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DOING IT AND MORE IN 2004 - FitFriends Web Site is up and Running

It was "Do it for Me in 2003" that drew approximately 250 participants out for "FitFriends" first event ever at Cambrian College last April. The distance was 5k and the primary goal for many competitors was just finishing. And I don't recall one single DNF.

This year on Mothers Day in May, the Organizers have set their sites a little higher with "Doing it and More In 2004". Lise Edwards and Donna Smrek have added a10k event to the existing 5k for those who want to stretch their abilities even further.

The course will be the same as last year for the 5k. The 10k will be 2 loops of the 5k course. Both courses will be accurate and all kilometers marked.

Awards will be improved recognizing age categories.

There will be lots of sponsors including the Running Room. The Sudbury Rocks!! Running Club will once again be looking after the course which includes set up, marshalling, sweep and aid station. I will be soliciting for volunteers in April.

The "FitFriends banner has been added at the top of our homepage until the race is complete to facilitate access to their site.

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Mike Coughlin and Chantal Demers entered their very first Ironman Triathlon last year in Penticton B.C. As the above results indicate, they fared extremely well. Back in August, I asked Mike to please send me his event impressions when he got his thoughts together. It's been six months now and he is finally recovered enough to talk about his ordeal.

The world according to Mike... or "My Bestest Birthday Ever" - by Mike Coughlin

The finish line was barely visible through the haze - not the kind of haze created by fog or even the fires that had been raging in the area for weeks, but the self-induced haze that results from pushing your body to its limits. The clock said I had been going for just over 11 hours, but as far as I knew I had been out there for a week.
The prospect of crossing the finish line at Ironman Canada on my 30th birthday had been dancing like a sugarplum in my head for close to a year. Now that it was happening, it all seemed a bit surreal. In many ways, it signified the end of a journey - not just a long day's journey, but one that took place over the previous weeks and months in the pool, on the roads, and in my head. All of the miles, sacrifices and mental battles were culminating in a single moment where I realized I was finishing an Ironman.

Little did I know that my experience was far from over.

At Ironman races it is not uncommon for people to feel a bit toasted at the end. As a result, the fine people at Ironman Canada arrange to have each finisher greeted at the finish line by an "escort". Far from the yellow pages variety (that would be a cruel joke indeed...), these escorts are there to ensure that athletes can at least clear out of the finish chute before collapsing. In my case, a sweet lady in her 40's greeted me with congratulations and a shoulder to lean on.

After helping me collect my finisher’s medal, shirt and cap, my escort and I had a little stroll around the finisher’s area. She pointed out the waiting hot tubs and massage tent before asking THE QUESTION... did I think I needed the medical tent. Explaining that I was a first-time Ironman and was new to this kind of suffering, I suggested it couldn't hurt to pay the med tent a quick visit to be on the safe side.

The medical tent at Ironman Canada is a major operation. With over 150 volunteer physicians, nurses and other staff, the tent helps many of the nearly 2000 competitors with everything from minor injuries to GI distress, dehydration and other exercise-induced ailments. For efficiency, the tent is separated into 2 sections: the stretcher area where the athletes in real trouble recovered, and the "walking wounded" area where the dazed and confused but ambulatory finishers hung out. I was directed to the latter and collapsed into one of the many chairs there.

My blood pressure was taken and I was given some chicken broth to drink, assured that it was the best remedy for my current condition. As I sat staring blankly into space and sharing that knowing look with similar souls around me, I noticed that each chair had a bucket under it. A few seconds later, I found out why.

It seems that my stomach had shut down and refused to accept chicken broth, Gatorade, or anything else for that matter. After 45 minutes of repeated, unsuccessful attempts at traditional re-hydration, the decision was made: I was to be “promoted” to the other side of the tent.

Suddenly I felt like I was in M.A.S.H. – A big tent with lots of stretchers, I.V.’s and busy medical staff, but with lots of good humour. Don’t get me wrong: Everyone there was thoroughly professional and took excellent care of their patients, but most patients came right fairly quickly and were soon reliving their race experiences with doctors, nurses and fellow athletes.

In my case, I was ushered to a stretcher and wrapped in an emergency blanket plus another blanket. I was lucky to have couple of nurses that were not only very skilled, but also very cute. They kept me occupied with questions about my race while they proceeded to set me up with my first ever I.V. Just as I was settling in and beginning to feel better, my body temperature dropped like a stone and I was quickly wrapped up in two more blankets, a toque, and dry clothes to replace my sweat-soaked race gear.

So there I was, spending my 30th birthday looking like a shivering mummy on a stretcher, complete with an I.V. in my arm. As I stared up at the white canopy of the medical tent, all I could think was “Wow – this is the best birthday I have ever had!”

Mike Coughlin

John Stanton's Presentation Wildly Successful

Last Thursday John Stanton, President of the Running Room, and his regional Director, Refton Blair visited us in Sudbury in the Older Adult Centre at the "Y". The house was packed for his one hour presentation that lasted a full 3 hours due to enthusiastic questions from the audience. Sudburians were pleased when John let it be known that a store was in the works for our city. This is great news as the Running Room sells more than shoes and running apparel. They also promote a fit lifestyle by putting on walk/run clinics on a timely basis, putting on informal runs, sponsoring local competitions and more.

My wife and I got an opportunity at the end of the evening to take John out for a run along the boardwalk at Bell Park to Science North and back by an alternate route to the"Y". John responded with an e-mail to Sudbury runners.

John writes:

Hello Vince

I just wanted to drop you a note of thanks for an incredible evening in Sudbury. My special thanks go out to you and to your group for getting the word out to the community and for acting as great hosts. I enjoyed the run and tour of the city with you. I am still bragging to people about the great running area around the lake and throughout the city.

Thank you also for the T-shirt I will wear it proudly!

We will keep you posted on our site selection and opening date.

John Stanton

This note not only thanks the Sudbury Rocks!! Running Club but also Lise, Donna, Anik and others who were instrumental in making the evening happen.

Thank you all and a special thank you to John and Refton

Vince