Iris: Yeah, lots of vegetables [as she pushes out her belly] and the best part is the cake! Isabelle: Paleo cake! The biggest thing about the diet is no sugar but we have recipes to avoid it and still taste really good. Ian: One of our favorite meals is burgers, without the bun, and yam fries. TRC: Wow, so you guys are eating really healthy and have a lot of variation to stay active. What are some tips you have for racing? Ian: It’s important to warm up the body before the race with an easy jog. I also like to do some stretches when I first wake up if I feel anything that is tight. Iris: I like this stretch [as her foot crosses to the other knee and she stretches her hip flexor] and I also like to run with my mom during the race. Isabelle: It’s important to drink lots of water, and during the race I always try to smile and encourage others, it makes them feel better and it makes you feel better too. Ian: Yeah, smiling releases chemicals in your brain! TRC: Great tips- listen to your body, warm up, stay hydrated, and be positive! How about role models? Who do you look up to? Isabelle/Iris: Our brother [as they give him a big hug and his face lights up] Ian: Our favorite runner is Bernard Onsare, he won the Calgary Marathon the past two years, and he helps people.
TRC: It sounds like you guys help people too. Tell me about the “MitoCanada” shirts you have on? Iris: We are MitoCanada.
on
Team
Isabelle: We help with 5 Peaks and other events. The founder (of MitoCanada) ,Blaine, has a son named Evan who has a disease called Mitochondrial disease. Everyone has mitochondria in their body but anyone can suddenly have them shut down and affect different parts of your body- some people only get it in their legs, or their arms, but Evan got it all over. Ian: So they started MitoCanada to raise awareness and try to raise money for a cure. Evan was struck overnight, they had to take him to the hospital and he can’t talk anymore, or use his arms or legs, and couldn’t eat. We have met Evan three times.
Iris: Ian asked for money to be donated to the charity on his birthday. It’s a really good cause if you are looking for something to do. You can sign up for it. You can go online to mitocanada.org and you can get a t-shirt like us. TRC: Wow guys, good for you, that is amazing and such a good organization to be part of. Good luck with the rest of the season. Do you have anything else you would like to add? Iris: Yeah, run hard and get off the road! That means you!
Iris and fellow trail runner BFF Jasmine.
All three kids did great at the Central Alberta 5 Peaks Trail Series. Isabelle was first for females under 15 in the Enduro category for the second year in a row. Ian was first for males under 15 in the Sport category, also for the second year in a row. And Iris’s debut found her in second place for females under 15 in the Sport category. /\/
Calum Neff is a Trail Running Canada and The North Face ambassador who this year completed his first two ultra-marathons with a course record at the Creemore Vertical Challenge 50km followed by a 4th place finish at the 125km Canadian Death Race and a 102nd finish at the World Mountain Running Championships in Poland just a month later. You can follow his progress on his blog www.thesoulofmyshoes.blogspot.com or Twitter @TheNeffFace. Photo credits: PG. 8 Calum Neff PG. 9 Neil Zeller Photography courtesy of 5 Peaks.
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