Saturday, May 31, 2008

Red Island Relay

Red Island Relay
The Red Island Relay is a fundraising event for charity.
Beneficiaries are the Canadian Red Cross and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of PEI.

Results of the 6 person Team
1 PEI Speed Inc. - 6M
David Misener-Cory Jay-Kendall MacDonald-James Vantouver-Peter Toombs-Allan MacEacher
2 Lactic Acid 2 - 6M
Kyle Chaisson-Dave Clark-Stephen Baglole-Dan McCarthy-Shawn McCarthy-Calvin Chaisson
3 Naturally Fit Ch'town - 6M
Jason Lindsay-Ben Crook-Hanna-Corey Ellis-Steve Rush-Justin Ellis-Garrett Toole
4 Rural Raiders - 6MIXED
Les MacKay-Shannon Burt-Paul Power-Gena Riggs-Rob Redman-Dylan Mullally
5 Team Atlantic Turbines - 6MIXED
John Arsenault-Leo Flood-Gerard MacDonald-Rob Cook-Austin Roberts-Cheryl Tanton
6 The Sophomore 6 - 6MIXED
Gina List-Paul McKenna-Scott MacKay-Mandy McKenna-Evan Toole-Tim Cook
7 Get Behind the Mule - 6MASTERS
Roger Allen-P. Jon Hutchinson-Edwin Gillis-Dan Beaudette-Joe Kern-Barry Murray
8 OH So Debonnair - 6MIXED
Jackie Chaisson-Kent Ford-Nancy Morris-Blair Weeks-John Desrossier-Shelley Muzika
9 The Slackers - 6MIXED
Rachel Leslie-John Jamison-Ryan McCarron-Brian Murray-Beckie Townsend-Keren Murchison
10 Ice Packs - 6MIXED
Johannah Profit-Shane Gill-Kandce Norton-Mary Beth MacIn-Matt Bernard-Doug Martin
11 Fortius Pharmedica - 6CORP
Tim McQuail-Ron Skiner-Karla Snyder-Allan Andreasen-Carey Arsneault-Doug Ellis
12 Lowered Expectations - 6M
Matthew Younker-Pavalochi Stret- Scott MacEwen-Reek MacPhail-River Younker-Gun MacKinnon
13 Cogsdale #1 - 6CORP
Kyle Strang-Rich Addison-Kevin Clancey-Stephen Gordon-Todd GAudin-Kier Pollard
14 Construction Project Services - 6MIXED
Mary Laura-Coady-Andrea Horrelt-Dawn Paynter-Fred Horrelt-Mark Steele-JD Sullivan
15 The Delicious - 6MIXED
Jessica Hutchinson-Marie-Sol Hutchinson-Emma Allen-Deven Krauskopf-Jeff Alward-Mike Needham
16 Start Me Up - 6F
Susan MacDonald-Rebekah MacDonald-Michelle Holmes-Ann Worth-Michelle Rogers-Mary-Lynn McCou
17 Industrial Athletes - 6M
Derek McCarthy-Ryan Moore-Blaine Laime-Cory Barlow-Stewart Acorn-Phil Allen
18 Deltaware Destroyers #4 - 6MIXED
Ryan Campbell-Matt Wicks-Mary Cote-Billy Hennesey-Nancy Waite-Steven Collicot
19 Deltaware Destroyers #3 - 6MIXED
Shauna Sheverie-Gary Clow-Peter Rinco-Jonathon Gillis-Donna MacGuigan-Scott Fisher
20 Last Minute Assassins - 6M
Shane Jones-Duncan Sturz-Shane Jones-Corey MacPhee-Rob Livingstone-Corey MacPhee
21 Sizzling 6 - 6F
Rosie Banks-Kristine Haer-Natalie Clark-Heather Profitt-Ferne Profitt-Aleatha Pickeri
22 ACOA - 6MIXED
Johanna Eagan-Matthew Gillis-Katie McNevin-Byron Lindsay-Justine Lewis-Jackie Beaurega
23 Adam Bernard Experience - 6MIXED
Katie Walsh-Chris McKenna-Laurel Casey-Adam Bernard-Derek Kidd-Dan Bartlett
24 The Confederates - 6MIXED
Karen Wortman-Nancy Woodington-Shallyn Murray-Jean Daigle-Stephen Ahern-Scott Selby
25 Hughes Family - 6MIXED
Julie Hughes-Derek Hughes-Madeline Hughes-Frank Hughes-Theresa Hughes-Philip Hughes
26 Reading Record Rebels - 6MIXED
Clodagh Beverley-Ray McDearmid-Lynette MacKinn-Tracey Watts-Stewart Darrach-Kent Ross
27 Team Pursuit - 6F
Jenn Cyr-Jennifer Peters-Maria McGraw-Alexandra Sulli-Chalena Biggar-Laura Good
28 Cogsdale Crushers II - 6CORP
Shawn Arseneault-Brian Golad-Morgan Payne-Darcy Murnaghan-Kim Dadd-Brynn Devine
29 Red Panthers - 6MIXED
Kerri Anne Corcoran-Blythe Martin-Heather Dickie-Joel Walker-Nick Walker-Jamie Miles
30 Westwood Primary #1 - 6F
Jen Kelly-Pam Sweetapple-Jacki Ross-Coleen MacMilli-Dora McKinley-Hester Boyle

(Full results with times at Atlantic Chip Timing)

