Page 16 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 22

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SHINES

THE

SPOTLIGHT ON
1397 Brookdale Ave.,

Cornwall OUR MEMBERS

It’s A Family Affair For Multisport Athletes

By Gisèle Grignon both Phil and Guylaine are quick to
underline less tangible, but just as
important benefits.

ave a peek into The Barnes

Hfamily DNA and you’re likely “It has definitely kept us closer
to see not threads, but running shoe together as a family,” says Guylaine.
“It’s given us a common interest,
laces or bike chains.
and we often have long interactive
The athletic genealogy began with discussions on various things related
Phil and wife Guylaine, while living to running and triathlon. It’s also
in Ottawa in the 1990s. The couple something we can all relate to - when
moved back to Cornwall (Guylaine’s we achieve a specific goal, or live

hometown), in 2006. through the (temporary) discomfort

Phil, in particular, was keen on of pushing hard to finish a race.”
doing longer runs and the Cornwall “It’s also given us all a lot of self
Multisport Club was offering regular confidence,” says Phil. “Guylaine

long runs on Sunday. By the next year, for example, was never interested in
with club membership swelling, and “racing” and now, she looks forward
more fun-runs and family-friendly
to competitions.”
races added, the entire Barnes family
joined, including Andrew, now 15, On top of everything else, Guylaine

and his sister Laura, now 13. will be competing in her first Iron
Man triathlon, to be held in Ohio
“When we started running the kids in September. Both kids will also
were very little, and so we would The Red Rock Canyon Run near Las Vegas (March Break 2014).

Whenever they go on vacation, the Barnes try to find a fun run we be competing in Ohio, in separate
each run separately to get some alone can do as a family. The scenery at this event was stunning. Guylaine. events. Phil who - once thought
time. One parent would be running,
Photo supplied by the Barnes family. running more than 5K was “insane,”
while the other watched the kids - and has now completed two marathons,
then we’d switch and tag so the other When the Barnes’ aren’t pounding and is looking forward to his third

would go running while the one that Phil and Guylaine admit it’s
occasionally tough persuading their the pavement they’re enjoying yet Ironman in a few weeks in Ottawa.
just ran, stayed with the kids,” recalls teens to “unplug” for a training run another family affair: biking.
Phil, who works for the Raisin River For all this productive, energizing
but, as Phil says, “They always say
Conservation Authority. “We all love biking! People can’t get family bonding time, the Barnes’
they enjoyed running when we get over how many bikes we have. When credits the Multisport Club.
“The kids started running while back. We’ve run together in the
we open our garage door, it looks like
training for the (CMC) Cornwall freezing cold and pouring rain and “The highlight of being a club
we have a bike shop. We gave away a
Multisport Club kids day (free age they still had a blast.” few this year, so I think we’re down member is the friendships we have
specific runs for kids, hosted by the developed,” says Phil who has held

But the running fever didn’t end to only two or three per person now,”
Multisport Club), and once they got there. says Guylaine, the owner and Chef of several positions on the Multisport
a taste of the finish line, they were Emotions Catering. Club executive over the years. “Since

hooked. They continue to race 5Ks A few years ago, Phil’s parents moving back to Cornwall in 2006
and triathlons and duathlons,” he moved from cheering on the sidelines They’re not likely to pare down and joining the club, we’ve met and
adds. to joining the family for local races. that number of bikes any further, any become close friends with many new
time soon. “The kids get our hand- people through the Multisport Club.”
In fact, Andrew earned Male Youth “My mom was a jogger in the ‘80s, me-down bikes and they’re already
runner of the year in 2012. Laura but since re-booting with running a eyeing ours and saying they can’t Predictably, the kids’ aren’t left out

earned Female Youth Multisport few years back, she’s competed and wait to get Dad’s bike or Mom’ s of this club plus fitness equals fun

award in 2013. Laura has also earned medaled at the Ontario Senior Games bike,” laughs Phil. equation. “The kids have benefited
Kids of Steel champion for logging and has run races up to half-marathon from having a lot of great role models

the most swim, bike and run mileage distance,” says an obviously proud And while the physical benefits of within the Multisport Club,” says
for the past two years son. being so active are well documented, Phil.