"My health is a gift that determines the quality of the rest of my life. If I want the most, it is my responsibility to keep my body fit."
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“I needed to showcase my elite running to the people of the Arctic to teach the youth what it’s like for me to run. Maybe spark some kids to do running, running marathons. Or maybe I can inspire a youth with addiction to come to his breakthrough moment" "I am a survivor of multiple incidents of abuse. As a small child both home and school were dangerous places for me. Edmonton's river valley became a place of sanctuary, peacefulness and safety for me. I walked the trails as a kid and young adult. Then (insult to injury) I was shot in the back of the head while walking in the river valley one autumn afternoon-a random incident of stranger violence. Back in the "olden days" there was no knowledge of PTSD [post-tramatic stress disorder] and its longterm effects-dissociation from one's own self, severe anxiety, insomnia and social isolation are just a few and so I lived for a long time in a kind of void. About a year after being shot I realized I had not been outside other than walking to my car. I began slowly--by jogging around and around the schoolyard in front of my house. I had never run before--I wasn't an athlete by any means. But, I just had to move. Then, I got a dog and, with a bit of company, I began to run the river valley trails I missed and loved. I just couldn't have them taken away from me. Over the years I ran longer and longer distances gradually reclaiming the entire valley as a place of peace for myself. And, when my son became old enough, he became my willing jogging companion. Moving was a lifesaver, and I mean this most sincerely--those of us who live with PTSD know it's darker side, the compulsion towards isolation, self-harming and suicide. I would run, when I felt those urges. I now realize that this was an instinctual coping strategy that kept me connected to my physical body--present and helped me feel safe in the world, something that is challenging for me. I have also, in my adult years, taken up yoga, and sought the help of a personal trainer (as well a a good therapist). Feeling strong in my body helps me to be present--to not dissociate when my out of whack stress response is triggered. It helps me to feel safe, and it helps me to deal positively with a challenging condition--to make some darn good lemonade. “I tried it [yoga], and it completely changed my life. And, first of all it made me so much stronger. Like I could never lift my arms above my head, now I can. I can stand now. Not for as long as I want to, but I’m sure that’ll happen. And I just always wonder if I could have done that from when I was five years old, what would the difference be? Because when you watch me doing standup a decade ago and now, it’s night and day. It’s a completely different body, different coordination, much less shaking, much less pain. And so I really advocate parents with young children with cerebral palsy, start doing yoga at six months because you can.” "What I want to say to others is: run for sport, run for health, run for a cause, run for fun, run alone, or run in a crowd. Running is personal and can be shared at the same time. When we run, it doesn't matter how much money we have in the bank or what car we drive. When we run, our age, gender, race and sexual orientation do not matter. When we run, we are all the same." "...it's not just losing the weight either but it's the staying healthy..." "It [running] gave me hope and it helped me gain faith in myself and others." "I move to improve my mental wellness and to keep me young at heart - both in body and mind! Recent studies are showing the positive impact that movement of any kind can have on our learning, mood and overall outlook on life! Not to mention our physical fitness, endurance and balance as we age!" |
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