Results of the 2 person Team

1 Sporting Intentions / PEI n Mo - 2M - Stanley Chaisson - Andrew Scott
2 Feelin' Good - 2M - Matthew Gallant - Tyler LeLacheur
3 Last Minute Rockets - 2M - Matt Allen - Mike Christie
4 AP Squared - 2M - Andrew Pickared - Ashley Pickard
5 Sizzler - 2M - John Van Ekris - Bruce MacPherso
6 Get 'er Done - 2M - Ian Johnstone - Mike McClare
7 Flying Dutchman - 2M - Nico Verhoeven - Joseph Verhoeve
8 Comfortably Numb - 2M - Andrew Hamilton - Jeremey
9 Two Big Engins - 2M - Jim Quinn - Harvey Chandler
10 Craigswell - 2M - Thane Craig - Jeff Craswell
11 MacSmith - 2M - Grant MacPherson - Grant MacPherso
12 A & W Connection - 2MIXED - Tracy Gairns - Tracy Gairns
13 Han Solo and Chewbacca - 2M - Carlos Velez - Sean Fleming
14 Collins Inc. - 2MIXED - Nicole Collins - Nicole Collins
15 Deltaware Destroyers #2 - 2M - Husein Alisic - Donnie McKinnon
16 Duane & Eddie Express - 2M - Duane Gallant - Eddie MacKenzie
17 RJ - 2M - James Profit - Ryan Mills
18 O Ouell O Ouell - 2MIXED - Brigitta Ouellette - Serge Ouellett
19 - 2M - David Gallant - Chris Curry
20 Slowpokes - 2M - Matthew Coyle - Adam Profitt
21 imotion Team 2 - 2MIXED - Mikaela Ellis - Mikaela Ellis

22 Poseurs - 2MIXED - Mike Morrow - Rachel Parkins

(Full Results with times at Atlantic Chip Timing)

Results of the Solo

1 Ryan Bradley 1239 Charlottetow PE - M
2 Ron MacDougal 1262 PE - M
3 Craig Beaton 1261 PE M
4 Emma Rockett 1207 Charlottetow PE F
5 Mike Connolly 1210 Crapaud PE M
6 Ryan Giddens 1223 Stratford PE M
7 Kelly keith 1222 Stratfore PE M
8 Ronald Warren 1260 PE M

(Full Results with times at Atlantic Chip Timing)

Counting down

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=139526&sc=98

Counting down
A flurry of activity, from fundraising to building sporting venues, continues as the host committee pulls out all the stops to make the 2009 Canada Games a triumph

JIM DAY
The Guardian
Joseph Spriet, president of the 2009 Canada Games Host Society, has great designs on being part of putting on a top-notch
competition next year for hundreds of the country’s top amateur athletes. Guardian photo by Jim Day

In many ways, the 2009 Canada Games is a numbers game.
And some of those figures are rather eye popping.
The budget to stage the two-week long summer event in venues across Prince Edward Island may be the most dizzying of all the tallies.
The total Games budget is $33 million, says Joseph Spriet, president of the 2009 Canada Games Host Society — a group mandated the daunting task of planning and delivering an outstanding athlete-centred multi-sport and cultural event.
Funds from three levels of government are accounted for with Ottawa committing $13 million, the province good for $11.5 million and Island municipalities tossing in a couple million bucks more.
Money not in the bank just yet, however, is the whopping $7 million expected to be raised by the Friends of the Games Host Society. Spriet didn’t want to identify the shortfall, but suggested a considerable fundraising effort still lies ahead in the months leading up to the Games, which run next year from Aug. 15 to 29.
“We have half a dozen major sponsors . . . plus a lot of minor ones,” he said.
Anticipated cost overruns may leave both the province and the Friends of the Games Host Society on the hook to cough up even more money then either had bargained for.
“Cost overruns this year are a fact of life,” said Spriet.
Escalating fuel, labour and steel costs are contributing to more pricey contracts to get the venues up to snuff, said Tyler Richardson, vice-president of facilities division.
Progress on the bulk of the 40 different venues being developed in 18 communities across P.E.I. to host the 18 different sports is generally on schedule, he said.
There has been scrambling, though, for the major athletic facilities in both Summerside and Charlottetown.
Work, though, began Monday at UPEI with Island Coastal breaking ground on its $5.6-million contract with completion expected in November. The athletics facility calls for a 400-metre synthetic competition track, natural grass infield, grandstand with permanent seating for 1,400 spectators (with capacity for temporary seating of 1,900), timing tower, results room and equipment storage.
The Summerside project calls for a turf field, beach volleyball venue and three new tennis courts. With a tender call slated for June 9, some urgency exists in hammering out a deal with the municipality. Spriet said an agreement is “on the cusp” of being reached.
The return on a sizable investment — even if that expenditure turns out to be a fair bit more than first anticipated — still holds great promise, the upbeat president is quick to note.
During the bid process, a study determined the 2009 Canada Games would be worth between $75 million and $100 million in economic impact to the province.
The Games are expected to draw some 10,000 visitors to Prince Edward Island with 8,000 of those spectators expected to stay overnight and spend about $80 per day while 2,000 one-day visitors are anticipated to dole out about $51 per day.
Then there are the approximately 4,400 athletes, coaches and managers who will be here over the two weeks of the event pumping money into the province.
Large exposure will also be a strong payoff from the Games for a province desperately looking to boost tourism numbers.
Close to 200 media representatives are expected to cover the Games, filing stories, pictures and video of sporting events in a host of Island settings.
Spriet also expects more than 100 hours of total television coverage among the different stations that will broadcast portions of the event.
Long after the final medals have been handed out, the province should enjoy a lasting benefit from the Games. The facilities being built and upgraded, to the tune of more than $14 million, for the event will prove quite valuable, suggested Spriet.
He said the facilities, built to national standards with all the bells and whistles, should go a long way to helping the province in the future attract national sporting events that they could not otherwise have drawn here.
“And also the access to these facilities for the rest of us Islanders,” said Spriet.
“They’re going to be there for our youth.”
Above all, though, the number one priority is to make the Games the best possible experience for the participants — Canadian athletes.
David MacNeill, CEO of operations, wants the competition, accommodations, food and transportation to all be top notch for the wrestlers, swimmers, cyclists, baseball players and other competitors.
“Athlete-centred Games is our absolute priority,” he said.
Island athletes will naturally feel the glare of the spotlight competing in their home province.
To help make them shine, The Best Ever Program was established in 2006 with $1.4 million in funding from the Department of Communities and Cultural Affairs being spent to assist in the training and development of local athletes.
Program manager Ted Lawlor said the hope is for Island athletes to earn better results than in past Games.
About 257 Island athletes are expected to compete in 17 of the 18 sports, up from the 206 athletes that took part in the 2005 Canada Summer Games that competed in 12 out of the 16 sports.
Island athletes will compete in 2009 for the first time in canoe/kayak and rowing but will not participate in diving.
Lawlor said expectations are high for Team P.E.I. in both male and female soccer as well as wrestling and athletics (track and field).
“I think our expectation is a couple of medals will appear,” he said.
Islanders will not only buy into the Games with their tax dollars, but many will invest their time and talent.
An army of 6,000 volunteers will be put to a dizzying array of tasks, everything from setting up beds to transporting canoes.
Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, vice president of volunteer services for the 2009 Canada Games, said having the event held across the Island makes the task easier of rallying the troops to get involved.
“It’s a Prince Edward Island event and people are proud to host it,” she said.
“I think Islanders will step up to the plate and make it happen. They want to be a part of it.”

