All Abilities Welcome

Happy New Year

2012-01-05T08:21:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody… here’s hoping that you had a fabulous Christmas and wishing you the very best in 2012. Its crazy to think that 2012 is here. Time has a way of slipping by and the inevitability of that really dawned on me this holiday in particular.

We are in our final months of All Abilities Welcome... crazy to think that, after nearly four years. Our HRSDC funding is coming to an end as of March 31. Of course, there are the inevitable questionmarks here as we look ahead. Looking at the here and now, its very obvious that access to physical activity is still so very limited for many people who have a disability. I find myself wondering on some days, has our program really made any difference? Then there are other days when we receive positive feedback on workshops, or the few instances where a person with a disability has taken up physical activity as a result of an AAW session, or even watching some of our speakers embrace physical activity themselves and evolve as confident, empowered advocates - these are the times when you begin to feel that maybe some of this is actually having a positive impact, when you realize that it really is worth it. Over our remaining months we will be developing an e-book containing stories of people with a disability for whom physical activity has made a transformative difference. In addition we are aiming to do as much outreach as we can over the winter through delivering AAW workshops across the country, as a way to generate momentum around the idea that an active lifestyle is something which really can and should be available to everyone.

A little update about running: 2011 felt very much like a transitional year for me with some highs and lows. I think the high point came early on when Greg and I captured the T11 800m at the IPC Athletics World Championships in late January, in a tactical race where we came from behind. Its fair to say Greg and I felt like underdogs going into that race, so it was incredibly exhilarating and emotionally fulfilling for us to win in the way we did. A low point was dealing with an achilles injury which kept me out of training and racing for about four months. Another low point was coming to the end of the road, so to speak with my guide, Greg, over the summer. We had a terrific partnership which lasted thirteen years, longer than most teams. With Greg living in Toronto and me in Ottawa, it had become very difficult to find guides here to train with on a week-in, week-out basis and as a result, I really wasn't able to train optimally. The new coach I started working with last year felt that it was important to have a consistent person to work with and I came to that realization too. This past summer I had an opportunity to begin training with a runner named Josh Karanja, who had returned home to Ottawa after completing a track scholarship at Eastern Michigan University. Doing so has of course brought a crucial element of consistency to my training, but it meant the end of an amazing running partnership which I feel very fortunate to have shared in.

Of course the upcoming year in particular is a big one for any athlete with Paralympic aspirations. I’m excited for all the possibilities which lie ahead, both on and off the track. And I'm hopefully optimistic that it may be possible to sustain the energy of AAW, even as a concept if not as a program. Thanks to everyone who has visited the AAW blog over the past year, and to those who have contributed so many great stories, thoughts and reflections.

Moving with My Memory: Using the Gym without being Able to See

2011-12-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

With each step,

I move forward

Moving with my memory.

In the last year and a half I have participated in more organized physical recreational activities than I did in the entire first 23 years of my life combined. Being involved in organized recreation was always something that was on the back burner for me. Academics, friends and gaining independence always seemed to be the main focus throughout school and university. As a child the focus was always on helping me to learn braille in a school and home where no one new braille other than my travelling itinerant teacher. Keeping up with academics and life in general was the top priority; organized physical activities weren’t generally included in my “plan” for success.

I did just enough physical activity through the years to keep myself at a healthy weight. Going to the gym through university I worked as hard as I needed to to make myself feel that it was worth my time-rarely breaking a sweat at all! I memorized where each piece of equipment I wanted to use was at; I put stick on raised dots on the buttons I needed to use on the machines and used as few buttons as possible to allow me to use the basic functions. Before getting on any machine I would listen to see if I could hear if anyone was using the machine that I wanted to use. My biggest fear was trying to get on an elliptical that someone else was on-how embarrassing could that be! Here other girls refused to go to the gym because they were worried about being watched by the other gym watchers at the gym or because they could not possibly be seen without a friend keeping them company. All the while I was walking around with a white cane by myself and stopping at the machines to listen if they were being used out of fear that I might accidently touch someone inappropriately or collide with them! When you live my life you have to be less concerned about petty worries and insecurities that consume some girls and women and more focussed on how you’re going to live your life the way you want to live it. One of the ways I’ve done this is by finding the strength to accept myself and be accepted by others for who I am. It’s not that I don’t care what other people think of me-because I do-but I’ve needed to accept that some people are going to ignorantly mistaken me for being incapable or will be unsure of me because I see differently than them. Other people will become amazed at what I can do and how I live and the amazement of others has been comical at times as well as flattering and encouraging.

After leaving Fredericton to move to Halifax I decided that I was going to join a new gym. I was a bit nervous about joining somewhere new because I knew that it would mean having to get used to new lay outs, new people and a new location. After I learned with my orientation and mobility instructor how to get to a gym where I lived in Dartmouth, I made an appointment to get a tour and signed up for a membership. When I met with the personal trainer and the sales person for my health assessment for the first time, I became discouraged when the sales person repeatedly attempted to have me agree to a training package that would provide me with a personal trainer three times a week at $40.00 an hour. I told the salesman that I was a student and that his yearlong plan for me equaled more than my tuition! He didn’t give up with pushing this plan on me and insisted that he wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to come to the gym by myself. I told him I had gone to the gym by myself at university but he didn’t seem to hear me. I got the impression that he didn’t know how I could use the gym because I could not see. I left the gym that day frustrated and on the verge of tears. All I could think about at that moment of time was if I had someone to go to the gym with me than I would be fine. In Fredericton my former boyfriend had begun to workout with me at the gym and was a support at showing me new things when I needed him to. I missed him so much then and questioned whether or not I could do it without him. I had to remind myself that I had learned how to use a gym by myself before and that I could do it again-but one thing was for sure I would never go back to that gym where that salesman was ever again.

With the help of an old friend I found a new gym to join and this is the gym where I have been going for the last year. The staff has been great. They have put raised dots on the buttons on the machines that I use so that I have a tactile indication of where the buttons I need are such as start and stop, faster and slower, incline and decline. When I used the gym in the past I didn’t tend to work myself very hard and because I can’t see the speed or distance I am moving at, I never had any idea of what I was accomplishing. Not knowing this information was one of the main reasons I never set goals for myself. Since organized sport has become a part of my life in the last year and a half the ways in which I want to make use of the gym have changed. I became curious about how far I was running and how fast. When I used the rowing machines I was curious about what my stroke rate was and how many meters I was rowing. I decided that there was no way for me to learn this information on my own and that the only way I could find out is by asking someone at the gym. This meant that I started asking the staff questions. I learned how to put my treadmill on pause and would run over to ask someone to come see my distance and time. Sometimes they would not get back to my treadmill fast enough and the pause time would run out erasing all of my stats for my work out that day. This was disappointing but at least some of the time I knew what I was running and could try and work towards improving.

Another barrier that I faced was that when I pressed the increase in speed button on the treadmill I never knew what I was setting the speed level at. I tried counting in my head as I pressed the button up and up but I soon discovered that the treadmill was never set at the speed that I wanted. For example, I would press the increase button until I thought it was at level six only to realize after my work out that it was 5.4, or 5.8 instead of 6. I decided that for now a better strategy would be to ask someone from the gym to come watch me when I was increasing the speed and to tell me when to stop when I got at six. Then, if I ran for 20 minutes without changing the speed, I would run 2 miles. So far this strategy has been working for me. Some limitations I have just learned to accept. In the women’s section of my gym there is a circuit of electronic weight machines and a button to increase and decrease the weight. When I do use these machines I test them out to feel if they are two heavy or light for me and then I increase or decrease as appropriate. Since I can’t see the weight I am using I never know what I am choosing as my ideal weight. I solely make my decision on my own feeling of what is good for me and I think my strategy is better than doing nothing at all. However, if you were to ask me how much weight I can lift, I would tell you that I have absolutely no idea!

In the time that I’ve joined my current gym I have maximized my ability to use the gym by requesting help from others, using my memory more and using my problem solving skills. I think I’ve also been able to teach the people where I work out that a person who can’t see can be fit, can row and run, skip with a skipping rope, bike, and do yoga and lift weights. A lot of the staff knows who I am and have learned to address me by my name so that I know they are talking to me. They have discovered that small changes in the environment of the gym can mean that I get confused because of the change and not because I am losing my mind. For example, the pop machines were moved recently and I used them as a land mark to find the yoga room and the staff immediately recognized that I could no longer immediately find the room anymore because the machines weren’t there as my land mark. I am so happy to be comfortable at a gym again and I know that with the right attitude, environment and people around me I can make use of any gym facility.

Freedom to Move: The Beginning Part Two

2011-12-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

With each step,

I fight to run,

Listen,

And Focus.

As I became more interested in running, I started to do what most modern day people do; I began googling to find information about running. My searches involved “visually impaired runners”, “guide running” and “feeling sick while running”. I found a webpage that was highlighting a very unique sort of run for the visually impaired and blind. It was the Boston 5 K vision run which was an event exclusively for the visually impaired and blind population, along with their supporters. It represented everything about a run that seemed welcoming and rewarding for me. It allowed people to run or walk, and offered a blind fold challenge for people who could see. Reading about this race was exciting and I loved the idea of having others experience what it is like to run blind folded. Surely, running blind folded for 5 k would not give one the experience of what it’s like to be a blind runner, but it would however, give them a small glimpse. More importantly, it would help them to recognize that people who are blind can run (even if it’s hard).

During my Google searches, I read many things about the benefits of running and “why running is the best”. Some of these sites praised the sport of running for being inexpensive and convenient. This is because running is an activity that can be done right outside your home simply by leaving your door step. For me, running brings on a much different outlook; convenience is definitely not one of the words that I would use when explaining my experience of running. Being nearly blind for most of my life, I did not grow up running around like other children. I was hesitant to participate in gym; mainly for my own fear of getting hurt or running into someone. If you took one sighted child and put them in a blind fold and then put them in a gym class with their non-blind folded classmates, imagine what that could be like! I’m telling you this not because I want you to feel sorry for me, but because I want you to understand how difficult it was for me to feel free to move.

Since I’ve attended the running clinic back at the Canada Games Center, I’ve been reminded time and time again by runners on the streets, runners at the park, and on the track, that it is not convenient for me to run. One of the main reasons for the inconvenience of running for me is that I cannot run alone. Having to be dependent on a guide runner has been another aspect of running that has brought on a host of thoughts like, “I’m taking up someone’s time” and “I can’t run fast enough for them”. Although I think these thoughts are natural for me to have; I also realize that they get me nowhere closer to what I want. It is persistence, determination, hard work, fun and friends that will allow me to participate in sport. I need to tell myself that running with a guide doesn’t make me less of a person; it means that I need a team to run. Running is not an individual sport for me, it is a team sport. By working together we will achieve one of the best feelings in the world-freedom to move.

Freedom To Move: The Beginning

2011-12-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

With each step

I seek permission to be free,

Breath,

Survive.

When I ran for the first time at the Canada Games Center in Halifax, I had no idea what to expect. I put my brave face on and called a cab that morning and headed for the games center by myself. This move was prompted by an email I received from Blind Sports Nova Scotia days before advertising a running clinic for Para-athletes interested in running. I was motivated to run. I had always missed sports growing up and never felt comfortable enough to participate in them myself. Thinking back, I sometimes have regrets about not taking advantage of opportunities that were presented to me. My anxiety and discomfort prevented me from being able to advocate for myself. I could not push myself to be welcomed and accepted in to sport. Not to mention the fact that my severe visual impairment basically excluded me from participating in the majority of organized physical activities and sports. Now though, was the time for change. I had the motivation, the skills and the courage to take a first step towards accomplishing my goal to be involved in sport and to push myself to do things I never thought I could do. I’m not sure where the courage or motivation came from, but I think some of it came from the new independence and strength that I had gained in the previous few months since moving to Halifax.

On this particular day I was one week away from completing the defense of my master’s thesis which represented the completion of my degree. However, I felt that my academic accomplishments alone could not come close to fulfilling my life. Each of my accomplishments has come with many struggles and it is the emotional strength that I gained through my challenges that brought me to the center that day. As I got out of the cab I had my cab driver show me to the door. I stood in the lobby at the front desk where I was greeted by a young woman working the desk. I told her I was there for the Para-athletics clinic at the track. She proceeded to point to where I should go to find the track. I reminded her that I could not see and assertively asked her to show me where to go to get to the track. I sensed a bit of discomfort from her (probably for not knowing how to interact or guide me). Surely she had never seen a blind female athlete travelling on her own who expected her to show her where to go! I ignored the insecurities that filled my head and walked with her to the track. When I arrived, I sensed that I was in a big open place and I recognised that there were other individuals who were in a wheelchair around me. In the core of my body I felt comfortably uncomfortable with the uncertainty of what to expect at the competition. Luckily, the coach arrived and his friendly and welcoming voice and mannerisms helped me to feel that my presence had a purpose. I was happy to sit at a bench while I waited for the clinic to begin; sitting often helps me to feel more at ease. The coach had everyone introduce themselves and I soon realized that I was the only visually impaired athlete present and that most of the athletes were in a wheelchair. I could hear the wheelchairs zooming around the track as I listened and waited. When I introduced myself, I mentioned that I had never run before, that I was new and that I would probably be a lot slower than anyone who was there (part of me wondered if this clinic was the right place for me or not). When I began to run with the coach I told him why I wanted to run. Running was an interest of mine but something I never-ever did on my own because for me, as a blind person, running was dangerous and nearly impossible. Running was foreign. I told the coach that I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be at the clinic because it was the first time I had ever been invited to such an event. In high school, I never even considered joining the high school track team; it had never even occurred to me that it could be a possibility.

The coach introduced me to Rich, who would be my first guide runner/coach ever. In one sense, I think it was probably a good thing that I could not see just how good some of the wheelchair athletes were, or how fast one of the amputee runners was. It allowed me to focus on myself and my goal of becoming fit and learning to run. I soon learned that naturally incorporating the correct mechanics of running into my exercise would be a journey of its own for me. I have never seen a track runner’s form so to try and understand it in my head and then apply the techniques to my own body is perhaps just as hard as running itself. Rich and I practiced walking in slow motion, moving the left arm out as the right foot goes out. Doing this was difficult and I felt a bit silly completing this activity. Thinking back, Rich had likely never worked with anyone who could not implement such basic running techniques. For many people moving your arms while running is natural, but for me, nothing about running was natural. For me, running represented fear that could be so paralysing that it would stop my arms from moving at all. What running also represented was the ability to move from fear to freedom-a feeling I long to work towards in my running endeavours. I think that if I can learn to run, accept my fear and alleviate my anxiety, I can experience freedom to move.

Audio description of sports.

