Running the distance to promote healthy, active lifestyle

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY—Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek’s Charlton Thompson and Garden River’s Ralph Bekintis recently completed the 86th Annual Firefighter’s Ten Mile Road Race on May 20 in Thunder Bay.

“This is my fifth ten miler,” says Thompson, who finished with a time of 1:52:36. “I only started running about eight years ago at the age of 42. It’s a lot of fun — I love running. There is a lot of support out there, especially the volunteers along the route — they’re clapping and cheering you on.”

Thompson started running about six weeks ago to prepare for the Ten Mile Road Race, which was held along Simpson St., Fort William Rd. and Water St. beginning and ending at Donald St. with the turnaround at Marina Park.

“I started off real slow,” Thompson says about his training schedule. “I had a hard time at first running five kilometres, but I found a plan called the Galloway Method. It’s a Run-Walk Method, and I stuck to it and I finished with a lot of energy. For the last two miles, I ran right through, but for the first eight it was run-walk. I had a lot of energy at the end, so it feels good — it was one of my better runs.”

Thompson’s future plans are to run a half marathon and a marathon.

“I turned 50 this year, so I want to do the full marathon in Toronto in October,” Thompson says. “Usually I run one route two times a week and then long-distance on the weekends, over ten miles. I have about three or four different routes here in the city.”

Bekintis says he had a “great run” at the Ten Mile Road Race.

“I was glad to make it,” says Bekintis, who finished with a time of 1:55:55. “I’m really happy to make it out this year. Last year I was just on the sidelines, and that was hard watching. This time I was really happy I made it even though I came in slow.”

Bekintis says he runs for his health, noting many people in the First Nations across northern Ontario have diabetes.

“I run for diabetes, and right now I’m kicking cancer, so that is another reason why I am out,” Bekintis says. “I just want to keep healthy, keep running.”

Bekintis also encourages youth in Sandy Lake, where he is vice principal at Thomas Fiddler Memorial Elementary School, to train for and participate in the Ten Mile Road Race. This year’s group of Sandy Lake runners included two relay teams of five youth each and eight 10-milers, including five youth and three adults.

“I encourage all the young people to come out and run,” Bekintis says. “And I challenge the older ones to come out and run — they don’t have to be fast, they just have to participate.”

Bekintis says he didn’t start running long-distance until he was about 59-years-old.

“I was a miler myself,” Bekintis says. “This is going to keep you healthy and keep you living longer. I’m 66 right now and I see some people here are 80-years-old running. I have 13 in my age group (65-69).”