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Greatest Night of My Life - The Cabot Trail Relay




The Cabot Trail Relay held in Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia on the last weekend of May.

65 teams of 17 runners representing from Canada Provinces and Eastern US.

I visit the Cape Breton for the first time since I was a baby with my mom on Friday.

I meet the members of Team PEI at Auberge Gisele's Inn from registration, bib number, timechip, T-shirt and hat.

The relay begins in Gaelic College at 7:00 in the morning.

The Cabot Trail was a 300km road on mountains, ocean views, forests, place to stays and towns.
MacKenzie Mountain, Leg #10

The members of Team PEI each leg following during the race:

Leg 1: Tanya Gregory finished in 1:25:38 and 27th
Leg 2: "Captain" Kim Bailey finished in 1:15:14 and 25th
Leg 3: George Mutch finished in 1:09:58 and 24th
Leg 4: Stanley Chaisson won the leg in 1:11:29 on the Smokey Mountain leg.
Leg 5: Ellen Sherren finished in 1:27:26 and 27th
Leg 6: Sean Flemming finished in 1:34:54 and 45th
Leg 7: Ron Profit finished in 1:23:03 and 57th. I working at Team PEI water stop at 5km.
Leg 8: Johanna Profit finished in 1:04:23 and 23rd.
Leg 9: Jonathan Ross finished in 1:24:32 and 16th.
Leg 10: Andrey Malyshev finished in 1:05:48 and 7th.
Leg 11: Peter Salfi finished in 1:26:44 and 58th.
Leg 12: Ewan Clark finished in 1:16:10 and 28th.

The 13th leg started at 2:02 in the morning at Cheticamp Mall and ended at Joe's Scarecrow and Diner.

The forecast at leg it was moon and cloud and 4 degrees.

I ran with headlight and glowing stick at 15.88km [actually closer to 16.88] on the seacoast and farms.

I finished the leg in 1:21:40 and came in 18th out of 66 teams.

It was greatest night of my life!



I have a little sleep at the start of leg 17.



















The members of Team PEI each leg following during the morning:

Leg 14: Blair Salter finished in 1:15:35 and 3rd.
Leg 15: Graham Crate finished in 1:40:55 and 57th.
Leg 16: Pat Ellis finished in 1:10:42 and 17th.

The final leg of Cabot Trail Relay started at Middle River churches and ended at Baddeck court house.

The last member of Team PEI was Russell Christie finished in 1:04:27 and 2nd.

Russell carry the PEI flag to the finish line.

The team race time total of 22:28:38 and came in 14th out of 66 teams, only a serious penalty and late and best team finish place.



I won the draw a Timex Ironman watch at breakfast and wore on.
FULL RESULTS HERE From Atlantic Chip Timing

The awards banquet at Baddeck Arena was held. They travel over 200km from Baddeck to back home in Oyster Bed Bridge in 4 hours. The ferry sail to Wood Island in 75 minutes. I on ferry when I little at Borden.

Photos

Friday - The trip over and Team Meeting
Saturday Morning Pre-Race
Leg #1
Leg #2
Leg #3
Leg #4
Leg #5
Leg #6
Leg #7
Leg #8
Leg #9
Leg #10
Leg #13
Leg #14
Leg #16
Leg #17
Banquet
The Trip Home

Photos from Atlantic Chip Timing
George Mutch's Photos
Photos by Dave Fleet - Team #32 Cardio Arrest
Cape Breton Post Photo Gallery




Results for the other PEI Team:
Teams in place for Cabot Trail Relay
Sixty-five teams to hit the road for annual race, May 24-25
TJ COLELLO
The Cape Breton Post