2011-08-14T06:06:00.001-07:00

There are some sports that I enjoy watching. Sports that are well described like track events and swimming. There are sports that are boring or difficult to watch. Visual sports like tennis. I thought about how congenitally blind people can often be not very physically active. They are not necessarily encouraged to try sports. but also, they don't know what those sports involve. They can't see a down hill skier and how fast they move. They don't know what a shot put is like or how someone flies over a high jump. They don't know what a speed skating oval looks like. The best way to get blind kids active is to introduce them to all kinds of activities and get them participating. Also, make sure those around them (families, teachers, and others) know that activities can be done. But, also audio describing sporting events such as the olympics will provide enjoyment for those of us who love to watch sports. All of us. Those who have been blind since birth or acquired blindness at an older age. So many athletes say they were inspired by watching the sports on tv. Here's hoping that watching olympics and other sporting events becomes even more accessible in the future.

First Time Tri brings Success for Shelley Ann

2011-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

One of our own All Abilities Welcome speakers, Shelley Ann, competed in the Peterborough triathalon held on Sunday July 10. Below is her inspiring race report.

________________

Thanks, Team!

One short year ago, I wrote a goal on a piece of paper. “In 2011, I will do my first Sprint Distance Triathlon.” On Sunday, July 10, this dream was realized.

The first step to reaching that goal was to be invited to join the Won With One triathlon team. This group is made up of some amazing people. Our manager Jan Ditchfield works tirelessly to make sure that we can participate in triathlons all over North America—not an easy feat as there are numerous logistical details, creating athlete-guide pairs and having to constantly search for funding sources and sponsorships. Jan is a true miracle worker. Our coach, Cathy Rober provides us with all kinds of practical ideas both on a team and an individual level. A team of dedicated guides are the bridge that takes us from sitting on the sidelines to full participation. There are presently thirteen athletes scattered all over Canada, each with an impressive story to tell. Some were born with their visual impairment while for others this was acquired. Some triathletes are in the elite category while others, like me, are in the developmental stream.

As a ‘newbie’ I learned from many experienced triathletes—everyone was quick to share their advice—everything from the best way to get into a wetsuit to techniques for running and swimming with a tether. You will never see a more positive, uplifting bunch than this crew—pity has no place on our team.

The morning of our race dawned sunny and warm. I was fortunate as I had my Dad and sister Colleen staying with me. Both have run marathons and know what it takes physically and mentally to compete. I was raised to believe that lack of sight did not equal lack of physical ability.

I fuelled up on a little fruit, egg sandwiches, an electrolyte drink, a small but necessary amount of caffeine and yes, water. During a quiet moment I listened to a couple of songs on my iPod. Natalie Merchant’s “Wonder” and That 1 Guy’s “Stone’s Throw” gave me the musical inspiration I needed. I was feeling pretty good—I’d hydrated slowly the day before. I took Cathy’s advice and ate a dinner of fish, rice and veggies and then slept well . The night before that, I’d foregone a chance to go to the Ottawa Bluesfest. You have to make sacrifices.

On race day, the hotel lobby looked like a bike shop. Athletes, guides and others raced around, dealing with last-minute bike problems. I caught up to my guide, Robyn Hardage—a phenomenal athlete who has as part of an impressive resume completed a Boston marathon and is no well on her way to an Ironman in Lake Placid . We were in high spirits as athletes and guides all kidded each other about the upcoming events. Some of us would participate in the sprint distance while others were gunning for the half-iron.

We walked to Beavermede park pretty much en masse; guides and athletes with big tandem bikes in tow. My friend George Hajecek was guiding for the first time. His athlete, Terry Gardner was an experienced pro. We didn’t know it at the time, but they would come in first in our category. Robyn and I had done the Try-a-tri together so I was feeling very confident. Another athlete from BC, Chris Zonruiter was as new as I was. When we got to the park, music pumped out of the PA system along with constant announcements about Won With One.

For some strange reason, the transition area does something to my ability to organize myself. I can’t seem to think strategically and need some help putting my gear in order and knowing what I have to do in any kind of a sequence—I attribute it to nerves as transition is a big part of this sport. It will come. I’m just glad that my guide is there to help me to get my act together.

It was time to tug on the wetsuits—still an ordeal for me. Thankfully Robyn was able to help me. I look like I’m doing the hokey-pokey and of course this resulted in hoots of laughter from my teammates. Before I knew it, a horn blared and it was time to get into Lake Beavermede. As we started our 750-metre swim, I was so overjoyed to see my fellow teammates out there with me! We were part of the para wave and so were able to start five minutes sooner. The tethered swim wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Robyn was able to keep me on course both physically and mentally—ever try swimming with someone who is both visually-impaired and has ADD? I was scared of being kicked or pushed—the only thing that happened was that someone grabbed my leg in one of the turns, using me like a pole to help him/herself to negotiate that turn.

The swim complete, we scampered out of the water like seals and ran to the transition area, trying to pull off the constrictive wetsuits along the way. Lucky for me, Robyn was able to help me get out of mine—it was like getting a kid out of a snowsuit!

Helmets, jerseys, shorts and glasses on, we mounted our trusty steeds and were headed for the roadway. As we rode, we got and gave lots of shout-outs of encouragement to those nearby. Although I’d tied my shoes in double knots, a shoelace got caught in a pedal and we had to stop for an adjustment—that was close—lesson learned—ALWAYS TUCK IN YOUR LACES!!! A kilometer or two later, a flying thing flew into my ear and bit me—I squashed the perpetrator and kept going. For the first time ever, I made a turn on a tandem bike! Robyn’s cues were excellent—“push off” “Railroad track” “Bump” “Change gears” “Coast” and “Brake” were all cues that helped. “Power” was our word for me to pedal harder to climb a hill. It’s times like these when you realize that this sport is all about one brain, two bodies.

We dismounted our bikes and got ready to run. I decided to ‘dog it’ a little on the 5K, not sure how I would hold up at the end. Those track workouts with Geordie McConnell and brick workouts with Tara Fairhead with the Ottawa Triathlon Club’s Triathlon Training Program really helped. Short, quick steps got me there. Robyn had to endure my expletives when we came to the last kilometer—I hate “corkscrew” endings—I like a nice, straight finish with a beeline to the finish line. This was not how this course was laid out. Just when we thought we were in the home stretch, the course took a few more turns and twists to give us a full 5K—a real psychological teaser.

At last the race was run. I couldn’t believe that I had done my first sprint distance triathlon in under two hours! I was officially a triathlete!!!

Robyn’s partner Mike and my sister Colleen and Jan snapped all kind of pictures. There were many high fives and sweaty hugs as my teammates and I all congratulated each other. It turns out that three of us had placed in the paratriathlete stream in the sprint distance.

Being part of Won With One has helped to build my confidence in myself I’m doing things now that I never dreamed were possible. As I approach my fiftieth birthday I know that there are a lot more things to look forward to. Through this team I have grown fitter, faster, stronger and have really come into my own. It is said that if you are not living life on the edge, you are taking up too much space. Now that I have one event under my (race) belt, I am looking forward to the next.

Adapting volley ball for people who are blind.

2011-07-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to a beach volleyball tournament to be a reporter for a story on the accessible channel.http://www.tactv.ca/As I listened to the sounds of volleyball games, I remembered how volleyball was adapted for me.We first adapted it at school for the blind and later with family.We had a beach ball with rice in it so that we could hear it as it came towards us.Also, it was softer so that if it hit us on the head, it wouldn't matter.We had different rules.Those of us who couldn't see at all, had ten seconds to get it over the net.It could bounce and move on the floor.Also, when we were serving, one of our team mates in the front row, could go up to the net and clap their hands at it so we knew where it was.The serving place was marked by a hula hoop although it slid around from time to time.It was a lot of fun and taught me some of the rules of the game as we stuck to them as much as we could. Here's to adapted sports. Any sport can be adapted if we are creative enough.

Cycling

2011-07-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

Two days in a row of blogging for all abilities welcome? Must be some kind of record. In response to the blog post I wrote yesterday in my blog "Great things about being blind"
http://kimgia3.blogspot.com
which I also posted here, I had some questions about some of the sports so am explaining about them in more detail.
Today, cycling.
In future days, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, etc.
Here is the post about cycling.
Yesterday, I wrote about the sports I choose and why. One of the ones I mentioned was cycling and people asked me a little about that. I got my first bike as a toddler. A tricycle. I still remember it. I used to ride it independently around in front of our town houses with all of my friends.I would listen to the sounds of their bike wheels and their chatter and laughter and follow by sound.I was puzzled that I seemed to be the only one who fell off the curb or rode into the garden.but, I continued to ride it.Then, when I was about 5, I got a two wheeler with training wheels on it.I could ride it with training wheels on.I liked it because it had streamers on my handle bars and a bell and a great seat.I rode it up and down the driveway but couldn't balance well when the training wheels came off.Some kids teased me that I still had the training wheels on.when I was about 8, we got a tandem bicycle.It was heavy and had almost no speeds but there were no other tandems in our neighbourhood.Now, they are much more common. We would be riding around. I would be on the back listening to the sounds around me.I would often hear, "Oh cool. Look at the double bike."I've cycled tandem on and off ever since.Not so much since getting my guide dogs.I have a stationery bike here at home and use it regularly too.

The sports we choose.

2011-07-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for not publishing more posts in this blog.
I write a blog each day about great things about being blind.
check it out at
http://kimgia3.blogspot.com
This post was this morning's post on my blog and I found it particularly appropriate for all abilities welcome.
Stay active everyone.
Thanks to a wonderful friend and her car and canoe, my guide dog and I went canoeing and swimming in a lake last night. It was wonderful and magical. It got me thinking a lot about the sports I like and choose to participate in. I love canoeing. I love it more than being in a motor boat. I would hate a jet ski or any of those things. It is partly I think because I am able to hear what is around me more in a canoe. We heard loons, a dog barking on shore, the rustle of the trees, near the end the hiss of rain on the water. We smelled the air and felt the wind.Swimming in the lake is also a multi-sensory experience. I heard others, felt the water, the rocks, the sand, listened to my guide dog attempting to swim for the first time.I love the sound of the paddle as it moves through the water.The feel of the water under your paddle.For the same reason, I prefer tandem cycling to being on a motor cycle.I prefer snow shoeing or cross country skiing to snow mobiling.I prefer walking to going on a driving tour of somewhere.So, blindness keeps me active and fit right?

Waiting for Active Living...Or, Catching Up

2011-07-04T04:04:00.000-07:00

Hi, Everyone

This is a blog post that has been a long time in the making. Back in June, I was absolutely sure I would have something to post about very soon- The acquisition of new technology that would make it so much easier to be involved in my community and keep active. In my case, this was to be a power wheelchair.

However, as often happens in the world of equipment funding, I'm still waiting for it, so I thought I would make a post about that in and of itself. Technology truly does have the potential to enrich the lives of persons with disabilities, whether that technology is a new wheelchair or a new computer program. Not having the technologies we require can result in yet another barrier to break down to enjoy the activities we would like to. I would love to be taking walks in the warm weather Newfoundland is (finally) getting this week, but my current wheelchair does not allow me a level of independence necessary to go out alone- So I have to wait for someone else to have the time and inclination to take a walk. This is only one example.

With technology ever advancing in today's world, and with it having the potential to open so many doors for persons living with disabilities, it makes me wonder why this equipment is so expensive and so difficult to get funded. Perhaps a computer program costing several hundred dollars is all that stands between someone and the ability to access education. In my case, a few thousand dollars is what stands between me and the ability to go out alone, to attend school without a personal support worker, and even the ability to work. Surely it would be in the governments best interest to fund these pieces with a little less delay and red tape. One less barrier to full participation and activity for Canadians with Disabilities would be a good thing, in my mind.

Would love to hear your thoughts

Cheers

Ashley

I'm A Triathlete!

2011-05-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

Last August, I was fortunate to have been selected to join Won With One, a national team for blind and visually-impaired athletes. Since then, I have been preparing for the day when I would complete my first Triathlon. That dream was realized yesterday.

Here in Ottawa we are given the opportunity to participate in an Early Bird event--there are different levels; I decided to do the Try-A-Tri, a small triathlon tailored for those of us who have never done one.

Through Won With One I was paired with Robyn Hardage, one of our guides. she has an impressive athletic resume, including completing the Boston Marathon. She and I had run together during the Beat Beethoven race last October but we had never done a full-out triathon before.

Since January, I've been training at the Ottawa Triathlon Club (OTC) in their Triathlon Trainin gprogram. Each week, our coach, Tara Fairhead puts us through a fabulous workout, including 'bricks' (a combination spin-bike and outdoor run, so-named because your legs feel like bricks after you have done a session). Head Coach Geordie McConnell was at the Early Bird event to give us some advice and tell us what to expect--that was very helpful for making pre-race preparations.

The weather could not have been more perfect! After what seemed like an endless week of nothing but rain, the morning was sunny and warm. How many triathletes do you know who have 'roadies?' Robyn's boyfriend Mike got up very early on a Saturday morning to make sure that we got there to be on time for a 7:30 start in the pool. Jan Ditchfield, our Won With One team manager made sure that we would have a tandem bike--I was to be the only blind athlete participating in the event, and the first on our team to participate in a triathlon here in Ottawa. I was honoured. Jan not only moves bikes, she moves mountains for our our team--we could not do this without her.

Transition from one event to another is part of the fun of triathlon--our 'stuff' had to be placed just-so in the transition zones. Robyn would help me to fine it quickly. First, it was into the pool--it's still a little early for an outdoor swim--500 metres; Robyn made sure that I got into the right lane swam behind me and that I didn't get kicked. Next, it was out of the water and on to the bike for a 11.8K ride. I hadn't tandem biked since I was a kid--we'd had a lesson a few days before the race--today we would be good to go. The only way that I can successfully ride is to keep my eyes closed, allowing me to give full attention to my pilot's instructions--tandem biking is two sets of legs and one brain. In no time, it was off the bike and onto a grassy 2K course for tha last event. Of the three sports, running is my most challenging. Robyn had to guide me around the other participants and the occasional hole created by groundhogs.

We finished the race in 1 hour 1 minute and 44 seconds. There was nothing quite like running to the finish, hearing the whine of the timing chip mat and hearing our number being announced to the crowd.

While it was my first time competing in a triathlon, I certainly cannot take all the credit. We don't do this on our own--we have all kinds of people who help us to reach our goals. I am so grateful to have had the support and encouragement from others who have helped me along the way.

Thank you.

