From Rackets to Running Shoes

by Claude Gagnon

I've always loved to move and play. When I was a kid, hockey, baseball and basketball channeled my energy. But athletics, cycling and swimming didn't inspire me.

This taste for play continued into adulthood. Squash became a natural part of my sporting life. Everything appealed to me: the tactical aspect, the finesse, the fair play, the physical fitness required. And always the fact of playing, the feeling of being a kid on the court. But after 25 years of chasing the little ball, my shoulder, elbow and back had had enough. A few of my playing partners were also training to run and invited me to join them.

So, on a Tuesday in May 2010, I found myself running in circles on the McGill University track (I now know they're called intervals!) and meeting renowned trainer Dorys Langlois. The training was superbly planned and the group of runners very friendly, so I got into the habit of going once a week while continuing to play squash.

A month later, just a few days shy of my 50th birthday, I was at the starting line for my first race, a 10k on the trails of Mont St-Bruno, in the Montreal suburbs. And that's when everything changed. In short, I loved it! I was no longer playing AGAINST someone, but running WITH others! I heard the sound of their footsteps, I breathed (and suffered) like them, with the sole common goal of reaching the finish line. By the end of the race, it was settled: I was now an ex-squash player and a new runner.

I’ve become a regular participant in Dorys' group sessions and training programs. My efforts were soon focused on preparing for my first marathon, the Montreal marathon in September 2011. Huge mistake: I wasn't ready for such an event, because I hadn't accumulated enough mileage! Consequently, I hit the wall at the 28th km, finishing with both legs in cement and a greenish complexion - the whole deal. To make matters worse, I injured myself shortly afterwards, partially tearing a tendon and taking a year and a half off the road. A hard lesson...

But with time on my side, I finally recovered and resumed training. After a few preparatory runs, I felt ready in October 2014 for a 2nd attempt at the marathon distance. Despite my fears, it went well, with the added bonus of qualifying for the Boston Marathon!

I have since completed 7 more marathons and numerous other races over shorter distances. Unfortunately, for the past two years, a faulty "electrical circuit" in my left atrium, causing heart palpitations, led me to reconsider my goals. The stopwatch is suddenly less important, and the privilege of still being able to run takes on a whole new meaning.

Looking back, I realize that there's no age to start running, and that the path to the goal is at least as important as the goal itself. Running has enabled me to meet some wonderful "cranky" runners, make new friendships and push myself further. Discipline, determination, distance, as they say! I would add pleasure, health and friendship.