Teachings from the Rossland Broken Goat 50 km

This weekend I ran my 3rd 50 km race in 2 years - The Broken Goat.  It was a spectacular event.  If anyone has ever been to Rossland on the 7 summits trail you will understand what I mean when I refer to its stunning vistas and gnarly terrain.  If you have never been there, you should go.

Photo:  Ryan Flett Media

The race went something like this:  Starting at the Nancy Green Summit, situated at 1575 meters began a slow ascent of about 9 km to Mount Plewman.  A no trail scramble up about 100 meters to the top - At 2,241 meters.  Back down Plewman to the trail, some down hill and then then the climb up to the top of Old Glory at 2'370 meters, back down and up to the main trail 17km done. Some low grade downhill and finally the first aid station at km 25.  From there we had an out and back to the the top of record ridge at 2,025 meters, and then over to summit Granite Mtn at 2,036 meters.  The trail over to Granite was unique.  A sea of large rocks that we had to navigate through, and then up a small climb over the rocks.   From here it was a long 5km descent down a service road to the base of red mountain.  Now here is where the real fun started.  Straight up Red Mountain starting at km 38 - it's about 600 meters in 1.7km. Followed by what would have been some sweet downhill if I had not been so wiped from the climb.  Final aid station and final 4 km - wouldn't you know - one final climb to just before the finish line where we finished on a slight downhill track.  Thankful it was over!!

 Anyways it's not the run I want to talk about.  I want to tell you about Rene Unser, the race director.  She is a joy to be around.  Not only is she the organizer, owner and race director of the event, but she also runs P.A.C.E. Sports Fitness, a trail running coach in Kelowna, BC , Canada.  (P.A.C.E. - Positive Attitude Changes Everything).  But let me focus on the race, because it was here that I truly was able to figure out what I wanted to tell you about Rene.

Rene is somebody who has found their sweet spot in life.  She is doing, I believe what she is meant to do.  And it's not coaching people how to run - although she is a fantastic coach.  Rene makes people feel good about themselves.  She stood out at the finish line with her pompoms and gave everybody a hug.  Not a high five, not a congratulatory handshake, but a ginormous hug.  When you arrive at the finish line she has a personalized message for everyone, she makes you feel that she has been waiting there, all day, just for you.  :)  It's really quite remarkable and special.

But it also goes beyond that.  She has such a passion and love for what she does, and she connects to people by being honest and vulnerable.  At the awards ceremony you just could not help but see it.  She hand made medals for the event at the local pottery studio, she selected 1st 2nd and 3rd prizes that held meaning to her, and passed that meaning onto the recipients.

She has compassion for people.  The evening before the race she spoke to people on the trail perhaps getting injured, or tired and unable to continue.  She said anybody that stops in one of her races and forgoes their race to help a fellow racer would forever have free entry into her race.  That evening at the awards ceremony 5 people were honoured and singled out for their assistance to people that needed it.  And true to her word, all five will forever have free entrance into her race.

The Dalai Lama has always said that we need to have connections with people.  These connections allow for us to be happy, and kind and compassionate.  I am more reclusive myself.  My study of compassion and looking for examples of it in everyday life has enabled me to slowly be able to open up more to people.  I am now looking for peoples stories, and try to share more of my own stories.  But it has not just been my study of compassion, but it has also been thru having contact with people like Rene, and other in the running group that really has shown me how great it can be.  Grateful to have these people in my life!