29
  May
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The Running Whys – Dean Strowbridge

Long before Dean Strowbridge was racking up victory after victory on the New Brunswick running circuit, he was searching for a fitness forum.

The year was 1996, he wasn’t feeling the best and he decided then and there, he needed a change.

“I actually was going to the Aquatic Centre for general fitness so I could lose weight. I was in a size 40 pants back then,” said Strowbridge, the Willow Grove native who has captured three Run New Brunswick Super Series points titles and three Timex Series titles.

As he participated and made inroads toward achieving his new goals, he enjoyed the new regime. Then, a few years later, Dean and a good friend of his – Cyril Landry – entered the Catch The Bug road race, a 5 kilometre journey in Saint John that produced a time of 29:09. It was a respectable debut but looking at his regular results these days that come in under 17 minutes, that initial time proved to be a far cry from where his potential would eventually take him.

Approximately two weeks after he caught the running bug with Cyril, Dean got an invite from a stranger.

It was in June of 2001 and the rest, as the old sports cliché goes, is history.

“A girl by the name of Trina Goguen asked me if I wanted to go for a run, so I said yes and then decided that I wanted to try to finish a 5-miler at Marathon By The Sea,” Dean says. “Trina and I have been running together ever since. Oh yeah, I never knew Trina when she asked me to go for a run.”

Even now, as he ranks as one of the favourites in this year’s 20^th anniversary of the Emera Marathon By The Sea’s (MBTS) half marathon, a race he’s finished second five times in the past, Dean remembers the early days on the roads.

“It amazes me sometimes that I’m even where I’m at today when I think about where I was,” he said. “I still keep a big picture of me on the fridge (from 1996) beside a picture of me now, just so I don’t forget where I was and where I’m at. It keeps me humble and keeps me grounded.”

His first win came in June of 2005, when he clocked a 17:09 to win the Do it For Dad Father`s Day race. Trina, his running partner, was seventh.

He captured the New Brunswick Timex Series crowns in 2008, 2010 and 2011 while winning his age division in the provincial Super Series in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Last season, he won the Fredericton half marathon, the YSJ Airport 10 k and Saint Andrews 5-miler, was the top male in his age division in every race he entered and was no worse than fourth overall in any of the seven NB Super Series races he ran.

In 2014, he has capturedthe YSJ Airport 10k and was second in the 13k Lorneville Loop.

“I couldn’t have ever dreamt that I would’ve put up the times that I have or that people would consider me one of New Brunswick’s best,” Dean said when asked about his success. “I am honored and very fortunate that I’m in the position that I’m in. I’ve really enjoyed the journey and hope there are lots of miles left in these legs. I’ve had lots of help along the way such as Trina Goguen, Daryl Steeves, Alex Coffin and Gilles Gautreau. They’ve all had a big impact in my running and I am very thankful to have them help me over the years.”

He will be busy this summer, like many, racing in various events but, he is focusing on MBTS.

There is the elation and positive atmosphere associated with the crowds in town for the Aug. 8-10 MBTS event, but he would like to finally get a win in the half after coming so close, so many times.

“ It’s funny but the last five years that I ran this race; I’ve come second all five times, to five different men. It’s always been one of the big races for me each year and I think that Mike Doyle and Patrick Grannan do a wonderful job with it.”

He enjoys the training, logging the miles, dealing with the various weather conditions that add to all the challenges. But he also enjoys meeting and training with others, watching their progress and celebrating afterward.

“Running takes a lot of work and dedication but when you’re passionate about it, you’ll put the work in,” he said. “The best thing I love about running is that no matter how fast we are, we can all take the time to run together.”