Trident Nov 14 2005 - Tridentnews.ca

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TRIDENT, NOVEMBER 14, 2005
Mountain Man Competition
Runners gather at the beginning of the run.
Terry Fox in Estonia
By Lt(N) Ben Seaby
HMCS Halifax
On October 1, a Terry Fox Run
was held in Tallinn, Estonia.
The run was organized by the ship’s
company of HMCS HALIFAX, which
had overwhelming and enthusiastic
aid from the Canadian Embassy in
Estonia, the Estonian Cancer society,
the Terry Fox Foundation, and
various local officials.
It was a nice break for the sailors
of Halifax from their four-month
deployment in Europe sailing with
the Standing Naval Maritime
Group 1.
Although trying to organize the
run from sea was a logistical nightmare,
the ship’s main organizer, SLt
Jonathan Bathurst, a Bedford native
reports, “The run was an overwhelming
success. I was pleased to
see the wide array of participants
that ranged from local Estonian
civilians, to members of the NATO
fleet, and even the Canadian
Ambassador to Estonia. It was great
to see the Terry Fox spirit being
exposed to so many people at an
international level.”
The run, held on a chilly Saturday
morning, took place along the beautiful
Tallinn waterfront.
Participants were able to walk,
run, roller blade or bike the 5 km or
10 km course that finished at a
sports complex that offered showers
and a sauna for recuperation.
Close to 200 people participated
in the event, which was topped off
by a barbeque held on HALIFAX’s
flight deck.
A total of $2,700 was donated to
the Estonian Cancer Society, while
Terry Fox T-shirt sales raised $1,000
that will be sent back to the Terry
Fox Foundation of Canada.
Lt(N) Frank Leung, left, and LS Lavigne, right, both strongly represented
the JFTA at at the Mountain Man race.
By Lt(N) Jeff Hutt
Navigating Officer
On August 30, along the
Saskatchewan River, a sailor
and submariner from Joint Task
Force Atlantic (JTFA), proudly
awaited the start of the 1 Brigade
Mountain Man Competition. Lt(N)
Frank Leung, Assistant Combat
Systems Engineer in HMCS COR-
NERBROOK, and LS Patrick Lavigne,
a Marine Engineer in PRE-
SERVER, rose to the challenge.
Both finished in the top third of the
grueling physical challenge.
The Mountain Man Race is comprised
of a 32 km rucksack march
carrying 35 lbs, 3.2 km march with
an additional 75 lbs sandbag carry to
simulate a canoe portage, 10 km
canoe paddle, and finally a 5.6 km
march to the finish. Lt(N) Leung
completed the race in six hours and
20 minutes placing 100 out of 334
competitors, while LS Lavigne set
out to complete the race in six hours
or less and did just that for an impressive
placement of 49th overall.
This combination of both Strongman
and Ironman skills tested not
only the competitors’ physical ability,
but also their mental toughness.
When asked of the reaction they
received, LS Lavigne said, “We
could hear some comments from
the troops about us trying to measure
up, but I didn’t let it get to me.”
Lt(N) Leung, a first time competitor
to the Mountain Man,
learned many lessons for this
unique race. “I had the ambitious
goal of finishing in the top 20 with
a time of 5:30. I went off strong
with the lead pack and held a top 10
position for most of the first leg
until I hit the ominous wall and
cramping set in.”
Both LS Lavigne and Lt(N)
Leung provided impressive representation
from JTFA and both certainly
lived up to their billing as
JTFA Mountain Men.
w w w . e x p r e s s f i t n e s s . c o m
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