A Few Thoughts on Disability's Definition

2011-03-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have come to appreciate more how “disability is relative to a person's physical, social, and cultural environment” and “many (conditions) do in fact cause disability given the demands and lack of support in the environments of the people affected” (Wendell, 1996, p. 36). Conversations I've had and readings that I've done recently emphasize that “stereotypes of disabled people as dependent, morally depraved, superhumanly heroic, asexual, and/or pitiful are still the most common cultural portrayals of people with disabilities” (Wendell, 1996, p. 43). A recent article I wrote about Helen Keller was helpful for me in my learning because I had the chance to explore how she defies these stereotypes.

My exploration of Helen Keller’s life also led me to examine more closely what Wendell (1996) describes as modern societies’ split of human concerns between private and public worlds. I am still exploring my own experience as a woman with a disability and how this split between public and private worlds, and the fact that I, as a woman with a disability, “fit two ‘private’ categories” has influenced and continues to influence my life experiences (p. 52). I proudly come “into the public world with…a devalued body” and, in so doing, resist the splitting of these two worlds and the relegation of women and persons with disabilities to a world of death, pain, weakness, illness, recovery and the negative (p. 40). I also consider that “when a troubled-persons industry recasts social problems as private troubles it can treat, it is removing them from the social arena that invites political debate” – when the “adversity is not depicted as a lack of opportunity, discrimination, institutionalization, and ostracism…(but rather,) it is the personal burden of their own body or means of functioning,” political debate is no longer raised and society is no longer accountable for the barriers it sets up (Petersilia, 1996, p. 446; Linton, 1998, p. 25).

References:
Petersilia, Joan (1996). The deaf agenda: Enriching the Deaf-world. In H. Lane (Ed.), Journeying into the Deaf-world (pp. 408-450). Dawnsign Press.

Wendell, Susan. (1996). The Social Construction of Disability. London: Routledge.

Linton, Simi. (1998). Claiming Disability. New York: New York University Press.

Some Things I Learned

2011-03-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

I had a bit of a history lesson in my ‘Introduction to Disability Studies’ course last September, one which I have shared with those around me because I think it is important. It was in institutions for persons with disabilities that “Germany's first gas chambers were built beginning in September of 1939…(and) as many as 200,000 people with disabilities were gassed to death in the "Aktion T4" program in pursuit of the so-called ‘master race’” (Ford, 1995). Many people I interact with are shocked to learn these facts, as they only consider the suffering of the Jews when thinking of Nazi Germany (and I do not in any way at all want to minimize that story when sharing this one). And further, it is easier to imagine that it was the Nazis who did this, as I am neither connected with the Nazis nor Germany; however, I soon learned that North America, including Canada, embraced eugenics and the sterilization of persons with disabilities (McLaren, 1990). This serves to remind me that I need to look closely at practices and policies within my own country and organizations I am a part of, because it is not just other places where government-sanctioned atrocities occur. I have gone on to learn a bit about the abuses and atrocities committed within Canada against persons with disabilities, and those that are still happening even today. I learned that, “as of 2010, approximately 900 Canadians are still institutionalized in three large (100 or more beds) provincial institutions designated for people with intellectual disabilities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta” (Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization, p. 5). It breaks my heart to realize that many are not aware of Canada’s institutionalization and appalling abuses, and that there are still institutions running today. I join my voice with those of Bourne and Ford (2006) when they insist:

The time has come for Canadians to demand that all institutions in Canada be closed, for governments and communities to support all people to live in their own homes in the community and for governments across the country to participate in a constructive process to acknowledge and make amends for the harms done to people in Canada’s institutions.

I am realizing how important it is to know about the history of institutionalization: if we do not remember what has happened and still happens we may repeat it and may not work to end it. Further, I think that it is important in the process of deinstitutionalization to ensure that communities are accepting of persons with disabilities. As stated by the Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization (2010), “deinstitutionalization must…ultimately (be) about more than substituting isolation outside the community for isolation within the community” (p. 8). People must have the “supports needed to fully participate in the community” and “services that meet all of their needs and are of high quality” (ibid). The ALACD’s objectives are directly related to ensuring that people with disabilities are included in communities – as integral parts of the community, in reciprocal relationship, not just being supported, but also supporting the community. Further, according to Krogh (1998), “disability can be socially constructed in that barriers may not lie within the individual and their ability to accomplish goals in a typical manner, but in the restrictive attitudes originating from a belief system that might, for example, assume that people with disabilities lack essential capacities” (p. 127). This connection with attitude and the underlying beliefs is linked to the work of the ALACD’s All Abilities Welcome (AAW) program. Attitudes within the community and awareness about ableism are important factors to consider when helping communities to become complete by including everyone. These are factors the AAW program works to educate community members about.

References:

Bourne, Peter and Ford, Fred (2006). Close The Damn Thing Down: A View From BC’s Task Force Members. Institution Watch. Canadian Association for Community Living

Ford, Fred (1995). The Bell at Hadamar. Council of Canadians with Disabilities. Retrieved November 29, 200, from http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/humanrights/endoflife/latimer/2001/04

Joint Task Force on Deinstitutionalization (2010). The Right Way. People First of Canada and Canadian Association for Community Living. Winnipeg, MN and Toronto, ON.

McLaren, Angus. (1990). Creating a haven for human thoroughbreds. In our own mater race: Eugenics in Canada (89-106). McClelland & Stewart ltd.

Yoga class for people who are blind.

2011-02-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

I went back to my yoga class this morning for the first time in a few weeks. It was so wonderful despite the howling freezing wind on the way there. This is a yoga class for blind people. There is a great instructor, several blind participants, and some sighted volunteers to assist when needed. I've taken yoga a few times over the years. One place would let me in but not let my guide dog in the yoga studio asking if I could, "Let her stay in the hallway." "No." They said her presence would change the atmosphere of the class. Any yoga class any of my guides has taken has changed the class atmosphere but always for the better. My guides would lie beside me and watch and occasionally put a paw or face on me but never bothered others in class. I have had good experiences in other classes too, but this one is the best. At the beginning or end of each class, we close the doors to the room and the guide dogs (there are usually at least two and sometimes four or five) play and run around and wrestle. So they get their social time in too. The instructor is great at explaining moves and everyone is supportive and friendly. As the classes have progressed, volunteers need to help us less and just take the class with us. When new people come, the volunteers help them. Today we did a lot of very slow moves and stretching which was great on a cold day. Near the end, I was lying on my back and relaxing. Suddenly from my right where my guide dog Tulia was lying on her mat, a little black paw was slipped into my hand. She left it there for several minutes. I love my yoga time. And I loved hearing Tulia and the other dog play today. They snorted, and ran, and jumped, and rolled about. Such a joyous sound.

Becoming a Duchess

2011-02-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

Location: in the tower on Duchess street...well, not really a tower.

I was wondering what I could post about, and it came to me - BAM - life! So, I am going to share with you a bit about my life right now.

At the beginning of January I moved from my home where I've lived since the age of 3 to 'Duchess Street,' where I am now a live-in companion/care-giver for a lovely lady who is 95 (almost 96 - but you might guess she is 78!). I am only still learning all the blessings that are coming out of this new life-situation I find myself in.

How it came about? Well, it was just placed in my lap! About four years ago, while I was attending Camosun College, I received a bursary from the Victoria Imperial Lions Club, and they then wanted me to come be their guest speaker. Jo-Anne, the woman working with the scholarship office at Camosun, is the liaison between us. So, we set-up a date, then they cancelled, then Jo-Anne cancelled, then I was away...finally, this past November (4.5 year after the fact) I was going to speak with the group. Normally, I would hop on a bus and get myself to the meeting; however, at the time I had an ulcer on my eye and it was therefore unwise for me to be standing out in the wind whilst waiting for buses. So, Jo-Anne said she would gladly pick me up and drop me home after. In the car we got to talking, and it turns out that she is moving and they are seeking someone to live with the lady she's been with for a few years...I though, 'I could do it...' but soon realized I could not because they required someone who can drive (and I cannot). Then, I thought, I have a friend who is in town everyday with her car, and would probably be willing to do the driving - I proposed this, it all evolved from there, and now my friend (Christina) and I are both living here with Olive in her home of over 50 years....neat how all the factors came together and - BAM - I find myself in this wonderful situation living with two wonderful ladies on Duchess Street (we are the three Duchesses of Duchess Street).

Introductory Post

2011-01-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I have a post perking in my mind, but I thought I'd put up an introduction first. I'm Ashley Martin-Hanlon, the newest contributor to the All Abilities Welcome Blog. I live in St John's Newfoundland, North America's oldest city... Occasionally that shows in its accessibility.

I live with my partner of 5 years and our growing collection of pets with Shakespearean names. Currently we have MacBeth, a Humane Services rescued black cat, and MacDuff, a hand raised pacific blue parrotlet. I look forward to sharing my insights on Active Living with all of you

Learning to skate as a totally blind child

2011-01-28T06:03:00.000-08:00

I live in Canada's capital and here right in the middle of our city is the Rideau Canal. Often called the world's longest skating rink. People come from far and wide to skate on the canal. I was thinking about the canal yesterday and about skating. I was also thinking about how hard it can be for someone who has been totally blind since birth to learn a sport. When I first was learning to dive in swimming, I would stand on the diving board, put my arms over my head, but then instead of diving in head first, I would jump in feet first. I didn't see how people dove. Just heard the splash. The same thing is true for skating.My dad had grown up on the prairies.They had had a back yard rink and he played hockey with his friends all of the time.When I stood at the side of the outdoor rink, I could hear people wizzing by on skates.I liked the sound of those skates.The blades cutting into ice. The rhythmic squeaking and swishing and crunching of those skates.I listened to the sounds of skating at about age five or six and said to myself that I would love to do that. I also felt these furry pom poms with bells on them and wanted some of those for my skates. I pictured myself with the pom pom bells ringing out like faery bells.The smooth ice under my skates. I had touched the ice with my hands.Smooth and cold like the glass in the window on a winter morning.I wanted to do that.I asked my parents.Sure I could learn to skate they said.They took me to the rink.The ice felt slippery under my skates.I fell on the hard ice.I got up. I tottered along.I liked the sound of my skates.Click click click like a lady in high heeled shoes.But it didn’t sound like other skaters.Click click like horse’s hooves.“You’re not really skating,” my brother said, “You’re walking in your skates. You need to slide your feet.”I decided that what I needed first was some of those furry pom poms with the bells on them.I asked for some and we got them.I tied them on my skates.This was even better.As I tottered around the rink on my skates, the tap tap of my skates rang out and the bells rang and I imagined I was in a faery carriage with wonderful horses and a lovely faery queen who was taking me to her castle filled with magical things.Chocolate fountains.Rooms filled with magical stuffed animal toys that talked.Gardens with flowers that smelled wonderful.I followed the boards of the ice rink with one hand. And I dreamed as I heard my skates tapping and ringing.“isn’t this great. Don’t you love my skating.” I said to my family.They said I was doing well but was really only walking on skates.But, I didn’t care. I loved the sound of my skates tap tapping and the bells ringing.After a while though, I realized that the people skating around me didn't sound like I sounded. I decided I should learn to really skate. But I wanted to skate on the canal and really skate on it.I asked if we could go.“The canal can be a little bumpier than the rink,” my dad said, “the ice isn’t as good sometimes and people can fall down more. But if you’re careful, it should be fine to go.”My brother said that I had to learn to skate better first and he took me to the rink again.Before he did that, he told me to slide on the kitchen floor in my sock feet.I liked doing this.“Now do more of that when you skate,” he said.We practiced.I tried to slide more with my feet.I went a little faster.I still did a lot of tap tap tapping in my skates but there were some swishing and creeking noises too.Maybe, I was starting to slide.The next weekend, mom and dad took us to the canal.It was cold there.It was freezing.The cold wind blew in my face.But I loved to hear the sounds around me.People laughing and talking.The sound of sleds being pulled along the canal.A swish swish swish of the sled.The sounds of skates.Of people stopping fast.Different rhythms of skating.The smell of hot chocolate.The cold night air.The sounds of music.My dad tightened my skates for me as we sat on the snowbank.It was cold taking off your nice warm boots and putting your feet into those icy skates.I couldn’t tighten mine enough but dad was good at it.My parents took a double mittened hand each and we set off along the canal.I was surprised when my feet first touched the ice.It wasn’t smooth like the window or the glass of the mirror when I touched it.It felt bumpy under my feet.It made my teeth bang together and my body shake a little.It reminded me of touching the rough bumpy wall of our house or a particularly gravely road.But I still loved it.My parents were good skaters and I held on tight and we skimmed along the ice.Looking back, I probably didn’t do all that much work.I tried to slide and to sound like their skates sounded.But I also tap tapped and rang my pom pom bells.And dreamed that I was in a grand carriage sweeping along the canal to the magic palace where hot chocolate flowed from the chocolate fountain.I loved listening to all sounds around me and feeling myself held up by my parents and skimming along. I was so proud of that first canal skate. I've skated on the canal many many times since. Sighted people are sometimes surprised that blind people participate in sports. Sports and recreation has always formed a big part of my life. At this time of year, as winterlude approaches here, I think back about learning to skate and am grateful to my family who took the time and had the patience to show me how.

Active living with two dogs and a plug for my personal blog

2011-01-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

It has been ages and ages since I wrote. For those who don't know me, I am Kim and have been totally blind since birth. I have always been an active person. I grew up in a family of active people and so was encouraged to stay active with sports. I was a paralympian and competitive swimmer for several years. I haven't posted in ages because my guide dog retired and I went to get a new one. I've kept my retired guide and so end up being more active because of it. All of us are. My retired guide is 11 and people say she looks better now than she did during her last few months of work. She plays a great deal with my new guide. They play tug and other games. I also take them both out for walks together. My working guide guiding on the left. My retired guide on our right. Also, I stay more active because I am going up and down my stairs with one or the other dog. I do walk them separately too. So just by walking dogs, I get more exercise, fresh air, and wonderful companionship. Healthy living does not have to be complicated and being active can involve as much or as little as you can do. I'm writing a blog every day about amazing things about being blind. I want to try to limit the stereotypical views of disabilities as being entirely negative. So, here is the link to that blog if readers wish to read it and share it.
http://kimgia3.blogspot.com
Happy, healthy, and active 2011 to all and I promise to post more regularly.

Into the Fast Lane Down Under: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-12-16T10:47:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since I've written a blog post, as my brother reminded me recently. It feels like this fall has flown by. We have been busy at ALA working on several project funding applications and moving forward with All Abilities Welcome workshops. We also had the third of four speaker orientation training sessions for Atlantic based speakers in Halifax in November. Aside from that, a few of us here have finally put our talk of forming an Achilles running club into action and the club is slowly getting off the ground, and I'm excited and very proud to see this initiative take shape.

