Awards and Opportunity

Our workplace Run Club started from the seed of an idea: "I like to run at lunch; maybe others would like to join me."

Given the go-ahead and freedom to set up the club, we grew and expanded, connecting to the Ottawa running community and to elite runners, trainers, health care providers and nutritionists in Ottawa who were a source of inspiration and motivation.

The CEO coin of excellence award for the Run Club was a surprise gift to me from the Run Club members and Senior Management in 2012 after our first season.

In 2013, I was invited to present at the City of Ottawa's first HEAL forum. I received the City of Ottawa Public Heath HEAL award for being an innovator in healthy living.

In October, 2013, I was asked to speak at Ottawa's official Health Day. After the speech, there was a 5K run from City Hall.

Leading Run Club has been such a joy because I was given the freedom to run it as I wished: a very fulfilling task for a creative "Connector" whose forte is setting up positive communities of people from diverse backgrounds. Through our Special Speaker series, I have met some life-changing people who will always be my inspiration in times of difficulty. I am grateful for this experience and hope to continue to connect good people who make positive change in the world to each other.

Run Club T-shirts 2013

Our first Run Club T-shirt order is in and they look GREAT!!

What stunning T-shirts these runners have! Goes well against the lush green background.

Trend setting in Ottawa.

Here's where our YVR buddies run. Don't feel too jealous: there are vampires.

Looking Mahhhhvelous in Run Club T-shirts! These ladies rock the T's!

CATS...Atude! Peace, Vancouver! Looking good!

More photos coming at the end of November with our 2nd order

The Cool CATS...At HQ.

Now taking contributions for the CEO's Run Club shirt! Drop off a couple of looneys to Jenny during November. A jar will be at my desk and please sign the Run Club birthday card.

The Golden Running Shoe Award

It doesn't get ANY better than receiving the coveted Golden Running Shoe award! Thanks, Eric and Jason, I couldn't have done it without you!

For runners in the regions, yeah, it's a real running shoe. I believe Eric's wife is down by one shoe.

Gonna really miss this for the next few months, but a great end-of-season lunch was had by all. Gotta love Run Club peeps!

Run for the Cure 2013

Our workplace Run for the Cure team had an awesome run on Sunday, raising money for breast cancer research. It was a tad chilly, but at least the rain held off. Thanks, Captain J.Trimble (dude with the pink bandana on the left), for organizing this fantastic 10! Runners, thank you for participating and special thanks to those who fundraised!

Run Club Team, Run for the Cure 2013

We're putting together another fantastic team for the Run for the Cure on Oct. 6.

Team captain, Jason Trimble, is organizing our activities and has put together a team of 10 participants.To donate to our team, go to this site and help us raise money for breast cancer research. Please help. We appreciate every little bit--it all helps a great cause.

This year's team members include, but are not limited to:

Team 12P in Run 4 a Cause 2013

UPDATE: Team i2P has just been awarded $250 to donate to i2P for their work inspiring and empowering youth! Woohooo!! Run 4 a Cause organizers are awarding prizes to the top 5 teams and we were #5! Go Team!!

Run 4 a Cause is a 5K run in downtown Ottawa that celebrates charitiesof all kinds and the runners who support them. This year’s event took place on Saturday, September 28, on Parliament Hill where over 500 runners gathered on the perfect autumn morning.

Our Run Club put together a team representing Ray Zahab's organization i2P. Among our group members was Liz Perras along with her daughter and boyfriend. Thank you, Liz and company, for participating--it was great to see you again!

Those of us from Run Club who put together the i2P Team did so partly in gratitude to Ray for coming to speak to us, but mostly because, after he spoke, we were so inspired, we wanted to help him empower others.

We were joined by runners from Ottawa Public Health so we grew into a quite respectably sized team.

Team Good Guys Tri cheered us on because they also support i2P!

Note the matching logos -->

After the run, participants mixed and mingled on the rooftop terrace of the Rideau Centre

...where there were prizes, après-run yoga, socializing, photos, treats by Vega and…donations for the charity who had the most representatives at the run.

Our Team i2P came in 5th out of 13 charities, thanks to the combined efforts of our group and OPH! We won $250 for i2P to continue their amazing work of educating, inspiring and empowering youth through adventure running. Next year, watch out: we're gonna blow Run4aC away with Team i2P 2014!

Here are a few vids of the event:

Montréal Rock n Roll Marathon

While those of us in Ottawa were running the Army Run last weekend, Andrée-Anne was in Montréal with some buddies rocking and rolling the10 K in the Montreal Rock n Roll Marathon event.