Aboriginal teens training for Michael Thomas Race Day 5k run
Sarah MacMillan | CBC News | Posted: April 29, 2016 11:55 AM | Last Updated: April 29, 2016
Mi'kmaq Confederacy program aims to get as many teens as possible involved
Every Wednesday evening, a group of teenagers from P.E.I.'s Lennox Island laces up their shoes, and heads out for a run.
They're training for Michael Thomas Race Day on June 4, when they'll run a 5k.
"I haven't done anything as major as this," said Logen Lewis, one of the teens in the group.
The running group is organized by the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. There's also a group training in the Mi'kmaq community in Scotchfort.
The idea behind the training program is to get as many aboriginal teens as possible involved in Michael Thomas Race Day.
Michael Thomas was a runner from Lennox Island. In 1911, he placed 26th in the Boston Marathon. He's widely considered the best long-distance runner in P.E.I. history.
Lewis said he is inspired by Thomas.
"It kind of makes you think, if he can do something as amazing like that, then it just comes to show that you can do whatever you want."
Brent Chaisson, who works for the Mi'kmaq Confederacy, is teaching the group on Lennox Island.
He said the runners have varying levels of running experience. They started off mostly walking. Now, in week three of their eight weeks of training, they've added in some running.
"Running five kilometres can be very intimidating if you don't learn how to do it and gradually work up to it," said Chaisson.
Chaisson hopes the runners will continue to stay active after the race in June.
Lewis said many of his peers aren't very active, and he himself isn't involved in any sports this year. He used to do judo, but he said this year he's been focusing on his academics.
He said training for the 5k is "a way to show people that it's OK to actually exercise for fun."