After an intense summer track season culminating in August with three attempts at running sub 2 minutes for 800 metres which would have established a new blind world record, and three near misses, Greg and I took our customary ten-day break at the end of the season and started up again in early September. Right away, and probably due to starting back a little too hard, I developed a sore right achilles, which persisted throughout the first part of the fall. I would train for a few days and then have to take up to a week off to let it recover, and was getting a lot of massage treatment along with doing achilles strengthening exercises, acupuncture and some sessions with an athletic therapist. Finally by mid October, my injury became manageable and I was able to ease back into things slowly and begin stringing together some workouts.

When you are injured, you start to wonder if it will ever be possible to get into good shape again, and to question what that might take. During the time off, I had been able to keep up with some cross training on an elliptical machine I have at home, and I think this really made a difference because within a couple of weeks of being back running, I started feeling good and workouts started to go well. For me this affirmed that keeping up some form of consistency with training, even if it isn't what you normally might do, is really crucial to being able to get back on track when it is the right time and when your body is ready.

Unlike other years, we are ramping things up at the moment with training towards a January peak. We typically try to peak in the summer and generally spend this time of the year building fitness and aiming towards some low key indoor winter races. This year is different though, as Greg and I are part of a team of 32 Canadian athletes who will be heading to Australia and then on to New Zealand in January for the International Paralympic Committee World Championships which are being held in Christchurch. We'll be competing in the 800m and 1500m races. Our Canadian team surpassed expectations this past summer with some outstanding results which see us well placed going into the competition. There is a real mix of youth and experience among our group and its going to be incredibly exciting to see what people can do in that environment. Here in Ottawa, we are very fortunate to have access to a 400 metre indoor track, one of only a few in the world. This means that the transition from an indoor to outdoor track should be fairly straightforward for us. Most of our other Canadian contingent do not have the luxury of a 400m indoor track however, and hard training in Canada geared towards a January peak presents unique challenges for the team as a whole.

For Greg and I, our build-up so far has gone very well. Greg was still working through planter fasciitis through the early part of the fall and as it turned out, we each started back into everyday running again at roughly the same time. We've trained together either in Toronto or here in Ottawa on all but one of the weekends since the end of October. Unlike our build-up last spring, we have approached things more from the 1500 metre end of things, with less of a focus on the hard anaerobic stuff in place of longer intervals, while still keeping in touch with 1500m and 800m paces. I've also received some great guiding help from Ottawa based runners, including my friend Kyle, and Matt and Cody who train with the Lions.

I'm really encouraged to see what all this training will translate into when it comes to racing in January. So far I've competed in two low-key indoor races, a 1500m which Greg and I soloed in 4:24, and an 800m last Thursday where Cody and I, in our first ever full race together, ran a 2:04.46. Next up, Greg and I will be racing here in Ottawa this Saturday in a pretty stacked 1500m where we are hoping to get pulled along to a fast time.

Accessibility in My Day

2010-11-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

Location: Well...you might think me a bit odd..but I awoke at 4:15 this morning (Charles, the cat, needed to get outside), and I could not get to sleep! I have many things to do, and so many exciting things on my mind I guess...so, it's about 5:30am as I begin writing this, and I've already gotten a few things done this morning, which feels great! I am sitting at the desk in my my fluffy, fuzzy, warm blue housecoat (some say it makes me look like a smurf), with a cup of tea, waiting for the house to warm up...have I mentioned it is far below 0 outside, and there is snow covering the ground and still falling from the sky? Well, that is a rare phenomenon here in Victoria, so it tends to throw things off a bit.

Note - when writing herein about accessibility, I am referring to accessibility from a disability standpoint; however, I would like to acknowledge that there are other aspects to accessibility that are important (economic accessibility for example).

I have been thinking lately about how accessible my environment. Having done some volunteer work in Eastern Europe, I am aware that I am blessed to live in a place that is accessible relative to some places in the world; however, I am also aware that much of my environment is inaccessible, and I do not even see all of the barriers.

To explore the accessibility (and inaccessibility) around me, I decided to take my notebook and camera along on a trip to school and around town doing errands.

I begin my day by heading out to the bus stop. I live a bit outside of town, and there is no sidewalk leading to the bus stop, only a shoulder. Not even raised bumps along the white line to indicate where the shoulder ends and the road begins. But, I make it safely to the bus stop. On my way to school, I take three buses (making 2 tansfers) and cross over six streets. One place I cross has no crosswalk at all, making it rather dangerous! Of the five that do have crosswalks, only 2 have audible signals. For the three without audible signals I can use other cues to cross. For instance, listening and watching for the movement of cars - usually when the cars beside me start going, it is safe for me to cross (except, of course, when there is an advanced left). This technique is also helpful for someone who finds it impossible to locate the pole and, if they catch that pole, then to find the illusive little crossing botton on said pole. Modern hybrid technology does, however, complicate this technique for crossing safely, as cars are being made nearly silent. When one can neither hear nor see the cars, it is difficult to determine where they are going or if they are even there!

I was quite surprised and displeased to notice that crosswalks near to UVic, which I use regularly, do not have audible signals. The reason I see this as extra problematic, as compared with other locations lacking audible signals, is that it links back to the accessibility of education. If one cannot even be guarenteed the right to get to school safely, then how can one feel assured of the right to an accessible education?

Later, I went downtown Victoria with a friend. We went on a short walk around just one block and discovered that there were many barriers on that single block. As a person who has decreased lower body strength and resultant instability, I consider this person an expert on accessibility, at least on her own experiences of it. We both learned from the other what some barriers are, we did not pick up on all the same things. That goes to show how much we can learn from one another - what I see as accessible you might see as full of barriers.

Here are some photos depicting some of the barriers we encountered, all within a single block...and I am only going to post a few of them here...

To the left is a photo are two photos of small portions of the sidewalk, scattered with a few leaves, shown in birdseye view. For the first, looking at it, I would not know that there is a lip here, but, surprise! A lip! For the second, there is a grate of some sort plunked in the middle of the walkway. Uneven sidewalks with random lips and dips further complicated my travel, and my friend reports that they do the same for her. Fortunately, I have become accustomed to almost falling and usually catch myself before a faceplant.

This next photo, to the left, depicts a crosswalk and the coming sidewalk, with no bumps...no bumps at all. You'd think perhaps, oh good, no tripping hazards. But, without any tangible indication to say when the sidewalk has ended and a road and cross walk begin, some, including myself, may find that they run into troubles...

To the left is a fourth photo, of a bus whizzing past amongst traffic. At many of the bus stops and exchanges, numerous buses go by. As a person who is partially sighted, I find it impossible to read the numbers on the side of the bus. So, I ask when getting on; however, I frequently encounter drivers who are rather displeased that a person, who to them may appear able to read, would ask them a question rather than just shuffling back. But note, I do not want to say that all bus drivers treat passengers unkindly, I have had two of my regular bus drivers who were marvelous individuals who treated everyone with respect.

And last, but certainly not least, the infamous bus schedule, posted randomly at a few bus stops, but not all of them...this schedule can be read to determine if you are going to be waiting 10 minutes, or 40 minutes...if you can make out the itsy bitsy numbers through the foggy plastic that has dribbles of water on it...

NOTE - I began composing this blog back in November, which is the date this blog appears to be filed under, but I have only finished and posted it today, January 21 2011

More than a Miracle Child

2010-11-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

Location: Right now I am sitting in the 'assistive technolgy lab' at the UVic library. That sounds lovely, but really it is a stuffy, dusty little room without windows, which has computers claiming to have accessibility software on them (I say claiming because I have yet to find ZoomText on any of them)...but I should not complain, it is -7 outside (extremely cold for Victoria!) so I'm just glad that I have a warm place to work!

I have recently written an article for the AAW website about Helen Keller. Why another article about this already well-known person? Well, I think that perhaps only some aspects of her story and of who she was are 'well-known' - Helen Keller the outspoken activist, gifted artist, subject of FBI investigation, and verbal socialist are, in my experience, certainly not 'well-known.'

Here is a bit of what I learned through the research I conducted for this article...

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1980 (the same birthday as mine, only 108 years earlier) to a somewhat privileged family. At a young age she lost her senses of sight and sound...and as the well-known story continues, she became unruly and wild...until adults in her life came in to save the day by bringing in a teacher, who sacrificed a lot and worked really hard until finally, Keller came to understand the connection between the word and concept of 'water.'...and so the inspiring story (and movie, and play) ends, with Keller going on to learn language and verbal speach despite the odds...

So now, what happened to her later, when she was an adult?

Too often she is left in our minds as an eternal child, the miracle child - deaf-blind girl learns to speak...and this image was imortalized in October 2009, when a statue of Keller at the age of seven, when she had her ‘breakthrough’ moment at the water pump, was unveiled in Washington, D.C. (Orndorff, 2009).

But that is not where her story ends! Keller went on to lead a powerful life. She travelled the world, she wrote essays, articles and books. She was a socialist. Her books were burned by the Nazi's and the FBI has a long file about her activities and writings. She published beautiful poetry. She fell in love. She lost love. She loved languages, and learned 5 different ones! She spoke out on behalf of people who were materially poor and who were oppressed...I could go on!

The point is, there is more to her story than the dominant narrative tells, and we need to be aware of this! She was a person with disabilities, but she was also a person with aspirations, political opinions, ideas, and a full life. I think that the idea of a woman with a disability having such strong opinions and spreading controversial ideas threatens the dominant idea of persons with disabilities being passive, victims, in need of constant care by others. I'm not saying you think this way, but in my experience the dominant view of society and people in power seems to follow somewhere along these lines.

To read the full article please visit http://www.allabilitieswelcome.ca/en/articles.htm

References:

Orndorff, Mary. (2009, October 8). Helen Keller statue unveiled. The Birmingham News. Retrieved from http://www.al.com/politics/birminghamnews

Active Living?

2010-11-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

Location: My computer desk, which is set high off the ground so I can stand while typing (I do a lot of computer work for school, and sometimes I want to change position). Outside the sky is overcast and a light rain is falling. It feels rather dark for 4:30, but I guess that’s just one of those signs that winter is coming.

For this entry I thought I'd publicly ponder what 'active living' means, or more specifically, what it means to me in my context.

An aspect of living an active life involves physical activity. I am not involved in any sports, but I do participate in physical activity and I try to be physically active in my day-to-day activities. I've been a part of a fitness group in my community for just over a year, and I've found that this is a way I've been able to get more (enjoyable) physical activity into my life and also enjoy some social connections. Sometimes I choose to get off the bus a bit early, giving myself the chance to walk a bit further to class. Rather than just spending time with friends watching a movie, I sometimes suggest a walk or hike. Or maybe something as small as choosing to kneed my dough by hand rather than using a machine. I find that these things add up and make a difference in how I feel at the end of the day.

Active living also has social aspects. I'll admit that sometimes this one seems harder to get going on, because it really does require the cooperation of other people, and sometimes is frightening to put oneself out there. I have found a supportive community and some good friends within the church family I am a part of; however, I didn't just sit back and wait for friends and social activity to come to me. I put myself out there, I figure that other people want friends too, it's not just me, so I'm not the only one taking risks and trying to make friends. It takes effort to be socially active, but the effort is absolutely worth it!

Being socially active could be taken another way, to mean being active for social justice. I think this is another area of an active life for me. One of the biggest ways I am socially active is through volunteer work with various organizations, local and national. Another way to be active for social justice is through working to raise awareness about issues of social injustices in Canada, which is something I am actively doing within various organizations. This is an important part of our Canadian community - where would we be if no one was socially active?

To me, active living also has a spiritual component. Being spiritually active for me involves spending time with God. I do this in various ways - through prayer, painting, dance, music. An active life spiritually also includes spending time in community with other people who also follow Jesus - worshiping and learning together on Sunday mornings, supporting one another throughout the week, praying for one another, sharing meals together, studying the Bible together

Active living also includes just doing things that I enjoy - actually doing them, not just thinking about it! For example, painting is a part of my active lifestyle. A hobby can also get you active in other ways - maybe take a class at a local rec center, perhaps you'll meet new friends, perhaps you'll find a volunteer placement.

Over the past few months, dance has become a part of my active lifestyle. I do not claim to really 'know' how to dance, as I've never received any training, I just do it in my own way. Dance is a part of my activity in various areas. Of course, it gets me physically moving, breathing and stretching. It is also a social and spiritual activity for me. Once a week I get together with a few other women for a time of dance. We usually start our morning off by talking and praying together - sharing about our struggles and our joys.

Active living to me includes a lot - so my message of inclusive recreation is not only about physical activity, but it is about being active in whatever ways are meaningful to you. Art, hiking, sailing, creative writing, volunteering, socializing, sailing, working - whatever!

So, what does active living mean to you?

Introduction

2010-10-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

Greetings readers,

Location: I am thinking that perhaps I will open my blogs with a description of where I am. I sometimes wonder what the atmosphere is in places where a writer is writing. Right now I am sitting on a rather high stool at a computer in the library at UVic. In here it is pretty quite, but there are some noises of computers humming and students chatting in the distance. It is warm in the library, and it smells of books, lots of books. Outside the sun is shining and things are starting to warm up, so that's where I'm headed after this.

I have recently joined the team of web-loggers here, and perhaps I shall take this first entry to introduce myself.

I am currently a student at the University of Victoria (UVic) in the school of social work. I have lived just outside Victoria BC, on a small farm for basically my whole life, and I absolutely LOVE where I live. Right now I am blessed to live with my Mum and Dad, sister and grandparents - and this is a blessing because I very much value family and learning from my elders. I am a first-generation Canadian, and my background is Dutch and Friesian.

My relationship with the ALACD began in 2003 when I participated in a youth exchange. Since then, I have been involved as a leader on two exchanges, a member of the BC committee and as an AAW speaker. In these volunteer capacities I have had opportunities to participate in and facilitate various workshops related to inclusion, recreation and active living.

Right now I am starting up a practicum with the ALACD and the AAW program. I will be contributing weekly entries here on the website, I'll be contacting various people to set-up presentations in places we have not yet reached, and I'll be doing some other exciting things I'm sure.

Perhaps that is a sufficient introduction. But if it is not, and you have a burning question, please do post a 'comment' to ask me something!

Attitude of Grattitude

2010-10-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

We really have a LOT to be thankful for. This is especially true when you have your health and can maintain a good level of fitness.

Health is not to be take for granted. Recently, my mother lost most of her left lung to cancer. Thankfully she came through her surgery very well with no need for further treatment. Our whole family is very grateful for the care she received, and the support that we had from our friends and colleagues.

