Friday night found me in Brampton. I was originally there to find a quiet coffee shop to sit in for an hour as I wanted to brainstorm and plan. Getting into the core, I realised that this would be the night that the Olympic torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics would be coming through. My plan quickly changed.
After getting through the road blocks, I parked the car in the parking garage at the Rose Theatre and made my way back out to the street just in time to see the torch pass. Wanting to see the action up close and get some photos, I started running after the torch. I stayed a respectable distance away from the relay runners, running along the curb and occasionally hopping on the sidewalk where necessary. It was bitterly cold out but the running and the Olympic spirit kept me warm.
After half a mile, the relay made a left down one of the side streets and I abandoned the chase. I immediately started walking back, phoned Lorene and met up with her by the theatre. We then proceeded over to City Hall and Gage Park where there was a celebration for the torch's arrival.
The torch was brought on stage by one of the para-olympic athletes and native Bramptonian, Ryan Bennett who will be representing Canada in the sledge hockey event. After lighting the torch onstage, speeches were made by various representatives, and there were performances by various community members to conclude the evening. Once the crowds started thinning, Lorene and I started getting cold so we left the park.
I was planning to head back to Brampton the next morning to get my morning run in by running alongside the torch at a distance once again as it left Gage Park. However, sleep got the best of me and I slept in. I also could not properly plan a return running route and decided that seeing it that night was enough. The torch made it to Mississauga that Saturday afternoon. I knew that there would be a squeeze where parking and crowds were concerned as Mississauga is a bigger city.
That moment - running alongside the torch - I really felt the Olympic Spirit and it was strong. I guess I was doing it wishing that I was one of the chosen ones to hold the torch for 300 metres, wearing the outfit, and being part of the movement to get the torch to Vancouver. I did put my name forth, along with millions of Ontarians but it was not to be... However, the spirit of the games will continue to live on and I was happy to be a part of it that night.
As a side note... I hope Laurie McGrath carries the torch in the Relay for Kitchener-Waterloo. She exemplifies what it is like to be an athlete as an ultrarunner and a person...
After getting through the road blocks, I parked the car in the parking garage at the Rose Theatre and made my way back out to the street just in time to see the torch pass. Wanting to see the action up close and get some photos, I started running after the torch. I stayed a respectable distance away from the relay runners, running along the curb and occasionally hopping on the sidewalk where necessary. It was bitterly cold out but the running and the Olympic spirit kept me warm.
After half a mile, the relay made a left down one of the side streets and I abandoned the chase. I immediately started walking back, phoned Lorene and met up with her by the theatre. We then proceeded over to City Hall and Gage Park where there was a celebration for the torch's arrival.
The torch was brought on stage by one of the para-olympic athletes and native Bramptonian, Ryan Bennett who will be representing Canada in the sledge hockey event. After lighting the torch onstage, speeches were made by various representatives, and there were performances by various community members to conclude the evening. Once the crowds started thinning, Lorene and I started getting cold so we left the park.
I was planning to head back to Brampton the next morning to get my morning run in by running alongside the torch at a distance once again as it left Gage Park. However, sleep got the best of me and I slept in. I also could not properly plan a return running route and decided that seeing it that night was enough. The torch made it to Mississauga that Saturday afternoon. I knew that there would be a squeeze where parking and crowds were concerned as Mississauga is a bigger city.
That moment - running alongside the torch - I really felt the Olympic Spirit and it was strong. I guess I was doing it wishing that I was one of the chosen ones to hold the torch for 300 metres, wearing the outfit, and being part of the movement to get the torch to Vancouver. I did put my name forth, along with millions of Ontarians but it was not to be... However, the spirit of the games will continue to live on and I was happy to be a part of it that night.
As a side note... I hope Laurie McGrath carries the torch in the Relay for Kitchener-Waterloo. She exemplifies what it is like to be an athlete as an ultrarunner and a person...
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