Rejoining running

“Running made me feel like a bird let out of a cage. I loved it that much.” – Priscilla Welch

It is the regular runner I identify with. It is the real love of running that I understand and love hearing about.

I have recently been caught up in my project to try and train like a pro and set a marathon PB at the Ottawa marathon — and at times have felt weird blogging about myself. I am much more comfortable meeting, talking with telling the tales of other Canadian runners.

Dragging my tired body home on a run after work one day, I beelined to the grocery store for some chocolate milk. Sweaty and dripping, I was approached by a stranger in the grocery store who asked me about running in the area. I smiled; I had to hold myself back from being too enthusiastic. We ended up being neighbours and eventually went for a run.

This is his story.

Steve

Steve Sampson is a lean, dark skinned man with a polite voice and a friendly manner. I automatically sensed him being a runner. He had an athletic and light step.

Born in Guyana, South America in 1958,  Steve is married with 3 sons and 3 daughters, all adults in their twenties except for a new addition to the family, a 6 month-old boy. He now live in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, but spent much of his life around Toronto.

Steve says he started running in his late-twenties to keep fit for playing the drums which he did at a professional level. Running came around again when his son began playing sports. Steve soon found himself lacing up with his son.

It was soon after this that Steve was bit by what we call the running bug. “One day I met Keith Rodrigues (a talented masters runner and now good friend) at the YMCA in Mississauga. He saw me running and suggested I get into competitive running. I had no idea what I was getting into.” Seeing a clip of the 1998 Boston men’s finish and the deal was sealed. Fully inspired, he decided to take Keith up on his suggestion.

Steve says he then could be found around the area with other runners and groups, on the trails in Burlington, Ont., each Saturday morning with the Toronto Christian Runners in Sunnybrook Park or speed work at the Pine Hills cemetery in Toronto.

Life can make us pause or stop for some things. For Steve, it caused him to stop running after a few years. He has rejoined running.

I decided to ask Steve a few questions.

What has driven you to get back to running?

“What has driven me back into running? Simply, I miss it and I feel it is one of the things I was created to do. Perhaps my Ethiopian grandmother had something to do with that. Although I love to compete, I consider myself more of a reluctant racer. But I love the results and also the therapy aspect, which needs no further discussion.”

How do you get yourself out on a cold winter day for a run?

“Winter runs? Actually, I like winter runs. I will take the cold over bad footing and snow potholes. I just hate doing them at 4:00 a.m. as I have been. I am not a night runner in the winter but I love it in the summer, even the rain.”

What are your running goals for 2014?

“Long term: half marathon in the fall with a 1:24-1:26 goal. Short term goals are to work on speed endurance, build mileage and enter 5K, 8K and 10K races to test my fitness and lest I forget, stay injury free!”

Steve and I have gotten out for one run together and have decided to make it a Saturday morning tradition. I get an easy morning run with someone to chat to and I hope I am helping Steve. He told me he was slow but he moved pretty fluidly and glided up a few short hills making me pick up the pace. I think Steve is well on his way. Run on Steve, welcome back to the running community and see you Saturday morning.

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

Do you know someone with a running story to share?

runningwriter@hotmail.com

I am also training for a life-time marathon PB and sharing all the advice and tips I get – from experts like Olympians Eric Gillis and Reid Coolsaet!

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