The CAMROSE BOOSTER, April 26, 2022 – Page 18
Run like Ole series
This is Betty.
By Murray Green
The Vikings Athletics Club is introducing an exciting and very meaningful spring running event to the Camrose and area running community called Run Like Ole XC Running Series. It will be a four-week timed race series. You can enter a single race, any combination or enter all four. Each race will be different and cover different terrain. The cross-country run will be held on Mondays beginning at 6:30 p.m. The first one will be held on May 2 at the Stoney Creek north trail. The second will be on May 9 on Stoney Creek south. Happy Valley, south of Camrose, will be the site of the May 16 run. On May 30, the finale will be held at the Camrose Biathlon and Range. Course distances will be between four and eight kilometres for adults and older students. Younger runners will have a course of two to three kilometres. The timed races include a point series. Medals are awarded by total points over four races. Runners receive four points for first place, three for second, two for third and a point for participating. The various ages will be male/female 12 and under; 17 and under (regular distances); 18 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; and 50 plus. A portion of the proceeds will go to supporting the Ole Heie Legacy Foundation. Ole, an aspiring 12-year-old elite athlete, died while training on July 10, 2021. “Ole was a phenomenal person and athlete. He absolutely loved to run. His passion and drive became apparent at a very young age when he would happily hike and run tirelessly for hours and hours at a time. He absolutely loved to explore the world around him while running–even in the wind, the rain, the cold, the snow and the inevitable mud. To Ole, that just added to the adventure and made every run unique,” said Jardath Nelson, physical education teacher at Jack Stuart School. The following information was supplied by the Vikings Athletics Club. A driven and dedicated athlete, Ole became well known in the running community. By the age of 12, he had befriended running buddies of all ages and abilities around the world in person and online. His big beaming smile and long blonde hair became an icon on trails and roads near
Betty likes to shop in Camrose. Not on Amazon or from websites where goods are shipped from countries overseas.
Be like Betty. Betty knows that Amazon doesn’t donate to her church or her kids’ school. She knows that these website companies do not support the Rotary, Kinsmen or the facilities we enjoy here in Camrose and surrounding area. She knows that local businesspeople give generously and are called on to support numerous local initiatives.
Betty reads The Booster. She watches for announcements, news, specials and ways to shop and support local. So do Betty’s friends. Betty makes a difference.
THANKS FOR ENJOYING THE HOME TEAM PAPER!
and far. He was unbelievably encouraging and fun to be around. Ole loved giving kudos on Strava, worked tirelessly on his technique, became an amazing teammate and competitor, and he got fast. Ole loved setting huge goals and putting in the work to accomplish them. He loved the process and sharing it with others. These accomplishments and hard work were recognized by Salomon, KV+, Attitude Over Altitude and Fast Trax Run & XC Ski Shop, which took a chance on him and took him on as an ambassador. Ole took great pride in this, which encouraged him to work even harder at becoming a well-rounded role model. By the time he was 12, Ole had crushed some pretty impressive goals. At only 11 years old, Ole had reached 1,000 kilometres in his first 54 days of the last ski season, made national news with his single-day 102-kilometre cross-country ski. He also rollerskied 100 km on his first rollerski of the season. When he wasn’t on skis, he also loved to run. He ran his first full marathon at the age of 11, and his first Ultra (53 km with 1,800 metres of eleva-
He viewed his competitors as future teammates and would usually be found enthusiastically cheering the last racer across the finish line–no matter the weather or who it was. He had a natural way of creating energy that motivated those around him and a determination to wish others well. He was a living example of love and a true gift of inspiration. To Ole, sport wasn’t just racing, it was for seeing friends, pushing oneself, celebrating gains, encouraging each other, sharing hope, helping each other through his kind gentleness, his caring attitude and sheer passion for his beloved sport in enjoying every single Ole moment. He was also Heie a gifted cyclist, swimmer, musician and conscientious French Immersion student who loved to travel and lived life to its fullest. To know Ole was a true blessing. To get to run with him was even better. Ole’s smile, kindness, adventurous passion and positive spirit was infectious to all who had the honour of knowing him. Ole looked up to some incredible role models who were doing amazing things and wanted to become an inspiration to oth-
tion gain) when he was just 12. He became known at the Frank McNamara Series, dominated the school cross-country running circuit, set a new course record in Hardisty, and had a goal to break the Grade 8 boys’ course record in New Norway. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity. Although usually one of the first to finish a race, Ole’s success never went to his head. He thrived off of being humble and treated everyone equally with kindness and respect, no matter what their level. This little legend had a heart of gold and was always looking out for others.
ers just like they were to him. He had so many hopes and dreams to do incredible things in this world like make the national team, go to the Olympics, but most importantly, he wanted to inspire people of all ages and abilities to live their best lives. By the presence of the flag bearer from the Korean Olympics and former and present Olympians at his Celebration of Life, it appears as though he was already a part of Team Canada. When Killian Jornet (one of Ole’s adventure running superheroes) reached out after hearing the news, it appeared that Ole already had indeed left his mark on this world. We hope he inspires you every day, like he does us and so many others whose lives he touched. “I am so grateful for the places my feet can take me,” Ole once said. “This running series embraces Ole’s spirit by encouraging runners of all ages and abilities to come explore the amazing running Camrose has to offer. Ole’s feet have run and explored every inch of these trails in every single season,” added Nelson. Register at: h t t p s : //f o r m . j o t f o r m . com/220935354435052 or for more information, go to www.vikingsathleticclub. com.