Peter's Team Diabetes Triathlon (and formerly Marathon) Blog

Pre-race course tour

In the City Market (Canada's oldest!) with a Saint John Loyalist

Check out Dusty, our beloved pooch, in Jill's shoulder bag

Just prior to the start

Myra (as she says) "on her tether"


The big finish

Cheering on other finishers

Our friends Ryan (who ran a Boston Qualifying time!) and Elizabeth (who did the Half Marathon)

This video is from some amazing Team Diabetes participants. Give it a look.

Had a great time as guide to Myra Rodrigues at the Marathon By The Sea yesterday. We finished upright and smiling in 3:18. This was her second Half Marathon in only 8 days so she (and I) were very pleased with the result. Some pictures and a longer race report will follow when I can find a few minutes.

To listen to a pre-race interview that Myra and I did on CBC radio click here

In a few minutes we're off to Saint John to meet up with Myra. Today we're going to take a drive around the course then we'll go the the Expo to get registered. Myra will also be delivering a talk at the Expo. Tonight is the pre-race pasta dinner and then early to bed so that I am all ready to go on Sunday. Watch for some pics and a race report at the beginning of the week.

Monday, September 17, 2007, p. A3

Banks, Paul
The Telegram

Myra Rodrigues is pounding the marathon pavement for what she feels is the liberation of those with vision loss.
The 64-year-old Toronto woman started her power-walking initiative in St. John's on a rainy Sunday with the Newfoundland Provincial Marathon. She is now endeavouring to power-walk a marathon in each of the provinces and territories to raise money for the CNIB, the national organization that assists those with vision loss.
That includes Rodrigues. She has just two per cent of her vision, seeing only bright lights and bright colours when up close.
That's why when she walked a half-marathon Sunday, she could be seen escorted by a guide, holding onto lightweight flexible tubing attached to her guide's fanny pack.
She started as a client with the CNIB when she was four years old - after being affected by infantile glaucoma - and says she understands how important the services are for those with vision loss.
"I'm turning 65 and thought it would be nice to do a race in every province, but I thought, 'That's kind of selfish, I should be doing it for a purpose.' I couldn't think of a better purpose," she said.
Rodrigues is trying to raise money to expand the CNIB's national braille and audiobook collection, and to help with the transfer of audiobooks from analogue to digital.
She said the library has a good selection, but with braille being a tactile media, it eventually needs replacing.
"I won't say it's a poor collection, but the problem with braille is it wears out because you're reading it with your fingers, and it's being shipped through the mail. Something embossed five or six years ago is being sent all over the country, and being handled extensively."
She said the audio transfer work is also important as the analogue book service is being discontinued, adding it needs money now as it could take up to 10 years without additional funds.
But for her, braille is the key for those with vision loss.
"Braille is important for literacy; to be literate. You can listen to the radio, but you're not literate. Braille gives you spelling, it gives you context. It's important for reading," she remarked.
"Braille equals literacy equals freedom, really, and equality. To do simple things even - writing phone numbers, labelling CDs, your canned goods or doing a shopping list - you can't do that well if you're doing that in an audio format."
She has an affinity for Canadian literature and is putting a focus on that in her campaign.
"I'm a bit of a patriot," said Rodrigues, who retired six years ago as a research analyst for the attorney general's office with the Ontario government.
No dollar amount target has been set, but 100 per cent of what is raised will go to the CNIB as she is picking up her own expenses.
In all, Myra's Marathon, as she's dubbed it, will take her to 13 different race events across the country in the next year. Her next will be in Saint John, N.B., at the Marathon by the Sea next Sunday.
She will finish up at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Sept. 28 next year.
Of course, as a power-walker with vision loss, her goal also requires the commitment of several guides in her journey, which is a skill in itself, Rodrigues emphasized.
Joining her in St. John's was a fellow power walking club member from Ontario, Jessica Mills.
"You have to be more aware of your surroundings. I talk to Myra and describe what is going by of interest. You're watching your own footing and watching for someone else. We have to be careful of what's around us," said Mills.
And communicating is not just for safety - it's also to help with the whole experience.
"I'm acting as her eyes. It's safety and also the environment. It can be a neat looking tree or a beautiful house."
Rodrigues, meanwhile, is also a scuba diver and has participated in white water rafting.
She also serves as a member of the CNIB's national board of directors. She's now working with two others to create a new textbook for teachers of braille.

pbanks@thetelegram.com

In advance of the 25-year reunion of my graduating class from the Royal Military College I had a couple of old pictures scanned onto disc. This one of me with my mom and dad was taken at my enrollment ceremony in Ottawa in 1978, just a few weeks before I shipped out to basic officer training in Chilliwack, BC.

