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Read Profiles
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KAF Canada Army Run to be held same day as Ottawa event
September 9th 2011
September 2, 2011
Corporal Jean-Philippe Dion ran the 5K in his first-ever Canada Army Run last year, joining 14,000 others under sunny, cool skies in the nation’s capital, with an impressive time of 16:40. This year, he will be running the 5K again, but in the altitude, heat and dust of Afghanistan, when he joins an expected 700 other soldiers from nations around the world in the 3rd annual Canada Army Run in Kandahar Air Field (KAF).
“Running over here is very different,” says Cpl Dion, who is part of the Military Transition Task Force charged with transitioning Canada out of KAF by the end of December. ‘It’s very, very hot – sometimes over 50ºC – and there’s dust in the air all the time. We usually wear scarves over our mouths and noses – some people even wear masks – to help minimize the dust we breathe in.”
The KAF version of Canada Army Run mirrors the Ottawa event to the extent possible, but local realities dictate some adjustments. Because of limited route choices and traffic constraints, for example, the KAF event features a 5K and 10K (no half marathon) and starts at 6:00 a.m., when temperatures are cooler and traffic is lighter. T-shirts also sport short sleeves instead of long.
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Two Stories of Courage Come Together in Half Marathon
September 8th 2011
August 24, 2011
Good friends Marie McMahon, from New York state, and Sharon Tobin, from Ottawa, both have personal reasons for running in this year’s Canada Army Run. They will run for those reasons, but also in support of each another.
Marie is the mom of Travis, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine, who was recently deployed to a remote area in Afghanistan. He’ll be there until February. “When he called me from college last June to tell me he signed up for the U.S. Marines, it was a moment of fear but also exhilaration. It was the realization of a dream he’d had from childhood and a dream I encouraged him to pursue.”
Two weeks after Travis headed off to Boot Camp, Marie, who was once an avid runner but who hadn’t run in 17 years because of injuries sustained in two separate car accidents, started to run again. “Thinking about what Travis was going through in Boot Camp is what kept me going and what keeps me going today. By training and running, if I do have a thought of fear, I’m in a stronger psychological place to overcome it.”
In further support of Travis, Marie made the decision to only participate in runs associated with the military. She ran an event last year while Travis was in Boot Camp that raised money for Toys for Tots (a program run by the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves) and was looking for one this year.
“Sharon said ‘I have the perfect event for you!’ And, that’s how I found out about Canada Army Run.”
Sharon and Marie met almost two years ago, when Sharon and other members of the Alpine Club of Canada stayed at the Rooster Comb Inn Marie and her husband Steve own in the heart of the Adirondacks. They became fast friends at a critical time in each of their lives.
Only months later, Sharon – who has been running for almost 30 years and who Marie describes as a “little firecracker” – was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. “What really kept me going was running.”
“For the first few months of chemo, I was running three to four times a week. But the second set of chemo, after surgery, was brutal. I was having trouble walking inside at times and thinking ‘how am I ever going to run outside again’?”
Although she had registered for the Canada Army Run half marathon last year, her final chemo treatment was only two weeks before, so she switched to the 5K and walked the route. After the walk, with determination and resolve, she began building her strength and endurance. On New Year’s Eve, she ran the 5K Resolution Run. This past July, she completed the 15K in the Utica, N.Y. Boilermaker event, and did it 30 seconds faster than she had four years earlier.
She’s planning on running the Niagara Falls International Marathon – her first-ever marathon – this October and will be using Canada Army Run as a step toward that goal.
On September 18, Sharon and Marie will be running the Canada Army Run half marathon together, in friendship and in support of each other’s personal journeys.
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Military Chef Brings Field Experience to Canada Army Run’s Pasta Dinner
September 8th 2011
August 20, 2011
With 25 years experience as a military cook, much of it on the front lines of military deployments around the world, Warrant Officer Mike Hopping will bring his culinary expertise and passion to Canada Army Run’s Pasta Dinner, Saturday, September 17.
