A thank you to a first time guide for Shelley Ann

Thank you, Peter!

by:  Shelley Ann Morris

I volunteer with a group called Citizen Advocacy, a program that matches volunteers with adults with disabilities for friendship and support.  Volunteers are called “Advocates” while the people we are paired with are called “Proteges”.  Each year, Citizen Advocacy hosts a Holiday Dinner.  My protégé and  I got a ride to the dinner last year with  another advocate/protégé match, Peter Roorda (volunteer advocate) and his protege , John  At dinner, talk turned to running.  Peter ran the 10K with Citizen Advocacy in the 2009 Ottawa Race Week End.  I was still very new to running, having completed only four 5K runs. “So, are you going to run the 10K next year?”  Peter asked.  “OK!  I will.” I said. No sooner had the words flown out of my mouth when I thought “Oh my! What have I done?”  I said it. I would somehow find a way to do it.

In March 2010 I began the 8-week 10K clinic at the Running Room with my brother-in-law, Bill.  Bill and the other participants encouraged me along through cold, wet Saturday morning training sessions. Our instructor, Julia Brothers, provided lots of support and very useful information which would be instrumental in my crossing the finish line on race day. Instructor and participants alike all heard me as I whined my way through training. “I hate everything!” was my favourite expression.  Gradually, the weather warmed and my running  improved.  I was actually starting to enjoy our runs!  The class also included another visually-impaired runner, Leona Emberson.  She too was aiming for the 10K at the end of May.  Julia, Jeff Dodds, Phil Marsh and the Bank Street Running Room team provide excellent support to all runners!

Peter and I talked about his guiding me through the 10K. I admired his courage as he had never guided a visually-impaired runner before.  Running and guiding takes lots of skill; anticipating the crowds, keeping the blind runner from smacking into obstacles (and other runners!), watching out for the terrain underfoot and providing a ‘running’ commentary for the blind athlete.

Peter and I decided to practice a couple of times before race day.  We joined the Bank Street Running Room Sunday morning practice club one beautiful day in May.  With no training at all, we soon were running as if we had run many times before.  The route took us through Carleton University—over the locks!  Eventually, we made our way back to the Running Room itself.  Our second outing took us along the

Western Parkway

from Andrew Haydon Park all the way up to

Woodroffe Avenue

and back again.  As we ran along, we chatted about why we liked running and the lessons that it teaches us, lessons we can use on the road and in life.

Race Day arrived sunny, and pleasantly warm—ideal for most runners, but not for me.  I am very day-blind.  Even with the best of sunglasses, glare still poses a problem.  This would add to the challenge.  Peter’s wife, Brigitte drove us close to the start line as this race draws monumental crowds. Everyone wished us well as we went to join our corrals.  There we met other Citizen Advocacy members who dared to take on the 10K route.  We lurched to the start-line, over the timing mats, and began by thundering south down

Elgin Street

.  There’s nothing quite like the sound of thousands of running shoes all striving toward the same goal.   I’m always encouraged by cheering from the sidelines as many turn out to watch. As Peter is a much more experienced and accomplished runner, he was able to run quite easily while I plapped along, with effort to keep pace.  Peter kept sight of the 70-minute ‘pace bunny’ (a runner sporting bunny ears and carrying a sign, helping participants to keep pace with their anticipated finish times).  I’d set a very conservative finish, between 60-70 minutes. Peter would warn me when that 70-minute bunny was nearby; she was the one to beat. 

We rounded the corner at the Pretoria Bridge and WHAM! I was completely blinded by a faceful of sunshine!  Normally my guide runs beside me, but this time I took Peter’s arm and he guided me for about a half a kilometer until we were facing north on

Queen Elizabeth Drive

and my sight returned again. 

As we ran north along queen

Elizabeth Drive

we could hear cheering in the distance.  The home stretch was close by, as was the pace bunny.  Soon we could hear the familiar whine of the timing mats and see the finish line—but not before I let fly with a few good swear-words!

After the race, family and friends came to congratulate us.  Bill and Leona finished in the respectable mid-to-late 50 minute range.   I finished in 70 minutes 24 seconds, a fairly good first effort for me. 

This adventure reminds me of the help and support that we give to our protégés.  With our help, our protégés are able to do things that they may never have dreamed were possible.  Whether it’s something as simple as boarding a bus or as complex as managing a bank account, advocates inspire, encourage and empower in many ways.  Two years ago, I never would have thought I’d complete my first 10K race. I too feel inspired, encouraged and empowered.  Thank you, Peter!