Marathon of Love

This a little late in posting, but as it was VD day yesterday it has some relevance.

Here’s the press release:

VALENTINE’S DAY ENCORE PRESENTATION OF MARATHON LOVE CHRONICLES A COUPLE’S MIRACULOUS JOURNEY FROM A PARALYZING ACCIDENT TO THE BOSTON MARATHON

– Hour-Long Special Following the Tragedy-to-Triumph Fairy Tale of Jamie and Lynn Parks, Airs Saturday, February 14, at 8 PM (ET/PT) on Discovery Health –

(Los Angeles, CA.)-Just before her wedding day in 1987, Lynn Parks’ dream of walking down the aisle was shattered when a devastating car accident left her comatose and clinging to life. Miraculously, she awoke seven months later to find that her fiancé, Jamie, had never left her side. However, her struggle was not nearly over, as she had suffered a brain stem injury rendering her unable to ever stand or walk on her own again.

Fast-forward to 2008-this amazing husband-and-wife team has now run more than 12,000 miles and completed several marathons-and are the proud parents of an 8-year-old daughter. On Saturday, February 14, at 8 PM (ET/PT), Discovery Health presents a Valentine’s Day presentation of MARATHON LOVE, an engrossing hour-long special that weaves together professional footage with Jamie’s personal home videos to tell a tale of true love, perseverance and the power of the human spirit.

Even during the darkest days after the accident, Jamie’s faith never wavered-and after seven years of grueling physical and speech therapy, he and Lynn finally walked down the aisle on their wedding day. An avid runner, Jamie began to push Lynn in her wheelchair as he ran the one-mile loop through their Chicago neighborhood. Soon after, the couple began entering races, eventually qualifying for the ultracompetitive 2008 Boston Marathon.

While the Boston Marathon was a lifelong dream for Jamie and Lynn, they will tell you that it doesn’t compare with another miracle that occurred eight years ago. Doctors had told Lynn that because of her injuries, she would not be able to have children-but in 2000, Lynn gave birth to a healthy and happy girl, Annalyn. As a baby, Annalyn sat on her mother’s lap as Jamie pushed them in more than 50 races. Now 8 years old, Annalyn shares her parents’ passion and often accompanies them on their daily runs.

MARATHON LOVE is an inspiring account of a family coming together that serves as a moving reminder of the power of love and the strength of the human spirit.

Barrie Tri Club

Hello fellow Barrie Runners,
The Kempenfelt Tri Club of Barrie now has its NEW website up & running. Please take a look at www.kempenfelttriclub.com
Barrie's Official Tri Club is looking to grow. Whether you are an Athlete or just looking to join for the social aspect, all are welcome. You can become an honary member. If you have any questions I'd love to hear from you. My email address is ijamie63@rogers.com

Ghost Town Race Report

Ghost Town 38.5 miles (63km) Hillsboro, New Mexico Jan.18/09.
By Jamie Nielsen

First & foremost, I have never met a better organized & more communicative race organizer than Susan Reynolds. For this Canadian from Barrie, Ontario it was a marvelous experience that will remain with me for a life time. Hillsboro a former Mining Town with fascinating history & stories is located in the southwest part of New Mexico, 3 hours south of Albuquerque. The sunny balmy weather of 70 degrees F. was like Puerto Plata to this “Hockey Puck” who on the Wednesday prior had experience -29 degrees Celsius temperatures in Barrie. I met a few racers from Iowa, blaming their unseasonable cold weather on Canada too. The course was “Deceivingly Challenging”. All but 12 miles was off road, stone, crush boulders, dirt trails, none of which was flat. You were either climbing or descending between the start of 5,000 feet elevation to a high of 7,000 feet. Anyone outside the Utah, Colorado & New Mexico State area was referred to as “Low Lander”. Apparently I am a Low Lander. The elevation of my city in Barrie, On. is about 750 feet. Some for whatever reason, don’t feel the elevation effects like my running buddy Keith Lascelles who finished in 19th spot with a time of 6 hrs 54 minutes. This time includes the extra 3 km (15 minutes) we ran as we took a slight unscheduled detour. Holy Crumba, we’re going the wrong friggin way! Later of course we laughed as Keith won the Martin Luther King Award for his noble 19th spot.
How ironic two Canadians in a field of 71 Americans and Keith wins the MLK award. The altitude did effect me to some degree & I finished 23rd with a time of 7 hrs & 21 mins, Elevation to me is Blue Mountain in Collingwood, On. 3,600 feet, whereby my work associates from Calgary point & hysterically laugh, “Mountains ? My backyard has berms bigger than that”.
Keith & I met many familiar names in the Ultra Running world like Paul Grimm, Tim Long from Colorado, Abilgail Meadows from Texas, Marty Duchow from Connecticut, Ed Heller from New Mexico (last years winner) and Bobby Biles & Rona Van Willigen from Albuquerque, NM.
You know the terrain is tricky when the local Sherrifs & Park Rangers will only tackle it by horseback. At one point I felt like I was on “Mantracker”. The race is run in January for a good reason the snakes are dormant. Dormant snakes I don’t mind. We were forewarned their maybe families of wild pigs complete with tusks ( not so dormant ). In New Mexico, I did notice that almost all the City signs don’t post their population but their elevation. I have a new appreciation of altitude. The Ghost Town has grown significantly in its 4 year history. This years event attracted many elite racers which is a main reason you will see the GT 38.5 become a race of choice for the future.

Midsummer Night Run

This from James Rooney:

As I was part of the Midsummer Night Team for Disney the group is willing to extend the early bird sign up for the Midsummer Night Run 15 and 30 Km starting at 6:00 pm on August the 22nd to June 1.

To avoid processing fees, all entries downloasd from website will go through me.

We will enter as the Barrie Roadrunners (Thought-a special shirt in conjuction with a Midsummer Night) I am trying to get last years shirt as part of the signing process.

We will be running a bus to and from - great party afterwards so no need to drive.

This 15 Km and 30 Km and compliments any half / full for the fall .

Sign up sheet to follow.

Link: http://www.amidsummernightsrun.ca/index.htm

Ghost Town Results

The results for Ghost Town are posted at: Ghost Town

And for another race report See Keith's Blog

PF Chang Rock N Roll Marathon

Here are the results for all those lucky people running in Pheonix this past Sunday:
(Let me know if I missed anyone)
Congratulations to everyone:

Ghost Town Results

A full race report will be forth coming from Jamie, but for now the results were:
Keith Lascelles 19th, 6:54. Winner of the Martin Luther King Award (given to the runner who finishes in the position corresponding to the date of the holiday (the 19th).
Jamie Nielsen 23rd, 7:21.
Not bad for a couple of individuals who took a wrong turn and ran a couple of extra k up a mountain.

More to come.

Here are some links to a race reports from other competitors:

Tim Long (The winner)

Andy Jones-Wilkins (2nd Place)

Greg Murray