One of the things that we did to celebrate Thanksgiving was to go for a nice 6.5K run. With my brother-in-law Bill and sister Colleen, I ran along the trail near their home. The forest was ablaze with colour. We could hear the Jock River flowing into the Rideau River. Fellow four- and two-legged walkers and runners were out enjoying the beautiful morning. Our feet fell softly on a carpet of pine-needles. This picturesque scene was suddenly changed when Bill yelled "Dead pigeon ahead!" Oh yuck! I thought--this is why visually-impaired people need to run with a guide. We managed to finish our run in around 35 minutes--not bad!

Later, I went downstairs into their rec room to have a stretch using the P90X stretch DVD. I was just getting into it when I heard the pitter-patter of four little feline feet--Myles, my sister's big, black cat (and Shelley's coach) decided to join me. He too began to stretch as cats do by nature. At age 16, he is still as limber as he was when he was a kitten. I could not help but think that there are many people my age who can no longer perform this stretch routine. I felt fortunate to be able to do them unincumbered. The routine was challenging, but It felt really good.

Someone had gone on a few errands, visiting a local apple orchard, and brought me a bag of fresh, crisp apples, picked right off the trees! This is something we really look forward to in Ottawa at this time of year. That evening, we had a little family dinner filled with healthy fare. Again, I was reminded just how fortunate I am to have access to such good food that nourishes both body and soul. Sometimes it's not always easy to make the healthiest of choices, but we are fortunate to have such good food to choose from.

I wanted to take this time out to say how grateful I am for good health, access to good food and people who support me in all of the sports and fitness goals that I have set for the coming year. I'm also thankful that, as someone with a visual impairment, there are more and more opportunities for us to become and to stay healthy. Thanks to the work done through All Abilities Welcome and the examples set by the others on the AAW team, things can only improve!

THANK YOU!

Shelley Ann Morris

Triathlon Journey

2010-10-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

"I'm going to do a triathlon!" There, I said it and now I have to follow through. A number of things led to me wanting to participate in a sport that combines swimming, running and biking. First, I'd completed my first 10 kilometer run, so I could finally consider myself a 'runner.' Second, I've been participating in SPINNING classes for about nine years now, so I've got pedal power. Third, ever since I was a little girl, I was always considered a very confident and accomplished swimmer. Why not?

Why not? Well, when you are sight impaired, there are a few logistics to consider, such as finding guides for all of these sports. There's developing trust in your 'pilot' as you sit on the back of a tandem bike. There's learning to swim while 'tethered' with someone else. There's training for not one but three disciplines. Lots to think about.

Almost as if by magic, what I needed to consider triathlon appeared out of nowhere! Through friends I discovered a Canadian team of triathletes called "Won With One," a team made of of blind and vision-impaired individuals. Some are elite athletes while others, like me, are taking their first baby steps into this sport. I'm one of thirteen people--the only one who has not done a tri yet. With support from the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), their wonderful coaches, a number of dedicated guides, a fabulous array of sponsors and of course my fellow teammates, we are out to show the world that lack of vision need not keep us from swimming, running and cycling our way to victory! We will all train in our respective cities and will be linked via our website, social media and regular teleconferences. Check out http://www.wonwithone.com/ for more information.

What have I gotten myself into? Well, you will all find out as you follow my journey as I prepare for my first sprint distance triathlon slated for some time in summer 2011.

Tips and suggestions welcome!

Shelley Ann Morris

Another Step Ahead: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-08-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday evening, Greg and I lined up alongside my brother Jon and Sean his guide in another 800m race here on our new, fast Ottawa track. The plan, as with the previous week, was to have Greg pace me through 500 metres before another guide, Cody, would take over from Greg and push me over the final 300m. The goal was a scenario where I could get close to or surpass the 2:00 barrier (the world record of 1:59.99 was set by an English runner named Bob Matthews in 1986).

It was 9 pm as we lined up and there was no wind, perfect conditions to chase a fast time. With my brother and his guide Sean on our outside, the gun sounded and we took off. Greg and I wanted the lead and we got it, with Jon and Sean tucked in close behind us. The announcer, Andy McGinnis who is the Ottawa Lions Director, mentioned that the pace looked more conservative than the week before, something which had me second-guessing a little as we moved fast through the 200m. Moral of the story, tune out and turn off your mind! Or as Greg likes to say, run like a dumb horse! Around the corner and into the homestretch for the first time, we were running strong with some great encouragement from the crowd. Jon and Sean were right on us and as we hit the home stretch, they both moved wide to our outside. It seemed crazy to think they would pass us as the pace was fast, but that is exactly what happened. This caused Greg and I to break our momentum momentarily as they moved in front of us. I think I heard a 56 second split through 400m for Jon and Sean, very fast. Coming around the corner into the second lap, Jon and Sean held the lead and we now had the challenge of making a guiding transition from behind, something we hadn't practiced. We hit 500m and as planned, Greg told me to "drop" it, referring to the rope. He had moved us slightly outside and Cody had picked up on this, and latched on quickly as Greg gave way. As we moved down the backstretch, Cody moved us further outside and we put in a big move, hitting the front just before 600. From here we never looked back and my focus was in not relinquishing the pace as we rounded the corner. I didn't hear any splits but knew that we had a good chance. We hit the final 100m and I launched myself towards the line, just trying to fight the lactic acid. Cody was screaming at me to "go", and the crowd was completely behind us. I remember hearing Andy saying, "1:57, 58, 59"... I thought we had it. But as with last week, then I heard the collective "awwwwww!"

Our final time of 2:00.60 was a second improvement from the previous week and our second fastest 800m race (my personal best is 2:00.39 from 2007). We will have one more chance this Wednesday in what will be the final race of the season for me... I'm praying for good weather and to be feeling good. After that, the plan is to take about 10 days of down time before resuming training again with a goal of preparing for the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in January 2011.

"SIMPLY FIT" EVENT PROMOTES EDUCATION ON RENAL DIAGNOSIS

2010-08-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

If you will be in the National Capital area this weekend, please come by the Aviation Museum to participate in the "Simply Fit" event. This walk / run, taking place on Sunday afternoon August 15, will generate awareness about kidney disease and encourage prevention and effective symptom management. The event organizer, Marie-Eve, is a national level high jumper who up until a few years ago, was barely able to carry out simple day to day tasks as a result of her own kidney condition. Marie-Eve's perseverance in figuring out an effective management strategy led her to a recent tenth place finish at the Canadian Track and Field Championships, and is a truly inspiring accomplishment and one that I think can offer so much hope to others.

________________________________

On Sunday August 15, All Abilities Welcome will be at the Canadian Aviation Museum, which will host the Simply Fit Family Friendly 1K walk/run and Competitive 5K walk/run & 10K run. The event, organized by the Shad Ireland Foundation, will raise awareness about prevention of kidney disease and encourage those with a renal diagnosis to get active as a way to prevent and control symptoms.

All Abilities Welcome (AAW) is a campaign aimed at encouraging greater openness and cooperation around inclusion in physical activity at the community level. AAW was created in response to the disproportionately lower physical activity levels among the 15 % of Canadians with a disability. Launched in 2006 by the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between recreation providers and persons with a disability, and is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability component.

Shad Ireland Foundation Canada and its programs are focused on improving the lives of Canadians (both children and adults) living with kidney disease while educating those who are at risk for developing a renal diagnosis on its leading causes, prevention methods, and societal impact. Shad Ireland Foundation Canada is committed to education, prevention, awareness, and access. Established in 2007, the foundation in Canada believes it can achieve maximum impact in these four major areas by providing a combination of inspiration, and tools & resources that empower the Canadian renal community.

"We're thrilled to have been invited to Simply Fit and to have this opportunity to promote the message that active living and physical activity can be for everyone," said Jason Dunkerley, All Abilities Welcome Coordinator. "This is such a good way to inspire people to recognize the possibilities in themselves and to empower them to take steps to make positive changes in their lives."

"There should be no limits to who can be active," said Marie-Eve Chainey, Shad Ireland Foundation Canada's co-Executive Director. "Most kidney diseases can be prevented through controlled blood pressure, carefully managed diabetes, a healthy diet and regular physical activity. We hope that our Simply Fit event can inspire people through these important messages."

Event timetable:

11 am - 1pm Race Day Registration
1:30pm 1K walk/run
2:00pm 10K run
2:30pm 5K walk/run
3:30pm Shad Ireland will be speaking as well as a renal friendly lunch, prizes and awards

To register:
Visit http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=5784

Race day race kit pick-up is also available on
Sunday August 15th from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the
Canada Aviation Museum
11 promenade de l’Aviation
Ottawa, ON

For further information, please contact: Marie-Eve Chainey, Co-Executive Director, Shad Ireland Foundation Canada (613-796-4089) or by email (marieeve@shadirelandfoundation.ca)

On Course Despite Controversy: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-08-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

It has been an interesting couple of weeks. My guide, Greg and I were set to compete in the 1500 metre preliminary race against athletes who are able-bodied at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Toronto last weekend. The Para Athletics Nationals have been held concurrently along with the ablebodied Championships since 2007.

The preliminary rounds, a new format introduced at this year's championship designed to encourage greater participation, was intended to provide an opportunity for athletes without automatic qualifying standards to vy for a spot in the semifinal of a given event.

A few days prior to the start of the competition, the preliminary men's 1500m round was cancelled due to low registration. In the end, only one other athlete besides Greg and I had registered for the preliminary race. This athlete was advanced into the semifinal. Greg and I were not advanced, and were told that as this was a Commonwealth Games qualifying race, there was concern that we would take up too much space on the track and potentially impede the other athletes. Given that Greg and I would have been the only visually impaired 1500m entrants in the meet, we were given the option to race solo... something which we could have essentially done on our own at home. Meanwhile, Rick Ball, an amputee athlete who runs with a prosthesis, was allowed to compete in the open 10,000 metre race.

Needless to say, we felt that the way this situation was handled was extremely unfair. Greg and I have never in our twelve years of running triggered a collision in any race we have been involved in. The majority of the races we compete in, competitions sanctioned by Athletics Canada, are races in which we are welcomed with open arms by ablebodied athletes, coaches, and officials alike. We hold our own in these races, generally finishing mid pack, and as with anyone, have had our best results when pushed to run faster. To have trained specifically towards this race, only to have the opportunity pulled away at the eleventh hour based on a rationale of a possible collision established without precedence, was incredibly frustrating. For Rick Ball it was a terrific opportunity to compete alongside ablebodied competition, and Greg and I simply wanted the same chance.

Our pleas to the senior leadership at Athletics Canada in the ensuing days seemed to fall on deaf ears. This scenario ultimately led Greg and I to go to the media. The end result was two articles, one written by Randy Starkman from the Toronto Star who writes an Olympics blog,

http://thestar.blogs.com/olympics/2010/07/paralympic-runner-feels-discriminated-against-at-canadian-championships.html

and another written by Don Butler from the Ottawa Citizen,

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Blind+Ottawa+runner+hits+hurdle+Nationals+much+into+this/3339171/story.html

We also had the opportunity to finally meet face to face with Athletics Canada last Friday. We came out of that meeting with a sense that our perspective had been heard and understood, and that there was a commitment to doing things better across the board with respect to integration at next year's championships. This was I think what we really had hoped for going into the meeting... it didn't solve what happened this year but it was a way to encourage clearer thinking and hopefully, an open flow of communication and dialogue to make the experience richer for everyone.

Greg and I raced in the Para 800m at Nationals. I was a little disappointed as we ran a slow 2:05.51, winning our T11 category ahead of my brother, but placing a distant second in the overall race behind Stu McGregor. On a better day Greg and I would have hoped to make a race of it with Stu but we were both a little flat.

Two days later however, I ran a really encouraging 600m timetrial, with Greg and another runner from the Ottawa Lions, Cody, splitting the guiding. This inspired us to give this new approach a shot last night at a Twilight meet here in Ottawa. The plan was to have Greg pace me through 500, and then to have Cody switch off and push me over the final 300m. In the end, it worked out very well as I came away with a season's best time of 2:01.64. It was great to have so much encouragement and the little crowd that was there along the home stretch really got into it and were urging us on. I came up short of sub 2:00 but with two more chances this season, and just a little more sharpening on the track, I believe I have every chance of getting under the magic 2:00 barrier this summer.

Temptations

2010-07-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Usually, I try to eat well. This is especially true when I am preparing for an event such as a run or stair climb. All of this goes out the window when it festival time.

Here in Ottawa, we are fortunate to have many music festivals to enjoy; everything from jazz, blues, folk and an array other 'fests' for music lovers to attend. I volunteer with the Jazz, Blues and Folk Festivals--all of this means plenty of good music, oftentimes good weather, great people and , of course, the food! Combine this with time spent on the festival grounds and out of the fitness facility and pretty soon, I'm off my diet and exercise program, falling completely off the wagon and getting run over by it, too! After almost 7 years of festival volunteering, you would think that I would have learned that this kind of behaviour makes me feel ill. Nope!

In all fairness, many festivals provide healthy fare to fortify their horde of volunteers. Efforts have been made to increase the amount of nutritous food available to volunteers. There are many vegetarian options, too. Veggie burgers, veggie chili, fruit smoothies and large amounts of water helped to sustain me while greeting and directing patrons.

This year, I was able to show a little restraint. I allowed myself a 'cheat' per each day of volunteering. I had some French Fries, a beaver tail (fried dough topped with yummy things), calamari fritti, and (the best of all!) chocolate chili cookies.

There is absolutely nothing like letting the sunshine, good music, good food and good vibes work their magic! We know that it's temporary. Once my festival season ends, it's time to set new fitness goals, get back in the gym or pool and back to sensible eating.

Being fit and healthy allows to enjoy life to the full! It's a question of balance.

Here's to Summer: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-07-02T13:10:00.000-07:00

The past six weeks or so have flown by, and all of a sudden we are into July, and into the heart of racing season. May and June had me away from home a fair amount, between weekend training stints in Toronto with Greg, a race at York University, a conference which took place in Cambridge Ontario, a trip out to Calgary at the end of May for our second speaker orientation, and a race at the US Paralympic National Championships in Fort Lauderdale. Between these trips I've spent some nice time at home with Colleen and our cat Graycie, taking full advantage of our deck, as well as a new television we purchased with a bucketload of change we had been accumulating for the past two years, just in time for the soccer World Cup.

