Isabelle Julien is a personal trainer for Innovative Fitness in White Rock, BC.
Isabelle has the can do spirit. It shows itself in many aspects of her life.
The one that fascinates me the most is how it propels her through these incredible, mind boggling endurance races she participates in.
The one that comes to mind immediately is the 2007 Canadian Championship 100 Mile Trail Run where with her legs seized and feet covered in blisters the only way to can do was to ‘move’ through the last 2 kms in excruciating pain, stiff legged and barefoot. That is exactly what she did.
I’ve always wanted to know what compelled her to finish.
What: Canadian Championship 100 Mile Trail Run
When: September 2007
Length: 100 miles finished 2nd in 25 hours and 52 minutes
Cheryl: Where did the can do come from in the weeks and months before the race?
Isabelle: I trained hard each week. I had FUN training. That was the key for me. It had to be fun other wise I wouldn’t go out there! I trained with the best athletes as well. I knew I would be behind but I knew they would make me better and reinforce the can do!
I had been adventure racing for the past few years with a team of 3 guys. The 100 mile run was ALL ME. No one was allowed to push me if I was going too slow up the hill, no one was there at 3 am in the morning on the trail with me to say keep going, don’t fall asleep, I’ll carry your pack. So knowing that it was all me and not the boys carrying me around when I was weak was a big deal.
Cheryl: The race was very tough –how did you keep the can do going?
Isabelle: What kept it going? A lot of things go through your head for 25 hours! I wanted to quit so many times but I thought about the feeling of telling my dad, friends…. that I did not finish, walking away from the course was not an option! I thought I can do this I am NOT walking away! One of the things that kept me going and my mind off the pain was thinking about all the wonderful people around me. I had conversations with them in my head. I thought about my nieces, my family and friends, how much they have done for me and how much they mean to me. It made the time go faster! By hour 20 on the course, my feet had 2 big blisters, it hurt to walk on them but I kept pushing. My legs did not want to move anymore and I could no longer squat down to go to the bathroom!! I had lots of time before the end of the race so I knew in my head I could finish. At the last 2 km mark, I sat on a bench, started to cry because I was in such pain and I did not want to be in the heat anymore (30 above). I decided to take my shoes off and start walking/ running that way. It was still hurting and I was still crying but I was moving forward. I was able to cross the finish line!!! What a feeling!! I did it!
Isabelle: Everything in these races is a mental game, you get to find out how deep you want to push yourself and what you are made of. I found out that day that I was made of a lot of “can do spirit!!”
Cheryl: You not only had the can do for this race, it appears to propel you through your life! How do you keep it as a constant?
Isabelle: I believe you have to find new challenges that will keep digging deep. It is something I look for all the time, I enjoy being in that state of mind, when you have to talk to yourself and remind yourself how strong you are, that you are capable of anything, that you CAN DO!
Cheryl: Where does it come from? Why do some people appear to have it while others do not?
Isabelle: The can do is inside everyone. People have to find the confidence to find it. We can’t be afraid of failure, we all have to believe in ourselves……the can do is there!
Author: Cheryl Wilson-Stewart Director of school initiatives. “Our responsibility is to mentor and support these young people they are outstanding!” She is also the founder of Mindblasting and author of several creativity curriculum in use throughout the world, Cheryl is a consultant to both business and education sectors.
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