SYDNEY — The beauty and challenge of the Cape Breton Highlands has once again attracted runners from both Canada and the United States for the 21st running of the Cabot Trail Relay Race, May 24-25.
The maximum 65 team entries will hit the roads again this year, which will bring nearly 1,100 racers to the region for the overnight event.
“A good number of the teams are the same people year after year,” said race committee chair and participant Dave Parkinson. “It’s one thing to come back year after year when you live in Sydney or Baddeck, but there are teams from Maine who have been coming here since (at least) 1994 ever since I’ve been involved.”
The 298-kilometre, 17-stage race goes through the Cape Breton Highlands, considered by many to have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The legs run through everything from steep mountains to the gently rolling Margaree Valley.
Each of the 65 teams can have as many as 17 runners with each assigned one of the legs, while other teams choose to participate with fewer participants completing multiple legs. The event draws a mix of both competitive runners looking for a strong showing and recreational runners aiming to simply cross the finish line.
Among the legs of the course, which vary between 12-20 km in length, many regard Leg No. 9 as the most daunting. That portion requires runners to climb North Mountain.
“There are other legs that are not nearly as difficult, but from my experience, if you can’t run 10K in your sleep, then you’re going to have a hard time doing any leg in this race,” said Parkinson.
More than half the teams registered for this year’s relay are from Nova Scotia, with 11 coming from other parts of Atlantic Canada, 15 from Quebec or Ontario and three travelling from Maine. One of those American teams are the Maine-iacs, the three-time defending race champions. They captured last year’s title with a total time of 17 hours, 43 minutes and five seconds, almost 20 minutes better than the second-place team.
“We have runners from all the provinces from here and to Ontario,” said Parkinson. The Cabot Trail Relay began in 1988 with six teams participating. “We have one team bringing in runners from each province.
“There are some other bigger races out on the West Coast in the United States and British Columbia, but I think that we can continue to bring in runners from Eastern Canada, is a testament to its success.”
The race begins at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s and continues all day and overnight. Runners are greeted each year by a significant crowd at the court house in Baddeck Sunday morning at about 9:30 a.m.
Along with bringing in dollars to local business, the race also raises about $1,200 in bursaries for each of the four high schools along the Cabot Trail. They include Cabot High in Neil’s Harbour, L’école NDA in Cheticamp, Cape Breton Highlands Academy in Terre Noire and Baddeck Academy.


Cabot Trail Relay Race wraps up Sunday
The Cape Breton Post

BADDECK — At a total distance of 298km, the 17-stage Cabot Trail Relay Race is a challenge for any team, but when there are just three members on the team, the word challenge takes on an entirely different meaning.
“It was my wonderful idea,” said Jody Isenor while taking a break in the team vehicle after completing the 20km fourth leg which includes an ascent of Cape Smokey. “I work at Mountain Equipment Co-op (which sponsors the team and the relay) and I worked with Dave Parkinson, one of the organizers for sponsorship so I proposed the idea last fall and asked if he would take a three-person team and he said ‘if you know what you’re getting yourself into.’”
Isenor and teammates Mark Campbell and Jan Trojanowski, who all planned to run 99.3km over the two days, may not have know exactly what they were getting into, but they had a pretty good idea.
“We’ve done other endurance events before and we thought this sounded like a good idea,” said Trojanowski, after completing his second leg of the day, the 17.5km sixth leg. “Most of us do Ironman so a lot of those skills spill over into this kind of race and Mark and I are actually going to do Primal Quest (a five-10 day expedition adventure race) next month in Montana so it’s a lot of high endurance stuff we do. We just run a lot.”
“It’s not too bad,” added Campbell, the only one of the three to have previously run in the relay. “We run, we have a bit of a rest and it’s like a new day. We do some adventure racing, Ironman and triathlon, anything that seems a bit crazy, one of us proposes it and the others say sure.”
The three-man team has created a fair amount of buzz among other competitors and all three have been enjoying the support they have received from everyone involved with the relay.
For full story and coverage of the Cabot Trail Relay Race see Monday's edition of the Cape Breton Post.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=137632&sc=146
Winning the Cabot Trail Relay old hat for Maine-iacs
A head-to-head battle from runners from
team 44, Team Grayhound, and team 48,
Aerobic Capacity. Erin Pottie - Cape Breton Post
GREG MACVICAR
The Cape Breton Post

By Greg MacVicar
Cape Breton Post
BADDECK — They may be crazy, but they’re fast.
The Maine-iacs from Maine won their fourth-straight Cabot Trail Relay Race, Sunday in 17 hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds.
“They won it very convincingly,” said race committee chair and participant Dave Parkinson. “They were a little over two hours faster than the next closest team. They’re just highly motivated to come here and win. They have a blast as well, but they’re definitely stacked with very good runners.”
The Eastern Z Descendants took second place in 19:26:08 and the Cape Breton Roadrunners did the island proud, placing third in 19:47:53.
“It was fabulous,” said Parkinson of the 21st edition of the 298-kilometre, 17-stage relay race, which was run around the Cabot Trail and around the clock, Saturday and Sunday.
“The weather was absolutely superb this weekend. It couldn’t have been any better weather-wise all the way around. It was unreal how good it was.”
Parkinson was a member of the Highland Hopefuls and ran Leg No. 12, from the foothills of French Mountain into the community of Cheticamp, starting at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
“You stand out there before it starts and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘You know, I must be mad. Why am I doing this?’ And then once you get going, of course, you feel fine. And when you’re done you feel great, because you’ve done it.”
Parkinson said some of the runners on the night shift wear headlamps, but he prefers to let his eyes adjust to the ambient light.
“Any time I’ve run over there, there’s been enough light from either cars going by or just the light of the sky,” he said. “You do get used to it.”
The event concluded Sunday at the Victoria Highland Civic Centre in Baddeck with a banquet and a meal for almost 1,200 people catered by the Baddeck Lions Club.
“It’s probably, from my perspective, one of the more impressive aspects of the event,” said Parkinson of the Lions Club members feeding that number of people and cleaning up in about two hours.
Parkinson said he received positive feedback on this year’s version of the relay from several participants such as a group of Maine runners he spoke with at the Bras d’Or Yacht Club in Baddeck, Sunday.
“They were commenting about how they love the Cabot Trail Relay Race and they love coming to Canada,” he said. “They just love this race.”
For further results, see B4.

