![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Français | Contact Us | Help | Search | Canada Site | |||||
![]() |
||||||||||
![]() |
About DND / CF | Priorities | Careers | Operations | Defence Home | |||||
![]() |
||||||||||
![]() |
News Room | Navy | Army | Air Force | Portfolio |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||
![]()
![]()
![]()
|
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]()
![]() HTML Version of Maple LeafThis page contains both English and French articles. If you require PDF versions of specific articles, please send your request to hamilton.ac@forces.gc.ca. Volume 1 - Volume 2 - Volume 3 - Volume 4 - Volume 5 - Volume 6 - Volume 7 - Volume 8 - Volume 9 Page 16, Maple Leaf, 01 October 2003, Vol. 6 No. 36 page 16, La feuille d'érable, Le 01 octobre 2003, Vol. 6 No. 36 In pursuit of EXCellenceMaritime Command winner Maj Bruce BarteauxThis is the first in a series of articles celebrating the achievements of CF athletes who will be honoured November 1 at the 15th annual CF Sports Awards Ceremony. By Kristina Davis It is 110 kilometres from Halifax to Lunenburg, N.S. Ideal for a leisurely drive or maybe an afternoon spent on a bike. Now imagine, running that distance in just a little over 11 hours. For ultra-marathoner Major Bruce Barteaux it was a walk, or make that a run in the park. He only had about three and a half hours of sleep the night before and spent the days leading up his Terry Fox Run fundraising, doing media interviews and putting in a full workday at CFB Halifax. A spiritual man, he says he did not complete those 110 km with just his own ability. But complete it he did, raising more than $4 000 for cancer research. These charitable activities and his more than impressive running accomplishments, earned him the Maritime Command Male Athlete of the Year Award and a nomination as the CF Male Athlete of the Year. On November 1 at a ceremony in Ottawa, hosted by the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) and sponsored by SISIP Financial Services and the Royal Canadian Legion, Maj Barteaux and other Maritime Command winners will be celebrated. Like many, he says it is an honour to be nominated. "The recognition," he says, "certainly puts a spring in your step." But why ultra-marathons? Why run for a 100 kilometres? Maj Barteaux likens it to climbing Mount Everest. "Quite simply," he explains, "because its there and you can." In 2002, one of his proudest moments was making it to the Canadian team. "Representing Canada at a world competition, is just wow. Its so special to me." In that same year, he placed first in both the Owen Sound 100 km and the Greater Toronto ultra-marathon races. Competing at the World 100 km Challenge, Maj Barteaux finished the race as the 2nd Canadian overall. Maj Barteaux says ultra-marathons require both physical and mental preparation. Physically, long-term conditioning is key, as the body must handle the stresses it will endure over the 100 km. As Maj Barteaux puts it, "If the wheels fall off half-way through the race, you wont finish, no matter how determined you are." The flip side of that, is the mental aspect. Mental toughness and preparation is also essential to finishing, much less winning, a race of that length. "When it starts to hurt, and its gonna hurt, there are degrees of pain and the ability to handle it is a factor," he says. Maj Barteaux credits his faith, his family, especially his wife who often rides her bike beside him during training runs, and the CF with supporting the long hours he spends training. He sees fitness as a fundamental aspect of his life and beneficial to all CF members. "My bosses and the CF overall have been supportive. They appreciate that fitness is one of our prime objectives with the Strengthening the Forces program and the emphasis on being fit, it fortifies you against many things." Ms. Davis is the Media Relations Co-ordinator at CFPSA.
|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
This website is maintained by Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs) / ADM (PA) |
||||
Date Modified: 2006-01-06 | ![]() |
Important Notices |