At this popular annual event, Hopping and his team of five other cooks, all from CFB Petawawa, will serve more than 500 people “military field-kitchen style” – a task that should prove relatively easy for someone who on his most recent deployment, in Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City, served more than 1400 people three times a day, every day, for four months.
‘I love what I do,” says WO Hopping. “Being out in the field and knowing that you are contributing to the morale of the troops is a big responsibility, but very satisfying. When just one soldier comes up to you and says “Hey, cook, thanks very much, that was awesome” it means a lot.”
WO Hopping has been deployed as a field cook on nine operational tours, including in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Haiti, Golan Heights, Camp Mirage, and Cyprus. In addition to feeding the front lines, he has also served many dignitaries, including Governor General David Johnston, former prime minister Jean Chretien, General Walter Natynczyk (Chief of Defence Staff), Peter McKay (Minister of Defence), and even Princess Diana in the early 1990s.
This year’s pasta dinner, which will be served from two mobile kitchen trailers in Confederation Park will give civilians a chance to see first-hand the austere working environments that field cooks must master to produce the nourishing and satisfying food the troops require.
“When we’re in the field, all we have is six burners. The electricity comes from a generator or we plug into a truck. The water comes from jerry cans and/or water buffalos. We have to be able to think outside of the box and do a lot of improvising because nothing comes pre-packaged. We piecemeal it together to create a functioning kitchen.”
A kitchen that at Canada Army Run will produce tasty jalapeno buns, several pasta dishes, a variety of salads and dessert.
“Military cooks are a proud and passionate group. Our unofficial motto is “Soldiers First, Cooks Always.” We’re really looking forward to sharing that passion at this year’s Pasta Dinner.”
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 Jason Dunkerley and guide Greg Daily / Jason Dunkerley et le guide Greg Daily
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Visually Impaired Paralympian to Run 5K
July 13th 2011
July 8, 2011
Three-time Paralympian medal recipient Jason Dunkerley, one of the world’s most prominent visually impaired middle-distance runners, is planning to run the 5K in the 2011 Canada Army Run.
Blind since birth, Jason will be participating in his first-ever Canada Army Run as part of a team of other visually impaired athletes, all members of the Ottawa chapter of Achilles International, an organization that supports the participation of people with disabilities in mainstream sport.
“Although we are open to any athlete with a disability who would like to join us, our chapter consists primarily of athletes who are visually impaired at the moment,” says Jason, who was one of several people involved in setting up the Ottawa chapter in September 2010. “There are a number of running clubs in Ottawa, but if you are visually impaired and just starting out, it can be pretty intimidating to be part of them. We wanted to build Achilles Ottawa as a community of support for people at all levels of running.”
Thirty people are part of the club today –10 visually impaired runners (nine of whom will run as part of two teams in Canada Army Run) and 20 guides. Jason’s younger brother, John, also blind from birth and also a nationally ranked athlete, will be part of the team running the half marathon.
Most of the visually impaired runners will run with a guide, typically someone a bit faster than they are.
“Trust between you and your guide is a big part of it,” says Jason. “You have to really know each other well and be compatible in terms of size and the types of events you like to compete in. The runner and the guide each wrap a tether around their hands so that they are close together, which enables them to run in synch. A guide will let you know things like whether there’s a hill coming up or a corner or curve, or if we’re going from pavement to grass, for example.”
Jason’s main guide is Toronto-based Greg Dailey, a national-level athlete in his own right, who guided Jason to Paralympic silver medals in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) and a bronze medal in Beijing (2008), as well as to many medals in world championships. Because he is not expected to be in Ottawa for Canada Army Run, however, Jason will be running with another guide, still to be determined at the time of writing.
“Similar to Ottawa Race Weekend, the Army Run is becoming an event that brings out most local runners. It’s got a great atmosphere and vibe, and it’s for a meaningful cause. It’s going to be nice for our group to be part of that.”