Mainers Win Cabot Trail Relay

Written by Jeff Walls
Thursday, May 29, 2008
BADDOCK, N.S. — Several Maine teams made the journey to Nova Scotia on May 24 and 25 to participate in the grueling 185-mile long Cabot Trail Relay Race.

Residents from Hancock County had phenomenal success as two teams with members from the county won the two-day-long foot race.

It was as close to perfect a year as it gets for the Maine relay teams.

With only six days of recovery after setting his personal best time at the Sugarloaf Marathon last Sunday, Judson Cake of Bar Harbor opened the Cabot on Saturday with a new course record on the first relay section.

Cake set that record even though the first three miles of pavement were completely torn up and he was running up and down the hills on just a base of loose crushed stone.

The Maine-iacs then went on to win nine of the relay sections, never placing below fifth in all 17 legs. Four of the Maine-iacs, (Cake, Bar Harbor native Evan Graves, Steve McCarthy and Robert Gomez) ending up running double legs and these four produced seven wins just among themselves.

Newell Lewey and Erik McCarthy were the other leg winners.

The Maine-iacs’ finishing time of 17:15:59 was two hours quicker than the second place team and also nearly a half-hour quicker than the Maine-iacs’ winning time in 2007.

On the women’s side of the event, after many years of finishing second, the Maine Road Hags team (of which Shannon Horton of Trenton is a member) put everything together and took first place, setting several leg records in the process.

The Cabot Trail Relay Race is a 185-mile, 17-stage relay race along the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia beginning in Baddock. Legs vary from 12 to 20 kilometers in length and in difficulty from steep mountains in the Cape Breton Highlands to the gently rolling Margaree Valley.

Competitive and recreational runners are welcome, but to keep the race moving along, runners must maintain a minimum pace of 10 minutes per mile. Runners under 16 years of age are not permitted to participate.

In 1988, the idea of holding a relay race around the Cabot Trail was created, and six teams of 17 runners per team tested out the feasibility of the idea. Thus was created one of the largest and most popular running events in eastern Canada.

Now 60 teams from across Canada and the United States compete in an event marked by team spirit and camaraderie.

More than 1,000 runners travel the Cabot Trail, which offers some of the most challenging and spectacular terrain in North America.

The race takes place at the end of May in the shoulder tourist season and has done much to boost the economy of the small area, encouraging community groups to host fund-raising events at the time of the relay.

The race makes a contribution to the three hospitals along the race route, and in 1995 was instrumental in setting up bursaries for each of the four high schools on the Cabot Trail.

“It’s a great event — truly the high point of the running year for most of us,” said Maine-iacs member Brian Hubbell of Bar Harbor.

“You get to carpool nine hours to Cape Breton in cars completely crammed with gear, then race beyond your limits through some of the hilliest roadways in North America. Add to this, cheering yourself hoarse, surviving on re-hydrating beverages and Tim Horton’s coffee and oat-cakes, and not sleeping for 36 hours,” Hubbell said.

“And then the whole way back in the car the only thing anyone can talk about is how much they can’t wait to come back again next year. It’s an endeavor that’s just unfathomable to anyone who hasn’t participated in it.”

At Cabot, the Hancock County runners on the four Maine teams were:

Maine-iacs: Cake, Matt Hougan and Hubbell of Bar Harbor and Graves, now of Presque Isle.

Maine Road Hags: Horton of Trenton.

Rhino Redux: Sue Foster of Bar Harbor.

Maine Running Fossils: Lou Ingrisano and Judy Blake of Bar Harbor, Tom Kirby of Ellsworth and Robin Emery of Lamoine.


Introducing Team Baby's Breath -

CFSID's National Team in Bringing Hope and Life to Canadian Families

    TORONTO, May 16 /CNW/ - The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant
Deaths (CFSID) is pleased to announce Team Baby's Breath. This National team
will be participating in the Cabot Trail Relay Race May 24-25, 2008. This
unique fundraiser is very inspiring. "It's hard to imagine competing with
other not for profit agencies like the Cancer Society or Aids Canada, but we
do this each year. We may not be as big or have the manpower of these large
organizations but we have the same heart and hope that they do. Saving lives
is our goal", said Courtney Powell, CFSID Race Coordinator.
The Cabot Trail Relay Race is a 185 mile/298km, 17-leg relay race,
consisting of 60 teams of 17 runners each, this year being the first for CFSID
participation.
Team Baby's Breath consists of representatives from every province and
Territory. "Each runner is truly an ambassador to their home province, but
perhaps more importantly, each runner is dedicated to the work of the CFSID
and bringing awareness and life saving education to Canadian Families," stated
Irene Morgan, Chair of the CFSID Board of Directors and race participant.
Team Baby's Breath is a unique and varied team of individuals, including:
parents who have been directly affected by sudden and explained death such as
Melanie Peters representing the Yukon to Arthur Warman, an accomplished
marathon runner representing Alberta who runs on behalf of Children's
Charities.
Sara Deveau representing PEI is our team captain and an experienced Cabot
Trail runner who joins our team because she believes in the cause.
Representing Ontario, Anne Banfield, a seasoned Boston Marathoner, joins
the team because a friend experienced the death of a child. As a nurse, Anne
understands the importance of parent education.
Peter Ma is currently the Deputy Minister of Finance for the Government
of Nunavut. Peter is "deeply honored to be participating in the Relay Race." A
number of Cabinet members are pleased with his involvement and are very
supportive, including his own Minister, who also lost a child to SIDS.
To view all the runners' press releases, please visit our website
http://www.sidscanada.org/.

Founded in 1973, The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
responds to the needs of families experiencing a sudden, unexpected or
unexplained death of an infant or child.

