May 26

From May 22 – May 26, I had the opportunity to visit one of the most hospital places in Canada: the city of St. John’s. While I was there for a work conference, it also provided the backdrop for some fun and entertainment, the kick-off of the Terry Fox foundation’s Tour of Hope, and as far as this blog is concerned: some good training.

The people of St. John’s are fantastic. So down to earth, so eager to make you feel welcome, so quintessentially Canadian you’d think they cast the mold for the rest of us. When your time there includes a private concert for 350 people by Great Big Sea and the chance to hear Rex Murphy speak on what it means to be a Newfoundlander/Canadian words can describe it but your heart and mind will never forget it.

On the training front, you should know that St. John’s really is a rock. And not a flat rock. Any trip includes some impressive hills that remind you of Vancouver or other coastal cities such as San Francisco. I have no idea how they deal with that with the snow. I went on one two hour run along the East Coast trail that included a 200m climb up a hill/mountain and carried along the path over rock & bush, past lakes and trees. Oh yeah, it also included about a dozen postcard views that included ice bergs sightings and snow (which I still haven’t figured out). Following that, I walked to Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). On a side note: anytime a local talks about MUN they have to add that it is the largest university east of McGill. I think John Crosbie was responsible for that. I had hoped the pool was set up for 50m (which I have never done) but unfortunately was the regular 25m. The water was still wet though and got some work done.

With two events down only the bike is left. Last year, I took my bike to Banff for the same conference and rode approximately 350km while I was there. Due to the 90% probability of rain and cold I left my rig at home this time. Weather was good however and 5 of us were able to get decent enough road bikes to rent and we headed out to the most easterly point in the Western Hemisphere: Cape Spear. With some fantastic climbs and big winds it took us slightly less than 2.5hrs which included some descents at 80km/hr.

On one of the rides last year I had the honour of meeting Daryl Fox, Terry’s brother, who leads the Terry Fox Foundation. As impressed as I was of his ability to take me to school on the bike up the hills, it was his thankfulness and humility that struck me the most. No ego, no pretense, nothing. It was only later I learned he would focus on other events after running his first and only marathon as he came in only 3^rd place and has been a nationally ranked duathlete (run/bike/run events). My pride wasn’t as bruised from getting dropped by him.

Daryl and the original van they used back in 1980 for the Marathon of Hope will be going coast to coast to raise awareness and money for cancer research. You can read about it HERE. ScotiaMcLeod will be hosting the Tour across the country in various communities. While all the details have yet to be released, we do know we will be welcoming the Tour of Hope to Brampton on July 15^th.

The conference ended fittingly. After playing such gracious hosts we were there to help raise over $215,000 at a charity event to help the local cancer centre purchase two pieces of equipment. It was the least we could do to say: “God luv ya cotton socks b’y.”