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 Jenn Corbett
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Cookbook Featuring Recipes from Military Families Nets $20K for Soldier On
July 13th 2011
June 15, 2011
When Jenn Corbett accompanied her military husband to the 2009 Canada Army Run, she went home (CFB Borden at the time) with more than just fond memories of a great weekend. She returned with a desire to raise more awareness and money for Soldier On, one of the key beneficiaries of fundraising efforts at Canada Army Run.
“Jody Mitic is really the one who sparked my motivation,” says Jenn, who met Master Corporal Mitic at the Soldier On booth in the Canada Army Run Sports Expo. “I was really inspired by his story, and I wanted to do something in a big way that would make a difference for Soldier On.” (MCpl Mitic, who lost both legs below the knee after stepping on a landmine while on duty in Afghanistan and who successfully completed his first-ever half-marathon in 2009 Canada Army Run using prosthetics, is a beneficiary of Soldier On.)
Her idea for a fundraiser? A cookbook with recipes contributed by Canadian military families from across the country.
“I have a huge military network on line, so I asked them all to send me recipes and to spread the word in bases across Canada.”
The idea snowballed, recipes poured in from across the country and beyond, and < a href"www.operationcookingforsoldieron.com" target="_blank">“Operation Cooking for Soldier On” was created and published. Some 3,000 copies of the 250-page spiral-bound cookbook have already been sold, generating more than $20,000 for Soldier On.
But Jenn is not stopping there. She has already starting working on the 2nd edition, which will include several recipes from well-known Canadian military and public leaders. She expects to have the 2nd edition available for sale at this year’s Canada Army Run.
Jenn, who now lives in Cold Lake, Alberta, will be running her first 5K in Canada Army Run this year, along with four military wives from Southern Ontario, who are also helping with cookbook sales.
“We’ve been motivating each other on line. We’ll have t-shirts made to identify us and we’ll all run it together. It’s for such a great cause.”
1st Edition cookbooks are $12, plus $4 for shipping, and can be ordered through www.operationcookingforsoldieron.com.
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 Jody Mitic
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JODY MITIC COMPLETES HALF MARATHON IN 2009
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
MCpl Mitic today works as a reporter with Army News within the Department of National Defence. Although he was unable to run in the 2010 Canada Army Run, he is planning to participate in 2011.
2010 – Ottawa’s Master Corporal Jody Mitic, who lost both legs below the knee after stepping on a landmine while on duty in Afghanistan in 2007, successfully completed his first-ever half-marathon in 2009 Canada Army Run. The half-marathon was the furthest distance he had ever run, even prior to being injured.
“Completing the half marathon in Canada Army Run was important to me,” said MCpl Mitic. “It was a milestone on my journey back to health and fitness; an opportunity to thank civilians and military colleagues for their support; and a chance to run with other wounded soldiers who had also made great progress on the road to recovery.”
MCpl Mitic captured the imagination of the nation with his run and inspired many people with his determination to “soldier on” despite life’s challenges. One of those he inspired was Charles Pallett – a Grade 7 student from Fisher Park Public School in Ottawa – who wrote about the soldier for the A&E “Lives That Make a Difference” essay contest. Charles’ winning entry was selected over 1800 others from across the country.
In his closing essay paragraph, he wrote, “(MCpl Mitic) has made a positive difference in our lives by reminding us of the sacrifices made by our troops, the need for rehabilitation programs for injured soldiers and the potential that exists in all of us.”
MCpl Mitic is the Outreach Coordinator for Solider On, one of the charities that benefits from fundraising efforts during Canada Army Run, and which he benefitted from during his recovery. He hopes to run again in 2010 Canada Army Run.
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 Ryan McKenzie
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EVERYTHING ABOUT CANADA ARMY RUN APPEALS TO TWO-TIME WINNER OF THE 5K EVENT
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
Ryan, who placed third in the 2010 Canada Army Run 5K with a time of 15:13.0, is planning to return to Ottawa again this year, with the goal of regaining his championship title from 2008 and 2009.
When he runs this year, however, he will not be running as a Private in the Army Reserves, but as a Lieutenant in the Regular Forces. Currently taking part in “on-the-job” training, he expects to graduate in August 2012 as a Military Police Officer.