The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
http://www.sidscanada.org/ delivers infant health and safety education through
an extensive network of volunteers in communities across Canada. CFSID
provides resources and services for all infant deaths including miscarriage
and stillbirth with respect to peer support, public education, awareness and
supports Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) related research.


Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Islanders on the Run - Last Weekend in Halifax - The Blue Nose Marathon


2 (Place)- SCOTT CLARK - 2:55:20.5(Time) - 2:55:16.7(Chip) - Men 40 - 49 - 2/67(Division Place)
38(Place) - FRANCIS FAGAN - 3:39:41.7(Time) - 3:37:25.2(Chip) - Men 50 - 59 - 6/25(Division Place)
40(Place) - NANCY MORRIS - 3:42:28.8(Time) - 3:41:41.6(Chip) - Women 40 - 3/29(Division Place)
45(Place) - BRYNLEY HORSFIELD - 3:44:40.0(Time) - 3:42:33.2(Chip) - Men 19&Under 2/4(Div Place)
47(Place) - DEVIN CLAYTON - 3:44:52.0(Time) - 3:42:45.1(Chip) - Open Men - 13/63(Division Place)
56(Place) - BEV WALSH - 3:48:11.5(Time) - 3:48:03.7(Chip) - Women 40 - 49 - 5/29(Division Place)
72(Place) - KENNY MACDOUGALL - 3:53:48.8(Time) - 3:51:31.8(Chip) - Open Men - 23/63(Division Place)
181(Place) - MEGAN DOYLE - 4:39:34.5(Time) - 4:37:33.0(Chip) - Open Women - 32/47(Division Place)
186(Place) - IAN BURGE - 4:41:14.9(Time) - 4:39:47.9(Chip) - Men 40 - 49 - 47/67(Division Place)
192(Place) - DEBBY HUGHES - 4:44:12.3(Time) - 4:42:35.5(Chip) - Women 40 - 49 - 22/29(Division Place)
228(Place) - SHERRY ROOTH - 5:02:33.2(Time) - 5:02:28.7(Chip) - Open Women - 42/47(Division Place)

262 Total Runners

Congratulations All!

Rural Raiders Run

It was cloudy and 8 degrees.

The new bib number belt from Elaine and Dianne from Boston. Thank you! I like it alot and now I don't need help pinning my bib on.

The 10km course on road and trail at UPEI and Sherwood and started and ended at Charlottetown Rural.

I finished in 41:57 and came in 10th out of 43 runners. It was second fastest time in 10km run along Wally Rood in 2004 of 40:58.

Kendall MacDonald won the race and Jen Nicholson for the top female. Mark and Kelly McCosham both won 5km race out of 32 runners.

Official Result: 10th out of 43
10K in 41 minutes, 57 seconds
2007 Rural Raiders Run
2006 Rural Raiders Run


This weekend I am member of Team PEI at Cabot Trail Relay in Nova Scotia and I at Leg 13 at 2:02 am.
"The Cabot Trail Relay Race is a 185 mile/298km,
17 stage relay race through some of the most
beautiful scenery in the world...
beginning in Baddeck, Cape Breton, over steep
mountains in the Cape Breton Highlands, through
many small communities around the famous Cabot
Trail, to the gently rolling Margaree Valley."
Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure

Thursday, May 15, 2008

World famous ultra-marathoner visiting Amherst Cove school


http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=135062&sc=118

World famous ultra-marathoner visiting Amherst Cove school
STAFF
The Journal Pioneer

Ray Zahab runs Newfoundland's East Coast Trail last August. The ultra-marathoner just launched
a new effort to help the children's aid-focused charity One x One Foundation. Photo courtesy of Kathy Adams

Canadian ultra-marathoner and ONE X ONE Athletic Ambassador Ray Zahab will speak to students at Amherst Cove Consolidated School at 9:00 am Friday.

Ray is completing one 80-kilometre segment a day for 13 days in each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories in this unique journey - all to raise awareness of the ONE X ONE Foundation, a charity committed to fighting poverty and preserving the lives of children in Canada and around the world.

Island Games group tries to save bid


http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=134867&sc=98

Island Games group tries to save bid
TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian


The Island Games Association has made another move to try to salvage its bid to host the NatWest International Island Games in 2013.
Members of the association have begun circulating a petition to local tourism operators, businesses and citizens it believes will benefit from having the games come to P.E.I.
“It would be an infusion of cash into the province,” said Island Games Association chair Alfred Groom.
“It’s a risk of $2 million, but it’s a potential return investment of $10 million if you do it right, and we have the right people to do it.”
Last week, the association announced it had withdrawn its bid to host the Island Games in 2013 after the provincial government told the volunteer board it would not continue to offer its support for the bid.
Communities and Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram said last week government pulled its support for the bid because the association would not meet the conditions set out by the province.
Those conditions were outlined in a memorandum of understanding.
Groom said the association did not want to sign the memorandum.
Government was trying to “take over” the bid committee, Groom said.
“They wanted all our people to step off the (bid) committee and put their own people in there.”
The province expressed concern over finances when funding for Island athletes attending the games in Greece last year got confused.
The original agreement had the province assuming half the cost of their trip and the federal government footing the other $75,000.
But at the last minute, funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) did not come through.
To ease the province’s concern over future mixups, a feasibility study was done on how much the games were going to cost taxpayers to host. Also, Groom said he invited Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan to sit on the bid committee.
“When the concern came up from the province about the finances, I said ‘Let’s solve that and put the minister of finance on the committee’,” Groom said. “I met with him on several occasions and talked to him on the phone a few times, and he agreed to do that.”
But when Opposition member Jim Bagnall asked about this in the legislature last Thursday night, Sheridan denied it.
“He met with Mr. Groom and he was asked by Mr. Groom if he would sit on the board, and he said yes, he would,” Bagnall charged.
“You’re wrong, as usual,” Sheridan replied after much debate on the issue.
Despite all this, the association is making a last-ditch effort to save the bid for the games to come to P.E.I. with its petition.
The topic will be also questioned by the Opposition, as it plans to discuss a motion it tabled this week urging government to honour its initial letter of support in late December for the Island Games.
The potential revenue for Islanders, the opportunities for Island athletes and the international attention P.E.I. would receive are driving proponents to try again to get support.
If the province reinstates its support, members of the Island Games Association bid committee can go to ACOA for funding for the bid itself.
The bid would cost between $200,000 and $300,000, Groom said.
“We can’t go to ACOA and ask them to financially support the bid if the province won’t host them when they come here.”
Groom plans to give the signed petitions to government Thursday at the legislature.
“If we don’t get the support back from the province within the next couple of days, it’s going to be too late,” he said.

