Page 31 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 54

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #54 May 2017 31

presents Playing for the

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Playing for the Love: Joan McCuaig’s Story

By Molly Kett provided in our race kits onto the
buses.”
oan McCuaig is a local fifty-year-
Jold with a seventeen-year-old son McCuaig says the marathon itself
and a passion for athletics. Her love was an incredible experience and at
times felt like a celebrity. “Traffic
for sports began in high school, when
she joined the cross-country team in is stopped by police officers to
allow long lines of buses to travel
tenth grade. McCuaig quit for a few
years when she moved away from out of downtown Boston to Hopkins.
home and went to college, but soon You can’t help but feel like a
celebrity,” says McCuaig. “The day
realized she missed it.
of the marathon was warm. It went up
“I biked to school and work and to about 20 degrees. At the beginning
later took fitness classes, but it wasn’t it was sunny and hot, thank goodness
the same. I like how running makes it clouded over later. I wasn’t used
me feel. It’s a good way to relieve to running in the heat, just 5 days
stress and an excellent way to keep before I had been running with mitts
fit. I run outside all year round and and a headband on, but the warmth did
in all types of weather; I don’t like feel good. I drank more water during
the treadmill at all,” McCuaig shares. this marathon than any other race I’ve

This year, McCuaig ran the Boston done. I hate to carry water, so I
Marathon for the first time. drink very little during my training.
Another highlight of my experience
“I had been to the marathon three was going to the expo, picking up my
times before to cheer on two of my race kit and buying THE marathon
sisters, but was my first time. It was
jacket. You feel really special
awesome,” says McCuaig. “The waking around Boston wearing it, Joan McCuaig, ready to run. Photo Submitted
spectators are amazing. The streets
strangers wish you luck. The whole
are lined the entire 42.2 k. Some city is buzzing the entire weekend.” has done 3 marathons, ‘30K Around easier. This is my hope for my fall
areas are really loud! Many people the Bay’, many half marathons, and half marathon.”
were handing out treats and ice cubes In order to fulfill her athletic goals, some 5 and 10K races. Since running has been a part of
for the runners. One woman at 39 McCuaig runs on her lunch break and “My plans are to do a fall half McCuaig’s life for so long, it has
k was giving out freezies, it was does her long runs on Sunday, usually marathon, I just not sure which become very meaningful to her.
like liquid gold. I never thought a with a group of running friends that one yet. I think either Toronto or “Running has been part of my life
freezie could taste so good. The race includes her two sisters. During Hamilton. During the summer I’ll do for so long that I can’t imagine life
is so well organized; everything just training for Boston, McCuaig also some of the local smaller races. There without it. My four sisters and I all
flowed without a hitch. This was the added in a Saturday run. Leading up was also talk to doing a beer run with run. We often plan sister weekends
first time I’d been to Boston since to Boston, she was running 5 out of 7 my sisters this fall,” says McCuaig. and vacations around races. They
2012.” days a week.
“My next goal is to run The New were all in Boston with me this year,
That was the year before the Boston McCuaig mostly does road races, York Marathon. To get in they have one other also ran and the other 3
Marathon bombing. McCuaig says but she’s also done some trail and a lottery and qualifying times. Their cheered us on. So awesome to have
she noticed heightened security. snowshoe races as well. In the winter, full marathon qualifying times are such support and a great cheering
“Runners were only able to take she enjoys cross-country skiing and really tough, but you can also use a section. I truly feel lucky that I can
one small clear plastic bag that they snowshoe runs. To date, McCuaig half marathon time, which are a little run.”
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