“I’ve always enjoyed running in Canada Army Run, but this year’s run will take on new meaning for me. I am truly honoured to be able to participate in this event.”
Although Ryan no longer works at Running Room, the organization continues to sponsor him for running events.
2010 – Private Ryan McKenzie, a 31-year-old Army reservist from Victoria, B.C, won the 5K event in the first-ever Canada Army Run in 2008. He won the 5K again in 2009. He plans to return to Ottawa this September to reclaim his title at Canada Army Run 2010.
“The Army Run is the most unique experience I have ever had before, during or after a race,” said Pte McKenzie. “It’s a great race, on a great course, in a great city. Everything about the run appeals to me.”
These statements are all the more powerful coming from someone who has run professionally for the past 10 years in hundreds of races across North America and who holds the title of the “winningest” track and field athlete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
Pte McKenzie, who has been in the Army Reserves for the past year-and-a-half and who works part-time at Running Room, hopes to soon join the Regular Forces.
“I like what Canada Army Run represents and am honoured to have been able to participate. Winning is not the goal; representing the Canadian Forces to the best of my ability is.”
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 Rick Ball
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Single-leg amputee breaks half-marathon world record at 2009 Canada Army Run
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
Multi world-record holder Rick Ball – who holds the single-leg amputee world records for the 10K, half-marathon, and marathon – ran in the 2010 Canada Army Run, but not with the goal of breaking any records. Instead, he ran the 5K, side by side with Canada’s injured soldiers and other disabled athletes, as a way of showing support for the men and women in the Canadian Forces and of providing encouragement and inspiration for others with disabilities.
He never ceases to inspire. Early this year, Rick set out to achieve a new goal: to compete in the 2012 Paralympics 400m in London, England. Switching from running long distances to sprinting is not an easy task, but one he’s relishing.
“My heart is in long distance, but my dream is to go to the Paralympics,” Rick says. “There are currently no long-distance Paralympics races for my category. The longest distance is 400m.”
To focus on his goal, he has taken a two-and-a-half-year leave of absence from his job and is training five hours most days.
“You can’t get to the top unless you have that kind of dedication,” he says.”It’s also my way of proving that having lost a leg is not going to stop me.”
It definitely has not stopped him yet. He was recognized by Runners’ World magazine as one of the 2010 “Heroes of Running,”, his picture is on one of Ontario’s Quest for Gold lottery tickets, and earlier this year he won the Ontario Male Athlete with a Disability of the Year Award.
He hopes to run in the 2011 Canada Army Run, and again with the injured soldiers and other disabled athletes.
2010 – 2009 was a banner year for 44-year old Rick Ball, from Orillia, Ontario. After setting world records for single-leg amputees at both the Boston Marathon and Ottawa Race Weekend (for the 10K), Rick broke the half-marathon world record at 2009 Canada Army Run, in what he feels was his “best performance to date.”
Weeks before the event, he acknowledged that “It would make me very proud to set a new record in our country’s capital among those Canadians who serve Canada and many of whom also share similar challenges. If conditions are right, I will be inspired to go for it.”
Conditions were right and Rick shattered the world record by one minute, with a time of 1:20:44.9 (the previous record was 1:21:46).
What Rick found special about 2009 Canada Army Run was “the connection that was made between the soldiers and the people in the community and how the two were integrated so well over the weekend. The Army was reaching out and getting back an overwhelming amount of support. That’s what makes this event so unique compared to other races. It was inspiring to see all of the soldiers from the Soldier On program overcoming their challenges and participating in the event.”
“It was also a very personal touch for me to receive a medal from Lieutenant-General Leslie (the Commander of the Army) after I crossed the finish line. And, of course, I love the dog tag medals.”
Rick hopes to run at 2010 Canada Army Run.
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 Lise King
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FROM 0 KM TO HALF-MARATHON IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
Lise completed the half marathon in 2010 Canada Army Run in 2:05:04.2, a personal best. One week later she ran her first-ever full marathon, in the Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon. Her most recent race was the Miami ING ½ marathon on January 30, 2011.
