Sarah’s Salvation

Running often brings out the best in people. I have met someone who has struggled through personal demons and events and come out the other side of the battle with a positive attitude and a need to help others.

Sarah

Sarah Jamieson lives in Vancouver. Now 35, Sarah grew up in a divorced household and suffered physical and physiological abuse at the hands of her stepfather, who had a drug and alcohol problem. After years of abuse, Sarah’s mom broke mentally and struggled with suicidal tendencies and mental illness along with her battle with alcohol as well. To add to an already long list of things a child should never have to suffer through, Sarah was also inappropriately touched by a teacher at school.

Sarah struggled through these years and kept the secret of what was going on from friends and other family. At one point worked two jobs to help the family after her mother finally left her abusive husband.

Sarah’s mother struggled for many years to stay sober, and sadly died of an overdose on medication and alcohol.

“The diversity of my family and my upbringing has taught me that there is no such thing as normal, there is no such thing as perfection – there is only your own truth. And that truth should be celebrated no matter what. I still struggle with PTSD and running for me was my salvation.”

Sarah and running

Sarah says every person has two stories. She says there is the story we tell others and the story we tell ourselves. She says the truth is somewhere in between the two. She says her idea, RUN4ACAUSE, was founded because she believed in the power behind sport has the potential to change the world.

“I have used my story to inspire and support the healing of others as best I can. I believe we each have immense power to lead the world in a direction we can be proud of, that humanity can be proud of and it all starts with one foot in front of the other.”

When and why did you start running?

“I was kicked off my high school track team for being too slow and, moving into my almost second decade of running, I am still more the tortoise than the hare. I pride myself on being a middle-of-the-pack runner. I started running when I was in my youth, around 17 or 18 because I didn’t want to go home.

“I started with a block, then two and then, after scrounging enough cash for a couple terms in college, I started running 16K a day to and from school because I couldn’t afford a bus pass.”

How do you see running creating change?

“I would like to ask the word these 3 questions: What if you could use the power sport to change the world? Would you? What if you could convert your everyday activity into contribution to a cause? Would you? What if you could improve your health and improve the health of someone else who deeply needed it? Would you?

“The answer to all of these is ‘yes.’

“Movement and running has been used as a means to unite community, to build a community up. And we look to science for support that running can change the world – look no further than the increase in dopamine and endorphins your body secretes into your system. Movement reduces stress, in reduces the inflammatory response, it resets the nervous system – it makes us feel better and happy.”

What does running personally do for you?

“It makes me a better person. It’s a chance for me to be a superhero in my own world. Being able to organize campaigns, support causes and slap on a new pair of sneakers is the most amazing feeling in the world. I feel like Gandhi in sneakers. As a movement and life coach; I help clients reduce stress, work on coping strategies for life’s adversity and set goals for success.”

What are your goals for 2015?

“The last 10 years has been a time to create partnerships with organizations and to also check off my bucket list of races and places I want to travel to. RUN4ACAUSE now supports four pillars: mental health, youth at risk, girls and women’s leadership and first responders. In 2015, I will hold four campaigns, each focused on a pillar. This next chapter of RUN4ACAUSE also acts as my business Moveolution’s corporate social responsibility pillar.”

Run on Sarah and keep one foot in front of the other. Remember you are not alone.

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

Do you have a running story to share?

runningwriter@hotmail.com

You can also find me on my personal blog or on Twitter @NoelPaine