P.E.I. bid for International Island Games pulled


Wednesday, May 14, 2008

PEI - Disabilities - Attitudes

Monday:
The 2008 Rotary Easter Seals Campaign concluded on a high note Monday in Charlottetown with a brief but moving address by 11-year-old Sonja Walker who used her last official appearance as an Easter Seals ambassador to share her vision of kindness.
Walker, a Grade 6 student at Prince Street School, told the wrap-up luncheon at the Delta Prince Edward that her dream of seeing acts of kindness by her fellow Islanders during this campaign had come true. She expressed the hope that her motto, a vision of kindness, would continue to inspire acts of kindness in others.
Now that it's over I hope my vision of kindness continues, not from donations, but from the hearts of Islanders towards those who just wish to hear a 'hello' or a kind word," Walker told an audience of Rotarians, family members, sponsors and special guests.
Walker, who has been blind from birth, thanked all those who had helped her get her message out since she was named Easter Seals Ambassador in January.

Tuesday:
SUMMERSIDE - We don't know which NHL team will take home the Stanley Cup yet, but we know Adam Bourque will.
The 28-year-old Summerside native found out Tuesday night he won CBC's "Bring Home the Stanley Cup" contest during the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.
Bourque's video was one of the final three across the country competing for public votes for the contest, which earns him a private party with the Stanley Cup, hockey great Mark Messier and 19 of his friends and family this Saturday.
Bourque lost the ability to speak at age 13 because of a neuromuscular disorder, but was able to translate his passion for hockey through the video.
He won Special Olympics gold in floor hockey in 2004, and watches every playoff game surrounded by his memorabilia at home, whooping for every goal.
He communicates through sign language and a speech program on his computer.

Wednesday:
Run The Dream is having an "event" in Charlottetown where Jonathan Howard can continue to spread his message that Autistics are a "burden" and ultimately should be prevented from existing.

Never did I hear that blind people were a burden or should be cured and/or prevented from existing. Nowhere in Adam's video or the media it generated was he called a burden, someone who should be cured, someone who should be prevented from existing. We have been celebrating these individuals and their lives & accomplishments.

What's so special about Autism Spectrum Disorders? To Mr. Howard, nothing really. We're just the "cause" he decided on to promote his own dream to run across Canada. He is fulfilling his dream at the expense of our dream - that we will be accepted and valued for who we are. Just as Sonja is, just as Adam is.
Mr. Howard,

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Women's Pace Running Clinics

"LEARN TO RUN 10K" & "MOTHER'S PACE"
Clinics start Wed. May 14th


LEARN TO RUN 10K

This clinic is for those truly new to running. This 13-week program takes participants from walking to running in a very graduated manner. Meeting once a week with Women’s Pace and doing two “homework” sessions, participants will complete three days a week of exercise to accomplish the 10 Km goal.

MOTHER'S PACE

This 13-week program takes participants from walking to running in a very graduated manner. For mother's who want to be active with their little ones...meeting once a week with Women’s Pace and doing two “homework” sessions, participants will complete three days a week of exercise to accomplish the 10 Km goal.

HALF MARATHON & MARATHON

Clinics Start June 12th

HALF MARATHON

This 18-week clinic is for those individuals who have a 10 km base and are looking to have company, support, and motivation on the long runs. Long run routes and support are provided, along with comprehensive information on long distant running...and of course how to have fun while accomplishing your goal! Local coffee shops provide the meeting place for this clinic...plus good coffee, treats, and a chance to socialize after the run!

MARATHON

This 18-week clinic is for those individuals who have a strong 10 km base or have completed a half marathon and are looking for company, support, and motivation on the long runs. Long run routes and support are provided, along with comprehensive information on long distant running...and of course how to have fun while accomplishing your goal! Local coffee shops provide the meeting place for this clinic...plus good coffee, treats, and a chance to socialize after the run!

Triathlon looking at future

Triathlon looking at future
2009 Canada Games participation rests in balance as team meets Thursday
The Guardian

After losing a coach for personal reasons and futile attempts to secure a replacement and manager for the 2009 Canada Games triathlon team, P.E.I. may not field a squad for the event.

A final meeting with athletes in training, parents and potential team officials to determine the fate of the program is Thursday in Room 212 at Sport P.E.I. The meeting will start at 7 p.m.

“Several individuals have indicated an interest in helping with the program, but to date no one has been able to commit to lead the program,” says Ted Lawlor, manager of the 2009 Canada Games Best Ever Program.

“Our high-performance committee is concerned precious time to prepare the athletes is running out.

“With the physical and technical demands of the sport, those athletes interested in trying out for the team need to have a training program in place, be monitored and participate at competitions prior to the 2009 Games.

“The Canada Games is not a recreational event. Our interest is not just showing up in 2009 and preparation of a team is key for all concerned.”

Lawlor expects to make a recommendation with final intentions to the high performance and provincial Canada Games committees following the meeting.

