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for frequent updates on the Canadian and international running scene.No Cutting Corners
I am writing to correct a misunderstanding
by Madeleine Cummings in her article in the
September/October issue of your magazine.
We have just gone through the certification
process for our half/full marathon and 10k
courses.
First, it does not cost hundreds of dollars
to have a course certified. It cost $15 to have
the calibration course certified, then $
each for the marathon/half-marathon and
the 10k course. Total cost of $115 for the
certification, and perhaps another $30 for
the steel tape and other items to aid the
measurement. We already had a Jones/Oerth
counter but that could be an additional cost
for a club starting its own measuring.
Second, you do not need to hire anyone.
Anyone can measure a course. All you need
to know is on Athletics Canada’s website.
Certainly, if you want your course to be
measured to a standard acceptable for world
records and the like you need a top grade,
certified measurer, but for regular club events,
including marathon courses on which one
can meet Boston qualifying standards, all
you need is the manual downloaded from the
website, and a couple of met ic ulous people to
do the measuring. The main cost is in time –
our experience was that it takes an afternoon
to measure a course.
You do not have to mark each kilometre –
that’s optional.
There are two pages of paperwork – one for
the bike calibration and one for the course
calibration. The forms can be filled in online
and will even do the math for you.
Finally, the guys at Athletics Canada are
very helpful, although they are not going to
let you cut corners.
I hope this information encourages other
clubs to certify their courses.Mervyn Dean
Corner Brook, N.L.rescued
runners,
running
RescueswithAlex Flint’s running journey started as a quest to quit smoking and get healthier. What startedout pate in a few local 5 and (^10) into a desire to run a as a quest to partici-k races soon turned
marathon and then an ultra. Now, the Torontonian himself an ultrarunner.six years lacan call ter,
partner tthough he Flint’s best training hroughout (even maxes out at
APOLLO AND
ALEX + ANNA
(^20) who was adopted by Flint’s gikfrom a shelter in Arizona ) has been Apollo, rlfriend, Anna,
that rescues stray dogs from reservations. Anna, also a runner, wainjured at the time she s
adopted Apollo.and, well, everyone is “Anna and I met online trying to project their
best self on thclaiming Flint chthere weruckles. “e a lot of people to be runners,”ese sites, so But when
we met, we were both actuallyrun together quite a bit, the two of us and Apollo real runners. We
and when we do, all three of usrite things – spending time together.” are doing our favou-running and
when the two tied the knot, Apollo donned a bow It is only fitting tie and appeared in that
their photos with them.
APOLLO’S BREE”Oh man, imuch impossible to telI’d say maybe some t’s pretty D^ l.
German shmaybe some chowepherd and .“
Dog Lovers
Your dog stories (Sept ./Oct. 2016) were heartwarming and really reso-
nated with me.
I ran with Tilley, our Brittany spaniel, for 1 4 years. Being a field dog, she
was tireless, training with me for half and full marathons. Like the editor’s
dog Charlie, she would lure me into fields where she ran on top of the snow
while I waded through waist-high drifts. I never learned.
Wayne Buck
New Hamburg, Ont.
Thank you for the wonderful feature on runners and their rescued canine
companions. Running with my Mexican rescue has become one of my
favourite things.
Before I had my second child I was a distance runner and had completed
a few triathlons. Running became a side interest as life took over, entering
the odd event and charity run. In the fall of 201 4 we adopted a young
dog from Mexico through an organization in Vancouver. And he liked to
go fast! I ran to get him out and give him exercise, then I decided to start
running for myself again.
In the past year I’ve completed four half-marathons and a 15k, training
with my favourite four-legged friend. I’ve also brought my girls into the
fun, they’re now five and seven, and we’re all signed up for the Color Run
5 k later this month. It’d be great to see an article on running with your
kids, too!
Jessica McIlroy
North Vancouver, B.C.
Miler and Mentor
What a pleasure to read about Dave Bailey being feted in London as the first
Canadian to break the four-minute mile [‘Running News,’ Sept./Oct., 2016].
Bailey had another talent not mentioned in the Paul Gains piece, that of
running coach. When at the University of Saskatchewan in the early 1980s he
took to coaching a group of young middle-distance runners. I was lucky to be
one of them.
As we were unaffiliated with any club, Bailey gave freely of his time and
expertise, even joining us on our warm-up runs. His exceptional training
methods led to my lowering my 800m time by five seconds. One of us, Louis
Christ, would eventually run for Canada.
In his home my coach had a photo of a race featuring a trio of milers
rounding a bend together. The three were Kipchoge Keino, Jim Ryun and Dave
Bailey. What inspiration for a young runner!
Byron Jenkins
Saskatoon
Learn more about
course measurement at
acroad.ca/Directors/
CourseMeasurement
runningmagazine.ca Canadian Running 11