Four years later at graduation I looked like this


and 25 years later I look like this

Wow, a chilly start to the day today! As I hopped on my bike it was only 2c and there was frost on all the parked cars. Fall has fallen!

Had a great weekend of jazz and blues. Without doubt the musical act that I enjoyed the most was The Lee Boys, a gospel/funk band from Miami, Florida. They were amazing !!! I also really enjoyed their opening act, the Smythe Street Cathedral choir/band who performed a wide array of music ranging from traditional to contemporary. On Saturday night we saw two great acts - "Matchstick Mike & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys" and "John Campbelljohn feat. Watermelon Slim".

Sunday I participated in the annual Terry Fox run/walk/roll. I did the 10k distance and used it as a last training walk before next weekend's Marathon By The Sea. I was hoping to be able to do an 8;00/km pace and I hit my target almost bang on, finishing with a 7:58 pace according to my Garmin. I am ready to rock the Port City with Myra.

Every year at the Terry Fox run they have a big board that you can sign. Here's a pic that I found of it on the web. If you look closely in the lower right area you'll see the names of two people that I particpate in memory of - my dad John McDougall (leukemia) and my stepfather Les O'Brien (liver cancer).

This is one of the best weekends of the year in Fredericton because our Harvest Jazz and Blues festival is on. The city is really alive with the sounds of great music. Started my day today by stopping off on my ride to work at the CBC's annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Breakfast which is a fundraiser for the Leo Hayes High and Fredericton High school bands. Yum !!

This weekend is also the annual Terry Fox run. After I completed my first marathon I vowed that "come hell or high water" I would participate in the Terry Fox run every year to honour one of Canada's greatest ever heroes. I know how much it took out of me to do a single marathon but that pales in comparison to what Terry did - the equivalent of a marathon a day for 143 days !!

A very talented Atlantic Canadian musician Terry Kelly has made a VIDEO that relates directly to what Myra is marathon-ing for. Click on the link and have a look.

Recently I moved to a new model and brand of shoe. I had been wearing the Saucony Grid Shadow 5 since I started running on a consistent basis in 2002 (don't know how many pairs I've worn out but I'd guess at least 7 or 8!) but they are a model that is no longer amongst the main Saucony offerings. I tried the Brooks Beast but found it not to be to my liking. Now I am in New Balance 882's and they have been great right from the first time I wore them.

Yesterday I was out for another training walk in preparation for Marathon By The Sea and as I reached the last third of my planned route I passed by the site where the annual Fredericton Dragon Boat festival was taking place. It is a big event with goodness knows how many teams competing as a fund raiser for youth sport in the area.


Also yesterday the Parkinson's Walk was taking place. They travelled along the trail through the midst of the dragon boat site led by two pipers. I was really struck by the significance of seeing so many people from our community out on a beautiful day showing their willingness to get involved in supporting worthy causes.

One of the things that people often comment about is how friendly and generous Maritimers are. Here's an example:

A little over a week ago I contacted some friends and colleagues to see whether they had any "pull" with someone within the hotel industry in Saint John. I was hoping that I might be able to find accommodations for Myra when she is in town for the Marathon By The Sea (yippee - only 2 weeks to go!) since she is covering all of her travel expenses out of her own pocket and 13 airline trips and 13 weekends of hotels/meals/etc are going to add up quickly.

Through one of my buddies' network the request ultimately found its way to a manager at the Hilton Hotel Saint John Trade and Convention Center who has very generously offered Myra a room at their beautiful facility which is right on the SJ harbour. I've stayed there before and can attest to the fact that it is a first-rate hotel.

To Kevin, the Hilton SJ's sales manager, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

If you click HERE it will take you to a short video about Myra, the amazing lady that I will be partnered with for the upcoming Marathon By The Sea and the Prince Edward Island Marathon.