Desperately Seeking Kids Who Wanna Run

Barrie Shepley, the Olympic triathlon coach, sent out a desperate plea this week looking for 1,000 kids to run in a one-miler as part of the Kinetico Running Festival on Sunday in Caledon.

Barrie wrote: “You know that I am an eternal optimist. I need your help. I am trying desperately to bring 1000 kids together to set a national record. You can't imagine how difficult it can be to try to give away 1000 FREE race entries.

“Free race t-shirt. Free finishers medal. Free souvenir poster, as well as a great goody bag and a chance to meet some of top elite and international athletes like Lisa Bentley (11x Ironman Champion), Sean Bechtel  (Pan American Games triathlete), Reid Coolsaet (our top marathoner at 2hrs 16 minutes), Cameron Sylvester (Olympic rower) and Jade Scognamillo (the 15 year old who recently swam Lake Ontario and became the youngest woman ever (in 19hrs and 59 minutes).”

Sounds like a heckuva good deal. There’s also a 5k and 10 miler as part of the festival, which aims to create a family/supportive environment.

Barrie says the one-mile run is short and easily attainable for all ages. There will be 3-year-olds walking and older kids jogging or running. There is a climbing wall, a live band and some great draw prizes for the entire family.

The races start at 12:30pm (10-miler), 5km at 1pm and the One Miler at 2:10pm, giving people a chance to sleep in on Sunday morning and still enjoy the afternoon run/festivities.

There’s a significant chartitable aspect as well as both the Ontario Lung Association and the local food bank will benefit from the event.

They need people pre-registered in advance to properly provide food and shirts for all. “I guarantee you that this will be a memorable afternoon for all involved,” wrote Barrie.

Lastly, they’re also looking for volunteers at the event. Anyone interested can email Luisa Ruby, the volunteer coordinator, at ltruby@rogers.com. You can register and get more info at http://www.c3online.ca/index.shtml.

Waterfront Marathon: Also checking in on the running front is another tireless running advocate, Alan Brookes, who’s staging the 20th Anniversary Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, September 27th.

He’s got 98-year-old Fauja Singh and 78-year-old Ed Whitlock confirmed to join Joan Benoit Samuelson as “The Legends” in this event that’s expecting a record 20,000 participants.

Brookes said Singh will be joined in the Waterfront 5K by Amjit Singh and Amrik Singh, both British Sikhs over 80 years old and a large group of kids from the Guru Gubind Singh Children’s Foundation.

Mayor David Miller will join Ed Whitlock and Joan Benoit Samuelson in the Half marathon.

It’s anticipated more than $1.5 million will be raise for 99 local charities on the day. Online entry and pledging, plus further information on the best locations to watch, is at http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com.

Touching Gesture to Late Brother has Great Merritt

Before he steps onto the Varsity Stadium track for the men’s 400 metres at the Festival of Excellence on June 11, Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt will kiss his fingers and point to the sky.

REUTERS PHOTO

LaShawn Merritt brings his star power to Toronto next month.

It’s a ritual he’s followed since high school and it’s a tribute to his older brother Antwan, who died when LaShawn was just 13, falling out of a dorm window at college while trying to avoid a fight. His brother was his hero. Whatever his Antwan did, LaShawn wanted to follow.

“He never got to see me do what I love to do, so it kind of boils down to us doing it together,” said Merritt this week. “We’re stepping out together. He pretty much guides me through it. … It’s kind of like doing it for the both of us.”

At just 22, Merritt is a rising star in the track world. He knocked off fellow American Jeremy Wariner at the Beijing Games and makes it clear he’s not content at being an Olympic champion.

“It don’t stop there," said Merritt. "It’s one of the things, one of the goals I wanted to accomplish. I’m Olympic champion, but I still want the world record, I still want to be world champion. Olympic champion is great, something that can’t be taken away from me. But it doesn’t stop.

“I’m only 22. It’s one stepping stone. I plan on running in several more Olympics, more world championships and world records eventually. It feels good, but not all I think about.”

“I don’t really even see the medals unless I have to pull ‘em out for an appearance. Forward movement now.”

You gotta give the organizers of the Festival of Excellence their props. Not only did they pull off the feat of getting Jamaican triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt as the headliner – thanks to Cambridge Mile organizer John Carson’s connections – but Carl Georgevski and David Reid are assembling a stellar supporting cast.

It shapes up to be an exciting night as the University of Toronto attempts to bring big-time track and field back to the city. Tickets available atticketbreak.com.

Forever An Ace: Herb Carnegie

He struggles to walk, can’t see anymore, but former hockey great Herb Carnegie doesn’t need a slapshot to still have a huge impact.

That was very apparent last night at the Amazing Aces Future Aces Awards Gala in Scarborough, where among the honourees were Olympic wrestling champion Daniel Igali, who along with his partner Franca were given the award for Courage.

STAR PHOTO

Herb Carnegie, left, and Daniel Igali.

Most people with kids in the school system are aware of the Future Aces program initiated by Carnegie, who was one of this country’s top hockey players in the ‘30s but denied the opportunity to play in the NHL because of racism.