Anyone requiring more information about the meeting should contact Ted Lawlor at 368-4783, or twlawlor@gov.pe.ca.

2009 Canada Games PEI Triathlon Team Looking for 2 Team Officials

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Islanders on the Run - Last Weekend in Mississauga and Fredericton

Fredericton Marathon
Fredericton, New Brunswick

Fredericton Marathon (MARATHON) 

52(place) - Barry Richard - Summerside - M - 6/17(Division) - 3:51:25(Time)
74(place) - David Pineau - Summerside - M - 11/17(Division) - 4:07:33(Time)
79(place) - Pam Schurman - Summerside - F - 9/19(Division) - 4:09:36(Time)
81(place) - Cheryl Tanton - Summerside - F - 10/19(Division) - 4:17:55(Time)
107(place) - Kent Mill - Stanhope - M - 11/12(Division) - 4:52:15(Time)
112(place) - Allan Callard - Charlottetown - M - 7/7(Division) - 4:58:06(Time)
   124 total runners

Fredericton Marathon (HALF_Marathon)

145(place) - Chantal Basque Godi - Stratford - F - 22/90(Division) - 1:53:27(Time)
214(place) - Catherine Vaniderst - Stratford - F - 41/90(Division) - 2:02:47(Time)
238(place) - Jason Norris - Charlottetown - M - 49/55(Division) - 2:05:02(Time)
270(place) - Janet Pineau - Summerside - F - 11/32(Division) - 2:10:43(Time)
339(place) - Patty Richard - Summerside - F - 19/32(Division) - 2:24:45(Time)
345(place) - Linda Callard - Charlottetown - F - 1/3(Division) - 2:25:29(Time)

396 total runners
Fredericton Marathon (10K)

84(place) - Eileen Bain - York - 4/9(Division) - 55:51

193 runners

The Fredericton Half Marathon was won by Fredericton Marathon course record holder
Chris Brake in a time of 1:15:42. Chris is autistic (Asperger's Syndrome). He holds
the Marathon course record of 2:14:37 set in 2005. Congrats Chris!


Mississauga Marathon
Mississauga, Ontario

191(place) - PAUL DALTON - St. Edward - 3:29:27.8(Time) - Men 45 - 49 - 34/163(Division)
264(place) - JOHN VAN EKRIS - Charlottetown - 3:34:56.5(Time) - Men 40 - 44 - 38/135(Division)
574(place) - LORETTA VAN EKRIS - Charlottetown - 3:55:33.1(Time) - Women 40 - 44 29/135(Division)

1387 total runners

Congratulations All!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Laughter & Profanity - Run The Dream's Response to Our Concerns

On March 28th, 2008, I sent the following email:

To: jonathan.howard@runthedream.ca,
Subject: You run & reasons
Cc:bill.robertson@runthedream.ca,alex.bittner@runthedream.ca,alison.pickard@runthedream.ca,
becky.doyle@runthedream.ca,bryan.howard@runthedream.ca,carly.murdock@runthedream.ca,
kevin.cassan@runthedream.ca,kevin.fraser@runthedream.ca,lauren.canzius@runthedream.ca,
mike.mccarther@runthedream.ca,scott.rogers@runthedream.ca,warren.howard@runthedream.ca

Sir,

Words like these - "spared the burden of dealing with Autism", "ultimately preventing it or finding a cure." are incredibly offensive to autistics and parents such as myself.

My (autistic) son ran across Prince Edward Island in 2006 and runs almost every weekend in a roadrace FOR autism, not *against* it as you are doing. For all of our involvement in running and autism advocacy we will not be supporting you run and will be educating PE Islanders about why we find your attitude so offensive.

What, exactly, do you have against people like myself and my 2 sons that you want to prevent people like us from existing?

What, exactly, do you plan to do with any money you raise?

-jypsy (janet norman-bain)
The Autistic Celebration Run - http://irunman.blogspot.com
Runman's blog - http://therunman.blogspot.com


My email was met with silence. Except for the email from one service provider, bouncing back one of the addresses, I got no reply whatsoever. I noted this in the post I wrote on the World Autism Day, April 2nd.

On May 9th, I received an invitation, via the PEI Autism Society, from Mr. Mike McCarther, Production Manager - Run the Dream Atlantic, stating he'd be "ecstatic" if we'd join them Wednesday, May 14th in Charlottetown. Mr. McCarther also invited me to "feel free to contact me to RSVP, or with any questions or concerns that you may have."

We sent him the following email:

Mr. McCarther,

Please consider our concerns as expressed below and at http://therunman.blogspot.com/2008/04/running-for-autism-not-against-it-why.html

Thank You

-janet norman-bain & Alex Bain

("Below" was a plain text copy, minus the links, of what is at the link provided)


I got the following reply (slightly edited to preserve the integrity of this blog) from Mr. McCarther:

From: "Mike McCarther"

Haha oh sh*t...


That is the long awaited reply from Run The Dream to autistics expressing concern over Mr. Howard's message. Laughter and profanity.

We are not laughing.

In fact I'm quite offended and shocked speechless.

Clark's 5 Miler - A Personal Best

It was cloudy and bit of drizzle and 5 degrees.

The 5 mile loop course on road and trail and started and ended at Scott Clark's house.

Mike MacKinnon won the race and Roya McDonald from N.B. for top female.

Personal best time of 34:09 by 24 seconds better than Mount Edward Run last year. I came in 19th out of 65 runners.

More Photos (ours)
More Photos (Deborah's)



Official Result: 19th out of 65
5 Miles in 34 minutes, 09 seconds

Clark's 5 Miler 2007
Clark's 5 Miler 2006
Clark's 5 Miler 2005

Running For Autism
Not Against It
acceptance not cure