Although Lise had planned to run in several events in 2011, she has had to reset her goals as a result of a plantar fascia injury sustained early in the year. She is currently running less frequently and doing shorter distances than she would like, but is staying active and fit. She devotes an average of 1.5-to-2 hours a day to any number of activities, including cycling, swimming, and yoga.
Lise has every intention, however, of being ready to run the half marathon again in this year’s Canada Army Run, and has set her sights on doing a duathalon after that.
“I used to be very focused on my performance during races,” she admits, “but since my injury I’ve realized that what’s more important is just being able to participate. It’s all about just being on the road and being able to run.”
She recently shared her incredible story in the January/February 2011 issue of the Running Room Magazine and has started to give motivation and goal-setting talks at Running Room stores in the Ottawa region.
2010 – In November 2008, 44-year old Lise King had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, weighed over 200 pounds, smoked, and had never run a race in her life. Ten months later, a much lighter, fitter Lise ran the 5K in 2009 Canada Army Run, with a time of 26:37.9. This year, she’ll be running the half marathon.
Lise’s remarkable journey began in November 2008 during a visit with her sister in Victoria, B.C. “My sister used to be overweight, like myself, but when she picked me up at the airport, she was a tiny little thing running half-marathons. She was my inspiration to take control of my health and to make the changes necessary to get my life and my health back.”
When she returned to Ottawa, Lise entered the “Biggest Loser Ottawa” competition (she won!), worked with a personal trainer twice a week and on her own two-to-three times a week, started eating healthier, and ultimately signed up for Running Room’s 5K running clinic. When she found she could only run for three minutes, she gave up smoking.
She targeted Canada Army Run for her first official running event – an event she wanted to run with her husband, who was being deployed for Afghanistan two weeks after. “My husband was a great support for me during my journey. It was my turn to support him.”
Lise completed the 5K, finishing within the top 10% of all female 5K runners.
“My finish time and placement were more than I could ever have dreamed of, especially considering that not even a year before I had difficulties walking around the neighbourhood or climbing the stairs, and I thought I’d have to live with the debilitating pain of fibromyalgia for the rest of my life.”
Lise is still running and loving it, and no longer has symptoms of fibromyalgia. She and her husband, now back from Afghanistan, have both signed up for the half marathon in 2010 Canada Army Run.
“It’s amazing what someone can accomplish when they put their mind to it. I think the real trick to it all is just wanting it – really wanting it – and having the confidence in yourself that you can do it. Having the support and encouragement of family and friends is also key.”
Lise has recently completed a certification course for personal training, with the desire to help others achieve their own health and fitness goals.
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 Corie Jo and Kirk Cushing
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Quebec siblings carry Canadian flag to support and thank troops for Canada’s freedom
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
Kirk, Corie Jo, and Janna Lee train together as often as they can and use that time to keep up to date on each other’s busy lives. They are looking forward to running the half marathon at 2011 Canada Army Run and to again taking turns hoisting the Canadian flag.
2010 – 18-year-old Kirk Cushing, with sisters Corie Jo (17) and Janna Lee (15, not shown) proudly carried the Canadian flag as they ran the half marathon at the 2009 Canada Army Run. They ran in honour of military ancestors and to support and thank today’s troops for “the freedom we have in Canada today”.
It was the second year the trio from Ladysmith, Queec completed the half marathon at Canada Army Run, and the second time they carried the flag.
“Running was one way for us to show support,” said Corie Jo. “Carrying the flag was another. We took turns carrying it, passing it when our arms got tired.”
“We just didn’t carry it by ourselves, though,” added Kirk. “We probably handed it off to more than 50 people throughout the run – to other kids our ages, to a couple of vets, and to lots of others. There were definitely more than just the three of us carrying it at many points.”
The red-and-white flag served as an inspiration for many runners, several who commented during and after the run that it kept them motivated and pushed them on. Some who were running behind the siblings said it provided a visual goal for them, a marker to keep their eyes on.