Greg and I have had to juggle things of late with training and racing together, as he is battling a chronic foot injury which has forced him to resort to cross training on the stationary bike. This injury flared up during a track workout we did together in mid May. There is of course never a good time to be injured... however as there is no major international championship this summer, Greg has been able to take some time to rehab his foot and is hopeful of coming back for some races this month. In our one race together so far, an 800 at the US Paralympic Nationals on June 20, we towed the line along with my friend and former training partner Stuart, as well as my brother who is a former 400m specialist and a newly fledged 800m runner. Under an oppressive sun and 90 degree + heat, my brother and his guide, Sean took off and led the field through 400m in a swift 58 seconds, with the rest of us trailing up to 10 metres back. Greg and I ran conservatively for the first 500 metres behind Stu, who put in a big move down the back stretch to eventually win the race. Jon and Sean hit the wall over the final 200m and we came past them with about 120m to go and were able to close hard for a really encouraging 2:03.03 third place finish.

The previous week, I had my best ever season opening race, at a meet held at York University, running 2:02.47 with a runner named Kyle who I train with frequently. I have also been working out lately with a university student named Tyson. Tyson and I raced here together over 800 metres this past weekend on the newly completed outdoor track. I think some hard training over the previous week coupled with it being my third race in three weekends had me feeling a bit tired going into this one, and we ran a slower 2:05.58.

All said, I'm extremely happy with the way things have gone this season and I think July will bring some great things. This is the first year where I have been self-coached, and I'm continuing to learn how to get the most out of my body, and how to manipulate what I do in training to achieve the best results I can.

Next up is a 1500 metre race here in Ottawa on Wednesday July 7, my first race over that distance this season. We are hopeful that Greg will be able to guide, and we may look at the possibility of splitting the race with another runner so as not to overtax Greg's foot. After this race, I'm planning to race an 800m here on July 14. This will likely be the last race I do before the Canadian Track and Field Championships which are in Toronto from July 28 to 31.

Swimming

2010-05-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

It is a warm day here. As I was walking home with my guide dog, I think both of us longed to be swimming. All of my guides have been retrievers and all loved swimming.
It is a bit tough swimming with a guide dog. Sometimes they think they can guide you in the water.
This can involve them climbing on your back. Pulling at your arms. Going in front of you and trying to turn you around. It is a hazzardous, dangerous sport. Don't try it if you aren't a strong swimmer! Smile!
I hated the water when I was little. But I learned to swim and then loved it.
I was a competitive swimmer, a paralympic medalist and love swimming to this day.
Swimming is a great sport in that it can be adapted to anyone of any age or ability.
In the water, it is easy to move.
People with arthritis say that it eases their joints.
People that use wheelchairs enjoy it.
People who are blind can feel free to move.
There are some hazzards and obstacles to overcome as a totally blind swimmer.
Swimming inside in pools is not too hard.
You might ask at your local pool if they can put up a rope for you or if you can swim along the wall.
If you swim along the wall, ask if there are ladders?
If there are, they are nasty when you hit them with your hands or arms.
Ask if they can come out or swim by a rope.
To keep from hitting your head on the wall, be careful as you swim or engage someone to tap your head just before you reach the wall.
Outdoor swimming poses many different barriers.
Once while swimming across the river at our cottage, I think I swam about five times further than anyone else because I wasn't swimming straight.
In open water, you can get turned around and with your head under, can't hear the screams and yells of others telling you which way to turn.
If the water is at all wavy, it is even tougher.
If you are swimming with a boat, get someone to float a rope behind the boat ahd follow that.
If you are swimming in the same area, try to rig a rope from shore to raft.
Or you can put something that makes noise on shore to orient yourself.
Swimming is a wonderful inclusive activity.
Try it and enjoy it!
Kim

Runnin Down a Dream: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-05-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

In her last post, Kim talked about some of the guiding techniques which she and other runners who are blind use. When I first started running, I was most comfortable running alongside someone who would hold my elbow, enabling us to swing our arms in unison. Over time, I've grown more at ease running beside a person and having little or no immediate contact with them, and in recent years, have started to use a short tether which my guide and I wrap around our hands and which keeps us close. I think this approach has worked well as it enables my guide to move us around more easily when navigating on the track, is an easier way of guiding in general, and also because it encourages me to swing my left arm. I tend to hold my left arm fairly stiffly and if I do not think about it, do not swing it as much as would be ideal. I think this comes from all the years of running beside people and subconsciously reaching out to feel for where they are.

Since becoming more serious about running in my first year of university in 1998, I've been motivated by the idea of breaking the 2 minute barrier for 800 metres. Although this time is commonly achieved by talented and well trained ablebodied athletes, it has only been accomplished by one other blind runner, a British athlete named Bob Matthews who has held the world record of 1:59.9 since 1989. Like so many barriers we face, it is difficult to say to what extent our physical limitations vs psychological ones inhibit our success. At the first international competition in which Greg and I competed, the World Championships for blind athletes in Spain in 1998, I naively told Greg that I wanted to go for sub 2 minutes in the final. I believe Greg doubted my physical ability in pursuing this time but he agreed to follow the plan. In the race, we took it out hard, leading the field through 400 metres in 57 and hitting new territory with 1:28 for 600 metres, well on pace for our theoretical sub 2 minutes. Perhaps if we had been racing a 700, we would have claimed the win. There is a factor though, lactic acid, which no amount of naivety or confidence can protect you from. Needless to say, the bear jumped on my undertrained back with about 120 metres to go. I have vivid recollections of Greg screaming the words, "they're coming", and "go", and a few other words which I need not write here. One team came up on us, and then another. And then with about 10 metres to the line, my legs had had enough and I found myself lying face down on the track with Greg yelling, "get up!" In the end we made it across the line, tales between legs, in fourth. In the ensuing years, although much fitter and better prepared, we have not to date broken 2 minutes. We came closest in 2007 with a 2:00.39 clocking, and in the following Paralympic year, clocked 2:00.65. After 2008, I wondered if I was meant to achieve the sub 2 minute mark, and contemplated on whether I should not focus my efforts to training for longer distances that maybe I was better suited for. In the end, so much of my own effort and that of others has gone into helping me to get close to breaking this elusive 2 minute barrier. I felt that I needed to try again, one more time, so as to be able to walk away from competitive running in a few years, secure in the knowledge that I didn't give up. If it is meant to happen, then it will. I think it will come down to good physical preparation, coupled with the type of naive confidence which I took into that race in Spain as a young and inexperienced runner.

This has been a good week of training. Greg and I had two very solid workouts last weekend on the indoor track here in Ottawa. In the first, we ran 2 hard 500 metre intervals at slightly faster than our 800 metre goal pace, with the objective of sprinting all out over the final 100 metres to develop our ability to kick. Although our kick is not what we would consider great at the moment, it has developed a lot even since beginning the more intense training in mid April. Our second workout focussed on short sprinting and consisted of a series of 50, 70 and 90 metre intervals. Again, the speed is a work in progress for us but it is coming. This past Tuesday, I teamed up with my former training partner Matt for a 5 km pace workout - 3 * 800 metre intervals on short rest, + a 3 km interval at the pace we hope to run for the Ottawa Race Weekend 5 km at the end of this month. This was challenging in a different way and it was a nice aerobic blast to the system which I think I needed. I'm headed to Toronto this weekend for a track session tomorrow and another on Sunday with Greg, and then we plan to open our season with an 800 metre time trial here in Ottawa next Saturday, May 22.

learning to run as someone who is totally blind

2010-05-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Last time I talked about adapting hockey.
I thought that this time I would discuss running.
People tend to think that running as a person who is totally blind would be scary.
Well, as someone who has been blind since birth, it never really was scary at all.
I ran from a young age all over the place.
Bouncing off walls. Tripping down stairs. But running none the less.
Even when my head was perfectly at a level to smack into counter corners, I ran.
But as for running out on the streets, or in races, that I did a little bit as time passed.
My father has always been a very keen and avid runner so I ran with him at times.
Also, while at school for the blind, I ran cross country and some track.
Running with a guide does take some trust on both your parts.
The guide and you need to communicate about things that are around you.
The guide doesn't need to stop and count stairs or tell you about the scenery but needs to communicate it quickly as you go.
Also, you can feel the movements ofyour guide as they turn, climb steps, etc.
When I ran with my dad, he is quite tall and I am short.
We had a rope that we ran around each other's wrists so that you could both swing your arms.
I'm sure that Jason can talk about the current guiding techniques but as with everything else, it comes down to what works.
If you have some vision, you might follow your guide.
You might ask him or her to wear a certain colour or not wear a certain colour.
If you think you'd like to try running and you can't see well, try it out.
If you feel your body can't handle running, try walking.
Due to some arthritis in my joints, I can't run anymore without some pain but can walk and walk and love that.
I'll finish with a funny running tale.
My dad and I were running together one christmas beside our canal here in Ottawa.
It was absolutely bitterly cold.
I pulled my hat down over my face and my scarf up.
So only my nose and a bit of mouth were showing.
They eyes were totally covered.
I don't use them anyway.
Some runners came along past us and we heard them say as they went by.
"Imagine! Trusting someone enough to let them guide you like that."
We laughed about that all through the rest of the run.
Perhaps they tried it?
Happy running to Jason and all of you runners out there.
Kim

One Step at a Time: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-05-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

I've started this blog post three separate times over the last week or so, only to get distracted and lose my train of thought. I thought I'd take another stab at it this morning.

Training at this time of year can be a painful process. After building a base through the winter, it can take a while for your legs to wake up to doing speed work - at least that has been my experience over the past little while. April and May is a pre-competition period where you are running intense intervals at close to the pace you hope to be able to sustain for races later in the track season. You are running less, but you are running harder and are aiming to recover well in between. You need to trust in the foundation of fitness you have built and to believe that it will carry you far. In the winter I ran the most mileage I have ever done, and had a few weeks where I hit 130 kilometres though the majority of weeks were closer to 110. I wouldn't take a day off on these weeks and would usually do two or three steady longer runs and go easier on the other days, and run twice on three or four of the days. It was training more in line with what a 10 km runner might do, and although I developed good aerobic fitness, I probably underdid things on the speed end through the winter, and as a result I'm having to swallow my pride in some of the recent workouts while my legs remember what it feels like to go fast.

Since returning from Whistler and beginning workouts on the track, my mileage has dropped by almost half. My current training week looks something like this:

Monday: 45 mins easy (4:30 per km), + circuit training using body weight (squat jumps, push ups, sit ups, side sit ups)
Tuesday, rest
Wednesday, am, 2 km easy jogging + 5 km at 3:45 per km. pm, 30 minute easy run or 30 minutes on the ellyptical
Thursday, track workout, intervals adding up to 3 kilometres of goal 1500 metre pace or 65 secs per lap, (e.g., 8 x 400m, 5 x 600m, 4 x 800m).
Friday, 35 minute easy run (4:20 to 4:40 per km), + circuit training.
Saturday, track workout, intervals adding up to 1500 metres at target 800 metre pace, or 59 seconds per lap, (3 x 500m, 600 + 400 + 400, 4 x 400m)
Sunday, light speed session on the track, intervals adding up to 800 metres at target 400 metre pace, about 52 seconds per lap, (10 x 80, 3 sets of 50 + 70 + 90, 6 x 120)

My first race effort will be here in Ottawa on May 22, where Greg and I are planning an 800 metre time trial in which we hope to solicit some pacing help from my friend Stuart and perhaps my brother. The following weekend, I'm registered to race the 5 km at the National Capital Race Weekend. My training has been focussed more towards 800 metres of late so racing the 5 km will be interesting but I wanted to do it as the Race Weekend has such a terrific atmosphere and is right here in our own city. After this race, my first official track race will likely be in Toronto on Saturday June 12. We are 83 days away from Nationals in Toronto at the end of July.

AAW is rolling along steadily and we are beginning to book more workshops through the spring and into the summer. We have the second of our speaker orientations coming up in Calgary at the end of this month and its shaping up to be a great event. I'm looking forward to visiting Calgary for the first time.

I'll end with a book recommendation: The Body Fat Solution, by a personal trainer named Tom Venudo. I never thought I would read a book with a title like this. As a runner I'm conscious of not wanting to carry extra weight, but I'm not too anal about diet and tend to think that any food is okay to eat in moderation. This is a thought provoking book that offers many insights into nutrition and exercise, but also a lot of life wisdom. I think the central theme is that to be successful you need to work hard, but that with the right planning and support, it is possible to achieve objectives you may never have thought possible. Its an inspiring read.

In my next entry I'll write about chasing a competitive running objective that has eluded me up to now. Take care and hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

Adapting hockey

2010-04-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,
I grew up with my grandfather and my father watching hockey avidly.
I soon grew to love hockey too.
My grandfather watched hockey night in Canada every Saturday night.
There weren't as many teams or games then.
He always wanted to know who the "Net minder" was going to be.
I grew to love watching hockey too and still enjoy it.
It is I guess a visual game but I still get things out of it when I listen.
This blog starts a series I will write about how I have adapted various sports so I could play them with my friends and family.
This starts with hockey as we are in the play offs now.
Let me say before everyone gets all excited about me as a hockey player, that hockey and I did not have a good relationship.
The first time we tried adapting hockey, we had a back yard rink.
My brother and some friends were playing and I wanted to play too.
They obliged as they usually did.
Instead of a puck, we got a big plastic jug, filled it with some things that rattled (maybe rocks or maybe frozen peas or something) and then they put me in goal and began shooting pucks or should I say jugs at me.
Soon, I felt the feeling of the beleaguered goaley.
bigger boys descending on me with this ferociously rattling jug.
I hated it.
Instead of standing my ground in goal or coming out to face the puck, I ran from it.
The score needless to say was lopsided.
My gran and I then played a form of hockey with a ball with a bell in it and some sticks.
We each had a goal and shot the ball at each other.
We called it hockey but I'm not quite sure what it was.
I liked it better than the version my brother had invented for sure.
I played a tiny bit of hockey at school for the blind.
This was floor hockey.
I hated it.
Picture a bunch of blind people running around with sticks, whacking each other's shins!
Some people loved it.
I was not one of them!
I don't remember what the puck was made of in this case.
We know that sledge hockey has become very popular and I know other blind people who have found ways to adapt hockey much more successfully than I did.
It wasn't the sport for me.
That is the great thing about sports and recreational activities.
There's one for all of us.
We just have to search until we find it.
Also, there's always a way to adapt a sport.
Any sport.
So get out there and be active and be creative when you adapt your recreational activities.
As for me, I remain a happy hockey spectator.
Kim

How healthy and active living got me three wonderful four-legged companions

2010-04-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Before I got my guide dogs, I was a white cane user.
I felt like a very competent cane traveller too and did not like it when others who were blind kept telling me to "Get a dog" Oh things would be so much easier if you just "Got a dog" "You know all of that construction you had to get through this morning, well it would be easier if you would just "get a dog".
At the time, I didn't want to "Get a dog". The more people who told me to do it, the less I wanted too.
I'm stubborn like that.
But, then I started to think that I'd at least like to try it to know what it would be like.
For me, it has been wonderful.
I've had three guides and I'm coming up to my 18th anniversary with them.
What a joy they have been.
But also, they have helped me to stay more active and walk more.
You have to go out no matter the weather.
When it is 30 below though, neither you nor your canine companion wishes to stay out long.
But often, I'll go out because my dog needs to.
Then I'll feel the sun, hear the birds. And I'll think, "Let's just go for a walk."
For me, having a dog means I'll walk further, faster, and more often.
So thanks to Gwenny my first black lab guide, Margaret my second yellow lab guide, and Gia my current golden retriever guide for helping me to stay more active.
Kim

Victory: 19 Minutes 45 Seconds

2010-04-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 17, I completed my sixteenth CN Tower Stair Climb in support of WWF Canada. This race was different from the others. I am so grateful to the people around me who encouraged me, and helped me to reach my goal of finishing in under twenty minutes.