The Future Aces program and its Creed teaches kids about developing a positive attitude, respecting each other, helping society and all the good stuff you want to be reinforced at school.

Carnegie walks the talk. Almost 90, Carnegie just has this special aura about him, one of serenity and class. You feel good just being around the man.

And as Igali found out in meeting him for the first time, he’s still as sharp as a tack. “Knowing what he went through, it’s remarkable that there’s not any deep-rooted resentment, no feeling that Canada owes him anything, but rather he finds the best in people,” said Igali, who runs his own foundation.

“I was telling him that I’m travelling back to Nigeria tomorrow and he asked me how we can get Future Aces started in Nigeria. That universal vision is one we need now. “I know he doesn’t see anymore, but you wouldn’t know it. He sees the best in everybody. It’s what we need in the world right now.”

Marc and Craig Kielburger, who are doing incredible work with youth through Free the Children and their other endeavours, were honoured in the Education category. Emily and Dr. Ken Ng won the Service award, while Wayne and Winsome Isaacs won for Achievement.

Looking For A Great Family Event? We’ve Got It Here

The 9th Annual C3 Caledon Kinetico Kids of Steel Triathlon is on Sunday (May 24) and I can still remember the first because my daughter was in it.

She was about 3 at the time and, because the swimming portion is in an indoor pool and it was cool outside that day, I spent an inordinate amount of time getting her dry before she went out on her bike for the second leg (Rookie Dad, eh). She was the last one onto her bike by at least five minutes (Believe me, it was my doing; she’d have been a contender otherwise).

But the cool thing about it was how everyone cheered her on as she pedaled around with her training wheels, father in tow. She was so proud of herself, just beaming. It was definitely what sport should be about.

Believe me, if you get a chance, take your kids to this event in Caledon (register online here), about a half hour north of Toronto. You won’t regret it. It’s a tremendous family outing.

It’s organized by the tireless Barry Shepley, Olympic coach at the 2000 Sydney Games when Simon Whitfield did his thing. Whitfield got his start in Kids of Steel when he was 12 years old. He’s still a kid, though he’s moved up in weight class.

They’re expecting over 1,000 kids this weekend so make sure to book a spot soon. For the little ones, it consists of a 20m swim, a 300m cycle and 200m walk/jog to finish it off, not to mentioned the never ending towel off for us overprotective types.

There is also a kids 2km run, a teen 5km run as well as many other versions of the triathlon for all ages. The swimming is in a heated pool and the biking and running takes place on a local closed road.

There’s also face painting, music, a post race BBQ and every kid gets the same Kids of Steel medal that Whitfield got twenty years ago (I don't mean to say Barrie keeps recycling it!)

Kids only need a bathing suit, swim goggles, a functioning bike and helmet and running shoes. They’re also looking for volunteers.

Kids Could Have Had Olympic Oval Rockin'

RICHMOND, B.C.

It was a disappointing turnout yesterday for the curtain-opener at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships at the impressive Richmond Olympic Oval.

DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS

This are rare opportunities to see stuff like the Denny Dash.

There were huge sections of empty seats at the cavernous ice hall and it seemed like the large contingent of Dutch fans who made the trip outnumbered and out-cheered the Canadians in attendance.

That should change on the weekend when sellouts are expected.

While the fact it was a Thursday and people are working is going to be a problem, it does speak of the malaise in Canada when it comes to supporting amateur sport. You’ll have to sell your firstborn to get a ticket when the Olympics are on because it’ll be a big spectacle then, but these are the same athletes competing with a similar burning desire that we’ll see then.

The real shame is that none of the powers that be – the Vancouver Organizing Committee, the City of Richmond or Speed Skating Canada – thought to fill the stands with local school kids.

It would have been a great opportunity to expose kids – most of whom won’t get anywhere near a ticket for the big show – to great athletes, a great sport and a great facility.

They could have had a little program in the classrooms where kids had to learn about the countries from which the athletes come and make their own flags and go out to the Richmond Olympic Oval and cheer everyone on. The place could have been rocking with youthful energy.

These are the kinds of things Canadian amateur sport must do if they ever want to build support at the grassroots level – and this is their best chance.

True Spirit of Sport:

Another thing our kids can learn from is the great spirit of competition among the guys who topped the men’s 1,500-metre podium yesterday – Americans Shani Davis, Trevor Marsicano (gold, silver) and Canadian Denny Morrison (bronze).

These athletes really get what it’s all about – work your butt off, do everything you can to be faster than the next guy but never make it personal.

“I do not really consider Denny my rival,” said Davis. “We are just good friends and we have a friendly rivalry. I push and he pushes me, we drive each other to achieve better goals. It is like a big brother, little brother thing but on any day I can be the big brother, or he can be. As long as it stays positive, and does not turn negative, it is fine.”

Speed Skating Canada Treating It Like It's The Real Deal

RICHMOND, B.C. -- Next year, it’ll be in the same place, on the same ice, against most of the same competitors. So Speed Skating Canada is using this week’s World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in every instance possible as a test run for next year’s Olympics.