It was the other race participants, however, and cheering crowds that kept the close-knit siblings going. Janna Lee was particularly moved by the injured soldiers and disabled athletes. “To see their motivation and the heart they had to reach the finish line, no matter how long it took, was very inspirational. I kept thinking if they can do it, I can do it!”
“Kirk, Corie Jo, and Janna Lee train together as often as they can and use that time to keep up to date on each other’s busy lives. They are looking forward to running the half marathon at 2010 Canada Army Run and to again taking turns hoisting the Canadian flag.
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 Adina Turner with daughters Feyah and Shaily
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Running to Support Husband/”Daddy” in Afghanistan
February 16th 2011
2011 Update:
Adina, Shaily, and Feyah all successfully completed the 5K in 2010, but not without a little drama.
Two weeks prior to the event, Shaily pulled a ligament in her knee and was on crutches. The plan was that Adina and Feyah would pull the very disappointed 10-year-old in a decorated wagon for the majority of the run, and then Shaily would finish the 5K on crutches.
However, when the cannon fired to officially start the run and they approached the start line, Shaily couldn’t imagine not running – particularly after her months of training – so she ran with the 12 other members of the Orleans Military Families group, and achieved the best time of everyone, at 31 minutes.
All three are again planning to run the 5K in Canada Army Run 2011, but this time with their husband/”daddy”, Paul, who is back from Afghanistan.
“It will be our first time racing as a family,” said Adina. “Although Paul has done the half marathon, we want to do this together, with the girls.”
They will also be running with others from the Orleans/Ottawa East Military Families group, which continues to run three times a week and meets every Friday morning for support, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Orleans Legion on Taylor Creek Road.
2010 – When Adina Turner told others at the Orleans Military Families group that she and her two young daughters were training for the 5K at 2010 Canada Army Run to honour their husband/”daddy”, currently deployed in Afghanistan, the idea snowballed. Within weeks, 15 others with loved ones in Afghanistan had signed up and started to train together. And the list keeps growing.
“My husband, Paul, has run the half marathon in Canada Army Run the last two years,” said Adina. “Since he’ll still be in Afghanistan in September, the girls and I thought it would be great to run on his behalf.”
Daughters Feyah, 7, and Shaily, 10, are already training and are eager to build up to the 5K.“The kids are excited and I’m ecstatic that we have something to look forward to.”
Adina is also thrilled that other Orleans families with deployed loved ones want to join her and the girls.
“Everyone who has signed up to run with us is going through the same thing. We all have loved ones in Afghanistan, and it’s tough. That reality is always in the back of our minds. So, first and foremost, we are doing this to honour the troops.”
“Secondly, we’re doing it to build awareness of the large number of Orleans families with deployed loved ones and of the needs they have during this challenging time. We want those families to know that the Orleans Military Families group exists and that they can drop in and talk to others in the same situation. It’s great support for each other. And, if they want to walk or run with us – even better!”
The Orleans Military Families group meets every Friday, 10 am to noon, at the Community Rendez-vous Room in the Place d’Orleans shopping centre (upstairs, beside The Bay).
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But I came onto this website for inspiration. I read this entry about MCpl Mitic and thought that he, and so many of our brave Canadian soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen have gone through SO much more than “a crappy little run” that there is no way I can complain.
Posted by mattymays
Comment posted on December 22, 2011
Hi armyrun.ca-ers, have a nice xmas to you all!
- Matty
Posted by Joann
Comment posted on September 15, 2011
I am running my 1st half marathon in Ottawa while my husband will be running 2 10k back to back (to make close to my distance) at the same time in KAF. We have been training from a distance with each other..good luck Scott! I will be thinking about you xox
Posted by Bev
Comment posted on September 15, 2011
This is my 3rd Army Run Half Marathon. I have to say the Army Run is my favorite race – for reasons I can not explain, it means the most to me. This race kicks my a**, but for what you guys do for me – I suck it up and find the stength to do this for you. xo