I was growing dispirited and disenchanted with the event; tighter security, increasing crowds and not being allowed to take our music onto the stairwell made it more and more challenging to participate. In 2009, my finish time was an abysmal 21 minutes 36 seconds--I knew I could do better!

I had to train differently. Amazingly, when you really REALLY want to reach a goal, the things that you need will appear. I had all kinds of opportunities to cross-train, including preparing for my first 10K run which will take place on May 29 as part of Ottawa Race Weekend. Low Impact aerobics, strength training, spinning and a little yoga also played a major role in preparing for the climb. The problem of not having music was remedied when I was at one of our local music festivals and heard music that got me re-inspired and re-invigorated my training efforts. I trained using two pieces of music which I memorized; one song would be used as my 'base' pace and another for the sprints. While training for my 10K with the Running Room, I learned about a device that could attach onto my shoe and my iPod to give me a verbal read-out of distance traveled--wow, I thought, talking shoes! A friend of mine helped by having an old visualization tape burned onto a CD--for me, mental training is every bit as important as physical preparation. I was surrounded by people who both inspired and encouraged me to do my best and not to settle for mediocre results.

On race day, I was calm and ready. My sister Colleen was racing, too. There's always that lightning-bolt of adrenaline that hits when your time card is stamped at the bottom of the stairs and you know that you are on the clock until your card is stamped once again at the top. I felt great--all that cross training really helped as my legs did not have that 'lead' feeling. My breathing was under control. The tunes were in my head, helping me to focus on my time and pace. In my excitement, I sometimes 'jack rabbit' off too quickly at the beginning, leaving me depleted in the home stretch. There are 1,776 steps in the stairwell with 144 floors. At about floor 100, I knew instinctively that I was going to reach my goal! I lost a little time at the finish line because of a bottleneck of people waiting to get their time cards stamped.

I was also being interviewed for a piece that will be broadcast on the Accessible Channel--that was quite an honour. Our friends that we stay with in Toronto were there to congratulate us on the observation deck. There was much celebration when we received our t-shirts that proudly displayed our finish times. My sister is in training for her first marathon, and completed her race in a very respectable 19 minutes 58 seconds.

I have learned so much about myself in that vertical classroom called the CN Tower stairs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who offered words of encouragement, advice and support. During the 2010 Olympics, Rick Hansen did a series called The Difference Makers in which athletes were asked to tell stories about people who who were instrumental in their success. I have many difference makers and cannot thank them enough for all of their help.

Forces which are Greater than Ourselves: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-04-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this blog entry from a room in the Sheriton hotel in Niagara Falls, which is playing host to the Parks and Recreation Ontario Educational Forum where John Rapp, who is the E.D. at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre here in Ottawa and a member of our AAW Steering Committee, and I are co-presenting on inclusive recreation for people with disabilities today. I'm in a room on the 21st floor, with a patio style window which opens out towards the Falls, off to the left. The sound of crashing water is so fantastic and powerful, and a reminder that there are forces that are so much greater than ourselves.

Five days after starting this above thought from my hotel room in Niagara Falls, its truth is no less diminished. There are forces all around us to which we are inextricably connected, and which despite our best efforts, dictate the direction in which we are ultimately headed. As the saying goes, people make plans, and god laughs.

I think the only thing we have in our power to control is our level of effort. Having a positive attitude is the first part of this, in everything that we do. I think if we know we've done everything in our power to succeed or to do something well, then the integrity of the outcome will never be in doubt.

I can not say truthfully that my own attitude is always 100% positive, or that I do not have moments of doubt or negativity. I think these feelings are sometimes triggered by the forces around us. On the river of life, sometimes we are swept into things that hurt, and the key I think is not to try to cling on to the rocks which bruise us, but to go with the flow. Sometimes, if we let it, that flow can carry us fast, and far.

I have to admit that at the PRO conference last week I wasn't in a particularly positive frame of mind. The big conference venue can be isolating for someone who relies on others to get where they need to go. Still, I took in a great keynote presentation by Jennifer Hedger who hosts SportsNet, and our pannel presentation in the afternoon went well. On my way to the train station, I had a cab driver who was not shy to ask questions about blindness, which I always encourage. He brought me into the train station, where I asked the guy behind the counter if there was a place to buy a coffee in the station. The guy said that there was but that it was closed at the moment. About ten minutes later as I sat waiting for my train, my cab driver showed up and handed me a double double. Perhaps it was a gesture of kindness towards someone who the driver felt was not as fortunate, but I took it as a gesture of kindness towards someone who needed a cup of coffee.

My parents along with my main guide runner, Greg, and his daughter Olivia were in town this weekend so we had a full house. Greg and I got in some solid track training on what was the first of six weekends we plan to spend together leading into the competitive outdoor season. On Saturday we went to the indoor track and ran four 400 metre intervals in 58 to 60 seconds, or close to our projected 800 metre race pace, with seven minutes of recovery in between. We do not usually do two days in a row on the track, but on Sunday we did a shorter sprint style workout consisting of ten 80 metre sprints concentrating on a fast cadence and good running form. I figure I will try to work through the painful hamstrings earlier than in most years. This year, we made the decision to emphasize quality track work earlier than usual while aiming to maintain the aerobic base built through the fall and winter. Both Greg and I have been working on our base since August, so the hope is that all that aerobic foundation will give us the endurance base to sustain high quality training and racing throughout the outdoor track season.

Grattitude

2010-04-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

I an now just over one week away from my sixteenth climb up the CN Tower stairs. Many good things have happened since I started training seriously a few short months ago. It seems that I have everything that I need in order to succeed. One of those things, is an inspiration, guide and example for me to follow--my dad.

My father, Bill Clarke, just celebrated a milestone birthday on April 3. It was an opportunity for us to all look back at what he has achieved, and to look forward to more achievements to come. My father has always been athletic, having played 'football' in his native UK, and ridden everywhere on a bicycle. After coming to Canada and raising a family, Dad decided to run his first marathon. "Ha ha ha." my sister and I hooted with laughter at the thought of our dad running such a race. Much to our surprise and delight, he quit smoking and went on to complete not one, but seven marathons! All of these he completed in very respectable finish times.

Although I was born sight impaired, there was never any question that I would not get involved in sports. When I was young, there were not as many opportunities for kids with disabilities to become active--thankfully, that is changing, and there are more and more integrated programs available today. As a family however, we were always quite active--some of our best adventures involved taking long walks throughout Ottawa and being absolutely amazed at how much distance we covered. We would also spend time sliding down the snow-covered hills at the Experimental Farm.

While my dad taught me many life's lessons, one of the most inspiring was his telling me that, for example, while sighted children may be able to do ten things, as someone with impaired sight, I may only be able to do seven of those things--even so, I had to make sure that I did those seven things well.

My father was my best coach when I started participating in the CN Tower climbs. He and I would drive down to Toronto and he would always impart lots of advice. He has even accompanied my sister Colleen and I when we have participated in a CN Tower race--yes we all have a little family competition going, which inspires us to do our best. My dad is so proud that both of his daughters have made a concerted effort to keep themselves in excellent shape. I now am taking my first tentative steps into running--I've completed five 5K runs and am now training for my first 10k. Our dad's recent birthday celebrations were made even more special when Colleen proudly announced that she would be running her first marathon on May 30 as part of our Race Week End here in Ottawa.

While my father no longer runs marathons or climbs the Tower with us, he walks every day, indoors and out. He swims almost every day in the summer and can be found gardening and working outdoors. In 2004, after undergoing an angioplasty, he took serious control over his health and fitness--he is quick to remind us of the evils of an unhealthy diet. His recovery from the procedure was remarkable. My sister and I hope that genetics and a good healthy lifestyle will enable us to be healthy, active seniors.

The words of Naturally 7's song "True Friends and Family" say it all....

"You lift me up
And set me free.
So I can be all, all that I can be.
Up with the best of
Humanity
Found in true friends
And family."

Thanks, Dad!

Introduction

2010-04-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hello,
My name is Kim Kilpatrick.
Like Jason and Shelley, I too live in Ottawa.
I am totally blind and have been that way since birth.
I was thrilled when I was invited to contribute to this blog.
I thought for this first post, I'd talk a little about why active living has always been important to me.
I grew up in a very active family.
My dad had played hockey and baseball during high school and university.
He also ran track and did curling.
Although my mom hadn't participated in sports officially, she loved to be active.
My brother enjoyed sports as well and he was four years older than I was.
When I came along, it was just understood that I would be active too.
I have very early memories of kicking a huge beach ball around our yard.
I was able to hear it bouncing on the grass.
The first few times I kicked it, I fell over or missed the ball entirely.
But, I soon learned how to find the ball with feet or hands and kick it that way.
I also had a tricycle which I rode independently and eventually we got an old very heavy tandem bike with no speeds which I rode with family and friends for many years.
I learned to ice skate on a home made rink in our back yard.
I was bought some cross country skis.
People would direct me until my ski clad feet were in the tracks made by snow mobiles and off I would go.
I didn't need sighted guide assistance.
I could just ski unless my feet bounced out of the trail.
I learned to swim at age five after being terrified of water.
I eventually became a paralympic swimmer in the early 80s.
I attended at least six national competitions and two paralympics and I have three paralympic medals.
After high school I stopped swimming competitively but have continued an active life style.
I have some arthritis in some joints and thought when I was diagnosed that it would halt my active living.
But it hasn't.
I've been a member of a dragon boat team, taken and continue to take yoga classes, swim for fun, hike and walk, and exercise regularly on my stationery bike at home.
I have enjoyed snow shoeing, canoing, and rock climbing.
I think my active living life style has contributed to my getting my three guide dogs.
I'll talk about them in my next post.
I just wanted to say that whatever you can do to stay active, go out and find the right thing for you. If you haven't found it yet, keep trying. There are so many things to do out there.
Thanks for reading and hope you are still awake.
Smile!
Smile!
Kim

Back on Track: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-04-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

Last night I did my first track workout in preparation for the outdoor track season which is set to begin in May. My guide, Kile Desormeaux, and I did a series of 200 and 300 metre repeats close to projected 800 metre pace, finishing off with a 400 metre interval at the same pace. It was challenging and I have the stiff muscles to prove it, but I was happy with the effort and the times that we hit. Training has gone very well over the past six weeks, even despite being on the road for much of the time. My saving grace has been the treadmill. There was a three week period when I was in Whistler where I did not run a step outside. During this time I was aiming for two hard sessions a week, comprising a tempo run in the 20 to 22 minute range, and a hill session where I had the treadmill up to a 7 % incline for hill repeats of 40 to 60 seconds with twice the length of the interval for recovery. On the other days I did steady runs from 45 to 80 minutes.

After our very successful speaker orientation in Yellowknife in mid February, we had our Board in town for a weekend and then received news that our proposal to Celebrate Canada around promoting the Paralympic Torch Relay and inclusive physical activity was accepted. With needing to complete all activities related to this project by March 31, we had our backs up against the wall. We contracted past ALA Chair Henry Wohler to help coordinate the project and solicited help from our pt reps, speakers, and external partners in organizing workshops, activity days, and promotional events tied to inclusive physical activity and the Paralympic Torch. At last count, we were able to hold 23 events, which is great work on the part of everyone involved especially given the extremely tight timelines.

Another major undertaking for us was our involvement in the Accessibility Showcase. ALA partnered with the Office for Disability Issues, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Legacies 2010, and the Province of BC on this event which drew an audience of about 150 Canadian and international government and NGO delegates to Vancouver from March 8 to 10. The event focussed on some of the accessibility work going on in Canada in the areas of housing, employment, transportation and recreation, and provided ALA with a chance to present on our three key programs - Moving to Inclusion, the Youth Ambassadors across Canada initiative, and All Abilities Welcome. I co-presented with Rick Goodfellow on AAW on the final afternoon of the Showcase, and although our presentation was curtailed a little due to things being behind schedule, it seemed to go over well and I think in general, ALA's role at the Showcase was seen as very positive.

I had the tremendous opportunity to be in Whistler for nearly three weeks from March 5 to the 24th as a part of the Canadian Paralympic Committee's mission staff, in the role of athlete services officer. In essence I was a first contact for athletes in providing information, answering questions, and generally offering a listening ear and support in whatever way I could. CPC allowed me to bring a guide out to Whistler and my good friend from running, Stuart McGregor, agreed to come out with me. We spent the majority of our time in the Athlete Lounge where we tried to create a comfortable and positive team atmosphere with a medal board, flags, music, Paralympic press coverage, snacks, and televised Paralympic events. I got to know a number of athletes pretty well, particularly the crosscountry skiers who made up the majority of our athletes in the Whistler Athlete's Village. Stuart and I also got to check out some of the alpine and crosscountry action in person. The local support at both venues was absolutely outstanding and our Canadian athletes had no shortage of vocal encouragement. I admit I was a little jealous of our athletes and the opportunity to compete in front of that kind of support in our home country. We saw Brian McKeever and his brother Robin annialate their competition in two of their three gold medal winning races. What a statement of dominance those races were from two athletes, brothers who are at their prime and at the top of their game. Those races were among my personal highlights from the Games, along with the experience of marching into the Opening Ceremonies in the Team Canada uniform in front of 60,000 screaming fans at BC Place. One other highlight from my time in Whistler was carrying the Paralympic Torch. The streets in Whistler were lined with people going to or from the ski hill on a sunny, cool afternoon, and the atmosphere was again fantastic. Stuart and I ran together with the Torch for about 200 metres, feeling like rockstars. The experience of running with the Torch was better than I'd anticipated, and I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity.

