On March 2, 2011, my first article was published in the Cochrane Eagle. No surprise, it was about running.
Here is an excerpt from it: “So, before you try an ultra-marathon, I suggest you run a marathon, before that, a half-marathon, before that, a 10-k, and before that, a 5-k. If you’re a new runner, then progressing from a 5-km race to a marathon should take three years. Yes, I’ve heard the stories and watched the results from people who want to tick a marathon off their bucket list in six months….don’t. It’s not a pretty sight. Take your time, let your legs get used to the run/walk. People will say a run/walk isn’t “running,” you have to run all the time or you’re not a runner. Not true. If you want to achieve your running goals and be injury-free, then run/walk is the way to go.”
Looking back a dozen years later, that is still pretty good advice.
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. Cochrane has almost doubled in size from 17,500 to 34,000 people and there’s no sign of that growth slowing down. However, it still has that small-town feel. You can walk down Main Street and bump into friends or sit on a bench next to the hotel and listen to someone playing the piano.
Cochrane is where Sue and I have lived since 2005 and we love having visitors. Last week our son Calum was over from Wales and we headed off on a road trip to Waterton Park. He’s into wildlife photography and over the three days we spent there, he captured photos of herds of bison, elk, deer and a playful fox.
Over the last 12 years, I’ve been fortunate to share my stories with readers of The Cochrane Eagle. Having a local newspaper is so important and every Thursday I look out my front door and there is the latest copy. Then, I make a cup of tea, grab a couple of shortbread biscuits, settle down and read it from over to cover. Cochrane is about community and The Eagle is the glue that helps hold it together.
I look forward to continuing to share my own stories from the not-so-little town on the Bow in the Foothills of Canadian Rockies. Huge thank you to you and the Cochrane Eagle and yes, there will be more articles to come on my running adventures.
All the best,
Martin.