“We’re using this as if these we were the Olympic Games,” said Marcel Lacroix, one of the Canadian coaches whose charges include world champion Denny Morrsion. “We can work out the kinks instead of just going into the Olympic season and trying out different things.

“I think what we’re doing right now for our team is exactly what we need to do because if there are mistakes to be done, this is the year to do it. And by next year everything’s going to be taken care of, we’ll have time to readjust our guns.”

Lacroix said it’s a dress rehearsal for the entire staff, from medical personnel to coaches to administration. There is a high-performance centre set up right near the Richmond Olympic Oval, where athletes can get massage, physiotherapy and whatever else they need.

Speed Skating Canada is also helping to organize family and friends of the skaters. This is a more important issue than some might realize, as otherwise it can prove a great distraction for the athletes. Speed Skating Canada has rented a place called the Boathouse, where parents and family members can get accreditation, something to eat and mingle.

It’s early on, but things seem to be coming together nicely.

“Speed Skating Canada is being very pro-active,” said Lacroix. “It’s very encouraging to see.”

OTP Wins With Ski Cross Investment ... But Not Phelps

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ashleigh McIvor leads the pack in this Ski Cross event at Vancouver last month.

Own The Podium (OTP) has made a lot of good investments in sports this winter season – the way they’ve helped the ski cross program is one striking example – but they unfortunately got snookered when they bought tickets to hear American swim star Michael Phelps speak in Calgary.

They bought tickets for yesterday’s show from Power Within Inc., a Toronto company founded by Salim Khoja (See post below for their naming as first winner of Sunnyside Hardware Tool of the Week Award.)

OTP, set up to help Canada try to win the medal standings at the 2010 Winter Olympics, used money from their pool of professional development funds to buy the tickets to the event featuring Phelps. They wanted to listen to the story of the world’s most decorated Olympian in the hopes of learning some insights into his approach to achieving excellence. They thought they could gain some additional inspiration and possible share elements of his story with the sports that they interact with.

When Phelps was taken off the roster because of the tempest in a bong pot and Martin Sheen became the headliner, OTP requested a refund from the Power Within Inc. head office, which refused. Gee, these people don’t seem to be living up to the great ideals they and their speakers espouse. (They could run the International Olympic Committee.)

Luckily, OTP has been having a lot more success on the field of play with the sports they are supporting.

They’ve played a big role in helping Canada Ski Cross get set up and off and running as a federation. It’s paid off with 10 World Cup medals this season, including five medals and a men’s sweep in the pre-Olympic test in Cypress, as well as a gold (Ashleigh McIvor in the women’s event) and bronze (Davey Barr in the men’s) this week at the world championships in Japan.

What’s impressive is that in an exciting sport that can be a bit of a crapshoot, Canada has improved its odds of winning Olympic medal by recruiting a wide array of talent.

A job well done.

Tough sledding from Canada

WHISTLER, B.C. -- Canada has taken on something of the bad guy role in the view of certain parts of the bobsleigh/skeleton community at these pre-Olympic test events.

During the international training week that preceded the ongoing World Cup races, the Canadian skeleton racers didn’t show up at all, while former Olympic bobsleigh champion Pierre Lueders refused to go down the course first during the practice runs, as is said to generally be the custom on a new track.

Officials of the sport’s governing body, the FIBT, are ticked off that the Canadians didn’t follow the usual protocol of showing the way as the hosts on a new track. The Whistler run is the fastest on the circuit and already being acknowledged as one of the toughest, so it was felt it was extra important the Canadians should go first to give everyone an idea of how the course runs. After all, they’d already had the benefit of some 100-plus trips down it.

The Canadian feeling was that there was no way were they going to help out their competitors.

Despite the FIBT concerns, German Anja Huber said they would have done exactly the same thing if it was their track.

So what do you think?

Is it good thing Canada has stopped being a patsy when it comes to things like this? Is it all just part of protecting home track advantage?

Or do you think the Canadians are being poor sports?

Busy week ahead

WHISTLER, B.C. -- It’s a Super Bowl week of a different kind – four pre-Olympic test events in Vancouver and Whistler in a span of two weeks at the same time one year out celebrations are being staged for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

There are World Cups this week in bobsleigh/skeleton in Whistler and freestyle in Cypress Mountain plus the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Vancouver, featuring all of Canada’s best skaters including Toronto’s Patrick Chan.

None of these events may be more important than the sliding races in Whistler, where Canada gets a good indication of whether they will indeed have home track advantage. They’ve got a huge edge in familiarity on the tricky and technical layout, but will that pay off at the podium this week?

The Germans seem to have something up their sleeve in skeleton this year and are dominating. Is what they’ve discovered legal? No one can say it isn’t because no one has been able to figure out what it is the Germans have figured out this season.

Pierre Lueders unveils the Whistler Bomber his mysterious new four-man sled, in a World Cup for the first time. Read all about it here.

In the freestyle events at Cypress, Olympic moguls champ Jenn Heil will be getting her first look at the hill there after missing all of last reason to rebuild and strengthen her body. She hasn’t really missed a beat this season, but it’ll be important for her to leave this week feeling confident on the Olympic moguls slope.

Stay tuned.