4-Legged Coaches

2010-02-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

When athletes succeed, they typically give a lot of credit to their coaches for all their help and motivation. While three of my “coaches” lack scientific expertise, backgrounds in sports psychology and strategies needed to win, they more than make up for it with enthusiasm, patience and moral support as I prepare for my CN Tower Stair Climb and 10k run. While not to diminish the hard work that professional or volunteer coaches do, an athlete’s support team can take on many different forms. These three particular coaches have four legs and tails, say ‘meow’ and love to get into the act when it’s time for exercise.

I sometimes go to my sister Colleen’s place to work out. She has a home gym in the basement with and Eliptical, a treadmill and a fine array of exercise equipment. I start off on the cardio machines and finish with a good, long stretch. No sooner have I started my warm-up when I hear the pitter-patter of eight little feet bounding down the basement stairs to see what I’m up to. Almost instinctively, the whirr of the machine brings Murray and Myles, 16-year old brothers downstairs. Murray is a lovely little grey and white tabby whose mission in life is to make others laugh and smile. He clowns around, strutting his stuff and sitting playfully on the exercise equipment nearby. He has been known to lounge luxuriously on the weight bench, as if saying, “Who me! Exercise?” His brother Myles (Davis; so named for the jazz trumpeter) is a different cat altogether. Like his namesake, Myles is a cool, aloof, silky black cat who takes everything very seriously. He insists on standing in front of the cardio machines, meowing every once in awhile, just to make sure that I don’t ignore his presence and keep up my hard work.

When the cardio portion is over, it’s time to hit the floor for some much-needed stretching. Murray joins in, lying beside me and attempting his version of his kitty-stretch routine. Hey, it must be working as, despite his age, he romps and plays as though he was still a kitten. His favourite game is to play ‘goalie’ at the top of the basement stairs with a wad of tin-foil. Myles Davis, on the other hand, believes in adding a little resistance to my stretch by sitting on me as I try to loosen up arms and legs that sometimes have to be coaxed into position. Try stretching while a solid hunk of a 15-pound ball of purring love and affection uses you as his personal pillow! After my session is over, this same cat wants to be picked up and carried back upstairs again; I guess he wants me to do a little more weight-bearing while climbing stairs.

Lastly, my most consistent training partner is a little fluffy gal, originally from the streets of Gatineau named Gigi. She’s ten years old, and one of the nicest little cats you will ever meet, despite her questionable past. When I’m doing a stretch after some stair climbing or weights at home, she stretches, too. Cats always take lots of time to stretch. We can learn a thing or two about this important part of our exercise routine from their example. Gigi is only too happy to join in the fun, staying close by while I attempt to maneuver around in such as way as to avoid accidentally hitting or kicking her. She’s a gorgeous, svelte, 10 pounds of solid female with beautiful grey streaks running through her lovely black fur. She has sparkling green eyes that just glow with encouragement. Because I spend more time playing on the floor with her, it actually makes me spend more time stretching, too.

Our animals can teach us so much! I am so fortunate to have this little team of ‘coaches’ to help me along in my pursuit of athletic excellence.

Promoting Inclusion where the Sun never Sets: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-02-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

Its a little after 6 am local time here in Yellowknife. I'm waking up early here with the two hour time difference between NWT and Ottawa, where its just after 8 am. Figured it was time to make coffee.

Just to recap on the race I was planning on running in Ottawa this past weekend: Greg and I never made it to the line... I think fate conspired against us. Greg came down with the flu on Friday and on top of that, he misplaced his daughter's id, meaning she wasn't allowed to fly. Greg's daughter is four years old and was looking forward to going skating on the Rideau, so it was a bit of a let-down and we were sad for both of them. In the end I did what was a challenging treadmill workout on Saturday, two sets of 5 x 50 second uphill intervals on the treadmill.

I flew up to Yellowknife on Monday, as we are holding the first of four speaker orientation sessions here this week for speakers living in the north. I was fully prepared for cold weather but it has been in the -10 to -15 range, not much different from home. In addition to several local speakers, we have two speakers who came from Nunavut - Paul Hauli who is a recreation director in Hall Beach, and Ammie Kipsigak, who is Hall Beach's mayor. Ramesh Ferris is also here from Whitehorse. In 2008, Ramesh hand cycled across Canada to raise awareness about polio and to promote polio irradication. We are an ecclectic group and there's such a diversity of experiences, knowledge and ideas.

We'll be holding the orientation workshop today and are expecting an additional six or seven other speakers to come out. Aside from today, our community development representative here, Joan Hirons, has planned a series of workshops through the week with the help of her committee. Yesterday, we delivered a workshop promoting inclusive active living to people with a disability. We had twelve people come out for that, which is great particularly in a place where the population is only 19,000. We even had a CBC radio reporter show up... cudos to the ALA committee here on generating publicity for us. Our other workshop will be tomorrow and will target recreation providers, and we're expecting about 14 rec providers, municipal staff, and even a Government of NWT rep... again, terrific interest.

Travelling can make it difficult to fit in runs as I normally would at home. There's a gym here in the hotel where we're staying, and although the treadmill was out of use on Monday afternoon, I did a stationary bike ride and got in a good tempo run yesterday morning, and will go for an easier run this morning. I'm just trying to get runs in and stay as consistent as I can.

I've also been able to check out Yellowknife a little. After the workshop yesterday, Joan took me for a drive along an ice road, which turns a normally 30 minute drive from Yellowknife out to the Deda First Nations community into a 10 minute trip in winter. On the way back we drove by what used to be a mine. Last night, Joan took Ramesh and I to a restaurant called Bullock's Bistro. It had been recommended to me on Monday by the airport shuttle driver as a "place to go" in Yellowknife. The place is ornately decorated with various bumper stickers and there is a caribou head by the door that has been dressed up in a variety of clothing. The woman who runs the restaurant is notoriously moody, from over the top friendly to ornery from what I'm told. Last night, she was in good spirits however and we had a fantastic whitefish dinner along with a beer. It was neat to go there.

There is a feeling of sereneness and peace up here and I think I can understand what draws people here, or what keeps them. The air is so clean and everything feels so fresh and open. People are extremely friendly, and generally more relaxed I think. I've also met a few interesting characters - an American who teaches workplace safety courses and who has he and I pegged as soul mates, and a cab driver who randomly and angrily complained about the aweful food in Canada. Note to self, be careful who you make smalltalk with, :).

Running in Circles: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-02-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

I wrote this last night on the train ride back from Toronto.

Its Saturday night as I write this. My wife Colleen and I are on the train heading back to Ottawa from Toronto, where I raced an indoor 1500 metre race at York University along with my guide, Greg Dailey. We headed down last night so it was a short trip which involved going out for dinner with Greg and a teacher friend of his, ten hours of much needed sleep, and a veggy omelette at a place called The Spot, right across the street from Greg's apartment. Our race didn't go until a little after 4:00 today so we weren't in a rush.

The first race in the season is often not spectacular and this was no exception. I didn't expect a lot going into this race, as indoor racing on a 200 metre track, with the narrower straightaways and frequent turns, is difficult for Greg and I to navigate effectively. It is hard to get any kind of rhythm going. Coupled with this, neither of us had been on the track much as we've been focussing on base training with the outdoor season in mind. Today represented a chance for us to mix it up with some university runners and use it as a fitness test just to see where things were at.

We raced in the second of three heats. Before the race, I had what I thought was a conservative goal in mind - to run around 4:15 (our best is 4:07). This meant that for each 200 metre lap, we'd need to average about 34 seconds. The race started out with us being cautious, and with Greg keeping us to the outside and looking for an opportunity to pick a spot for us to cut in. This is always tricky as it means we're running very close to other athletes, who are looking to cut in, exactly as we are.

We were more or less on track with our pace goal through the first 4 laps, hitting the 800m in about 2:17 with some surges and changes in pace among the group. We were in about eighth place at this point. It felt as though we picked it up as we neared the kilometre, but the split was 2:53, meaning that we slowed down. After that we did pick off a couple of runners and were moving up on Gary Storey, who I used to train with when I lived in Guelph. In the end Gary pulled away on us over the last 100m or so, and we were caught by another runner to finish seventh in our heat. We didn't get the official time but it was around 4:18 or 4:19 - a little off what I had wanted but an effort that will hopefully help to set things up for a 3000 metre race which Greg and I will be running on the 400m indoor track in Ottawa next week.

Now a little on my training so far this winter. I made the decision last year to become self-coached, after six years working with Ray Elrick who is a coach with the Ottawa Lions track club in Ottawa. I ran well under Ray and he was and is very dedicated in enabling blind athletes to assimilate within his group. When I moved to Ottawa in 2003, Ray ensured from the outset that I wasn't left behind or forgotten about when the group would head out for a warm-up, and after a while, runners would automatically offer to guide me and in this way, I developed a terrific training group around me and would typically run with any one of about 7 or 8 athletes during any given workout. Under Ray, I made two Paralympic teams, competing with my guide Greg in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008, and capturing 1500m silver and bronze respectively. Last year however, the makeup of our group changed with some athletes leaving and basically, I started to feel like I might benefit from trying something different too. I felt like I had learned enough about my body and what it needed to try coaching myself. Beginning last fall, I trained by running outside with friends and training partners who had formerly trained with Ray, and ran a lot on a treadmill I have at home. Over the fall, I increased the volume of steady running that I was doing to a higher volume than I had ever done, and started doing regular tempo runs, with less emphasis on interval training where you run hard with rest breaks. A tempo run is usually done around the pace you might expect to hold for a half marathon, for a duration of 20 to 40 minutes. These runs are challenging, not all out, but uncomfortable and they serve the purpose of building endurance and your ability to sustain a hard pace for a long time. These tempos and the increase in volume has been the basis of the training I have been doing this year, and it has enabled me to develop a higher level of fitness than ever before. I haven't done a lot of fast running on the track yet, so am not especially race sharp as I found out in our season opener today. I'm hoping that all the fitness I've been building up over these months however will help me to reach a new level in racing when I do start to add in more intensity in the spring, with the focus aimed at racing well in the outdoor season, from May to August.

Next week I'll write about the 3000 metre race which Greg and I are running on Saturday February 13 in Ottawa. Thanks again for checking out our blog... have a great week everyone.

On Track with Inclusion: by Jason Dunkerley

2010-02-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

I’m excited that we are developing this new forum, as a place for people to share life perspectives on physical activity and inclusion, through the lens of their own experiences. As one of several contributors to our new blog, I hope to share updates on my training as a blind middle distance runner, in hopes that others with a disability, as well as recreation providers and others who facilitate inclusive access to physical activity, will realize the transformative value of physical activity. After all, the term “recreation” embodies the idea of re-creating something new.

Active living means a lot of different things to different people. To some, it might mean the chance to take their dog for a walk, take an aerobics class at a local YMCA, or meet a friend at a coffee shop. Whatever active living means to us as individuals, it is so closely connected to independence, self-expression, and the self-worth that is inspired in us through the freedom to move and to be engaged in the world around us.

For me, competitive middle distance running has been my active living outlet for years, since the two or three years before I started high school in the early nineties. Outside of running, I’m basically a couch potato. Particularly in the last year or two, I’ve really come to enjoy the opportunity to do nothing at all. The prospect of a Saturday or Sunday afternoon nap on the couch, or a free night to veg out at home, is something I’ve come to value as very important. This is, I think, due in large part to an intense running training schedule where rest – both physical and psychological - is key in recovering from hard training effectively.

As an insecure fourteen-year-old looking for a way to “fit in” at the beginning of high school, I think the encouragement I received from one or two teachers and staff --mentors for me in pursuing competitive running--triggered a chain reaction of life experiences, both on and off the track. After competing locally against athletes who were able-bodied, and then provincially and nationally against athletes who were blind, I continued running after high school at the University of Guelph. The chance to train with athletes as part of a top collegiate able-bodied program made it possible for me to improve to the point of qualifying for my first national team in 1998, and from there to representing Canada at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. In Australia my guide, Greg Dailey and I came 0.04 seconds away from winning the 1500 metre race for blind athletes. Greg and I qualified for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, clinching silver, and at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008, we came away with bronze. We have our sights set on competing in a fourth Games in London in 2012.

Running has given me the opportunity to travel the world and to meet some amazing people. It has taught me about patience, as success in running does not come about through a single magical workout, but is built on weeks, months and years of consistent, steady training. Running has challenged me to be adaptable also. An example of this is sometimes running hard up flights of apartment stairs in order to simulate a hard lactic workout, at times when I do not have a guide to work out with on the track.

Away from the track, running has also opened doors for me into career opportunities. In 2006 I was sponsored by a bank to train full time for a year while gaining valuable work experience at the bank in public relations. I believe running has in many ways led me to my current job at ALA where I coordinate the All Abilities Welcome program. But above all, running has enabled me to developed confidence and a sense of self-assurance in my own ability. So often, I see this lacking among people with a disability. Its fair to say that many who have a disability are not encouraged and may even be sheltered from pursuing an active lifestyle, and as a result, they miss out on the incredible, transformative benefits that being active can bring about. Lo levels of physical activity are more prevalent today than ever before; so imagine what this means for people with a disability who generally speaking have less access to physical activity opportunities in the first place, and imagine what it means for their future. At a time when awareness and sensitivity around inclusion is at an all time high in Canada, we have a better opportunity than ever before--a social responsibility--to ensure that people with a disability feel encouraged, and ultimately come away empowered, through participation in physical activity.

All this to say that I’m looking forward to writing about my training. I hope that by doing so, people may realize that with the right encouragement and support, and through a little personal motivation, it is possible to develop and work at something that is meaningful and personally very fulfilling. If an insecure fourteen-year-old who is blind and looking to “fit in” in high school can be encouraged to pursue a path that could lead to the Paralympic podium, then there’s no question that others are capable of doing the same or more. At very least, the experience of being active is an experience worth having, and one that we owe to ourselves, for everything it can do to recreate us.

Next week I’ll write about a 1500 metre track race which my guide Greg and I are running on Saturday February 6 at York University, and will talk about some of the training I’ve been doing this winter. Until then, take care and thanks for checking out our blog.

2010-01-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

Hello All,
My name is Shelley Ann Morris. I live in Ottawa.

This blog is a fantastic place for all of us to share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusive sport and fitness.

Right now, I'm preparing for two events:

Twice per year, the CN Tower stairwell is opened to the public. On April 17, I'll be participating in the 20th annual climb in aid of the World Wildlife Federation. It will be my sixteenth climb, and my goal is to complete the 1,776 step journey in under 20 minutes.

In May, Ottawa hosts the Race Weekend. There are all kinds of events, including a 5K, 10K, half and full marathon. I'll be running my first 10K on May 29.

I would welcome any comments, suggestions and training tips. I hope through this blog that I can share a little of what I have learned with you.

"The difficult, I'll do right now.....
The impossible might take a little while."
(from 'Crazy He Calls Me' Billie Holiday).