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Why I Run - Why I Run - Jason Cordery

Why I Run - Jason Cordery
Club: Phoenix, Montreal

It all started way, way back in the summer of 2004. Yep, back then “Lost” was the summer buzz, and Sports Beans didn’t exist (at least not in Canada). Ah, those were the days. After complaining to an acquaintance of mine (who I studied martial arts with for most of my life) about getting back in shape, he suggested running. I was like “Where to”? Turns out he knew Frank Lavasco so he did suggest the Boreal Club. Alas I got the picture; all those races I’d see on CBC Sports Weekend…people actually did those sports recreationally!!! So not knowing anything I went to Endurance where I blurted out: “Running shoes please; the kind where you don’t actually have a destination”! They looked at me funny but hey, they brought me shoes.

Equipped with my way too expensive Asics shoes (fyi hurt me like a @#$#), I started running around the Jette on my own. Actually, truth be told, I started running around less than half the Jette before dying of thirst and being exhausted. Yep, I was a real champ. Despite having people with baby strollers passing me left and right, and only going once or twice a week, I kept it up.

Sometime in June 2004 I once again ran into my friend who once again asked: “Did you call Frank yet”? Determined to try and “get in shape”, that week I called Frank. Reassured I showed up for my first ever -official workout at the Jette having only ever completed running around the thing once or twice before. That night I ran 7km.

Since then it has been little accomplishments accenting a series of injuries that kept me off the roads for months at a time. But every month I get stronger and stronger. This year I will hit year three this summer, and I very much am planning to run a marathon.

Being in karate, and classical music, I know that also in running, very few people ever try it, and out of those who do, most people quit after awhile. I, like all of you are the rare breed of people who stuck with it. But it is not solely the running that keeps people like me coming back; indeed it is all the friends and fun I have amongst you.

Jason Cordery