She confides that she is both feverish and a little worried.km. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the race.”,”text”:”Of course anything can happen in 42km. I can’t wait to be impregnated with the race.”}}”>Of course, anything can happen over 42 km. I can’t wait to get involved in the race.
Best in Class
For eight years, the runner has participated in half-marathons. She had set herself the goal of completing her first marathon at the age of 65. She achieved this goal last fall at the Marathon P’tit Train du Nord. It is one of the recognized circuits to access the Boston Marathon. In her age category, that of 65 years and over, Odette Gélinas had to complete it in 4:35 to be able to qualify. She did it in 3:46.
Out of a hundred runners, she finished first.
A pretty incredible journey
It was at 58 that she discovered an unsuspected passion for running.
While reading the newspaper one fine morning, she learns that Pierre Lavoie would be passing through the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR) to take part in a night race. Even if she has never raced, the idea seduces her. She pulls a friend in her tracks.km, I wasn’t tired, it went well, I felt like continuing to run.”,”text”:”I told my friend, we’re going to practice. I didn’t know I was a runner and I didn’t know I was fast. We did the 10km, I wasn’t tired, it went well, I felt like continuing to run.”}}”>I told my friend, we’re going to practice. I didn’t know I was a runner and I didn’t know I was fast. We did the 10 km, I wasn’t tired, it went well, I felt like continuing to run.
From this experience was born a passion that even prompted her to retire to devote herself to it. She completed her first half-marathon in 2017 in Montreal. Many others have since followed.
A hard preparation
To prepare adequately for her participation in the prestigious event, Odette Gélinas confides that she had to put a lot of energy into it.month. It’s the winter that you have to train because the Boston Marathon is the first in the year that we do.”,”text”:”I think it’s harder than the marathon itself. You have to train for six months. It’s winter that you have to train because the Boston Marathon is the first in the year that we do.”}}”>I think it’s harder than the marathon itself. You have to train for six months. It’s the winter that you have to train because the Boston Marathon is the first in the year that we do.
As with many athletes, this type of training can cause injuries. The runner suffered periostitis, an inflammation of the membrane covering the tibia bone.
She had to resort to specialists while continuing her training. Although she has now recovered, her concern persists.km without the injury preventing me from moving forward? That’s just what is my biggest worry.”,”text”:”Am I going to be able to do 42km without the injury preventing me from moving forward? That’s just my biggest worry.”}}”>Will I be able to do 42 km without the injury preventing me from moving forward? That’s just my biggest worry.
She is aware that the Boston Marathon is quite a difficult event. At the same time, there is a fear of injury. I do cross-country skiing, I didn’t do any this winter because I told myself that I mustn’t hurt myself. I was always afraid that something would happen to me, that I mightn’t go.
His goal is to complete it in less than four hours.
An inspiring experience
A woman who runs between 35 and 50 km per week considers herself to be in excellent health.
She agrees that for many, running a marathon at 66 is like going beyond the limits. Me, I find that the human, we set limits. We do not exploit our body. We don’t use our abilities as much [que notre corps] is capable.
For Odette Gélinas, it is wrong to believe that getting old means losing everything. There are still so many great things we can do.
With information from Charles-Antoine Boulanger
