than time in the water. Six hours and ten min- utes and first place in my age group, I accom- plished what I had set out to do. Age would not hold me back. Although I now believed strongly in myself, how far could this take me became the question. National Champion- ships in Calgary and qualify- ing for the World Duathlon Championships was next up on the agenda. My coach had faith in me and
without her guidance, it would not have happened. Alpharetta, Georgia, USA and the Canadian Team were resplendent in red, white and black. I was proud to wear the Canadian uniform and as I stood amongst the best athletes of all ages in the world in this event, I reflected upon my original purpose that be- ing to prove that anyone can do anything at any age. It was very evident here. After a year off to rejuvenate
the mind and body, a greater challenge lay on the horizon. My 60th birthday had recently passed and now Ray Zahab, Can- ada’s premier ultra endurance athlete, was my coach. Ultra endurance racing had become my passion with a view to a 100- mile ultra marathon. Slightly less than four marathons in approxi- mately one day, non-stop, in the
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mountains, rain or shine. Friends questioned my sanity inferring that my “old age” had resulted in a brain cramp thus numbing my ability to make rational decisions. Training commenced and continued throughout the win- ter. Bitter cold, high winds and back-to-back runs of four and five hours outside regardless of the weather became the norm. Five months later, in Sacramento, California the Finish Line at the American River 50 Mile Endur- ance Run was breached. Three months later it was the Finish Line at the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run. Twenty-seven
hours and 15000 ft. of climbing in the Green Mountains, no one ever said ultra running was easy. My faith in my cause and me remained undaunted. At soon to be 65, the training continues and the races get no easier. However, the objective re- mains the same. As I travel from race to race all over North Amer- ica, I am constantly reminded by athletes much younger, of how important it is to have role mod- els in what we do. There is no end to what we think we can do. We just have to go out and do it! Remember that 65 yr. old Swede? I will kick his butt!
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