Do you know who the real heroes are in the running community? They are the people who are often in the shadows but are integral to running events OR trying to make the community better with acts of kindness.
This week’s Brainsport Times highlights three unsung heroes who make our community a better place to be.
Mason Adams is a quiet, polite 15-year-old student at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School. At a quick glance, he might appear to be an average teenager – but he isn’t. Impacted by mental health, Adams raised $568.09 for Lloydminster Region Health Foundation at this month’s Synergy Credit Union Sunrise Run – and then WON the 5KM race.
“Mental health is an important health aspect and personally impacts me,” said Adams. “I’ve dealt with anxiety and I have found running a good outlet for my own mental health.” Mature beyond his years, Adams is a role model for the healthy, active lifestyle movement.
Richard Koch is one of those superstar volunteers. The type of person who is invaluable to making everything run smoothly – like last weekend’s Reesor 50 trail race in southwest Saskatchewan.
“He helped place thousands of trail markers across long and difficult sections of trail. He walked miles in wind, rain, mud and rough conditions while preparing the course,” said Jeff Dudar, one of the co-owners of the Reesor 50 race.
“The words ‘too hard” are not in his vocabulary. He embodies resilience, endurance, humility, humour and generosity.”
Jayvin Cross Child is the brains behind timing several of Saskatchewan’s biggest and most popular running events. But the young University of Saskatchewan student reached a new level of dedication on Saturday at the Reesor 50 trail race.
Leading the two-person timing crew (with his timing partner Bennett Friesen), Jayvin worked 21 consecutive hours (5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.) to ensure hundreds of runners were correctly timed through rugged terrain in the 18-hour time limit that is allowed in the 50-mile course that features 2,300 metres of vertical ascent/descent.
