iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk , Vancouver, BC
iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava , Calgary, AB
iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel , Calgary, AB
iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishment – Helen Kolodziejzyk , Calgary, AB
iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw , New Westminister, BC
iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris , Winnipeg, MB
iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan , Brampton, ON
iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua , Caledon, ON
iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh , Nottingham, UK
iRun because I live – Georges Schneller , Laval, QC
iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter , Clearwater , BC
iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt , Halifax, NS
iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friend – Nathalie Joncas-Caissie , St-Antoine, NB
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette , Carp, ON
iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling , Ottawa , ON
iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley , Stittsville, ON
iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve , Ottawa, ON
iRun for me – Kiza Francis , Ottawa,ON
iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan , Brampton, ON
iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker , Etobicoke, ON
iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier , Gatineau, QC
iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch , Ottawa, ON
iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham , Avonmore, ON
iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre , Ottawa, ON
iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan , Ottawa, ON
iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil , Lombardy, ON
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland
iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario
iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t – Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew , Ontario
iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter , Alberta
iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie , Ontario
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman , Manitoba
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia
iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell , Quebec
iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia
iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu , Ontario
iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird , Ontario
iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall , Alberta
iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka , Alberta
iRun to my happy place and some days it’s very – Doreen May , Alberta
iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston , Alberta
iRun because I can’t dance – Mario Javier , Ontario
iRun so I don’t say never ever again – Linda Klaric , Manitoba
iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur , Quebec
iRun because it gets my husband out there – Tricia LaLonde , Alberta
iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard , Alberta
iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy , Ontario
iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur , British Columbia
iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson , British Columbia
iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop , Yukon
iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter , Alberta
iRun because otherwise I’m grumpy – Alexandre Charest , Quebec
iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton , British Columbia
iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang , Alberta
iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey , New Brunswick
iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx , Ontario
iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis , Ontario
iRun because it’s like flying, only lower – Glenn Johnson , Ontario
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan , Alberta
iRun because I’ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly , Ontario
iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour , Ontario
iRun so my daughters know that they can, too – Shelley Kirkpatrick , New Brunswick
iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie , Ontario
iRun because it’s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney , British Columbia
iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin , Manitoba
iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith , Manitoba
iRun because it’s fun when it’s done – Sue Matte , Ontario
iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer , Quebec
iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas , New York
iRun for the cool t-shirts! – Pina Bevilacqua , Ontario
iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids – Catherine Empey , British Columbia
iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston , Nunavut
iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan , Ontario
iRun because I want to live to be 100! – Colette DeJean , Ontario
iRun for health, i Run for life – Pat Cheung , British Columbia
iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy – Sara Campbell , Nova Scotia
iRun because it’s better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey , Ontario
iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn’t – Peter Cicalo , Ontario
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland
iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario
iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew , Ontario
iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter , Alberta
iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie , Ontario
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman , Manitoba
iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia
iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell , Quebec
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia
iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo , Ontario
iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey , Ontario
iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza , British Columbia
iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen , Manitoba
iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins , Alberta
iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott , Québec
iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby , Saskatchewan
iRun for me! – Judi Wearing , Saskatchewan
iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie , Yukon
iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello , Ontario
iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts , Ontario
iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher , Alberta
iRun to correct years of sedentary living! – Mike Scott , Ontario
iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas , Ontario
iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent , Québec
iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams , Ontario
iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville , Ontario
iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail , Ontario
iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar , Saskatchewan
iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle , New Brunswick
iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries – Joanna Skomra , Ontario
iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor , Saskatchewan
iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier , New Brunswick
iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon , British Columbia
iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase , Nova Scotia
iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul – Sonia Mendes , Ontario
iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp , Ontario
February 17th, 2012 at 11:53 am
I like your assessment of the big questions – it’s important not to jump to conclusions before the case goes to court, and you’ve done a great job of offering a considered analysis.
That said, I’m not sure we wouldn’t be talking about this incident if the Dunkerleys weren’t blind (so many negatives in that sentence!). To my mind, the blindness is only relevant in this situation insofar as their guide is now also involved in the case and may assume partial or full responsibility for the accident (depending on his actions on the day).
I think the story would still have traction in the running world if the Dunkerleys were sighted. I think the real reason for the traction is that they run at an elite level. The collision is almost a literal embodiment of the conflict that some running columnists have established between elite and amateur runners. The crowded running path, and the subsequent collision, are fodder for those who are on the extreme opposites of the debate – both those who argue that elite runners are bogged down by the rise in amateur runners, and those who decry the elite ‘road hogs’ and their ‘snobbery’.
I don’t think the case can be boiled down to either simple extreme, but I think that the reason it continues to resonate in the running world is that it taps into that very debate – a debate waged by very few, but both sides are quite vocal, and so the story continues.
It will be very interesting to see how both the case and the story evolve.
February 24th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
I hope for her sake that the bib for that race was recycled to someone else, however the fact that it has been written in some articles as FACT has set off a lot of nasty comments. I don’t agree with the law suit, but I do believe in having all the FACTS before I condemn someone. When you use a multi-use path you expect stuff to happen, I would not want to become bankrupt (the lawyers fees, ironically, would do that) because I made a dumb mistake, or stumbled causing a mishap with someone else getting injured. I have had 4 injuries in my 29 years of commuting by bike in this wonderful city, caused by 3 other inexperienced cyclist and one oblivious driver. 2 times I was hit from behind (by cyclists). Even so it was an accident, let it go and get on with healing. Will this money or bankrupting these guys really fix things? I think not. Your a high up Gov’t lawyer you probably make 6 figures and get by more than just fine. Time to move on.